Stags continue their unbeaten run as they record their first away league victory of the season

Mansfield Town battled until the very end as goals from John-Joe O’Toole and Ryan Stirk saw the amber and blues record their fourth successive victory.

O’Toole was on the scoresheet once again as the defender gave the Stags the lead after nodding in Stephen McLaughlin’s free-kick from close range in the 19th minute.

The hosts equalised 10 minutes into the second half as Scott Cuthbert headed in Arthur Read’s corner, but it was Mansfield that had the final say. Stirk’s calm finish in the 65th minute saw the amber and blues claim another vital win and move them up to 18th in League Two.

Nigel Clough named an unchanged side from the fantastic 1-0 win away at Sunderland in the FA Cup. the only missing player was Danny Johnson as he was not named on the substitutes bench due to an ankle injury.

Stevenage started off brightly as they looked to create chances for their forward pair of Elliott List and ex-Stags forward Jamie Reid.

The latter had the best opportunity of the opening 15 minutes as he sent his volley goalwards only for it to cannon off the inside of the post and into the grasp of Nathan Bishop in the Mansfield goal.

Moments later, the Stags had a brilliant chance of their own. From a corner, the ball fell to Oli Hawkins who failed to keep his effort down and was unable to trouble Boro goalkeeper Adam Smith.

However from the very next set-piece, the amber and blues found the breakthrough. McLaughlin’s brilliant cross found O’Toole at the back post as he scored his second goal in as many games and gave the visitors a vital 1-0 lead.

Alex Revell’s men looked to get back into the game as soon as possible with a headed chance for List failing to hit the target and trouble Bishop.

The Boro appealed for a penalty minutes after the half-hour mark as Bradley Barry was brought down but the referee was unmoved and waved the appeals away.

Clough’s side could had the chance to double their advantage in the 36th minute. Rhys Oates was slipped in and was one-on-one with Smith but the forward failed to hit the target at the crucial moment.

In the dying embers of the first half, Reid hit the post again as the Stags remained in front at the half-time interval after O’Toole’s goal.

10 minutes into the second half, Read’s corner was able to reach Cuthbert at the back post as the Stevenage captain levelled the game up at 1-1.

After replacing George Lapslie, Stirk made a positive impression on the game and reaped the rewards in the 65th minute. The midfielder danced his way into the Stevenage box before calmly slotting the ball into the bottom corner for his first professional goal of his career.

The hosts had to dig deep once again to find their way back into the contest but efforts from Jake Taylor and Read failed to hit the target.

With 10 minutes to go, Jake Reeves had a brilliant opportunity to score Stevenage’s second equaliser, however, Bishop got across quickly to catch the ball and keep the Stags in front.

Mansfield were able to hold onto their lead until the end and claimed a vital three points to continue their unbeaten run.

Clough’s men now have the full week to prepare for their home match against bottom of the league Scunthorpe United next weekend.

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