VIDEO: STAGS' GOLDEN GOALS '” Kevin Randall puts Mansfield Town on way to vital promotion win against Port Vale
Each week we are taking a look at some of the best to hit the net for Mansfield Town over the past decades. If you have a goal you would like us to feature, email [email protected] with brief details and your memories of the strike and we will try to include in a future article.
This week we go back to April 1977 and a memorable season for Mansfield Town as they clinched the old Division Three title to set up their only season in the second tier of English football.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdEaster is not normally a happy hunting ground for the Stags, but this time it was.
Throughout the 1976-77 season the Stags were around the top three, but after a terrific run of just one defeat in 15 matches, promotion was suddenly in jeopardy.
Three successive away defeats and two home draws had sapped confidence, but then Easter Saturday and a trip to Port Vale provided an unlikely boost.
It was the first of three tough matches in four days, when the Easter schedule was even more jam-packed than today. But a precious 4-1 win kick-started their promotion dream and the Stags were to lose just once more that season.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe Stags were struggling at Vale Park when up stepped Kevin Randall to be the hero. The striker struck in the 23rd minute and from then on the Stags didn’t look back.
Randall, who netted 20 goals in 66 league appearances for the Stags, scored on a swift breakaway. The ball was cleared out of defence and taken down by Randall’s strike partner, Ernie Moss.
VIDEO: Watch Kevin Randall score against Port Vale - and the other goalsHe knocked the ball to Johnny Miller as he fell backwards. Miller then ran forward and slid an accurate low pass through the heart of thedefence and to the edge of the area, splitting two defenders.
Randall, running in free from the left, gratefully accepted the chance to find the bottom corner with a first-time, low, left-footed shot.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdIt was a classic breakaway goal full of one-touch passing and a delight to watch.
Vale quickly levelled, but in thesecond half Mansfield powered to victory as Kevin Bird struck twice and Colin Foster completed a one-sided second half.
The new-found confidence meant that on Easter Monday and then 24 hours later the Stags were twice victorious, defeating arch-rivals Chesterfield and promotion rivals Shrewsbury.
Video courtesy of StagsnetSTAGS’ GOLDEN GOALS: Wayne Corden starts promotion partyVIDEO: STAGS’ GOLDEN GOALS — Liam Lawrence hits last-gasp winner in thrilling derbyVIDEO: STAGS’ GOLDEN GOALS — George Foster’s Freight Rover Trophy area final stunnerVIDEO: STAGS’ GOLDEN GOALS — Simon Ireland heads cup winner at Leeds UnitedVIDEO: STAGS’ GOLDEN GOALS — Dave Syrett’s Mansfield Town hat-trick strike in a Spurs mudbathSTAGS’ GOLDEN GOALS — Keith Cassells curls in debut hat-trick to start Mansfield Town promotion seasonVIDEO: STAGS’ GOLDEN GOALS - Iyseden Christie grabs stoppage time Mansfield Town equaliser at Notts CountyVIDEO: STAGS’ GOLDEN GOALS — Kevin Kent scores at WembleySTAGS’ GOLDEN GOALS — Colin Larkin hits a screamer against ChesterSTAGS’ GOLDEN GOALS — Ian Juryeff helps Mansfield Town beat the drop with demolition of HalifaxSTAGS GOLDEN GOALS — John Lathan strikes for Mansfield Town in promotion party romp over Scunthorpe United