Oxford United 3 : 0 Mansfield Town - MacDonald sees off sorry Stags
Posted Sunday, February 22, 2015 by PA
Alex MacDonald struck twice as Oxford crushed Mansfield 3-0 at the Kassam Stadium to ease their relegation fears and leapfrog above the Stags.
MacDonald's first goals for the U's and a penalty by Danny Hylton, his 15th goal of the season, made it a miserable afternoon for Mansfield.
MacDonald sidefooted home in the 31st minute after goalkeeper Lenny Pidgley missed George Baldock's right-wing cross under pressure from Michael Hoban.
Hoban went close a minute later with an eight-yard header from MacDonald's cross, but it lacked the power to trouble Pidgeley.
However, Oxford wrapped up the points early in the second half.
In the 54th minute, Callum O'Dowda had his run past three defenders halted, but when the ball was then laid square, MacDonald drove home a fierce shot from 15 yards.
And nine minutes later, after Ryan Tafazolli fouled Hoban in the box, Hylton sent Pidgeley the wrong way from the spot, rolling his penalty into the bottom-left corner.
Jeffrey Monakana blazed wide early on for Mansfield, but the visitors offered little attacking threat after that.
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