Mansfield Town 2-1 Colchester United

Lucas Akins' 100th senior goal earned Mansfield a 2-1 stoppage-time victory over Colchester in League Two.

The 33-year-old forward headed in just moments after being summoned from the bench by Nigel Clough, a decision which was greeted with howls of derision by home supporters due to earlier goal-scorer Will Swan being the player to make way.

Swan had cancelled out Alex Newby's third goal in seven outings for the visitors - a spectacular free-kick - but Akins turned the jeers to cheers and ensured the Essex visitors still have taken only one point on their travels this term.

Colchester forged ahead in the 10th minute when Stephen Quinn tripped Alan Judge and Newby curled the subsequent 30-yard free kick inside Christy Pym's right-hand post.

But Clough's men were back on terms before the break when Swan headed in his seventh goal of the season at the far post from Elliott Hewitt's excellent 34th-minute cross from close to the right touchline.

After long periods of frustration for Mansfield in the second half, the introduction of Akins in added time then proved the game's pivotal moment.

First, the former Burton striker blasted a great chance straight at away keeper Kieran O'Hara, but he then made no mistake when given a second opportunity, heading in Stephen McLaughlin's left-wing cross from five yards.

Match report supplied by PA Media.

Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text

Line-ups

Mansfield

Formation 4-1-2-1-2

1Pym
4Hewitt
6Harbottle
12HawkinsBooked at 29mins
3McLaughlin
10Maris
44Boateng
16QuinnSubstituted forO Clarkeat 80'minutes
32Lapslie
18Oates
26SwanBooked at 67minsSubstituted forAkinsat 90+1'minutes

Substitutes

2Gordon
5Hartigan
7Akins
8O Clarke
13Flinders
14Perch
17Wallace

Colchester

Formation 4-2-3-1

13O'Hara
22Tchamadeu
4ChambersBooked at 85mins
5Smith
6Dallison-LisbonBooked at 90mins
10JudgeSubstituted forHuwsat 71'minutes
17Ashley
23ChestersSubstituted forTovideat 90+5'minutes
7Hannant
19NewbySubstituted forNoubleat 90+5'minutes
9AppiahSubstituted forSearsat 70'minutes

Substitutes

11Sears
14Chilvers
28Huws
30Kazeem
34Tovide
44Collins
45Nouble

Referee:: Ross Joyce
Attendance:: 5,918

Match Stats

Home TeamMansfieldAway TeamColchester

Possession: Home54%; Away46%

Shots: Home12; Away5

Shots on Target: Home6; Away2

Corners: Home1; Away2

Fouls: Home11; Away9

Live Text

Post update
Match ends, Mansfield Town 2, Colchester United 1.
Post update
Match ends, Mansfield Town 2, Colchester United 1.

90'+10'
Full Time
Second Half ends, Mansfield Town 2, Colchester United 1.
90'+10'
Post update
Hand ball by Frank Nouble (Colchester United).
90'+7'
Post update
Riley Harbottle (Mansfield Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+7'
Post update
Foul by Freddie Sears (Colchester United).
90'+5'
Substitution
Substitution, Colchester United. Samson Tovide replaces Daniel Chesters.
90'+5'
Substitution
Substitution, Colchester United. Frank Nouble replaces Alex Newby.
90'+4'
Booking
Tom Dallison-Lisbon (Colchester United) is shown the yellow card.
90'+2'
Goal!
Goal! Mansfield Town 2, Colchester United 1. Lucas Akins (Mansfield Town) header from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Stephen McLaughlin with a cross.
90'+2'
Post update
Attempt saved. Lucas Akins (Mansfield Town) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Rhys Oates with a through ball.
90'+1'
Substitution
Substitution, Mansfield Town. Lucas Akins replaces Will Swan.
89'
Post update
Attempt missed. Emyr Huws (Colchester United) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left following a set piece situation.
88'
Post update
Foul by Hiram Boateng (Mansfield Town).
88'
Post update
Alex Newby (Colchester United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
85'
Booking
Luke Chambers (Colchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
84'
Post update
Will Swan (Mansfield Town) wins a free kick on the left wing.
84'
Post update
Foul by Luke Chambers (Colchester United).
83'
Post update
Elliott Hewitt (Mansfield Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
83'
Post update
Foul by Freddie Sears (Colchester United).

As It Stood

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Leyton Orient	20	15	3	2	33	12	21	48
2	Stevenage	20	13	4	3	31	16	15	43
3	Northampton	20	11	6	3	34	20	14	39

4	Barrow	20	11	1	8	27	24	3	34
5	Carlisle	20	8	9	3	31	21	10	33
6	Bradford	20	9	6	5	26	20	6	33
7	Mansfield	20	10	3	7	29	27	2	33

8	Salford	20	9	4	7	23	18	5	31
9	Swindon	20	8	7	5	24	21	3	31
10	Walsall	20	8	6	6	25	17	8	30
11	Wimbledon	20	8	5	7	25	24	1	29
12	Stockport	20	8	4	8	29	22	7	28
13	Doncaster	20	8	4	8	23	27	-4	28
14	Tranmere	20	7	6	7	19	16	3	27
15	Crewe	19	6	7	6	18	22	-4	25
16	Grimsby	19	6	6	7	20	19	1	24
17	Sutton United	20	6	5	9	18	26	-8	23
18	Newport	20	6	4	10	20	23	-3	22
19	Crawley	20	5	6	9	22	30	-8	21
20	Harrogate	20	5	4	11	24	30	-6	19
21	Rochdale	20	4	3	13	14	29	-15	15
22	Colchester	20	3	5	12	18	28	-10	14

