Mansfield Town took a huge step towards a Third Division play-off final after establishing a two-goal advantage to take into the second leg against Northampton Town.
|
Goals in either half from Rhys Day and Junior Mendes capped a disciplined display from Mansfield, but Northampton will reflect on a number of missed opportunities to have taken a first-half advantage.
But manager Colin Calderwood has not given up on the tie: "There have been other games when a 2-0 deficit has been overturned, but it's going to be difficult for us as we're away from home.
"Our first-half performance was decent, but then in a semi-final the result is everything.
"But we'll go to Mansfield and give it a real go, but we've got to go beyond anything we've achieved this season to turn it around."And Mansfield boss Keith Curle added: "The tie is still alive and we'll be up and at them for the second leg.
"Before the game, I pinned a note up in the dressing room which read 'When we have to play, we'll play, and when we have to work, we'll work' and asked every player to sign it. They all did."Mansfield created a couple of early openings through Mendes, Day and Wayne Corden which Northampton keeper Lee Harper was equal to.
Northampton went up a gear as the half progressed and created several good opportunities.
Robert Ullathorne saw his goalbound effort blocked by Bobby Hassell, while Marc Richards failed to convert from four openings inside a ten-minute spell.
Keeper Kevin Pilkington saved his first effort with his fingertips and was well positioned to deny Richards' second close-range attempt, while the striker saw an overhead kick fly just wide and another effort go just over the bar.
And Day put Mansfield ahead five minutes before the break when he rose unmarked to head home a Liam Lawrence free-kick.
Mendes missed a great chance to double Mansfield's advantage three minutes after the restart when he lifted the ball over the bar with just Harper to beat.
Hassell again came to Mansfield's rescue in the 62nd minute when he cleared Ullathorne's header off the line and five minutes later Mendes grabbed Mansfield's second, firing home the rebound after Harper failed to hold on to a long-range effort from Tom Curtis.
Northampton's misery was completed in injury time when defender Ashley Westwood was dismissed for pulling back substitute Colin Larkin.
**Picture Courtesy of Dan Westwell**