Stephen McLaughlin nets stoppage time equaliser for Mansfield Town

Stephen McLaughlin was the saviour for Mansfield Town on Saturday as they came from two goals down to draw with Barnsley in League One.

McLaughlin, from the Isle of Doagh, started for the Stags as they hosted the Yorkshire side, and former Republic of Ireland International David McGoldrick gave the visitors the lead, before Scott Banks made it 2-0.

A Lucas Akins penalty gave Mansfield a lifeline with almost an hour gone, and McLaughlin netted in the 94th minute to level the game as he chested the ball down and fired in.

“It was good, and we believed we could do it,” McLaughlin said on the second-half comeback.

“At half-time, we said don’t concede and we’ll get a goal, but we did the opposite and conceded.

“But the belief within the squad and the chances we create, we were always going to get something, and once Lucas tucked that penalty away, we were the only team that were going to go on and get another goal, and thankfully, we did.

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“We could see they weren’t clearing the lines that much, and we kept getting it in there, hoping there was a mistake. They left me free in the box, and the centre half headed it to me, and I stuck it away, so it was good from us.

“I think it hit my shin first,” he joked on the goal.

“But I just concentrated on the strike and kept it low, and the goalkeeper couldn’t see it until late, so I was pleased to see the net ripple.

“I haven’t scored in a while, my last goal was against Barnsley, and for it to hit the back of the net at the time it was and get a point, it’s a great feeling.”

Nigel Clough’s men currently sit in 16th place in the third tier, seven points clear of the relegation zone.

Former Finn Harps and Derry City man McLaughlin is in his sixth season with Mansfield Town.