MANSFIELD TOWN 2 STEVENAGE BOROUGH 3

 

Borough displayed character in abundance to come back from two Kyle Perry goals inside 15 minutes to earn their fourth consecutive Blue Square Premier victory. Despite losing Mitchell Cole and Lee Boylan to injury in the first half, goals from Chris Beardsley, Yemi Obudabe and Charlie Griffin earned Borough the three points against a side that were forced to play the second half with ten men after Perry was sent off for a dreadfull raking of Boylan.

 

There was just one change from Borough after Tuesday evening’s victory over Eastbourne, Eddie Odhiambo in to replace Stacy Long, who dropped to the bench.

 

Borough got off to the worst possible start falling behind after just two minutes. Rod Duffy conjured a freekick for the home side with his customary collapsing trick under minimal contact from Mark Roberts. Gary Mills floated the ball into the area and although Jon Ashton headed clear the initial cross the Borough rearguard failed to deal with Louis Briscoe’s return cross and Kyle Perry was on hand to slam the ball past Chris Day from six yards. 

 

Borough came back well at the home side, Scott Garner was fortunate to only receive only a yellow card after hauling Mitchell Cole down in full flight: Cole initially continued by after a few minutes was replaced by Eddie Odubade. Ronnie Henry had a good shout for a penalty when Ryan Williams pulled him down, but against the run of play it was Mansfield who found the net next. Roberts, mindful of Duffy’s ability to earn penalties allowed the forward to back into him in the penalty area and the ball fell to Perry who calmly claimed his second goal of the afternoon with a low drive into the corner of the net.

 

Unperturbed Borough continued to press forwards, but the elusive break would not come. Bostwick had a header cleared off the line by Briscoe, Odubade and Lee Boylan had efforts blocked after Alan Marriott flapped at a cross from Jon Ashton and Odhiambo fired over after being sent clear by a quick freekick from Joel Byrom. In a rare foray forward Perry almost collected his hat-trick when he met a cross from Gary Mills, but this time it was Bostwick who scrambled the ball off the line.

 

Minutes later Perry was again the centre of attention, this time for all the wrong reasons. As Mansfield cleared the ball he clashed with Boylan and with the striker on the floor stamped on him. At first it looked as though he would escape punishment, but after a lengthy delay the fourth official became involved and Mansfield two goal striker was justifiably shown the red card. From hero to zero in a moment of madness.

 

With the fracas calmed down and Charlie Griffin on to replace the groggy Boylan, Borough got back to the matter of attempting to reduce the deficit, and deep in the six minutes of added time Borough got their rewards. A cross from the right was meet by a near post run from Beardsley and the former Mansfield striker glided his header past Marriott. It was the least Borough deserved.

 

Not surprisingly the home side opted to sit back in the second half and play on the break. As a consequence there was less space for Borough to attack and although they were in total control they had to play a more patient game. They almost carved out an equaliser ten minutes in when Laird slid a ball into the path of Griffin, but first he and then Odubade were denied by excellent saves from Marriott. However, Borough did not have to wait long to restore parity. Bostwick hung a teasing cross to the far post, Beardsley side-footed it back across goal and Odubade was on hand to tap home.

 

There was no let up from Borough as they relentlessly chased the third goal. It came on 69 minutes and its architect was Scott Laird. The left back surged into the area, pulled a ball back from the by-line and although Marriott did well to save Odhiambo’s first effort Griffin was on hand to fire in to the roof of the net from close range. Minutes later Laird had a chance to make it four when a weak Gary Silk back header saw him on goal, but he was caught between shooting and squaring to the lurking Griffin, and in the end his weak effort achieved neither aim. Laird did much better with ten minutes remaining, his 25-yard drive tipped just over the bar by Marriott.

  

 

STEVENAGE BOROUH (4-4-2) C Day – R Henry, J Ashton, M Roberts, S Laird – E Odhiambo, M Bostwick, J Byrom, M Cole (Sub: Y Odubade, 25) – L Boylan (Sub: C Griffin, 45), C Beardsley (Sub: M Albrighton, 79). Substitutes not used: A Bayes, S Long.