23	Gillingham	20	2	8	10	6	24	-18	14
24	Hartlepool	20	2	6	12	16	39	-23	12

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Comments

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21 comments

Comment posted by Steve Riley, at 18:11 3 Dec 2022
Nearly 6 thousand and world cup on telly.Well done division 2 supporters.
Comment posted by eaglemark, at 22:28 3 Dec 2022
It’s a shame the ref didn’t see the scorer wrestle smith to the ground just before he scored.I advise him to go to spec savers it was so blatant.!!!
Reply posted by 21Stag, at 09:48 4 Dec 2022
21Stag replied:
The officials were poor for both sides, I assume you recognize that Mansfield were denied a clear penalty and that you should have had a player sent off after 5 minutes.
Comment posted by kiliwig, at 22:12 3 Dec 2022
Keep going Mansfield. I wish you every success this season from a Vale fan. Hopefully you can beat Swindle Town at Wembley come May.
Comment posted by Andrew JG_8921, at 21:55 3 Dec 2022
Colchester United still above the relegation zone.
Comment posted by Waving Flags, at 21:08 3 Dec 2022
Poor CUFC it’s always a battle to avoid the drop.
Comment posted by Hells Teeth, at 17:36 3 Dec 2022
Not a stoppage time goal ..... AGAIN. Blumin' heck.
Reply posted by Terry , at 18:57 3 Dec 2022
Terry replied:
Injury time or not, it only takes a second to score a goal, as Nigel's dad once said
Comment posted by Keerydickins, at 09:01 4 Dec 2022
Well done Cloughie
Comment posted by Andy, at 18:57 3 Dec 2022
It's about time all of the top four divisions had VAR
Comment posted by Gary H, at 17:45 3 Dec 2022
Not a great game, but after the last two defeats to Wed and Everton this just what was needed. Struggled to get going and boss the game as the home side. Colchester would have been happy with a point but were guilty of time wasting from taking the lelead Akins scores the winner really pleased for him. Well done Lucas keep going and thanks for the three pts as you changed the game when coming on.
Comment posted by playerandref1964-1991, at 17:40 3 Dec 2022
Listened to the game on the radio.
Poor referee and joke of an assistant .
An injury , turns into a winter drinks break (mulled wine ?) and time out for a coach's briefing.
Pure comedy when game about to restart as assistant takes up position without having a flag !

Cloughie picked up the flag and held it for maybe a minute before assistant realised about the flag.
90+2 winner =absolute karma
Reply posted by 21Stag, at 17:56 3 Dec 2022
21Stag replied:
assistant didn't take the flag because he was the 4th official and he was warming up after replacing the injured assistant. it was very cold out there.
Comment posted by red gee, at 18:45 3 Dec 2022
Well done akins supplied cross for swan against Walsall now scores memorable 18 months
Comment posted by Andy, at 10:52 4 Dec 2022
Not convincing against lowly Colchester. Injury time winner which included a blatant foul in the build up missed by officials. Stiffer test next week. Stags were one of the favourites for automatic this year. Now looks like play offs at best.
Comment posted by Neil, at 10:12 4 Dec 2022
surprised this report makes no mention of Akins wrestling Smith to the ground before heading unmarked the winner, that was the story!

Line-ups

Mansfield

Substitutes

Colchester

Substitutes

Match Stats

Live Text

Comments

Join the conversation

Comment posted by Steve Riley, at 18:11 3 Dec 2022Steve Riley

Comment posted by eaglemark, at 22:28 3 Dec 2022eaglemark

Reply posted by 21Stag, at 09:48 4 Dec 202221Stag

Comment posted by kiliwig, at 22:12 3 Dec 2022kiliwig

Comment posted by Andrew JG_8921, at 21:55 3 Dec 2022Andrew JG_8921

Comment posted by Waving Flags, at 21:08 3 Dec 2022Waving Flags

Comment posted by Hells Teeth, at 17:36 3 Dec 2022Hells Teeth

Reply posted by Terry , at 18:57 3 Dec 2022Terry

Comment posted by Keerydickins, at 09:01 4 Dec 2022Keerydickins

Comment posted by Andy, at 18:57 3 Dec 2022Andy

Comment posted by Gary H, at 17:45 3 Dec 2022Gary H

Comment posted by playerandref1964-1991, at 17:40 3 Dec 2022playerandref1964-1991

Reply posted by 21Stag, at 17:56 3 Dec 202221Stag

Comment posted by red gee, at 18:45 3 Dec 2022red gee

Comment posted by Andy, at 10:52 4 Dec 2022Andy

Comment posted by Neil, at 10:12 4 Dec 2022Neil

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Saturday 3rd December 2022

As It Stood

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Comment posted by Steve Riley, at 18:11 3 Dec 2022

Comment posted by eaglemark, at 22:28 3 Dec 2022

Reply posted by 21Stag, at 09:48 4 Dec 2022

Comment posted by kiliwig, at 22:12 3 Dec 2022

Comment posted by Andrew JG_8921, at 21:55 3 Dec 2022

Comment posted by Waving Flags, at 21:08 3 Dec 2022

Comment posted by Hells Teeth, at 17:36 3 Dec 2022

Reply posted by Terry , at 18:57 3 Dec 2022

Comment posted by Keerydickins, at 09:01 4 Dec 2022

Comment posted by Andy, at 18:57 3 Dec 2022

Comment posted by Gary H, at 17:45 3 Dec 2022

Comment posted by playerandref1964-1991, at 17:40 3 Dec 2022

Reply posted by 21Stag, at 17:56 3 Dec 2022

Comment posted by red gee, at 18:45 3 Dec 2022

Comment posted by Andy, at 10:52 4 Dec 2022

Comment posted by Neil, at 10:12 4 Dec 2022