Team effort inspires Mansfield Town progress into the Third Round of the FA Cup

The game was not easy for the hosts as the away team, Dagenham & Redbridge did not give away any silly mistakes.

In the 122nd minute, Nicky Maynard scored the crucial goal to send the Stags into the third round of the cup.

The amber and blues had so many chances to score, but Dagenham goalkeeper Elliot Justham was simply on fire diving from left to right and was in fantastic form all throughout the game.

Dagenham & Redbridge’s shot-stopper was simply on fire as the Stags amounted 26 shots all game and were only able to divert 11 on target.

Efforts from Ollie Clarke, Andy Cook and Jamie Reid were all saved by the agile goalkeeper as he looked to take his team through to the next round of the cup.

The Daggers were the ones that got in front in the 19th minute. Paul McCallum received the ball as he moved the ball further to the right as he put the ball into the top corner of Marek Stech’s goal from a tight angle to put the National League side ahead.

Mansfield were able to respond six minutes later. The ever-present Jordan Bowery received the ball and looked to burst through. The forward spotted Harry Charsley inside the area as the midfielder slotted the ball past Justham with a cultured finish.

The teams went toe-to-toe as the game headed to extra-time. The Stags even made a substitution in goalkeepers ahead of a potential penalty shootout. Aidan Stone replaced Stech in the final moments of extra-time, but it was another substitute that shone in the final stages.

Reid played the ball into Bowery as the forward chased the ball. His shot was saved by Justham, but Maynard was there to pounce on the rebound as the Stags’ top goalscorer bundled the ball into the back of the net to avoid a cup upset and send Mansfield into the third round draw.

It was a true team performance from back to front as the men in amber and blue ran victorious and had probably the better chances throughout.

Whenever a block was needed, Ryan Sweeney made a vital block as he put his body on the line and the team really counted on the Irishman to deliver that which he did.

Ferrand Rawson also played well alongside Sweeney. He moved the Stags up the pitch when it was needed and his dribbles up the pitch to the halfway line were key in moving his teammates forward as it freed up space in the middle of the park.

The two wing-backs, Mal Benning and Kellan Gordon, were on point as they made darting runs down their respective flanks as they looked to play balls into the box to potential find either Bowery, Cook, Reid or Maynard.

The midfield four were full of running. Captain Ollie Clarke lead by example apart from a few slips that could have cost the Stags, but the skipper could have scored a goal if it wasn’t for Justham who plucked Clarke’s effort out of the top corner.

George Lapslie was ever-present as usual. When he lost the ball, he would run back and help the defence out and so bodies were behind the ball as it made it harder for the Daggers to get through on goal.

Both wide midfielders, Harry Charsley and Stephen McLaughlin had great games as they linked up with their full-back partners and were running up and down the flanks trying to create space and run on the overlap for passes to be played to them.

The pairing upfront of Cook and Bowery were really strong in the air and were a real threat up top. Bowery used his pace to create chances for his teammates as Cook used his aerial threat to try and direct headers on goal.

All in all the Stags played well and had to dig deep to get a late winner as Nigel Clough wanted his men to make it through to the next round of the cup.

In round 3, the Stags have been drawn against fellow League Two side, Cheltenham Town, as the Robins stand in Mansfield Town’s way of making it to the fourth round.

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