Preview: Mansfield Town v Barrow

6 January 2023

Learn all you need to know about Mansfield Town and Barrow, as we shine a spotlight on Saturday's fixture.

Mansfield Town v Barrow
Saturday 7th January 2023
One Call Stadium
Sky Bet League Two

Opposition

Founded in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans, Mansfield found themselves admitted into the Football League in 1931, since then have accomplished both Division Four & Division Three titles in 1975 & 1977 respectively.

The Stags play their games at Field Mill, which is the oldest professional stadia in the UK, having hosted its first fixture back in 1861. Only Sandygate Road in Sheffield is older in the English pyramid, having hosted its first competitive football game a year prior (1860) when hosts Hallam faced Sheffield, and has been home to Hallam since.

Mansfield made it to Wembley for the first time ever on 24th May 1987, and many Stags fans still consider it to be the best day in the club’s history. An incredible 25,000 fans from Nottinghamshire made their way down for the game against Bristol City for a crowd of 58,586, which is the biggest crowd ever to watch a Mansfield Town game. The Stags would win 5-4 on penalties to claim Wembley success.

More recently, however, success at Wembley has been harder to come by. Mansfield were losing finalists to Darlington in the 2010-11 FA Trophy and last season, the League Two Play Off Final also ended in defeat with Port Vale running out as 3-0 winners, securing themselves a place in the Sky Bet League One.

Mansfield currently find themselves in 7^th place, holding the final playoff place. However, last time out they lost away at Walsall 2-1 with Rhys Oates’ late goal not quite enough to spark a comeback.

The Venue
The Stags play their games at Field Mill, the oldest professional stadia in the UK, having hosted its first fixture in 1861. Only Sandygate Road in Sheffield is older in the English pyramid, having hosted its first competitive football game a year prior (1860) when hosts Hallam faced Sheffield, which has been home to Hallam since. Bramall Lane, the current home of Sheffield United, was first used as a football ground in 1862 (though like Field Mill was used as a cricket ground for a few years before that). Field Mill is therefore the oldest football ground in the world that hosts professional football. It is also the oldest football ground in the Football League.

The ground nowadays boasts a capacity 9,186, however, the record attendance came when Mansfield hosted local rivals Nottingham Forest in 1953, Forest would snatch a 1-0 victory in front of 24,467 spectators.

Head To Head
Mansfield Town have achieved victories over Barrow twice this season at the SO Legal Stadium, these coming in the league and FA Cup. Ollie Hawkins' first-half strike was enough last time out to set the Stags up for a Second Round tie against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.

Barrow have had positive results at One Call Stadium in the past two seasons, and a memorable 4-2 win in October 2020 saw Barrow rush into a 2-goal lead with Patrick Brough scoring on that day, who made his 150th appearance for the club recently.

Referee
The man with the whistle at the One Call Stadium will be Will Finnie. He’ll be assisted by Anthony Moore and Robert Atkin; Neil Hair has been assigned to Fourth Official duties for Saturday’s fixture.

Finnie’s last refereeing appointment came between Sutton United and AFC Wimbledon where Sutton walked away with a 2-1 victory, Omar Bugiel scoring the winning goal in the 69^th minute.

You might recognise Finnie from Barrow’s 2-0 away victory against Colchester United, in January 2022. A game that saw Barrow take the lead through an unfortunate own goal in the 53^rd minute, for later Josh Kay to seal victory in the 90^th minute at the JobServe Community Stadium.

Tickets
Tickets for the fixture are being sold directly by our hosts, so to purchase you'll need to use their ticketing website and be able to have admission through Mansfield's e-ticket on your mobile device.

Prices for the match are as follows:

Adults - £20
Seniors (65+) - £18
Young Adult (18-21) - £16
Junior (13-17) - £13
**Child (7-12) - £9
**Under 7 FOC
Family Ticket (1 Adult + 1 Junior or Child) - £23

Please note that there is a £2 increase for purchasing tickets on the day.

CLICK HERE to get your ticket for Mansfield Town v Barrow!

