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Archived News from November 2010

LATE GOALS EARN VICTORY FOR STAGS
29th November 2010 11:01


Blue Square Bet Premier

Mansfield Town 3 - 2 Hayes & Yeading United
Adam Smith 3, Connor 78, Medley 82. Hyde 1, Ferrell 28
Attendance: 2019 (21 from Hayes)

Date: 20 November 2010

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Mansfield Town 3 Hayes and Yeading 2, Saturday 20th November
CHAD report

LATE goals from Paul Connor and Luke Medley somehow turned a scrappy game on its head and saw managerless Mansfield Town snatch a victory from the jaws of defeat at Field Mill this afternoon.

http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-fc/mansfield_town_3_hayes_and_yeading_2_saturday_20th_november_1_2778220

Lacklustre Stags seemed to be suffering a hangover from the week's happenings at Field Mill and the sacking of boss David Holdsworth as they laboured against a struggling Hayes and Yeading side.

The visitors had lost four on the bounce but were ahead after only 57 seconds.

Adam Smith quickly levelled with a superb third minute blast to raise morale.

But Hayes, clearly lifted by the home side's troubles, were deservedly ahead at the interval from Lewis Ferrell's header and played the better football.

It could have been worse but for a couple of fine saves from Kevin Pilkington.

Both sides rattled the woodwork early in the second half.

But, after Pilkington had thwarted Bradley Pritchard in a one-on-one situation, Stags finally found their shooting boots and Connor (79 minutes) and sub Medley (82 minutes) pulled it out of the bag to cheer a small, frustrated home crowd, which included potential new boss Dave Penney.

The Stags side showed three changes with Day back from suspension to replace suspended skipper Steve Foster.

Steve Istead and Paul Connor came back in with Peter Vincenti and Keigan Parker out of the 16 as Stags went 4-4-1-1 with Adam Murray playing in the hole behind lone striker Connor.

Assistant-boss Duncan Russell took over as caretaker manager with ex-youth team boss Paul Hall helping him.

But he couldn't have seen his charges make a worse start as Montgomery crossed from the left and Hyde cushioned home a close range finish with just 57 seconds on the watch.

However, Stags were level with a superb finish by Smith before three minutes were complete.

Connor helped the ball on to Smith who beat two defenders in the box before lashing home and unstoppable rising finish from 10 yards.

Sandwith stood his ground to block a low Malcolm shot and concede the first corner which Cook headed away.

From that Stags broke quickly down the right Briscoe showed electric pace but, having burst into the box with plenty of better options to his left, elected to smash a shot wide of the far post from a tight angle.

A mistake by Cook on 11 minutes gave the ball to Montgomery on the left and he forced Pilkington into a low save with a well-struck low shot from just inside the box.

O'Connor saw a shot on the turn deflect off Bygrave and force keeper Bulmer to touch it round the post.

Hayes should have been back in front on 16 minutes but were denied by a great save from Pilkington.

Malcolm miscued his volley at goal but saw Hyde turn it back on target five yards out and somehow Pilkington got a hand to it to push it upwards and Grand completed the clearance from almost on the goal line.

Pritchard was booked for a 17th minute foul on Sandwith and Bygrave joined him for hacking down Murray four minutes later, Sandwith well over with the 30 yard free kick.

On 27 minutes Pilkington made another great save to keep out a dipping 25 yard left-footed shot from Holmes, tipping it over the bar.

But from the corner, taken by Montgomery, Ferrell was able to head powerfully home from close range at the far post and put the visitors' noses back in front.

Pilkington came and missed the third Hayes corner on 31 minutes and the ball came off the head of Holmes and wide of an unguarded goal for a goalkick.

Montgomery was well wide with a 25 yard free kick while Day got in a saving tackle as Hand made for goal from a Holmes backheel and Pilkington got down at the feet of Hyde as the visitors continued to play with some swagger belying their lowly position.

Thompson was booked a minute from the break for persistent fouling with some home fans even chanting 'off'.

Stags were booed off for an uninspiring first 45 minutes with the crowd calling for the home side to go to the 4-4-2 formation.

And their prayers were answered for the second half as the ineffective Thompson was withdrawn and Mitchley sent on as a second striker.

But Hayes might have gone further ahead on 55 minutes as debutant Montgomery capitalised on a moment's hesitation from Grand to burst into the box and beat Pilkington with a low shot that came back off the inside of the far post.

