MATCH REPORT: Swindon (2) Mansfield Town (4)

Swindon Town turned in a dismal display on Good Friday to well and truly end any hope of them resurrecting their season with a 4-2 defeat against Mansfield Town. Total Sport’s Joe Acklam reports from the County Ground.

Rushian Hepburn-Murphy gave Town the lead after just three minutes, but goals from Stephen Quinn, Lucas Akins, and Rhys Oates saw them trail at the break.

The visitors took their foot off the gas in the second half with a game coming up on Monday but did add to their lead through Hiram Boateng, before Jonny Williams netted late on.

Swindon are now without a win in their last seven matches, but due to results elsewhere once again remain in 11th place in League Two.

Jody Morris opted to make two changes from the side that lost late against Hartlepool United last weekend as Jacob Wakeling was restored to the line-up after suspension in place of Tyrese Shade and Ronan Darcy replaced Jonny Williams in midfield.

It took just three minutes for Swindon to take the lead as Remeao Hutton checked back and picked out an unmarked Hepburn-Murphy with a cross and he headed beyond the ‘keeper.

The lead lasted all of ten minutes as Elliott Hewett played a one-two on the right and then whipped a cross to the far post where Stephen Quinn headed beyond Sol Brynn to score Mansfield’s first goal at the County Ground since 2002.

The width of the post prevented Mansfield taking the lead as Ollie Clarke’s effort from the edge of the box came back off the woodwork before Lucas Akins fired the rebound at Brynn.

The Stags completed the turnaround after 32 minutes as Quinn drilled a ball low across the face of goal and Lucas Akins arrived to tap into the gaping goal from a yard out.

Almost straight from kick-off Mansfield had a third when a long ball was flicked on by Akins to Oates and his shot was misjudged after a deflection off of Joe Tomlinson by Brynn and went through him and into the net.

Akins was running riot in the Swindon back line and could have had a second when Hewitt drilled a ball into him, but he failed to take the ball under his spell and Brynn recovered to deny him.

Swindon had a chance to restore some hope just before the break as George McEachran whipped a free kick onto the head of Charlie Austin and his glancing header went just wide of the target.

Tom Brewitt hit a fine Crossfield ball into the path of Joe Tomlinson, he took the ball down and flashed a ball back towards the top of the box that was just too far ahead of Jacob Wakeling.

Ronan Darcy dallied on the ball in his own half and was dispossessed by Boateng, who drove into space before curling a shot into the bottom corner of the net from the edge of the area.

Marcel Lavinier stopped Mansfield from getting a fifth after 73 minutes when he got back in time to block a shot off the line from Davis Keillor-Dunn after a low cross went beyond everyone in red in the box.

Jonny Williams retook the lead as Swindon’s top goal scorer this season after he wondered beyond the Mansfield defence after McEachran chipped him beyond and he fired the ball beyond Christy Pym.