Live Streaming
We are not allowed to live stream games in the UK between the hours of 2.45pm and 5.15pm on a Saturday, so this weekend’s game will not be available to domestic supporters.

Barrow fans outside of the UK will be able to access a live stream via iFollow and you can purchase the match in the usual way ahead of kick-off

Live Commentary
We will be providing live online audio commentary from every game this season as we continue our link-up with BBC Radio Cumbria.

Fans will be able to listen to James Phillips & Mark Boyd at Field Mill to describe all the action as it unfolds.

You can purchase an Audio Match Pass for £2.50, an Audio Monthly Pass for £4.49 or sign-up for Audio Season Pass which provides all live commentary and video news for just £45.

Match Previews

Match Reports

Bluebirds Second Half Blitz Slays Stags

7 January 2023

The cliche of ‘a game of two halves’ might never have been more true, as a fantastic second half showing from The Bluebirds helps overturn a 2 goal deficit to secure all three points at the One Call Stadium.

Mansfield started the game the more lively, with returning Bluebirds goalkeeper Paul Farman called into action after just a couple of minutes.

Farman, starting his first game since 17th December, blocked Stephen McLaughlin’s low driven shot and managed to snuff out the rebound at his near post.

The hosts broke the deadlock just 7 minutes later, when Stephen McLaughlin’s free kick found its way through the Barrow wall, and past Farman. The Barrow ‘keeper’s outstretched hand wasn’t enough to keep out the well-hit strike.

The Bluebirds launched a couple of attacks, but couldn’t find a way to produce anything to challenge Christy Pym in the Mansfield goal.

Nigel Clough’s side doubled their lead with 25 minutes on the clock, when Stephen Quinn beat George Ray to set up a one-on-one with Paul Farman; Quinn slotting a ball underneath Farman to grab the hosts’ 2nd of the afternoon.

Barrow thought they’d earned a way back into the game, when Billy Waters was brought down inside the area, but referee Neil Hair disagreed with Waters’ cries.

Billy Waters injected some life into the affair in first half injury time though, when he unleashed a skilful strike to find a way past Christy Pym, from a tight angle.

A double change at the break for Pete Wild, and a reversion to the usual formation, saw Josh Gordon head home an equaliser just three minutes into the second half. Tyrell Warren’s pinpoint cross found the head of the Barrow forward, leaving the One Call Stadium stunned, as a two goal lead had been taken away.

The 76th minute, some fantastic attacking play from Elliot Newby and Josh Gordon resulted in Billy Waters come antagonisingly close to firing his side into the lead. A ball from Josh Gordon fell just behind Waters.

That didn't matter though, as just a few moments later, Mansfield’s Ollie Hawkins got an unfortunate (or fortunate!) touch on another well placed ball into the box from Tyrell Warren to put Barrow into the lead.

Strong defending from the Barrow back four ensured the hosts never really got an opportunity to get back into the match.

Full Time: Mansfield Town 2-3 Barrow
Attendance: 6,081 (148 away)

Mansfield Town: Pym, Gordon (Knowles 87’), Hewitt, Perch, McLaughlin (Law 85’), Maris, Boateng, Quinn (Lapslie 75’), Oates, Hawkins, Swan (Bowery 75’)

Unused Subs: Flinders, O'Toole, Anderson.

Barrow: Farman, Warren, Brown (Whitfield 46’), Ray, Canavan, Brough, Neal, White (Foley 71), Gotts (Newby 71’), Waters, Bennett (Gordon 46’).

Unused Subs: Moloney, Stevens.

Match Reports

Ticket News

Ticket Information: Mansfield Town v Barrow

3 January 2023

Here are all the details you need to grab your ticket for Saturday's trip to the One Call Stadium.

Mansfield Town v Barrow
Saturday 7th January 2023
One Call Stadium
Sky Bet League Two

Tickets for the Mansfield Town fixture are being sold directly by our hosts, so to purchase you'll need to use their ticketing website and be able to have admission through Mansfield's e-ticket on your mobile device.

Prices for the fixture are as follows:

CLICK HERE to get your ticket for Mansfield Town v Barrow!