Mansfield Town’s poor run extended as high-flying Lincoln City win again
Mansfield Town were unable to halt their poor run of League One results as promotion-chasing Lincoln City came away with a 2-0 win at the One Call Stadium this afternoon.
That was seven league outings without a win for the Stags while for the high-flying Imps it was a 16th game unbeaten and a sixth win in seven outings.
Lincoln broke through with a 43rd minute penalty from Rob Street and survived some second half home pressure before Tom Bayliss sealed it in stoppage time at the end.
Mansfield made five changes as Kyle Knoyle, Aaron Lewis, Nathan Moriah-Welsh, Will Evans and Rhys Oates started in place of Luke Bolton, Jon Russell, Oliver Irow, Regan Hendry and Victor Adeboyejo.
Knoyle started on the right of a back three.
Tyler Roberts returned to the Mansfield bench after a lengthy absence with a calf injury.
The Imps made three changes as Ben House made his 100th EFL start for the visitors.
Stags had a scare on three minutes when it seemed Oshilaja had let the ball go for Roberts to gather and the keeper was not expecting it. But Knoyle hooked away before lurking City players could capitalise.
Lewis then got in an important tackle on Moylan as he attacked the box on 11 minutes.
Soon after there was concern as Reed went down after a coming together in a challenge but he was able to carry on.
A poor square ball from Blake-Tracy put Knoyle in trouble on 17 minutes and he took the booking to stop House racing away.
From the free kick, Bradley met it on the volley at the far post five yards out forcing Roberts into an acrobatic stop.
Lewis had Mansfield's first shot charged down on 20 minutes.
A minute later McGrandles wasn't far wide with a low shot from 25 yards as the visitors continued to look dangerous.
Oates picked out McLaughlin at the back stick with a long cross from the right o 25 minutes, but the Irishman's header was well off target.
On 31 minutes Evans robbed McGrandles in the home half and set Oates away to his left, but Oates' attempt at finding Evans for a tap-in was cut out.
When Varfolomeev failed to retreat 10 yards for a home free kick, Reed played the ball against him and the Lincoln man was booked.
But disaster struck two minutes from the break.
Akins could not cut out a far post cross and it reached Moylan, who was tripped by Evans and the referee immediately gave the penalty.
Street drilled it low inside the left post and, although Roberts went the right way, the pace of the kick comfortably beat him and the Imps were ahead.
Hewitt and Russell came on for Knoyle and Moriah-Welsh for the second half.
A flick on by Blake-Tracy on an Oshilaja header forward almost put Evans in on goal on the restart, but Wickens came to the edge of his area to block.
That sparked a good spell of early home pressure which had the Stags fans in full voice behind them.
On 57 minutes Blake-Tracy headed wide from a Lewis corner while Roberts was able to grab a downward header from Bradley from a corner at the other end shortly after.
Oates broke away onto a McLaughlin ball on 64 minutes and was wiped out by the challenge of Wickens as McGrandles also went into the challenge.
But the expected penalty decision did not happen to the home side's anger.
Stags quickly sent on Tyler Roberts for Evans.
On 70 minutes Moylan's far post cross found Street, but he headed over the top and Mansfield then survived a couple more scrambles in their box as the Imps went up a gear.
Darikwa was booked for something he said to the referee on 77 minutes just before Stags sent on Abbott for Lewis.
Stags had another big penalty shout on 80 minutes as Tyler Roberts went down under a challenge but again play went on.
Oates was brought down in full flight two minutes later to earn Bradley a caution.
Adeboyejo took over from McLaughlin with four minutes remaining.
Reed came so close to an equaliser in the final minute of the 90 with a 20 yard shot that went just wide of the angle.
But Lincoln finally made certain of the points in the fifth added minute as Jeffries crossed to the far post from the left where Bayliss steered home a volleyed finish from six yards.
STAGS: Roberts, Knoyle (Hewitt HT), Oshilaja, Blake-Tracy, Akins, Lewis (Abbott 78), Reed , McLaughlin (Adeboyejo 86), Moriah-Welsh (Russell HT), Evans ( T. Roberts 65), Oates. SUBS NOT USED: Bolton, Irow.
LINCOLN: Wickens, Darikwa, Reach, Hackett (Jefferies 70), Moylan (Towler 70), McGrandles, Bradley, Street (Lloyd 86), House (Oné 70), Hamer, Varfolomeev (Bayliss 78). SUBS NOT USED: Jeacock, Elerewe.
REFEREE: David Rock.
ATTENDANCE: 9,050 (1,649 away).