MANSFIELD TOWN 2-3 COVENTRY CITY
City: Burge (GK), Christie, Haynes, Orozco (Azille-Moore 46), Finch, Barton, Baker, Martins (Garner 63), Daniels, Manset (Maund 83), Wilson. Subs: Gott (GK)
Mansfield Town: Marriott (GK), Beevers, Jennings, Dempster, McCombe (Sutton 76), Murray (c) (Howell 68), Dyer (McGrath 76), Clucas, Daniel (Meikle 68), Andrews (Stevenson 68), McGuire. Subs: Speight, Tafazolli, Black,Gnorea, Clements.
HT MTFC 1-1 CCFC
FT MTFC 2-3 CCFC
ATT 1012
Goals Calvin Andrews 22, Carl Baker 36 pen & 92 pen, Sam Clucas 48,Lee Beevers own goal 61.
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Coventry City snatched a last gasp 3-2 victory at Mansfield Town on Friday night.
It was the joys of the M1 on a cloudy and muggy Friday night for the City supporters to contend with, as the Sky Blues arrived at Mansfield Town for their penultimate pre-season fixture.
Steven Pressley fielded Spanish trialist Daniel Orozco in a team which was a mixture of experience and youth.
Against a City side wearing their traditional sky blue, the Stags, now back in the Football League, should have taken the lead in the third minute when John Dempster sent a diving header just wide of Lee Burge's post.
City boss Steven Pressley had heaped praise on trialist Fabio Martins, who tonight was playing on the left, and in a good performance, the Portugese wide man displayed some good touches as did fellow trialist Mathieu Manset who ran on goal but was blocked as he tried to get a shot in.
A great move in the fifth minute saw Martins play the ball over to Baker who crosses back inside for Martins to fire wide.
Manset had a shot blocked before Callum Wilson fired at Marriott. Back came Mansfield with a Colin Daniel shot just trickling past the post and seconds later a free header goes just wide.
In the 22nd minute, it was the home side who took the lead when Orozco stood and let Calvin Andrews hooks a shot high into the far corner of the net, with Lee Burge helpless.
Baker and Cyrus Christie both attacked and in the 36th minute, a good move played in Callum Wilson. As he attempted to go round the keeper, Marriott took his legs and a penalty was awarded by the purple shirted referee. Carl Baker stepped up to score and draw City level.
Manset headed over from a corner but in the 40th minute, Orozco went down in a collision with Andrews. The former Malaga B central defender lasted the rest of the half but was replaced at the break by Tarik Azille-Moore.
With Billy Daniels playing well in midfield, City should have gone in front in the 47th minute when Martins headed wide. But, Mansfield went up the other end through Sam Clucas was allowed as much time as he wanted to walk through the City defence and fire past Burge.
City responded with a Ryan Haynes' tame shot and a Manset shot was deflected out for a corner which was cleared.
Mansfield won three corners in quick succession but the Sky Blues dealt with the pressure and in the 61st minute, equalised for the second time when Wilson crossed from the right, straight into the mix.
Lee Beevers turned and from a yard out, he tapped the ball into his own net much to the delight of the 121 travelling City supporters, who watched as Beevers head fell into his hands in a mix of shame and horror.
Martins went off to a good reception when he was replaced by Garner in the 63rd minute and three minutes later, Carl Baker got round the back of the defence. The ball was initially cleared before Christie got in shot at Marriott, which bounced on and over the line. The City fans claimed a goal, but the referee was some distance away and his assistant on the side of the condemned stand, was not in a good position and City were denied a goal.
In the 77th minute, it kicked off when Clucas shoved Cyrus Christie. The Mansfield bench came on to join in the melee which saw a few good punches being thrown by some of the City players.
When the dust settled, both protagonists were booked and the game continued with two efforts for the Stags.
Steven Pressley sent on Ben Maund for Manset with seven minutes left, but he took his time to get into the match, as Ryan Haynes was forced into a great header to clear a cross away and then put off an attacker as a header was sent over the bar.
Two minutes of additional time were added on and in the second minute, Callum Wilson got into the area and was up-ended by Marriott and another penalty was awarded.
Carl Baker took the kick which was the last of the match and sent Marriott the wrong way to give City a 3-2 victory.