Steve Charles, Ian Hathaway and Trevor Christie grabbed the goals as Mansfield Town eased to a 3-0 win over Fulham at Field Mill to register the Stags’ sixth win in their last seven home matches.
Mansfield made the most of some dreadful Fulham defending as all three goals came in the last quarter of what had been an even contest. Disastrous backpasses from Ronnie Mauge and Gavin Nebbeling gave the home side two of their goals in atrocious conditions that made trying to play football almost suicidal.
The first half was devoid of much quality – and neither side was able to take advantage of having the wind at their backs. Mauge’s blunder, an inexplicable backpass towards Jim Stannard, was the catalyst for Town to canter away with this contest – and continue their impressive rise out of relegation trouble. The Fulham midfielder’s pass was easily intercepted by Steve Wilkinson and, although the striker’s shot was saved by Stannard, the ball broke kindly for Charles to slot home from close range.
Six minutes later, Hathaway doubled Mansfield’s lead. Wilkinson was the architect again, driving down the right flank and conjuring up a fine cross that the forward controlled and poked home at the near post with the visiting defence nowhere to be seen. A comedy of errors put Fulham out of their misery a minute from time. Nebbeling’s ball back to his goalkeeper never looked like reaching its intended destination and Stannard’s attempt to dribble around Wilkinson, only gave Christie a straightforward tap-in to round off the scoring.
MANSFIELD TOWN: Beasley; Murray, Foster, Smalley, Prindiville, Kent, Charles, Kearney, Hathaway, Wilkinson, Christie.
GOALS: Charles (68), Hathaway (74), Christie (89).
FULHAM: Stannard; Eckhardt, Nebbeling, Pike, Marshall, Scott, Bremner, Mauge (Davies 72), Barnett, Walker, Milton. Subs (not used): Peters.
REFEREE: Ian Hendrick.
ATTENDANCE: 2,255.