Stags then also hit the woodwork at the other end a minute later as Connor stooped to head a Smith cross on target and Bulmer turned it onto his left hand upright before Green hacked clear.

On 59 minutes Connor' flick looked like it may sent Mitchley clear. The striker did appear to have his shirt tugged as he tried to burst away and the keeper was allowed to get there first. Istead was then booked for his angry protests.

Medley replaced Briscoe on 64 minutes as the home side looked for a way back and he soon had a shot blocked by Green.

Hyde was caught offside but still tried to lob Pilkington after the whistle and was booked for his troubles.

Bygrave got in the way of a powerful Mitchley drive.

But Hayes missed a great chance to extend their lead on 73 minutes as Hand's ball found Bradley onside and in the clear. His first touch could have been better but his second was on target and foiled by a good Pilkington save.

Hayes continued to be encouraged by the home side's failings and Green was wide with a low 25 yard drive.

But, out of the blue, Stags were level 11 minutes from time.

Medley's attempted shot from the right took a deflection and the ball dropped in front of goal where Connor dived forward to guide home a stooping header inside the post.

Incredibly Stags were ahead on 82 minutes through the sheer persistence and tenacity of Medley.

Wide on the right he was forced to check and cut back inside. But he loped into the box and, despite attempts to tackle him, kept the ball and dispatched a low finish inside the right hand post.

Smith almost made it 4-2 as he curled a 30 yard free kick inches over the top two minutes from time.

Four minutes were added on but Stags clung grimly to what they had to deny Hayes the point their display had deserved.

STAGS: Pilkington; Cook, Day, Grand, Sandwith; Briscoe (Medley 64), Thompson (Mitchley ht), Istead, A. Smith; Murray; Connor. Subs not used: Collett, Stonehouse, Naylor.

HAYES AND YEADING: Bulmer; Ferrell (Deen 85), Bygrave, Cadmore, Green; Hand; Malcolm, Holmes (Yiadom 79), Pritchard, Montgomery; Hyde. Subs: Pattison, Appiah, Wassamar.

REFEREE: Russell Fletcher of Derbyshire.

ATTENDANCE: 2,019 (21 away).

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Mansfield Town 3-2 Hayes & Yeading
Evening Post report
TWO late goals in four minutes saw managerless Mansfield Town overturn a 2-1 deficit to run out winners over unfortunate Hayes and Yeading at Field Mill this afternoon.

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/mansfieldtown/mansfieldtownnews/Mansfield-Town-v-Hayes-Yeading-team-news/article-2918926-detail/article.html?

The Stags – under the caretaker charge of Duncan Russell following David Holdsworth's exit on Thursday – looked to be heading for a sixth defeat in nine Blue Square Bet Premier games.

That was after Mansfield had only been able to reply to first half goals from Jake Hyde and Lewis Ferrell with a solitary strike from Adam Smith.

But just as the home fans were consigning themselves to more disappointment, top scorer Paul Connor grabbed his ninth goal of the season with 11 minutes left.

And the recovery was completed when Medley earned Mansfield a welcome three points with a brilliant opportunist strike.

It was harsh on the visitors, who had made the running for much of the game and could have put themselves out of sight before the hosts hit back.

Mansfield got off to the worst-possible start as Hayes and Yeading went in front from their first serious attack.

Hayes and Yeading debutant Graham Montgomery found space to cross from the left and Hyde swept home on the volley from inside the six-yard box.

The Stags' response was near immediate. Connor nodded the ball down for Adam Smith who switched before rifling into the roof of the net from 10 yards.

Soon after, Louis Briscoe's through ball was only just out of the reach of Paul Connor.

Briscoe had several Mansfield players throwing their arms up in frustration when he raced down the right and blazed wide of the far post with team-mates well placed for a pull-back.

An error from Steve Cook gave Montgomery the chance to let fly at the other end but Kevin Pilkington was down smartly to make a save.

Connor was almost celebrating in the 13th minute when his deflected shot on the turn was goalbound until Nicki-Lee Bulmer made a smart stop diving to his left.

Pilkington and Simon Grand then combined to foil the visitors from going back in front as the keeper partially blocked Hyde's close range effort before the defender sprinted back to clear the ball as it looked to be bouncing over the line.

As play moved to the other end of the field, Adam Murray was fouled 30 yards from goal, but Sandwith's curling shot from the set piece was well over the bar.

Hayes and Yeading went close again when Pilkington had to turn over the bar from a rasping drive from midfielder Peter Holmes.

