TO DENT IRON
who broke the deadlock in the 25th minute, Reading youngster
Smith firing in on the half-volley when the home side’s Harrison McGahey could only flick on a cross.
After another chance for the Iron went begging – Kevin van Veen being denied by keeper Joshua Griffiths – the Robins doubled their advantage four minutes before halftime through Wright, who fired in from inside the box after Chris Hussey’s deflected cross bounced kindly into his path.
That proved to be that for goals, although Scunthorpe did ask more questions after the break, with Van Veen’s curling free-kick superbly clawed away by Griffiths in the 67th minute and Onariase heading against the top of the post late on.
Those chances, coupled with those in the opening 45 minutes, left United manager Neil Cox reflecting on what might have been.
“For me, League Two is all about what happens in both boxes,” he said. “I was disappointed with the way we conceded the goals and given we created four good chances, I thought we’d take one. Cheltenham got two goals up and after that it was always going to be hard for us. We huffed and puffed but didn’t manage to get anything from it.
“We probably had more possession and got into some good areas, but we didn’t punish them. Our crossing was poor and too often we hit the first man.
“I asked the players at halftime to try to take people on and get around the back of them more.
“I’m proud of the lads for the way they kept going in the second half – we at least had a good go – but it’s hard to break teams down when they set up with five at the back and Cheltenham are second in the league for a reason.
“You have to have that belief when you go 1-0 down and I think that’s what we’re lacking at the moment.”
Howard 6, Clarke 6, McGahey 6, Taft 6 (Onariase 6, 7), O’Malley 6, Gilliead 6, Spence 7, Karacan 6 (Beestin 61, 6), Green 6, Van Veen 6 (Hallam 77, 6), Loft 6 (Eisa 46, 6). Subs not used: Watson, Brown, Rowe.
Griffiths 7, Raglan 7, Tozer 7, Long 7, Blair 6, Wright 8 (Vassilev 65, 6), Thomas 7, Azaz 6, Hussey 7, Smith 8 (Williams 79, 6), May 6 (Lloyd 65, 6). Subs not used: Flinders, Freestone, Horton, Chamberlain.
NIGEL Clough branded his Mansfield Town side’s win over high-flying Morecambe as their best victory of the season so far.
The Stags had not won in five games and were forced to battle for a scrappy win that came thanks to a Jordan Bowery goal just before the break.
But despite the game’s poor quality, Clough toasted the win as Mansfield’s best result of the campaign.
“That was probably our best three points of the season with the clean sheet, the standard of the opposition and the way we had to achieve it,” he said.
“When you’ve not won for the last five and lost the last three, in some ways we’d have taken a draw today. To get the three points is a big boost.
“First-half we played well and could have been further ahead. Second-half I thought we scrapped and battled and defended as if our lives depended on it.
“The biggest thing was we
WINNER! Mansfield’s Jordan Bowery celebrates with teammates made no mistakes and made Stephen Quinn sent the ball Morecambe work for every in low from the left by-line little scrap of a chance that and Bowery was there to turn they had.” home at the near post.
Mansfield should have Quinn had the chance to gone ahead after just three double their lead, but blazed minutes. But after superbly over after Jason Law’s saving a Bowery pass. shot, Shrimps keeper Kyle In a game of few Letheren was relieved to see chances, Morecambe Jamie Reid send his follow-up failed to force a save header over from six yards from Aidan Stone, out. though sub AJ LeitchSmith
The Stags were dominant, hd a great chance with Mal Benning seeing to level at the death, only his deflected free kick saved, to completely miss his kick before Ollie Clarke and Reid in front of goal after Carlos both missed the target. Mendes Gomes’ lofted pass.
However, the hosts were deservedly Morecambe boss Derek ahead four minutes Adams was left furious with before half-time when his side’s performance as they failed to close the gap on League Two’s top three.
“That was a really poor game. There was no quality from either team,” he said.
“There were no balls around the pitch and a lot of time wasting. There were a lot of fouls and a lot of bad decision-making.
“It was just one terrible game which Mansfield were able to win. They started on the front foot and got hold of the game. They won a lot of corners in the early part of the game without really threatening us.
“They had one opportunity on target and they score. We don’t have any opportunities on target and we don’t score.
“It was a poor game. We didn’t cause the keeper any trouble.”