Mansfield Town unbeaten run halted by second half Northampton Town fightback
Mansfield Town's five game unbeaten run in League One was halted by a Northampton Town fightback this afternoon as Stags went down 2-1 in the lunchtime kick-off at Sixfields.
Another superb finish by Rhys Oates separated the sides at the break.
And, although Liam Roberts did make a good reflex save at 0-0, the visitors were good value for their lead and could have gone in further ahead against a side who had lost four of their previous five games in all competitions
That temporarily had Stags as high as fifth in the table.
But, after surviving early Mansfield pressure after the break, the home side levelled against the run of play through Jack Perkins on 53 minutes and then took the lead through Tom Eaves from the penalty spot with 16 minutes remaining after Deji Oshilaja had brought down Ethan Wheatley.
Boss Nigel Clough named the same starting XI for a sixth league game in a row and midfielder George Maris was fit enough to be named on the bench after he limped off at Huddersfield in the midweek Vertu EFL Trophy game.
Both Mansfield's Roberts, Liam and Tyler, were back at their former club.
Stags almost gifted the Cobblers a goal in the very first minute.
An overhit backpass from Oshilaja conceded an unnecessary corner which Taylor sent over and Thornily headed narrowly wide in a real let-off.
Roberts then made a fine reflex save on nine minutes as Fornah beat Lewis and hoisted a cross to the far post where McGeehan was denied by the keeper from close range.
Two minutes later Knoyle tried his luck from the right corner of the box but curled well over.
But Stags were ahead on 18 minutes. Under pressure, Stags launched a swift counter attack and Evans looked up midway in his half and launched a long forward ball for Oates to chase.
Controlling it on the right, Oates then cut inside Perkins and from outside the box rifled a sweet low finish inside the far post.
On 27 minutes Roberts had a shot blocked from a great pull back from Evans after Evans had done well to slide in and keep the ball in play.
Then Oates whipped a shot just over the far angle from the left as the vsitors continued to impress.
Knoyle then got a good block in on a Perkins shot from a long Willis throw as the Cobblers looked for a way back into the game.
Tyler Roberts picked up a knock on 39 minutes and he was brought off on 39 minutes to be replaced by Maris.
An Oates cross was just too high for Evans to get over with his header.
And Stags came even closer on 43 minutes as McLaughlin headed a Lewis corner right across goal at the near post and Maris was inches away from turning the ball home from close range.
Mansfield came back out on the front foot, forcing three early corners, Knoyle having a shot charged down from the second and Moriah-Welsh too high with a 20-yard shot soon after.
But, against the run of play, the Cobblers levelled on 53 minutes.
McCarthy sent in a long cross from the right which was headed on by McGeehan and reached Perkins, who had drifted free at the far post, from where he smashed a powerful, rising finish between keeper and post from a tight angle.
On the hour Wheatley was wide on the turn as the game became finely balanced with the home side clearly boosted by their goal.
Akins took over from Moriah-Welsh on 64 minutes.
Three minutes later Maris made good progress down the left and then from 18 yards was inches wide of the far post with his low attempt.
But the home comeback was complete on 74 minutes.
Wheatley cut into the box from the left and was brought down by Oshilaja, whose attempted tackle caught him on the shin.
The referee pointed to the spot and sub Eaves calmly sent Roberts the wrong way.
As the game entered its last 10 minutes, Dwyer and Bowery took over from Evans and Knoyle.
Mansfield should have snatched an equaliser on 87 minutes after Oates did well to cross from the left to Akins who, six yards from goal, planted his free header straight at Fitzsimons.
The home fans were furious to see the officials find nine extra minutes to add on at the end.
In the second of those Wheatley was just unable to bury a low List cross at the near post that would have sealed it.
Three minutes later Roberts was down to his left to turn around a low List effort as the home side finished the game on the front foot.
NORTHAMPTON: Fitzsimons, Burroughs (List 81), McCarthy (Swyer 72), Willis, McGeehan, Fornah, Thornily, Wheatley, Perkins, Edwards (Eaves HT), Taylor. SUBS NOT USED: Burge, Guthrie, Jacobs, Tomlinson.
STAGS: Roberts, Knoyle (Bowery 81), Oshilaja, Blake-Tracy, McLaughlin, Lewis, McDonnell, Moriah-Welsh (Akins 64), T. Roberts, Evans (Dwyer 81), Oates. SUBS NOT USED: Mason, Sweeney, Dickov.
REFEREE: Elliot Bell.