MATCH REPORT: Mansfield Town 0 Grimsby Town 1

Stags have only won once at home all season and have now gone 451 minutes of football without finding the net.

It started well enough today as they took the game to the Mariners and Danny Rose twice went close.

But when Scott Shearer conceded a 17th minute penalty kick, tucked away well by Omar Bogle, the visitors grew in confidence and defended superbly to frustrate Adam Murray’s men.

Mansfield made two changes with a full debut for new signing Oscar Gobern in the centre of midfield.

Gobern signed last week and was a second half substitute in the 0-0 draw at Hartlepool United.

Also coming into the side for the early kick-off was fellow midfielder Kevan Hurst.

The changes saw Jamie McGuire and CJ Hamilton drop to the bench.

Defender Krystian Pearce shook off an ankle injury to keep his place in the side and midfield ace Chris Clements was named on the bench after recovering from injury.

The game kicked off in a tremendous atmosphere with over 1,500 Grimsby fans in full cry, filling the whole North Stand.

Stags began on the front foot and tested keeper McKeown after six minutes as Collins slid the ball to Danny Rose to his left and he cut inside on his right foot to curl a shot on target that the keeper punched away.

Stags kept the attack alive and Benning fired just wide from 18 yards.

Mansfield continued to pour forward with a couple of shots blocked and won their first corner, which was cleared.

On 10 minutes Davies launched a free kick to the Stags’ far post where Pearson stretched to head off target.

On 15 minutes Hurst swapped passes out on the right and sent in a superb low ball which Davies managed to slide in and hook away for a corner before Danny Rose could capitalise at the far post.

From the corner Davies then kicked away Danny Rose’s header off the line.

However, the visitors grabbed a 17th minute lead against the run of play.

Bogle ran onto a through ball and just beat Shearer to the ball, the keeper making contact and conceding the penalty, Bogle confidently sending Shearer the wrong way from the spot.

The Stags keeper was also booked for the foul.

Green almost put Mansfield level almost immediately as he cut in from the left and forced McKeown to save at his near post.

Soon after, Mitch Rose turned superbly to send Green away down the left and this time he curled a finish wide of the far post.

Grimsby were now starting to boss the game and looked confident in possession.

Stags’ raids were fewer and Danny Rose was well wide from distance as the home side laboured for a way to end their goal drought.

Mansfield began the second half well, winning their seventh corner and, soon after, Green nodded wide from a Benning cross.

Grimsby won their first corner of the game on 50 minutes which Danny Rose cleared with a brave diving header.

But the home side failed to get going and on 58 minutes Hamilton replaced Gobern to inject more pace into the attack.

Then on 61 minutes Hoban took over from Danny Rose up front.

Stags won their second corner of the half which saw Pearce rise to meet Hurst’s ball in only to nod it wide.

Mansfield made their final change on 65 minutes as they withdrew defender Iacovitti and brought on Clements.

Chambers was booked for tripping Benning on 72 minutes as the visitors comfortably kept the home side at bay.

A minute later Hurst bent in a fine cross from the right which Mitch Rose headed straight at the keeper.

Stags were almost caught on a breakaway, but Collins slid in well to block Tuton’s low shot for a Vose corner from which Pearson headed just wide of the far post.

But Grimsby held firm in four added minutes to secure a second away win on the bounce.

STAGS: Shearer, Bennett, Pearce, Iacovitti (Clements 65), Benning, M. Rose, Collins (C), Gobern (Hamilton 58), Hurst, D. Rose (Hoban 61), Green. Subs not used: Jensen, Clements, Hemmings, Darius Henderson, McGuire.

GRIMSBY: McKeown, Davies, Andrew, Pearson, Chambers, Bogle (Vernon 90+2), Vose, Jackson (Tuton 69), Summerfield, Collins, Comley. Subs not used: Dean Henderson, Disley, Berrett, Bolarinwa, Boyce.

REFEREE: Geoff Eltringham of County Durham.

ATTENDANCE: 4,401 (1,535 away).

CHAD STAGS MAN OF THE MATCH: Mitch Rose.