However, they did restore their advantage from the resulting corner as Lewis Ferrell headed home from inside the six-yard box after Montgomery had played the ball in from the right.

Pilkington had to me smart off his line to prevent Michael Malcolm racing onto a Holmes through ball just before half-time.

The Stags made changes at the interval, with striker Danny Mitchley coming on for midfielder Tyrone Thompson and a switch of formation from 4-5-1 to 4-4-2.

But it was still the visitors who looked more likely. More hesitant home defending allowed Montgomery space to shoot left-footed and he was unlucky to see his angled 55th minute drive rebound off the inside of the right-hand post.

Moments later, Mansfield also struck the woodwork when Connor's header from Smith's left-wing centre was clawed onto the post by Bulmer.

The home players and fans were left frustrated when Mitchley appeared to be tugged back as he looked to break clear, only for the referee to wave play on. Steven Istead was booked for his protestations.

Mansfield looked set to level in the 71st minute, only for Adam Bygrave to get in a terrific block to deny Mitchley.

Bradley Pritchard could have killed off Mansfield soon after when he beat the offside trap to latch onto Jamie Hand's through pass, but had his finished well saved by Pilkington.

That missed proved costly as almost immediately, the Stags were back on level terms.

Substitute Luke Medley's shot deflected kindly for Connor and he did not need a second invitation to stoop and head home his ninth goal of the season.

That strike came in the 79th minute and not long after, the Stags were, remarkably in front.

Medley cut in from the right past his marker and unleashed a left foot shot from the edge of the box that nestled in the right-hand corner.

Mansfield were still not home and dry, especially as four minutes of stoppage time were added on, but they managed to see out the game with few alarms, terming half-time boos from supporters into full-time cheers.

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Mansfield Town vs Hayes&Yeading 3 - 2
Date: 20/11/2010 Venue: Field Mill Attendance: 2,019 Referee: R Fletcher
Paul Stephen reports from Field Mill
http://www.mansfieldtown.net/page/MatchReport/0,,10325~54026,00.html?

Stags secured their fifth home win of the season this afternoon after going behind twice to BSBP strugglers Hayes & Yeading.

An eventful week which saw the departure of former manager David Holdsworth was capped off with a victory bringing to an end a winless run of four matches here at Field Mill.

The game burst into life with the scores at 1-1 after just three minutes before Lewis Ferrell headed his side into the lead before the break. Substitute Luke Medley then turned the game on its head late on with an assist for Paul Connor and then a goal of his own to leave our opponents rooted in the bottom four.

Caretaker Manager Duncan Russell made three changes for the first game of the post-Holdsworth era.

Rhys Day filled in for the suspended Steve Foster assuming the captain's armband at the heart of the back four whilst Steven Istead came into a three man midfield alongside Tyrone Thompson and Adam Murray. Louis Briscoe and Adam Smith had the task of supporting top scorer Paul Connor from the flanks whilst Peter Vincenti and Keigan Parker dropped out of the 16 man squad.

Tom Naylor, who returned from his loan at Alfreton midweek, took his place on the bench against Hayes & Yeading who came into the game second from bottom of the league.

It was the visitors who kicked off towards the Quarry Lane End and quickly put to bed any impression that they were just here to make up the numbers by racing into a first minute lead through Jake Hyde. Stags' back four were sluggish when dealing with a Peter Holmes cross from the left and Hyde was easily allowed to slip between Day and Grand to direct the ball past the helpless Pilkington from just six yards out.

Stags reacted quickly to the set back and were back level barely two minutes later when Adam Smith thumped the ball past Bulmer in the visitors goal and into the top corner for his third strike of the season. Paul Connor got the assist after flicking on a ball from punted from midfield into the feet of Smith who calmly got goalside of his marker to dispatch the shot in impressive style.

Louis Briscoe added more excitement to an action packed opening 10 minutes when he thundered down the right flank in the 7th minute. His blistering pace saw him leave Hayes & Yeading left back Adam Green in his wake before he turned into the area. Drawing the 'keeper of his line, the narrow angle eluded him as his shot-cum-cross flashed across goal and out for a throw in.

Graham Montgomery tested Pilkington from distance in the tenth minute before Simon Grand was called into action to make a last ditch goal line clearance barely five minutes later. Another dangerous cross from the left saw Bradley Pritchard's goalbound header well saved by Pilkington and Jake Hyde connecting with the rebound but Grand was thankfully at full alert to make the clearance and spare our blushes.

