Lee Gregory and Will Evans fire in-form Mansfield to victory at Stockport

Mansfield made it four wins in five games as goals from Lee Gregory and Will Evans saw them defeat fellow play-off hopefuls Stockport 2-1.

Gregory put the visitors ahead in the 12th minute but, after Will Collar had levelled for the hosts, then missed a great chance to restore Mansfield’s lead when he saw his 26th-minute penalty saved.

However, Mansfield edged back in front before the break through his strike partner Evans and Stockport could not find a way back for a second time.

The Stags took the lead when Gregory received the ball after it was nodded down by a Stockport defender and the experienced forward slotted home the opener.

Stockport equalised eight minutes later via an excellently worked move. Odin Bailey lifted the ball into the box and it was headed by Kyle Wootton into the path of Collar who tucked his shot past Christy Pym.

Mansfield were given the chance to get back in front soon after when they were awarded a penalty after Callum Camps’ outstretched leg caught Aaron Lewis, but Gregory was thwarted by County goalkeeper Ben Hinchcliffe from 12 yards.

However, the visitors did strike again six minutes before half-time when Evans latched onto a through ball, before rounding Hinchliffe and firing home from a narrow angle.

Ethan Pye and Jack Diamond both came close to scoring for Stockport in the second half but Mansfield held on to claim victory that lifts them to within a point of seventh-placed County.