Palmer Strike Gets Stags Up & Running

Ollie Palmer pictured with fellow substitutes warming up for the Wycombe encounter - @StephenThirkill (PIC)

Substitute Ollie Palmer proved the hero at Wycombe Wanderers this afternoon as he came from the bench to gift Mansfield their first win of the new season, and their first in the football league since 2008. 


It took Palmer a mere ten minutes on the pitch to net the opener, tapping in after striking the post with a header - Paul Cox's men deserved the victory following a dominant attacking display.


Boss Paul Cox made two changes as Mansfield searched for their first victory back in the football league, Ben Hutchinson and Chris Clements both impressed for the reserves at Doncaster during the week and both were brought into the first team at the expense of Ollie Palmer and Anthony Howell.


Stags came the closest to drawing first blood on 11 minutes as advancing wing back James Jenningsgfgtg drew a smart save from Matt Ingram in the Wycombe goal as he tipped over the 18 yard drive - however the same intensity couldn't be said of the resulting corner as Wycombe cleared their lines.


Eight minutes later Ben Hutchinson saw claims for a spot kick fall on deaf ears when he felt Chales Dunne had fouled him inside the area following a right wing cross as Cox's Stags continued to press forward - Sam Clucas also brushed the side netting but Mansfield couldn't break the deadlock. 


Wycombe saw a half chance at the other end as Nick Arnold whipped in a cross for Matt McClure, the chairboys front man couldn't connect much to Mansfield's releif. 


On the half hour mark James Jennings' deep free kick caused trouble for the hosts as Sam Clucas nodded wide of the target following Calvin Andrew's forcefull effort back across the bos - seconds later Clucas was flagged offside as Stags looked to cut the hosts open. 


Calvin Andrew was next to strike on 34 minutes as he went in search of his first Stags goal, however on the spin from Hutchinson's low pass, the former Crystal Palace man fired wide of Ingram's goal. 


Towards the end of the first half the pendulum began to swing as moments after Andrew's effort, Alan Marriott was called into action, Josh Scowen saw his effort palmed away after robbing Lee Beevers of the ball before Paris Cowan-Hall also struck but again couldn't beat Marriott, who got down low to palm the ball away.


Marriott and his defence also had to defend two late corners, the first led to Nick Arnold firing over the bar from the edge of the box, the second came to nothing after John Dempster picked up a yellow card, the two sides went into the dressing rooms level at the break. 


Stags began the second half brightly as Ben Hucthinson tested the water on 49 minutes before the front man sent Clucas through on goal, the ex Hereford man earned Mansfield a corner which they again failed to make pay as skipper Dempster headed over.


Mansfield were piling on the pressure and soon earned another corner as Jennings saw a long range effort palmed away, Calvin Andrew then let fly with an ambitious over head kick from Clements' delivery on 56 minutes.


Paris Cowan-Hall was stretchered off after a challenge from McGuire on 65 minutes, the Stags then made their first change on 68 minutes as Ollie Palmer replaced Sam Clucas, seconds later Palmer's clip forward was headed behind by Andrew as Stags continued their quest for an opener and first football league goal since 2008. Matt Rhead was then introduced for Andrew on 73 minutes and within seconds, saw a headed flick on held by the home keeper.


Substitute Ollie Palmer then put Stags ahead on 78th minute, Martin Riley nodded against the post from Clements' free kick, the rebound fell back into Palmer's path who slammed home for his first Stags goal, Mansfield's first in the division since 2008.


Ollie Palmer was then put through one vs one with Ingram by McGuire, however the Chairboys keeper stood firm to deny the advancing front man a second strike. 


The hosts squandered the chance to level moments later as Kuffour sliced an 88th minute wide of the target from just inside the area. Mansfield's slender lead was tested by the hosts however Stags hung on through five minutes of added time and against close to a second as Ritchie Sutton nodded wide late on. 



FULL TIME: Wycombe Wanderers 0-1 Mansfield Town

ATTENDANCE: 3,352 (251)

REFEREE: Keith Hill

STAGS: Alan Marriott, Lee Beevers, Ritchie Sutton, John Dempster (C), Martin Riley, James Jennings, Chris Clements, Jamie McGuire, Calvin Andrew (Matt Rhead 73), Ben Hutchinson (Anthony Howell 90+3), Sam Clucas (Ollie Palmer 68)
UNUSED SUBS: Liam Mitchell, Lee Stevenson, Ryan Tafazolli, Lindon Meikle