County extended their unbeaten start back in League One with a draw at the One Call Stadium against Mansfield Town.
A closely contested game between two of the three clubs who were automatically promoted out of League Two last season saw the Stags take the lead through Hiram Boateng, before Kyle Wootton equalised just before the break.
This was the fifth meeting between the two clubs since County’s return to the Football League in 2022, with the Stags boasting an unbeaten record with three wins and one draw against Dave Challinor’s side prior to this clash.
It was a sunny end to August at the Field Mill with County making two changes to the starting lineup that had beaten Bristol Rovers 2-0 the previous week, with Jayden Fevrier and Tyler Onyango making their first league start for the club, Jack Diamond dropping to the bench and Jay Mingi missing out through injury. Meanwhile Jack Stretton made the bench after returning from injury – his first appearance in a competitive matchday squad since the League Two Play-Off final in 2022.
The visitors suffered a 4-1 defeat in their previous game against Lincoln City, and endured further pain on deadline day as David Keillor-Dunn and Will Swan joined Barnsley and Crawley Town respectively. However, new addition Ben Waine, who was brought in on loan from Plymouth Argyle, came on as a substitute for the Stags.
It was an even first-half, with County going closest to opening the scoring in the fourth minute – Jayden Fevrier jinxing past his man down the right wing before forcing a fantastic save from Christy Pym, the goalkeeper tipping his effort onto the crossbar.
No less than a minute later, County fashioned another chance, Tyler Onyango meeting Oliver Norwood’s corner with a glancing header that went wide of the right-side post.
The Stags showed their attacking threat soon after, Louis Reed playing a through ball over the top of the County defence, but Stephen McLaughlin was unable to bring down the pass.
The home side did eventually take the lead in the 22nd minute. Lucas Akins’ square ball was collected by Hiram Boateng, whose powerful shot couldn’t be kept out by Corey Addai – the first goal County have conceded in the league this season.
A quiet spell in the game for both teams followed, until the 37th minute when Kyle Wootton got County back level. Callum Camps recycled a loose ball, floating it into Fraser Horsfall, whose header forced another fine save out of Pym – however, Wootton was on hand to head home his third goal of the season from close range.
HALF-TIME: Mansfield Town 1-1 County
Mansfield started the second half the more dangerous of the two teams, and five minutes after the restart Addai was called into action after Lee Gregory got on the end of a quick free-kick.
However, County responded immediately with Louie Barry gathering the ball on the halfway line, driving into the Mansfield box and striking with his left foot to once again force Pym into making a save.
Nigel Clough’s side enjoyed a spell of pressure midway through the second half but were unable to fashion many clear-cut opportunities. Mansfield did have the ball in net through Akins, but the referee blew for a foul on Ibou Touray.
County then finished the game as the stronger side, going close several times. The first coming from Callum Camps with a driving run through midfield before curling a shot just wide of Pym’s left-hand post.
The best opportunity to win the game came in stoppage time; Mansfield caught out at the back as the ball fell to Jayden Fevrier, who squared the ball to substitute Tanto Olaofe – but his effort went just wide of the post.
It finished as a well-earned point on the road, against a team that have caused issues for Dave Challinor’s side in recent years, as County remain unbeaten before their next game in the league away to Crawley Town on September 14th.
FULL-TIME: Mansfield Town 1-1 County
Unused Subs: Hinchliffe, Bailey, Diamond, Mapengu, Stretton, Watson.
Booked: Camps
Man of the Match:
Attendance: 8219 (1391)
Reporter: Ben McCarthy
Photographer: Phillip Oldham
