MATCH REPORT | CAMBRIDGE UNITED 1 MANSFIELD TOWN 3
Mansfield Town came from behind to end Cambridge United’s eight game unbeaten run in Sky Bet League Two, taking the spoils 3-1 at the Cambs Glass Stadium.
United opened the lead inside ten minutes through George Maris but the Stags responded moments before half time, with goals from Krystian Pearce and Shauquille Coulthirst to inflicting a loss on the U’s.
Academy product Leon Davies was selected by Shaun Derry for his first League start and was the only change to the starting line-up as Greg Taylor dropped out the side through injury.
Steve Evans’ side missed a guilt-edged opportunity early on when Peterborough loanee Coulthirst mistimed his shot from six yards making it comfortable for Will Norris to collect the loose ball.
United made the visitors pay three minutes later, when Maris headed home his second goal for the Club on eight minutes, with Davies and Mingoia at the heart of the build-up play
As expected prior to kick off, Mansfield were playing their part in a physical contest and United had to remain resolute at the back to keep a hold of their one goal advantage.
Minutes before the break though the Stags were level when a header by Coulthirst was deflected off the shin of Leon Legge and past Will Norris.
The opening 15 minutes of the second half were finely poised with Mansfield gradually getting a hold of the game. Krystian Pearce powered his way into a dangerous position inside the U’s area before the hour mark, and the centre back made no mistake when he headed past Norris.
The goal prompted Shaun Derry to switch his forward options replacing George Maris for loan striker Gerry McDonagh.
However, Mansfield wrapped up the game with 16 minutes to play, when Coulthirst was hand on tap in a rebound following Norris’ parried save off White’s pile drive at goal.
Cambridge United : Norris, Davies, Legge, Roberts, Carroll, Mingoia, Dunne, Clark (Lewis, 70 mins), Berry, Maris (McDonagh, 61 mins), Ikpeazu
Mansfield Town: Kean, Bennett, Benning, Collins, Pearce, Coulthirst (Hoban, 87 mins), White, Hamilton, Byrom, Whiteman (Baxendale, 90 mins), Rose (Thomas, 70 mins)
Attendance: 4,211 (307)
Vindis Man of the Match: Jake Carroll