Mansfield Town 1, Huddersfield Town 2

Jul 23 2005 By The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Six minutes after the strike, substitute Adam Rundle could hardly believe his misfortune when a crisp rising drive beat Paul Rachubka only to bounce out off the angle of bar and post.

The chance came from Town's sloppy defending, but the lesson wasn't learned and Mansfield didn't have to wait long to level.

Only 10 minutes were left when pacy substitute Simon Brown - who scored against Town for Kidderminster a couple of seasons ago - sprang Town's woeful offside trap and sprinted clear to round Rachubka and score. It was no more than Mansfield deserved and, after an encouraging display in a 1-0 defeat at Derby last weekend, it seemed they would go one better in front of a crowd of 1,562 (including 141 hardy travelling souls).

Home hopes were crushed, however, as Mendes slid home the winner to a crescendo of boos, although there was still time for one last Town scare.

Once again Brown was the tormentor, catching Martin McIntosh on the wrong foot for the only time in the game and firing a fierce near-post shot which Rachubka did well to block.

Minus Nathan Clarke (thigh strain) it was left to McIntosh to marshall the defence - a job he did with plenty of solid quality - but Town failed to match the sharpness they've shown so far against the likes of Coventry and Harrogate Town.

Booth showed his value when meeting Carss' cross to set up the disallowed Mirfin goal and, later, when netting the first to count, and his build-up play was, as ever, very reliable.