Mansfield Town still searching for first win after being sunk by late goals at Newport County

Late goals from Scott Twine and Matt Dolan denied battling Mansfield their first win of the new season.

Stephen McLaughlin’s wonder strike put the Stags on course to get their faltering start to the season off and running.

But Twine’s 78th minute equaliser and Dolan’s last-gasp penalty strike was tough to swallow for Graham Coughlan’s team.

The Stags have now not won in any of their six games so far this campaign.

Brandon Cooper had a shot blocked from the edge of the box in only the third minute as Newport made a bright start.

And soon after Joss Labadie had a shot charged down as the hosts pushed for an early advantage.

Town had their first chance in the eighth minute but McLaughlin’s sweet left-foot strike flew well over.

Moments later Nicky Maynard had a good chance to open the scoring, but he blasted well over having been teed up by McLaughlin.

Mickey Demetriou rifled wide of the left post as County rallied on the counter, before midfielder Ollie Clarke had an effort blocked at the other end.

George Maris went agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock but his powerful shot was well-saved by keeper Nick Townsend.

Demetriou saw his crisp shot deflected but Town shot-stopper Aidan Stone was equal to the effort and made a fine save to keep proceedings level-pegging.

Swindon loanee Twine hit the target but again Stone saved well.

Five minutes before the break Labadie tried his luck from distance, but his right-foot strike flew high and wide.

Maynard came close to giving the visitors a welcome half-time advantage, but he shot wide of the right post.

Welshman Cooper was unlucky not to give the home side the lead just ten minutes after the restart, but Stone produced a fine fingertip save to deflect his shot over the crossbar.

And then Jamie Reid blasted over on the hour mark as County kept pushing to break the deadlock.

But the breakthrough came for the Stags with 21 minutes remaining as McLaughlin netted with a screamer.

McLaughlin lashed into the top right corner to leave keeper Townsend no chance at all. It was a special strike from the Irishman.

Seconds later Maris came close to doubling the lead but he rifled wide of the left post.

However, there was still time for a twist in the tale.

Twine levelled with 12 minutes remaining, rifling into the bottom left corner.

And then with two minutes left Dolan tucked away from the spot after Rollin Menayesse was penalised for a handball in the box.

Newport: Townsend, Cooper, Dolan, Demetriou, Shephard, Labadie, Sheehan, Twine (Bennett 90), Haynes, Abrahams (Amond 83), Taylor (Janneh 65). Subs: King, Baker, Willmott, Ellison.

Mansfield: Stone, Menayese, Rawson, Sweeney, O’Keeffe (Cook 90+2), O Clarke (Smith 84), Maris, Perch McLaughlin, Maynard (Bowery 75), Reid. Subs: Benning, Charsley,O’Driscoll, Campbell.

Referee: Sam Allison