Two mistakes from set plays see the Stags draw with Grimsby

Two set-pieces and two goals that could have easily have been preventable. If it wasn’t for these minor mistakes, Mansfield Town could have ran away 2-0 victors over Grimsby Town and with a valuable clean sheet.

The first-half display from the amber and blues was impressive. They forced the Mariners into their own half, not allowing them to shoot and retaining possession well.

George Maris gave Mansfield the lead after 20 minutes with a thunderbolt of a strike. Jason Law did fantastically to gain possession of the ball and deliver a perfectly weighted ball for the Stags number 10 to lash into the back of the net from 25 yards.

The hosts could have converted a few other attempts that they had if it wasn’t for vital blocks from the Grimsby defence or key clearances by their shot-stopper James McKeown.

But Grimsby started to grow into the game in the second-half and turned the game on its head pinning Mansfield back further and further until they got a corner in the 64th minute.

George Williams took the corner and found Lenell John-Lewis in acres of space as the forward headed home the equaliser. Questions were asked on who should have marked him after such a positive defensive display up to that point.

Ferrand Rawson had a fantastic game at the back, pairing up with the experienced James Perch as Nigel Clough opted for those two as the centre-halves.

But the duo left John-Lewis completely unmarked and surprised on how they managed to make such a horrendous error that led to Grimsby’s equaliser.

It didn’t take long for the Stags to get back in front and it was another player that scored his first goal for the club. Jason Law saw his chance and buried the ball into the back of the net from close range, four minutes after the Mariners equalised.

With ten minutes to go however, Clough made another very questionable decision which was bringing Ryan Sweeney on, but instead of playing him in his preferred centre-back position, he played a very unfamiliar centre-forward role.

In virtually the last minute of normal time, Sweeney fouled his man on the edge of the area, a tackle that arguably wasn’t needed to have been made. Williams stepped up to the free-kick and slotted the ball in the top corner in what was a fantastic effort from just outside the box.

It was another lead that Mansfield failed to hold onto and another two points that were lost in the chase of getting to the vital 50 point mark.

The Stags could well have lost the point in the dying embers of the match as Williams hit the post from close range.

Once again, he was left unmarked and after a deep ball, anything could have happened if it wasn’t for Mansfield goalkeeper Aidan Stone covering his angles well.

The Stags have dropped many points from leading positions this season, something that needs addressing. Points on the board are a must until the end of the season to avoid a potential relegation from League Two in May.

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