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Match Reports

Report: Stags 4-1 Crawley

1 April 2023

Davis Keillor-Dunn scored a brace as Mansfield Town produced a devastating attacking display to thump Crawley 4-1 at One Call Stadium.

The skilful attacking midfielder took his Stags' tally to five goals since making the switch from Burton in January.

But this was far from a one-man show, as Mansfield cruised past relegation-threatened Crawley in impressive fashion.

Stags led 1-0 at the break before switching into fifth gear in the second period, smashing another three past the west Sussex side.

And despite a consolation goal from Crawley, they will doubtless consider themselves fortunate not to have been beaten by a heavier scoreline after Stags twice hit the woodwork in the second period.

Defender James Perch, midfielder Stephen Quinn and forward Rhys Oates replaced Riley Harbottle (concussion), Danny Johnson and James Gale in the Stags’ starting IX.

Stags got off to an electrifying start and opened the scoring after four minutes.

Kellan Gordon, on his return to One Call Stadium since joining Crawley in January, was dispossessed on the touchline.

And Stags exposed the visiting right flank in deadly fashion from inside their own half as Davis Keillor-Dunn showed fine skill in midfield to release a galloping Stephen Quinn on the left.
The Irishman found skipper Ollie Clarke inside the box who swivelled before planting a lovely low finish into the net from 12 yards.

Mansfield’s tails were up and Elliott Hewitt caused problems on the Crawley left side with a dangerous low fizzing cross which narrowly evaded a cluster of advancing bodies.

Following good work by Jordan Bowery on the left, Keillor-Dunn was next to try his luck on 13 minutes with a goalbound hit which Crawley stopped on the goalline.

At the other end, visiting captain Ben Gladwin smashed a venomous long-range effort over the bar.

Goalkeeper Christy Pym came to Stags’ rescue on 19 minutes after Dom Telford pounced on a loose pass in the area to slip away from the defence and advance one-on-one with Pym. But the shot-stopper spread himself well to deny Telford’s strike with his chest.

Crawley began to get a foothold in the contest and Telford lashed wide two minutes later with a powerful attempt from outside the box.

The visitors sloppily conceded possession inside the centre circle to gift Mansfield their next opening.

Keillor-Dunn was only too happy to accept a stray pass before moving forwards, play a neat one-two with Oates, and fire at goalkeeper Corey Addai from 20 yards.

On 28 minutes, Ashley Nadesan ambitiously rifled a volley narrowly over the angle from the left of the Stags box following a corner.

Stags were soon back on the front foot and Oates saw his 22-yard drive deflect behind for a corner.

Quinn and Clarke had efforts in quick succession as Stags upped the tempo.

Former Sheffield United man Quinn latched on to a delightful crossfield pass  from Keillor-Dunn to strike at the legs of Addai at his near post. And moments later, Clarke sought a second goal but struck wide from inside the box.

Oates should have doubled Mansfield’s lead after 35 minutes.

The frontman broke clear of the Crawley defence after being put in the clear by Akins, but his shot let him down, directing it powerlessly into the gloves of a diving Addai.

 

Stags started the second half like they did the first – at break neck speed, and scored within two minutes of the restart.

Outside the visitors’ box, Akins cut inside to deliver a pin-point cross for Alfie Kilgour, who did the rest with a bullet header into the top left hand corner.

Crawley’s Dom Telford saw a crashing drive saved by Pym before Stags rampaged down the other end to add a third.

Akins, with a fine pass, sent Oates on a scurrying run on the right to go one-on-one with Addai. And Oates unselfishly squared for Keillor-Dunn who tapped home inside the goal area.

Stags were rampant and should have scored a fourth on 54 minutes.

Oates broke the offside trap to break forwards before slipping it to Akins, whose shot from 10 yards was saved by the legs of Addai.

Clarke then turned provider with a brilliant right-wing cross for Akins to head narrowly wide with the aid of a deflection.

And following the subsequent corner, Quinn tested Addai with a low strike.

The Crawley goalkeeper then used his legs to deny a shot from Oates before Keillor-Dunn sent a 20 yarder into his midriff.

Stags’ boss Nigel Clough made his first change just past the hour as Hiram Boateng replaced Stephen Quinn in midfield.

Within a minute of climbing off the bench, Boateng looked to slip beyond Gordon in the box, with the pair both heading to the deck, and the referee waving away protests for a spot kick.

Crawley were being carved open like a hot knife through butter and Stags dealt them their next blow on 65 minutes.

Inside a crowded box, Oates picked out Keillor-Dunn who got the better of his marker from 12 yards to spin and find the net with a lovely finish.

In a rare attack at Stags’ goal, Gordon saw an effort off the line by his old teammate Jordan Bowery.

Captain Ollie Clarke was then given a standing ovation as Mansfield made their second change with Jason Law his replacement.

Crawley pulled one back a minute later when Mazeed Ogungbo was afforded too much space to play a wall pass inside the box before directing a well-placed shot beyond Pym.

Akins did his best to get amongst the goalscoring, with a cracking hit from the left of the box which clipped the post.

And Boateng’s shooting endeavours resulted in a similar fate.

After showing neat footskills inside the box the midfielder saw his left-footed strike bounce back off the cross bar.

In the final minute of normal time, under-19s’ right-back Taylor Anderson replaced Elliott Hewitt.

Following six minutes of time added on, the referee blew for full-time as Stags recorded a well-deserved win and a first victory in five games.

STAGS: Pym, Akins, Hewitt (Anderson 90), Kilgour, Perch, Bowery, Wallace, Clarke (Law 70), Quinn (Boateng 62), Keillor-Dunn, Oates

UNUSED SUBS: Flinders, Wauchope, D. Johnson, Gale

CRAWLEY: Addai, Gordon, Conroy (Tilley 73), Lynch, Ogungbo, Grant, Powell (Fellows 58), Gladwin (Oteh H/T), Khaleel, Telford (Spong 73), Nadesan (Johnson 72)

UNUSED SUBS: Schofield, Mason

REFEREE: Sam Allison

ATTENDANCE: 6,080 (105 Crawley fans)


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