Forward McKeal Abdullah scored an 80th minute penalty as a Mansfield Town XI beat Long Eaton United 1-0 this evening in a pre-season friendly at Grange Park.
Midfielder George Maris captained the Stags having not been able to be involved in last night’s 3-1 victory away at Hearts in Edinburgh.
First team players Anthony Hartigan, Hiram Boateng and Jordan Bowery all featured against the Blues with youngsters George Cooper and McKeal Abdullah the only other two to start who featured in Scotland last night.
The hosts began the game the stronger. L’Varn Brandy went close for Long Eaton after intercepting George Maris’ pass in the final third and curling a fine strike narrowly wide of the bottom corner.
Shortly after, defender Tom Marshall's left footed strike zipped dangerously across the wet surface only for Louie Turner in the Mansfield net to get an important hand on the ball to clear the danger.
In the next attack, on five minutes, Brandy had his second opportunity of the contest but dragged his shot wide.
The hosts were in the ascendancy and forward Tom Cursons had their best chance on seven minutes. Long Eaton’s right winger looped the ball over the onrushing Turner but hit the post.
With the home side starting on the front foot, Stags responded. The club’s Academy top goalscorer for 2022/23, McKeal Abdullah, picked the ball up on the edge of The Blues’ area. The frontman drove an effort towards the bottom corner, but ‘keeper Ross Durrant got down low to clear for a corner.
From the resulting set-piece, right-back Taylor Anderson fired over from inside the area.
Mansfield’s left-back Louis Bonser was found by attacking midfielder Jakub Kruszynski moments later on the left. The defender whipped an inviting cross into the box for forward Jordan Bowery but the former MK Dons man couldn’t find the target.
Efforts from Abdullah (narrowly wide) and Kruszynski, forcing Durrant into a smart stop, concluded the half’s action.
At the beginning of the second 45, Mansfield replaced Jordan Bowery with Academy attacking midfielder Alfie King.
It took the playmaker just 10 minutes to be involved – winning the ball high up the field with an excellent challenge only for Kruszynski’s cross into the middle to be claimed well by Durrant.
First teamers George Maris and George Cooper combined on 57 minutes. The former’s free-kick delivery from the left was met by Cooper who headed just wide from close range.
Long Eaton substitute Micah Jebbison threatened as the match went on. First, forcing an outstanding sliding challenge from Anderson as the attacker went through on goal and then producing a superb save from Turner at his near post.
Stags’ second change came on 76 minutes. Ronnie Kokkinos replaced Jakub Kruskzynski in the central attacking midfield role.
Two minutes later, Stags had a penalty.
Maris was clumsily tripped in the area before the lively Abdullah picked up the ball and placed it confidently on the spot. With all eyes on the forward, he smashed the spot-kick into the back of the net to give Mansfield the advantage.
Hungry for more, the striker went close again three minutes on. Anthony Hartigan’s forward pass was latched onto by Abdullah who fired an inch wide of the bottom corner.
With 89 minutes on the clock, there was time for one last chance. Jebbison skipped past two Stags’ challenges to get into the box before unleashing a powerful effort on goal. Turner leaped to his left to tip the ball away from the target and preserve Stags’ advantage.
Mansfield made it two pre-season victories in as many days with Oldham Athletic and Matlock town to come before the Sky Bet League Two season kicks off away at Crewe on Saturday 05 August.
STAGS: Turner, Anderson, Cooper, Wauchope, Bonser, Hartigan, Boateng, Maris ©, Kruszynski (Kokkinos 76’), Abdullah, Bowery (King 46’)
UNUSED SUBS: Leech, Whyle, Flanagan, Warnaby