Adam Murray was unceremoniously felled in the 20th minute as both sides rapidly exchanged possession causing referee Russell Fletcher to award a free kick deep into Hayes' half when playing advantage might have suited us more. Kevin Sandwith was the man to take it but his effort was always going over.

Michael Malcolm teed up Peter Holmes with the half hour mark approaching who saw his powerful 30-yard shot expertly tipped over the bar by Pilkington. It was of little use though as Lewis Ferrell converted the subsequent corner less than a minute later putting his side back in the lead. It was a textbook goal with Montgomery floating the ball into the back past where the United defender rose highest and above marker Rhys Day to plant the ball in the right hand corner.

Unfortunately Stags could not reply as quickly as before and failed to register any kind of opportunity as the 4-5-1 formation struggled to make any in roads against a well drilled and robust opposition. The first half drew to its unwanted conclusion with the opposition keeping possession well as they contemplated three valuable points in their bid to climb away from the relegation places.

Half time heralded the first substitution of the afternoon as Russell opted to throw on Danny Mitchley in attack for his home debut at the expense of Tyrone Thompson. The decision accompanied a tactical switch as the Stags lined up 4-4-2 for the second period in an attempt to spark more attacking threat.

Hayes & Yeading started the half well and had no obvious intent to just sit on their lead and were unlucky not to extend it 10 minutes in. Graham Montgomery skipped into Stags' area and fired a shot across goal which beat the outstretched arm of Pilkington and hit the inside of the post coming back to the Hayes & Yeading player who then tried to cross it but succeeded only in finding an amber and blue shirt.

Stags hit the post themselves a minute later when Paul Connor stooped to meet Adam Smith's left wing cross. It came back off the left hand upright where Briscoe did his best to meet it but was beaten to it by a red shirt who promptly hacked it away to safety.

With an equaliser still unforthcoming, a second change was made in the 63rd minute when Briscoe was withdrawn for Luke Medley.

Danny Mitchley saw his snapshot blocked near the penalty spot on 70 before Bradley Pritchard found himself onside for the visitors and a good 10 yards behind Stags' back four but he hit his shot straight at Pilkington to spare any blushes from a defence whose offside trap had been breached.

Malcolm and Holmes linked up again in the 77th minute but Holmes could only scoop his effort over the bar from eight yards before Stags finally got an equaliser to stake a claim on the points.

Luke Medley inadvertently provided the assist when his shot from the edge of the area deflected off a defender and dropped to Paul Connor on the edge of the six yard box who calmly nodded it past Bulmer for his ninth of the season.

Things got even better four minutes later when Luke Medley single handedly wrestled the game away from Hayes & Yeading and put Stags ahead for the first time with only 10 minutes remaining. The former Barnet man sprinted into the box and ghosted past the stationary Tom Cadmore and Jamie Hand before switching feet and firing the ball past Bulmer from 16 yards.

The goals gave the home side the confidence they needed to dominate the remaining 10 minutes and allow the difference in league standings between the sides to begin to show.

There was still time for Smith to curl a free kick narrowly wide and four minutes injury time to be played out before the final whistle condemned our opponents to their sixth away defeat of the season and fifth loss in a row.

Sponsors' man of the match: Paul Connor

Attendance: 2,019 (21 away)

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Managerless Stags win but prove why new boss will have his work cut out
Evening Post considered report by Matt Halfpenny

IF DAVE Penney is to be the next manager, he saw at first hand on Saturday just why Mansfield Town are in dire need of his services.

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/mansfieldtown/Managerless-Stags-win-prove-new-boss-work-cut/article-2920668-detail/article.html?

The former Doncaster Rovers boss was a guest of John Radford – and no more than that, the Stags chairman insisted – for the home game against Hayes and Yeading, giving him the perfect opportunity to assess the task he is hotly-tipped to take on before the month is out.

And, on the evidence of this performance, there is much work to be done.

Yes, Mansfield did run out winners in the end, a welcome victory given a run of one win in eight that sparked David Holdsworth's exit on Thursday.

As well as lifting spirits in a confidence-depleted dressing room, it also kept the Stags in touch with the play-off contenders, three points off fifth spot.

Yet there is no disguising they hardy deserved their triumph in what was a bitter pill to swallow for Hayes and Yeading, who went back down the M1 wondering how they had not taken at least a point.

