Walker leaves it late for Mansfield

Posted Wednesday, January 16, 2019 by PA

Tyler Walker scored a late winner against Crawley to boost Mansfield into third place in the League Two standings.

After two defeats in a row, Mansfield had seemed to heading for another night of frustration before Walker turned in Hayden White’s low cross from the right from close range in the 88th minute for a 1-0 victory.

New signing Nicky Ajose almost opened his account from Jacob Mellis’ second minute pass but Glenn Morris saved at his near post.

Mansfield were fortunate when Mark Connelly’s header rattled their post on 12 minutes from Josh Yates’ free kick.

Mansfield continued to create, Neal Bishop forcing a save from Morris, and CJ Hamilton lifting a chance into the roof of the net from a brilliant lobbed pass by Jorge Grant, who also saw an effort smothered from close range before the break.

Ajose somehow lifted a low Walker cross over from five yards on the restart before Morris tipped over Mellis’ dipping shot.

Jordan Smith’s first real save came in the 70th minute as he turned away a curler from Dominic Poleon, and he also made a smart save from Ollie Palmer on a break before Walker’s late winner.