Hawkins x Johnson: Stags’ strikers get off the mark as the amber and blues beat Bristol Rovers in dramatic fashion

Strikers are there to score goals when they are needed the most and Mansfield Town’s Oli Hawkins and Danny Johnson did just that.

The Stags, backed by over 5,000 fans inside the One Call Stadium, knew that they had to continue from where they left off and get the job done against Bristol Rovers.

On the other hand, the Gas knew how much a win would calm their early-season jitters and help them find their way out of League Two and back into the third tier.

As Joey Barton’s men went to find out, the task that lied ahead of them wasn’t going to be an easy one as the strike duo of Hawkins and Johnson continued their partnership after a fantastic pre-season.

The game started at a very slow tempo and balls were being hoofed up as both sides tested the waters. Long balls into Hawkins were trapped by the tall striker with the Stags’ number 12 intelligently passing the ball about and looking to find a way through on goal.

Johnson really got involved in the 19th minute as he won the amber and blues a free-kick. The effort from Stephen McLaughlin was blocked, but Johnson did very well to win the set-piece. The forward got the ball on the edge of the area and cleverly shielded the ball until he was bundled over and the referee gave the decision in Mansfield Town’s favour.

Bristol Rovers had a chance of their own five minutes later. The Stags were caught napping and a quick free-kick found Harry Anderson, however, the hosts’ goalkeeper, Nathan Bishop, saw the danger and rushed out of goal quickly to make a vital save.

Two deliveries came into the Rovers’ box with the amber and blues failing to connect with the ball, but on the third attempt, they got the goal they were looking for. McLaughlin played his corner short to skipper Ollie Clarke who played the ball back to the left-back as he crossed the ball into the danger area. Hawkins made the leap and got their first to head the ball into the back of the net.

Twelve minutes into the second-half, the Stags were inches away from finding their second of the game. Stephen Quinn looked to pick out Johnson with a through ball, but unfortunately, the pass was slightly under-hit as the visitors cleared the danger.

Rovers were level not long after that. A corner, that was only partially cleared by Mansfield Town, saw Cian Harries strike the ball first time beating Bishop in the process and levelling the game up at 1-1.

The game was flipped on its head on 77 minutes. An altercation between Johnson and Paul Cotts saw the latter sent off after hitting Stags’ number 11 off the ball and seeing the Rovers go down to 10 men.

Johnson continued to find the goal by having two chances in the dying embers of the game. His first saw him break at pace and hit the side netting with his second shot wide of the target after George Lapslie headed the ball into the path of the forward.

It looked to be an agonising end to the game as Hawkins headed his effort wide of the target, but he was involved once more in the final minute of added time to win a penalty after being dragged down by Mark Hughes.

His strike partner, Johnson, stepped up to take the penalty and slotted the ball into the bottom left corner to earn the Stags all three points.

Mansfield Town’s front two got off to the perfect start by scoring the two vital goals in a fixture that could have gone either way.

Hawkins and Johnson have clicked instantly, and if they are able to continue their goalscoring antics, they will be a handful for defenders up and down the league.

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