Mansfield Town end poor away run with win at Northampton Town
The struggling Stags picked up their first away win since New Year’s Day thanks to goals from Danny Rose and Willem Tomlinson.
Substitute Harry Smith grabbed a late consolation for the hosts, who played with just 10 men for 80 minutes.
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Hide AdJoe Riley returned to the starting line-up in place of Hayden White in the only change to the side that lost 1-0 at Cheltenham Town last weekend.
Teenagers Maison Campbell and Tyrese Sinclair were both named on the bench by boss Graham Coughlan.
Stags’ shot stopper Aidan Stone had to have his wits about him early on to keep out Nicky Adams’ free-kick.
Northampton were down to 10 in the 10th minute when Sam Hoskins was sent off for chopping down Harry Charsley in the box. And Rose made no mistake from 12 yards as he sent Steve Arnold the wrong way.
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Hide AdThe visitors really had their tails up after going ahead. It was almost two when Kelland Watts headed Rose’s strike just over the bar.
Watts tried an audacious effort from distance, but Arnold was easily able to claim it.
CJ Hamilton’s teasing cross was headed just wide as the Stags threatened towards the end of the half.
At the other end Stone showed quick reactions to get to and keep out Scott Wharton’s header.
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Hide AdMoments later Rose was superbly kept out by Arnold before Charsley’s follow-up was scrambled clear.
Joe Riley rattled the bar with a stoppage-time free-kick.
Half-time substitute Harry Smith almost made an immediate impact when he headed wide at the back post.
Just before the hour Willem Tomlinson squandered a glorious chance to put the game to bed when he blazed over from inside the box.
Stones make a fantastic tracking-back stop to tip Lloyd Jones’ header over.
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Hide AdAnd the keeper produced another fine save to keep out Wharton’s headed effort.
With 16 minutes left Tomlinson wrapped the game up with a calm finish.
Deep in stoppage time Smith denied Stone a deserved clean sheet when he headed home.
Northampton: Arnold, Goode, Turnball, Wharton, Marshall (Smith, 45), McCormack (Jones, 65), Watson, Adams, Hoskins, Morton, Oliver. Unused subs: Cornell, Lines, Pollock, Anderson, Jones, Harriman.
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Hide AdMansfield: Stone, Sweeney, Pearce, Watts (White, 87), Riley, Tomlinson, Bishop, Charsley, Hamilton, Rose, Maynard (Davies, 82). Unused subs: Campbell, Benning, Evans, Sinclair, Knowles.
Referee: Peter Wright.