For much of the game Mansfield were spineless, rudderless and, at times, clueless. It was no better than the previous week at Forest Green which had proven to be Holdsworth's last in charge.

Their ineptitude was such that they made the visitors – second from bottom in the Blue Square Premier ahead of their trip to Field Mill and having lost their previous four league games – look a very good side.

The Londoners did play well, no doubt sensing an opportunity to claim a scalp following a turbulent last few days at Field Mill.

Impressive new signing Graeme Montgomery, on loan from Dagenhan and Redbridge, and skipper Peter Holmes pulled the strings in midfield while Mansfield were left chasing shadows.

Yet the simple fact is they were allowed to exert their dominance, particularly in the first period, because the home side lacked guile going forward and were error-strewn at the back.

It was no surprise to hear boos with Mansfield trailing 2-1 at the break – only this time, obviously, without the familiar calls for Holdsworth to quit.

It was barely any more palatable for the home fans after the restart when the Stags switched from 4-5-1 to a more traditional 4-4-2.

The one real positive, though, was Luke Medley, whose introduction turned the game on its head inside four minutes. As always, the super-sub, back from a knee problem, was direct and dynamic, everything the Stags had been lacking.

Paul Connor, making his first start in four matches after hamstring trouble, had done his utmost all game to spark Mansfield, but had largely been lacking the support he needed.

However, he finally got it in Medley, whose deflected shot broke kindly for the striker and he stooped to nod home a 79th minute equaliser for his ninth of the season.

And, before shell-shocked Hayes and Yeading had time to recover, Medley cut in devastatingly from the right-flank to arrow a left-foot drive from the edge of the box just inside the right-hand post to bring supporters to their feet.

Up until that point, it looked as if the brightest part of the day would be an announcement before kick-off which confirmed Radford, should he secure Field Mill from current owner Keith Haslam, will give it to the fans.

It brought hearty applause from the stands, but happiness turned to despair within a minute of the start.

Caretaker boss Duncan Russell made three changes with Rhys Day, Steven Istead and Connor replacing the suspended Steve Foster, Peter Vincenti and Keigan Parker.

Yet, once again, they were caught cold as, with 57 seconds on the watch, Jake Hyde volleyed in Montgomery's left-wing cross from close range.

Suitably stung, Mansfield levelled in the third minute with their own first shot of the game, Adam Smith firing into the roof of the net from ten yards after switching feet from Connor's knockdown.

Hayes fired a couple of warning shots, most notably when Holmes' effort was tipped over by the alert Pilkington, who also combined with Simon Grand to deny Hyde a second.

But from a right-wing Montgomery corner, Lewis Ferrell was left inexplicably unmarked to nod home from close range.

Mansfield did have sights of goal themselves as they bid to restore parity either side of half-time.

But Garry Haylock's side could have gone further in front when Montgomery's angled drive rebounded off the inside of the right-hand upright.

If that was unlucky, Bradley Pritchard should have done better when put in by Jamie Hand only to see his shot pushed away by Pilkington.

It was to be a costly miss as almost immediately the Stags hit back en-route to an unlikely victory.

Come full-time, there was a collective sigh of relief from all those backing Mansfield, but the 90 minutes merely underlined the team desperately needs to appoint a manager sooner rather than later.

It certainly made for interesting viewing for a possible manager-in-waiting. There are more than a few Stags fans who'd give a Penney for his thoughts right now.


Match facts: Mansfield Town v Hayes & Yeading
Mansfield: Pilkington, Cook, Day, Grand, Sandwith, Briscoe (Medley 64), Istead, Thompson (Mitchley 46), Murray, Smith, Connor. Subs not used: Collett, Naylor, Stonehouse.

Hayes and Yeading: Bulmer, Ferrell (Deen 85). Bygrave, Cadmore, Green, Malcolm, Holmes (Yiadom 79), Hand, Pritchard, Montgomery, Hyde. Subs not used: Pattison, Appiah, Wassmar.

Referee: Russell Fletcher (Derbyshire).

Attendance: 2,019 (21 visitors).

Goals: Mansfield: Smith (3), Connor (79), Medley (82). Hayes and Yeading: Hyde (1), Ferrell (28).

Shots on target: Mansfield 6 Hayes and Yeading 6.

Shots off target: Mansfield 4 Hayes and Yeading 5.

Fouls: Mansfield Hayes 15 and Yeading 5.

Corners: Mansfield 2 Hayes and Yeading 5.

