Solar Powered Stags | Stags 1-0 Morecambe

Sky Bet League Two | Saturday 27th February 2021 – One Call Stadium  [Behind Closed Doors]

Following a run of three consecutive defeats, a grey cloud was starting to form over Mansfield Town, however as glorious sunshine began to break through over the areas skyline – the Stags players were determined to go off-script against promotion chasing Morecambe, ending their poor form with a 1-0 victory thanks to Jordan Bowery’s first half strike.

The Stags showed vast improvement from Tuesday’s night’s lacklustre showing at Harrogate with the sunlight almost acting as solar power, as Clough’s men put in more energy to prevent Morecambe from having the opportunity to hurt us – exactly the type of performance I want to see from home games, telling opposition that if you want to take anything home from Mansfield, you’ll have to dam well work for it.

Nigel Clough made three changes, one enforced, from Tuesday’s game – however new defender Jake Wright, signed on a short term deal following a 6-8 week trial, only made the bench – despite Clough clearly being unhappy with Rawson and Sweeney in conceding Tuesday’s criminal goal.

He did tweak the defence with Benning in at left back and Gordon on the opposite side – the former was impressive for me and really gave us more of an assured presence both defending and going forward, also brining the best out of Bowery, when those two are paired down the left, Mansfield in my opinion are far more effective.

Adding Stephen Quinn into the mix there as well really adds flavour, his part in setting up the goal was excellent – the more games he plays, the more he’s settling – I can’t wait for Lapslie to be fit again to see them both get a run of games alongside each other.

The main star for me though again was the “youngster” Jason Law was absolutely tremendous on the right hand side of the front three. The 21 year old has had to wait patiently for his opportunity since arriving in 2015 – Clough, the sixth manager Law has served, has certainly seen something in him and is certainly getting the return to his faith.

Law was heavily involved yesterday and looked lively, having four or five opportunities in the first half alone to either open the scoring himself or provide an assist, his set play deliveries were on the money too – the goal coming from the second phase of play from Laws’ corner.

His hunger and desire to keep his shirt is refreshing and long may that continue.

Whilst yesterday’s victory wasn’t the prettiest – it did the basics in keeping a clean sheet and really stopping Morecambe from getting going, that’s pleasing enough for me – we have eight games next month and if that can be the core basis of our play, I think we’ll have a steady run to first and foremost, secure survival.

A tough game Tuesday night in Bradford, however as Andy Cook can’t play – that will disrupt their front line a little and give us a bit of an edge, but again let’s do the same again, prevent them from having opportunities and see what happens.

Three points and a clean sheet – job done, onto the next one.    

Click HERE to read the clubs official match report.

​STAGS: Aidan Stone | Kellan Gordon, Farrend Rawson, Ryan Sweeney, Mal Benning | George Maris, Ollie Clarke ©, Stephen Quinn | Jason Law (Harry Charsley 90+2), Jamie Reid, Jordan Bowery
Unused Subs: Marek Stech, Corey O’Keeffe, James Perch, James Clarke, Jake Wright, Tyrese Sinclair