Charlie Kelman brace helps Leyton Orient beat Mansfield

Posted Wednesday, April 09, 2025 by PA

A spectacular finish by two-goal Charlie Kelman sealed a hard-earned 3-2 win for play-off chasing Leyton Orient at battling Mansfield.

The Stags made a superb start as Elliott Hewitt drilled in a low cross from the right byline and Dom Dwyer was on hand to tuck it home from close range at the far post after only three minutes.

Six minutes later Aaron Lewis burst into the box to smash a rising shot against the Orient bar.

Orient finally created a chance after 39 minutes and found themselves level.

Working the ball into the box down the middle, Dilan Markanday turned sharply to fire a low finish from the left which took a deflection past Christy Pym and went inside the post.

Orient were then ahead nine minutes after the break as another well-worked move ended with Jamie Donley playing a first-time pass to his left for Kelman to drill a low 16-yard finish inside the left post.

Mansfield made a triple change after 60 minutes and within two minutes, one of the subs, George Maris, raced into the box and buried a fine finish after being put on his way by a pass from Lucas Akins.

But seven minutes later Kelman cut inside Jordan Bowery on the left and curled a spectacular inch-perfect finish under the far angle from just outside the box for a picture-perfect winner.