Midfielder George Lapslie was ‘frustrated’ after his 34th minute goal wasn’t enough to eliminate League One side Sheffield Wednesday from the Emirates FA Cup.
Mansfield were narrowly edged out 2-1 in a well-contested second round clash at Hillsborough following Michael Smith’s decisive second-half brace.
Lapslie struck the Stags ahead after linking up with right-back Kellan Gordon.
“[It was] a tap in really,” he said, reflecting on the goal.
“Kells [Kellan Gordan] has put it on a plate. He just floated [the ball] into that area and all I was thinking was ‘just hit the target’.
“I’ve had a couple of them lately where I’ve hit the target and it’s come off the keeper’s arm or been deflected wide, so it was nice to see it hit the back of the net.”
The 25-year-old was encouraged by his side’s promising performance and felt Stags were unfortunate not to progress in the competition.
“First half I thought we were good on the ball and dominated large parts [of the game],” he said.
“[We] had chances and should’ve gone in [to half-time] more than 1-0 up.
“We were all getting on the ball, moving it quickly. Some of the chances we had, if they’d gone in you’d [have been] looking at a potential contender for goal of the season.
“We competed with Sheffield Wednesday, they’re top of League One. If we can play like that week-in week-out in League Two, we’re not going to have any problems. It’s the FA Cup and you want to be in the third round, it’s just frustrating.”
Stags’ number-32 was particularly disappointed that the team were unable to reward Mansfield’s impressive army of travelling supporters with progression into the FA Cup third round.
On the team’s vocal backing inside Hillsborough, Lapslie said “[They were] Unreal. That’s why it hurt so much because you come to a place like this and you feel like you’re at home.
“[I’m] frustrated for them and I think all the players are.
“We’d have loved to have got through. To get a win here would’ve been something for them to remember. It’s just a bad end to the day.”
