MAL STIRS UP A STAG PARTY
MANSFIELD moved up to third in the League Two table after a 94thminute Mal Benning goal gave them a dramatic three points at the Globe Arena.
Benning got the final touch to a late goalmouth scramble to give the Stags a vital victory, which saw them come from behind to take a vital three points in their push for promotion.
It was a goal that delighted boss Steve Evans, who praised his side’s spirit after the game.
“These lads have a great character and we saw that,” said the Mansfield manager.
“I had to smash it up at halftime. We were poor in the first half and I had to make two changes at the break to change things around a bit, and it worked.
“I wanted to give some players the opportunity and time to make a difference and we were much better in the second half, and we kept at it tight to the death.
“The dressing room is definitely a happy place and there is a real buzz about the place, and we have make sure we build on the win.’’
In contrast, Morecambe manager Jim Bentley found it hard to hide his frustration as his side failed to hold on to their half-time lead.
He said: “This has been an amazingly frustrating season and I think that capped it off.
“We lost at their place in the last minute and we have done it again. There are so many games this year where we have not got what we deserved and this was another one but I can’t keep saying it.
“Unfortunately, their winner was a catalogue of errors and there were loads of times when we could have cleared it.’’
Evans’ side had to come from behind after Morecambe took the lead on the half-hour.
Mansfield defender Krystian Pearce passed back to keeper Conrad Logan without looking behind him and the ball ran perfectly for young Wigan loanee Callum Lang, who rounded Logan and slotted the ball home into the very empty net.
Morecambe had the better of the first half, with Kevin Ellison skying an early effort wide before Alex Kenyon wasted a glorious chance to open the scoring on 28 minutes when he had a free header at the far post from a Michael Rose corner.
Vadaine Oliver sent a looping header inches over as the Shrimps asked most of the questions in the final third.
The second half was a different affair however as Evans changed his system successfully.
The visitors dominated possession, with CJ Hamilton forcing Barry Roche into a neat save before top-scorer Danny Rose was in the right place again to score with a neat closerange finish from a left-wing cross 20 minutes from time.
Chances came at either end, with Andy Fleming’s shot blocked by Rhys Bennett at one end and Hemmings going close before Benning’s scrappy but vital winner.
MORECAMBE (3-4-2-1): Roche 6, Old 6 (Fleming 10 6), Muller 6, Lavelle 6, McGowan 6, Rose 6, Kenyon 7 (Thompson 82 5), Conlan 6, Lang 6 (Wildig 72 5), Ellison 6, Oliver 6 Subs not used: Nizic, Campbell, Lund, McGurk
MANSFIELD (4-1-3-2): Logan 6, Bennett 6, Pearce 6, Diamond 6 (Anderson 46 6), Benning 6, Byram 7, Potter 6 (Atkinson 46 7), MacDonald 7, Hamilton 7, Hemmings 6 (Spencer 76 5), Rose 6 Subs not used: Olejnik. Digby, Angol, Butcher