Lack of end product hampers the Stags as their unbeaten run comes to an end at Gander Green Lane

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Mansfield Town were second best in a game of missed opportunities as goals in either half for Sutton United saw them secure a 2-0 victory.

The hosts were out of the blocks immediately which stopped the Stags in their tracks as they had no answers for the early pressure.

Sutton took a 1-0 lead after only four minutes. Ricky Korboa’s free-kick was cleared away only as far as Louis John who fired the ball into the back of the net from close range.

The Stags had their fair share of chances but failed to trouble goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis as the U’s scored their second of the evening with 20 minutes to go.

Oli Hawkins’ poor clearance fell into the path of Omar Bugiel with the forward finding the top corner after a thunderous outside the box effort.

Nigel Clough named an unchanged side from the victory against Scunthorpe United at the One Call Stadium last weekend.

Nathan Bishop started in goal with a back four of Stephen McLaughlin, John-Joe O’Toole, Oli Hawkins and Elliott Hewitt in front of him.

A midfield five of Ollie Clarke and George Maris as the defensive midfielders with Stephen Quinn on the left, Harry Charsley on the right and Ryan Stirk deployed as the central attacking midfielder. The Stags only went for the one striker with Jordan Bowery leading the line from the off.

It was the worst possible start from Mansfield as Sutton took the lead within the first five minutes. Korboa’s dangerous free-kick was only half-cleared by the Stags as it fell to John. The defender did not hesitate and lashed the ball into the back of the net from close range.

The U’s continued their early pressure and were not far off finding a second after a drop ball. Jonathan Barden’s cross found Ben Goodliffe whose header narrowly missed the target.

Mansfield had two fantastic opportunities to equalise in the 10th minute. Stephen Quinn’s pinpoint corner saw Hawkins’ effort saved by Bouzanis with McLaughlin’s rebound cleared off the line.

The Stags continued to have chances throughout the first 45 minutes but the shots would either end up off target or the final ball into the box lacked direction as they went into half-time interval 1-0 down.

In the second half, it was more of the same. Missed chances, blocked shots and efforts that did not trouble Bouzanis in the Sutton goal.

Ollie Clarke and Charsley had two shots blocked before the hosts launched a rapid attack that saw Isaac Olaofe hit the side netting.

Just after the hour-mark, McLaughlin was involved at both ends of the pitch. Firstly, the full-back’s cross found the head of Stirk who headed his effort off target, and then moments later, Stags’ number three cleared the ball off the line after Korboa’s goalbound shot.

The chance of the second period probably fell to substitute Tyrese Sinclair. The youngster got the ball inside the box and fired goalwards but Goodliffe was there to make an important block.

Two minutes later, Sutton doubled their lead through Bugiel. Hawkins’ poor clearance fell to the forward who smashed his effort into the top corner of Nathan Bishop’s goal.

From that point, it was game, set and match as the Stags failed to create in the final 20 minutes. The first defeat in six fixtures in all competitions is no reason to panic as all good runs always come to an end.

Mansfield will have a perfect opportunity to bounce back, however, as they take on Crawley Town at The People’s Pension Stadium this weekend.

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