Nicky Maynard nets first-half hat-trick as Mansfield ease past nine-man Oldham

Posted Sunday, October 13, 2019 by PA

Nicky Maynard claimed a first-half hat-trick as clinical Mansfield destroyed nine-man Oldham 6-1 in Saturday’s Sky Bet League Two clash.

Maynard had already netted twice when Latics had two men sent off in a sensational 37th minute – and the Stags then turned the screw.

Mansfield’s early dominance had been rewarded when Maynard headed home a superb Kellan Gordon cross from five yards out.

He made it 2-0 three minutes later, this time tapping home from close range after Otis Khan had got to the left by-line and drilled the ball across the face of goal.

But after 37 minutes, Oldham lost their heads as the already-booked Filipe Morais went in late on Neal Bishop, whose pass reached Mal Benning, who was in turn hit by an awful Tomas Egert challenge. Morais was shown a second yellow card and Egert earned a straight red.

However, an error by goalkeeper Conrad Logan flapping at a cross gifted the nine men a goal after 43 minutes.

Tom Hamer tucked the loose ball away to reduce the deficit but – moments later – Maynard raced away onto a Conor Shaughnessy through-ball in stoppage time and rounded the goalkeeper to complete his hat-trick on the stroke of half-time.

After 56 minutes, a soft low cross from Benning somehow eluded defence and keeper and rolled into the net off Oldham defender David Wheater as Mansfield extended their advantage before a home breakaway saw Maynard set up Dapo Afolayan to roll home a fifth.

Oldham’s misery continued as substitute Dylan Fage was carried off on a stretcher before teenage substitute Jimmy Knowles bagged his first league goal with a cool penalty after Hamer had brought down Afolayan with six minutes remaining.