Mansfield Town 3 Halifax Town 2
Football League Division 4
21 April 1992

Report from the CHAD and Photos from The CHAD and Evening Post

Stant hat-trick beats Halifax in 1992  

On 21st April 1992, the Stags beat Halifax 3-2 at Field Mill on their way to earning promotion from the Fourth Division. It was the Stags penultimate home game of the season and they were lying three points behind Rotherham and Blackpool, who were occupying the last promotion places. In a nerve-jangling game, in front of 3,940 at Field Mill, the Stags were very poor for the opening 42 minutes against their lowly opponents. But then Phil Stant, who already had 22 goals to his name (plus another four wiped out in expunged games) ran on to Martin Clark’s through ball and lobbed it over advancing keeper Lee Bracey. But disaster struck in the 57th minute when former Stags player Ian Juryeff lashed an unstoppable shot past the helpless Jason Pearcey. Eight minutes later, Stant struck again with a spectacular overhead kick, after Greg Fee had helped on Paul Holland’s long throw. But on 77 minutes, Halifax were level again when Abbott headed home, unmarked, from six yards. Then on 82 minutes, Stant grabbed his first hat-trick for the Stags when he planted a header off his cheek inside the far post, from Steve Wilkinson’s cross. After the game, Stags’ boss, George Foster said “Phil Stant’s hat-trick got us out of jail but our defending was inept.” A draw at Maidstone and a victory over Rochdale in the final 2 games were just enough for the Stags to gain promotion.   

Compiled by Martin Shaw