Offsides: Mansfield 4 Hayes and Yeading 4.

Bookings: Mansfield 2 (Thompson, 44, persistent fouling; Istead, 60, dissent) Hayes and Yeading 3 (Pritchard, 17, foul on Sandwith; Bygrave, 21, foul on Murray; Hyde, 70, unsporting behaviour).

Sendings off: Mansfield 0 Hayes and Yeading 0.

Mansfield's man of the match: Paul Connor. Had missed Mansfield's previous three games with a hamstring injury and showed why they have missed him so much. Never stopped running, was prepared to chase lost causes and also put the Stags back on level terms with an important strike.

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report from http://www.hyufc.net
Report by Kevin Watts
Mansfield Town 3 Hayes & Yeading United 2

Hayes & Yeading United made three changes to the side beaten a week previous by Grimsby, out went Nathan Webb (suspended) and Adrian Patulea (injured) to be replaced by Lewis Ferrell and Jake Hyde while new loan signing Graeme Montgomery's inclusion saw Andy Yiadom drop to the bench.

It was to take Hayes & Yeading just 57 seconds to open the scoring when Michael Malcolm controlled the ball 25 yards from goal and spread it left the Montgomery, his teasing first time cross being met six yards out by Jake Hyde who fired home his first Conference goal for the Club.

Sadly the lead lasted all of two minutes as Mansfield's Adam Smith was allowed too much time to collect a Paul Connor flick-on in the right corner of the box, he swept past Tom Cadmore before firing high past Niki-Lee Bulmer into the roof of the United net.

Both sides started to settle down after the initial blasts with Montgomery testing Kevin Pilkington in the Stags goal on 11 minutes as he ran onto a Hyde pass. Minutes later at the other end Bulmer had to be sharp when a deflected Connor shot saw him going the wrong way, he was however able to adjust and got a fingertip to the ball, taking it wide of the post.

Minutes later it was the home side's last ditch defending that kept them level. Montgomery's cross to the far post was met on the volley by Malcolm, his effort was blocked into the air whereby Bradley Pritchard bounced a shot that Pilkington blocked into the air, Hyde got his head to the ball but Kevin Sandwith was able to clear with an overhead goal-line clearance.

Connor again tested Bulmer with an angled shot that the United stopper parried allowing Adam Bygrave to clear. Just before the half hour mark it was advantage United once more. A quickly taken Ferrell throw to Malcolm saw him set Peter Holmes whose drive from 20 yards was tipped over by Pilkington. The resultant Montgomery corner being met at the far post by Ferrell (grounded left) who headed home his first goal for the Club.

An almost identical corner just three minutes later saw Holmes rise highest but he didn't get enough purchase on his header and it drifted wide of the target in what was effectively the last chance of the half.

Ten minutes into the second half United went so close to extending their lead when Holmes flicked a Green throw between two defenders for Montgomery to run onto, his shot across Pilkington coming back off the inside of the post and coming all the way back across the face of goal.

After this scare the home side seemed to up their game and it was soon the woodwork to the rescue for United when Smith's cross from the left was met by a stooping Connor, Bulmer touching the ball onto the upright with Green clearing the loose ball from in front of his own net.

A couple of minutes later Stags substitute Danny Mitchely tried to squeeze between two United defenders but Bulmer was quickly off his line to grasp the ball at his feet despite the home players protesting that they should have been awarded a penalty.

Stags second substitution on 64 minutes was to prove United's undoing as Luke Medley was to cause all sorts of problems for the United defence starting just minutes after his arrival when Green had to throw himself in front of his shot to protect his goal.

Despite the home sides possessional advantage during the second period, Pritchard had a great chance on 73 minutes to increase the lead as he beat the offside calls to collect a Jamie Hand chip into the box, he controlled the ball but Pilkington was quickly off his line to block away the final shot.

Then just five minutes later the scores were level. Medley received the ball in the right channel, his shot was deflected by Green and as luck would have it for the home side it went straight to Connor he stooped to head past Bulmer from close range.

And just four minutes later it was curtains for the visitors when Medley received the ball on the right touchline, he held off the attentions of Cadmore before making his way horizontally across the edge of the area before pulling the trigger and beating Bulmer with a rocket inside the near post.

The final chance fell again to the home side when Smith drove a 25 yard free-kick wide of the post as United fell to a fifth consecutive League defeat which leaves them anchored in 23rd place.

United Man of the Match: Graeme Montgomery.

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