Mansfield clinch promotion with win over Accrington

By Sports Desk April 16, 2024

Mansfield finally achieved their promotion dream as a 2-1 home win over Accrington sent them up to League One for the first time since 2002.

The Stags took a second-minute lead when George Maris received the ball back from Stephen Quinn at a short corner and launched a dangerous ball into the six-yard box which found the net off Stanley midfielder Tommy Leigh at the near post.

Hiram Boateng then forced a good save from Stanley goalkeeper Radek Vitek low to his right after Davis Keillor-Dunn had helped on a Tom Nichols pass after nine minutes.

Shaun Whalley headed Stanley’s best chance of the half straight at Christy Pym from seven yards from a 20th-minute corner in a rare raid forward.

Maris, at full stretch, was just unable to turn a low Lucas Akins cross into a gaping net at the far post after 32 minutes and Keillor-Dunn fired inches over the far angle from 20 yards on 51 minutes.

But the killer second goal came on 63 minutes to seal a decisive third win in eight days.

Keillor-Dunn found Quinn at the near post from the left and, although Vitek saved his first shot, the Irish veteran tucked away the loose ball from close range.

Five minutes from time Leigh pulled one back for Stanley as he controlled and volleyed at goal from 14 yards and the ball deflected past Pym.

Related items

  • Messi 'will be our No.10 in 2026', hopes Inter Miami chief Mas Messi 'will be our No.10 in 2026', hopes Inter Miami chief Mas

    Inter Miami fully expect Lionel Messi to remain at the club beyond his current contract ahead of the 2026 MLS season. 

    Those were the words of Miami's club managing owner, Jorge Mas, who was speaking to the media following Gerardo Martino's resignation earlier on Friday. 

    Messi joined the MLS side in July 2023 on a two-and-a-half-year contract, leading the Herons to the Supporters' Shield and Leagues Cup during his time in the United States so far.

    His current deal is due to expire at the end of next year, though Mas made clear his desire to see Messi remain with the Herons at Miami Freedom Park, the club's new stadium that will open in 2026. 

    "He’s under contract through 2025. Leo and I will sit, and we’ll discuss the future,” Mas said. 

    “As I’ve said before, and I will repeat it now: I fully expect that in the opening of our new stadium in 2026 in Miami and the opening of our 2026 season, hopefully after a trophy-laden 2025 season, that Lionel Messi will be our No. 10.”

  • Man United could be without Toone until new year, says Skinner Man United could be without Toone until new year, says Skinner

    Marc Skinner revealed that Manchester United could be without midfielder Ella Toone until the new year after she picked up a calf injury in training. 

    Toone has featured in five games in the Women's Super League this season, but is yet to register a goal or an assist so far this term. 

    The 25-year-old has missed United's last two games and was not selected in Sarina Wiegman's England squad for their upcoming friendlies against the United States and Switzerland.

    She had previously appeared in a staggering 96 straight matches before missing United's WSL showdown with Leicester City last weekend.

    But ahead of the Red Devils' meeting with league leaders Chelsea on Sunday, Skinner confirmed they would be without Toone for not only that game, but for the foreseeable future.

    "We have three games [after the international break and before Christmas]. There's always the hope, but I think you balance and you go, 'right, if we can get her back, we get her back'," Skinner said. 

    "But we're just not going to rush her in this moment because it's a calf injury, it's your running mechanism. If we injure the running mechanism, it takes longer.

    "So ideally we'd like her back for those games afterwards.

    "The projection is she misses this game [Chelsea], she misses the international window, probably misses the first game after that, and then we'll see from there.

    "But because it is such a short block of only three games, we'll assess whether it's worth that or actually resetting to come back after Christmas."

  • Man United could be without Toone until Christmas, says Skinner Man United could be without Toone until Christmas, says Skinner

    Marc Skinner revealed that Manchester United could be without midfielder Ella Toone until the new year after she picked up a calf injury in training. 

    Toone has featured in five games in the Women's Super League this season, but is yet to register a goal or an assist so far this term. 

    The 25-year-old has missed United's last two games and was not selected in Sarina Wiegman's England squad for their upcoming friendlies against the United States and Switzerland.

    She had previously appeared in a staggering 96 straight matches before missing United's WSL showdown with Leicester City last weekend.

    But ahead of the Red Devils' meeting with league leaders Chelsea on Sunday, Skinner confirmed they would be without Toone for not only that game, but for the foreseeable future.

    "We have three games [after the international break and before Christmas]. There's always the hope, but I think you balance and you go, 'right, if we can get her back, we get her back'," Skinner said. 

    "But we're just not going to rush her in this moment because it's a calf injury, it's your running mechanism. If we injure the running mechanism, it takes longer.

    "So ideally we'd like her back for those games afterwards.

    "The projection is she misses this game [Chelsea], she misses the international window, probably misses the first game after that, and then we'll see from there.

    "But because it is such a short block of only three games, we'll assess whether it's worth that or actually resetting to come back after Christmas."

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.