Boro 3-2 Mansfield

Well you can’t say that the football isn’t entertaining at Broadhall Way this season. After 6 goals were shared last weekend when Boro drew 3-3 with York, another 5 were scored tonight as Boro beat Mansfield to move into the top 10 of the Blue Square Premier for the first time this season (subject to Mansfield being deducted 4 points). After the disappointment of being beat by Torquay on Saturday, Graham Westley re-shuffled his side. Gary Mills came back into the starting eleven and partnered Lawrie Wilson in midfield. Bostwick started at right back in place of Mark Albrighton while Daryl McMahon came back surprisingly on the left. Mitchell Cole started on the right and new signing Tommy Black played in the hole.

It seemed that a lot of players were being played out of position and this showed as Boro couldn’t seem to find their rhythm. The first half was very scrappy with neither side getting hold of the ball for prolonged periods. Billy McEwan had sent his side out looking for a point, with a 3 man central midfield and two wide players playing up to Mark Stallard who was the target man. Boro couldn’t break Mansfield down and Maxime Chabot was marking Steve Morison out of the game. Lawrie Wilson went off injured early on after picking up a broken nose in a challenge with Michael Blackwood. He was replaced by Eddie Anaclet who slotted in at right back with Bostwick moving into midfield. Boro slowly began to get things together, but didn’t really create anything against a well organised backline.

The first goal came from a penalty. Tommy Black did well to slide Mitchell Cole in and he was bundled over in the box. A slightly harsh decision to give against the Stags just seconds before half time, but after being on the wrong end of some decisions on Saturday we’ll take it. Morison smashed home the penalty and Boro took a slight lead at half time. McEwan didn’t return to the dugout for the second half after having a go at the referee at half time with regards to the penalty.

It didn’t seem to affect Mansfield as within 10 minutes Gavin Hurren had equalised for the visitors with a long shot which surprised everyone. Hurren was given too much space by the Boro midfield and unleashed a shot which beat Day. Boro’s midfield had looked settled in the latter stages of the 1st half, but Westley had now moved Bostwick out to the right and was playing Mills alone in the middle with Black in the hole. It gave Mansfield too much space and they exploited this again just minutes later when Aaron O’Connor latched onto a through ball and hit a powerful low shot past Day at his near post. Day could have arguably done better, but it was a good finish from the former Grays forward.

Boro had again conceded two goals in quick succession in the second half. Boro needed something to get them back into the game and that bit of brilliance came, thanks to Mitchell Cole. A straight forward ball found Cole who beat his marker before unleashing a fantastic volley which nestled into the far corner. A great finish from a player who seems to impress when in front of the cameras. That goal seem to give Boro belief and Mansfield were again on the back foot. Morison had a good chance to put Boro in front, but his header was well saved. The winning goal was not far away though when Daryl McMahon’s free-kick was not dealt with by Gamble and Bostwick followed up to give Boro the lead. Poor goalkeeping, but a good follow-up by Bostwick. Mansfield had another chance late on when Anaclet didn’t clear, but O’Connor somehow shot wide.

In the end though Boro held on for the 3 points. Overall, Boro may have just shaded it, but it wasn’t the convincing performance I was hoping for after the defeat at Torquay. In the first half too many players were being played out of position and this effected the flow of the game. Westley is still tactically inept, as he was in his first spell. The difference this time around is that he has match winners in his side like Cole and Morison and if they are playing then Boro will always have a chance.