Christy Pym’s Penalty Shootout Masterclass Sends Mansfield Town Into The Fourth Round Of The Carabao Cup

Mansfield Town booked their place in the next round of the Carabao Cup as the Stags beat Peterborough United on penalties with shot-stopper Christy Pym making two vital shootout saves against his former side.

Stags’ number one turned into their hero on the night as his former side crumbled in the penalty shootout with Pym pulling out a penalty shootout masterclass.

The hosts took the lead inside five minutes as Will Swan was fouled by Archie Collins inside the box which led referee Seb Stockbridge to point to the spot.

Swan took the subsequent penalty which he dispatched as the Stags took an early lead.

On the half-hour mark, a free-kick from Jonson Clarke-Harris wrong-footed Pym as Posh’s number nine levelled the game up at 1-1.

Two minutes into the second-half, Peterborough took the lead. Peter Kioso’s cross was partially cleared by the Stags defence but it fell to the feet of Clarke-Harris who fired the ball in from close range to grab his second and put his side in front.

In the 92nd minute, the Stags were awarded yet another penalty as Calum Macdonald was bundled down in the box. Lucas Akins stepped up to take the penalty and placed it perfectly into the bottom corner to send the game to a penalty shootout.

As Akins and Jordan Bowery both scored their penalties, Clarke-Harris and Ronnie Edwards missed their spot kicks, giving the Stags a 2-0 lead in the shootout.

However, skipper Aden Flint and Ollie Clarke missed the next penalties for Mansfield Town as Ephron Mason-Clark scored his to reduce the deficit for the Posh.

Fortunately, Josh Knight hit the post with his penalty with Davis Keillor-Dunn scoring his as Mansfield Town won 3-1 on penalties.

Stags boss Nigel Clough made five changes from the side that beat Barrow 1-0 at the One Call Stadium on Saturday. George Williams, Baily Cargill, Hiram Boateng, George Maris and James Gale replaced Jordan Bowery, Calum Macdonald, Ollie Clarke, Davis Keillor-Dunn and Lucas Akins.

Peterborough United manager Darren Ferguson made no changes from the side that drew 1-1 against Bolton Wanderers at the weekend as a full-strength Posh side, with talisman Jonson Clarke-Harris leading the line, looked to put an end to Mansfield Town’s unbeaten run in all competitions.

The first chance of the game fell to the posh as Ricky-Jade Jones’ cut-back found Clarke-Harris. The forward’s attempt was goalbound but Cargill’s goal-line clearance kept the score at 0-0.

Two minutes later, the Stags took the lead as Collins bundled Swan over in the box. Stags’ number 26 stepped up to take the spot kick and sent it down the middle, putting Mansfield 1-0 in front.

The amber and blues had a glorious chance to double their lead as Aaron Lewis played in George Maris, however, his effort was wide of the target.

Mason-Clark looked to try his luck in finding the target as the Posh pushed for an equaliser but his shot went over the bar.

As the visitors looked to push their advantage, Hector Kyprianou played a brilliant ball into Mason-Clark. He fired a shot at goal but Pym got down well and quickly to deny him.

Williams crossed the ball onto the head of Gale, however, the forward failed to hit the target from 12 yards.

Kwame Poku’s cross found Jones whose effort was kept out of the net by a combination of the post and Pym.

In the 29th minute, Louis Reed was booked for a challenge inside his own half, and from the free-kick, Clarke-Harris wrong-footed Pym and scored the leveller.

In the second-half, the Posh got the perfect start as they took the lead two minutes into the second period.

Kioso’s low cross was half-cleared by the Stags defence and the ball fell to the feet of Clarke-Harris who found the back of the net.

Harrison Burrows’ cross found the head of Kioso who saw his effort cannon off the bar before Collins’ effort was superbly blocked.

Posh went close to a third as Clarke-Harris looked to secure his hat-trick but he curled an effort wide of the target.

On the hour mark, Peterborough has another chance from the free-kick with Clarke-Harris failing to test Pym from the set-piece.

The Stags had two brilliant chances through Jordan Bowery but he had an effort go over after a deflection and then the other was saved brilliantly by Nicholas Bilokapic.

After a deflection on a cross, James Gale looked destined to score but his close-range header went over the bar.

In the 72nd minute, the Stags thought they had equalised the game but Akins was adjudged to have been in an offside position.

Macdonald tried to chip Bilokapic who was off his line but the defender’s effort from range goes wide.

In the 90th minute, a lofted ball into the box found the head of Flint who saw his effort go straight into the hands of Bilokapic.

As the Stags pushed for a late leveller, Macdonald was brought down in the box as referee Seb Stockbridge pointed to the spot again in Mansfield Town’s favour.

Akins took the ball and put it on the penalty spot and dispatched it into the bottom corner to level the game up and send it to a penalty shootout.

In the penalty shootout, Akins converted Stags’ first penalty as Clarke-Harris’ penalty was saved by Pym.

Bowery scored the second with Pym saving Edwards’ penalty to give the hosts a 2-0 lead in the shootout.

Flint’s penalty then cannoned off the post as Mason-Clark halved the deficit, and with Clarke missing his penalty, Knight could have put the Posh level.

However, the defender missed his penalty and Keillor-Dunn scored Mansfield’s fifth penalty to send them into the Fourth Round.

The Stags unbeaten run continues and the amber and blues will be hoping for a big tie against a Premier League giant in the next round.

Mansfield Town’s XI: Pym, Williams (Keillor-Dunn 75′), Flint, Brunt, Cargill (Macdonald 61′), Reed (Bowery 46′), Lewis, Boateng, Maris (Clarke 60′), Gale, Swan (Akins 61′)

Peterborough United’s XI: Bilokapic, Burrows (Sturge 89′), Edwards, Knight, Clarke-Harris, Mason-Clark, Poku (Katongo 89′), Jones (Ajiboye 74′), Kyprianou, Collins, Kioso

To stay up to date with all things football and sports, follow @DubSports and @AdrianKitaMedia on Twitter/X.