Hague’s strike puts Stags Education back on top
First-half goals from Matthew Hague and Reece Reed proved to be enough as the Stags Education team beat i2i Academy 2-1 on Wednesday afternoon.
Hague’s sixth-minute powerful strike got the hosts off to a perfect start. Le’Andre McKay could only watch as the ball flew past him.
Stags' first-half dominance was rewarded when Reece Reed tapped home from close range to put his side two up at the break.
The visitors halved the deficit when Zac Fragione scored one minute into the second half and looked to spark a comeback.
Mansfield withstood the pressure and returned to the top of the league.
After the game, Head coach Keiran Coupe spoke about his side's impressive first-half performance, saying that it was the “best we have played in a long time.”
Fragione’s early strike changed the complexion of the second-half and Coupe went on to say: “Our boys dug in deep and did really well.
“I2i is a strong side full of international players fighting for scholarships; it’s a testing league this year, and our boys are standing up to it well.”
Mansfield started the game in controlling fashion with i2i rarely venturing past the halfway line, and after just six minutes Stags made it count.
Tom Fleet kept the ball alive well in the area and laid it off to Matthew Hague, who found himself with ample space.
Hague took a touch and made no mistake with his finish. The midfielder precisely placed the ball in the top corner, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.
The pattern of Mansfield control continued throughout the first half. Divine Iyamu, who has been in good goalscoring form, had several chances but couldn’t find the finish.
Reece Reed doubled the Stags’ lead with 41 minutes played.
The ball fell to Jack Clarke, who struck a sweet volley that was matched by an equally impressive save, but defender Reed was on hand to tap home the rebound.
The visitors made a much stronger start to the second half and had a goal back within a minute of the restart.
Zac Fragione rounded Jordan Bird in the Mansfield goal and finished coolly.
Bird was the busier of the two goalkeepers as the game drew to a close, but his side withstood the pressure and walked away with all three points.
This win takes Stags back to the top of the NFYL North Central Championship, with three wins in their first four games of the season.