SWINDON Town’s wretched recent form continued under Jody Morris as Mansfield Town claimed their first win in Wiltshire since 1977 courtesy of a 4-2 success on Good Friday.
Rushian Hepburn-Murphy nabbed his second early goal in as many weeks to put the Robins ahead, only for Stephen Quinn to level not long after.
Lucas Akins and Rhys Oates established a first-half lead for the play-off chasers, and half-time substitute Hiram Boateng secured a fourth midway through the second period to pile more misery on the Robins.
A late consolation goal from Swindon substitute Jonny Williams did nothing to help avoid a seventh game without a win for Morris’ men, and the Robins remain 11th but find themselves 13 points away from both the play-off places and the relegation zone.
Morris opted for two changes to the side which started the 2-1 defeat to Hartlepool United last weekend as Jonny Williams and Tyrese Shade made way for Jacob Wakeling and Ronan Darcy.
Mansfield remained unchanged from their 4-1 victory over Crawley Town. Callum Johnson and George Maris returned to the squad while former Swindon midfielder Louis Reed remained out injured.
Despite the result being a sour one for Swindon, the hosts started brilliantly and were a goal up inside the first four minutes for the second week in a row. Remeao Hutton cut back onto his left foot near the right corner of the box and floated an inch-perfect cross into the middle. Hepburn-Murphy ghosted in unmarked and powered his header down to the left of Christy Pym.
The hosts’ lead lasted just 10 minutes, though, as Mansfield replied with a really well-worked goal that formed down the right flank. Elliott Hewitt played a one-two with Oates and crossed to the far post for Quinn to nod down into the bottom left corner – the Stags' first goal at the County Ground since 2002.
Mansfield almost doubled their lead via Quinn shortly after. Quinn - who had positioned himself on the edge of the box - watched a cross cleared out to him, and he thumped a left-footed volley against the post.
While the Robins were venturing forward on occasion, Morris’ men failed to really test Pym prior to Mansfield taking the game away from them with two quickfire goals in the 32nd and 33rd minute, respectively.
First, ex-Bristol Rovers defender Alfie Kilgour chipped a diagonal pass into Davis Keillor-Dunn - who was in the left side of the box. He took several touches before finding Quinn, who then drilled across the face of goal, and Akins was there to stab home from a few yards out.
Less than 60 seconds later, a long ball over the top was chested down by Akins before he attracted a defender towards him and slid the ball right to Oates. The Mansfield forward took a touch and awkwardly shovelled the ball goalwards, but unfortunately for Swindon, Joe Tomlinson's touch diverted it past Sol Brynn and into the net.
Akins failed to take a decent chance to make it four shortly before the break after he lost his balance in front of goal, and Swindon were left to walk off at the break under a chorus of hearty boos.
Boos morphed into sheer silence for the first 20 minutes of the second half – that was until Mansfield extended their advantage. Frazer Blake-Tracy fired a pass into Ronan Darcy - who was facing his own goal - but half-time substitute Boateng bullied the midfielder off the ball and took over before setting his sights and curling into the bottom left corner from just outside the box.
Mansfield’s game management was excellent as time wore on and only lapsed when allowing George McEachran to chip a through ball into Williams late on. The Welshman regained the lead in Swindon’s scoring chart with a delicate left-footed finish past Pym to restore some pride for the hosts.
STFC starting XI: Brynn, Hutton, Brewitt, Blake-Tracy, Tomlinson, McEachran, Darcy, Khan, Wakeling, Hepburn-Murphy, Austin.
STFC substitutes: Brann, Williams, Adeloye, Cain, Kadji, Lavinier, Shade.
MTFC starting XI: Pym, Hewitt, Akins, Clarke (c), Bowery, Perch, Quinn, Wallace, Oates, Kilgour, Keillor-Dunn.
MTFC substitutes: Maris, D Johnson, C Johnson, Flinders, Law, Gale, Boateng.
Referee: Thomas Parsons
Attendance: 9,281 (587)
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel