Mansfield boss Nigel Clough acknowledged an “unbelievable” free-kick as Jake Young’s powerful set-piece ended their ‘ five-game winning streak and gave Stevenage a 1-0 away victory.
Young hammered an unstoppable 22-yard free-kick into the top corner to decide the Sky Bet League One contest.
Clough said: “It was a very disappointing way to give up our unbeaten run. Ultimately we were beaten by an unbelievable free-kick.
“It was high quality and probably as good as any free-kick you would see at any level in the country.
“I was a bit disappointed with the free-kick being given, but when he puts it in like that there’s nothing you can do about it. That would have beaten any keeper in the country.
“I was incredibly disappointed how we played in the first half. We are at a loss to explain it. But it happens.
“Training had been so good all week, so I asked the players where that came from at half-time.
“Second half we were much improved. We dominated the last 30-40 minutes but they got some good blocks in and defended well and we didn’t get a break in the penalty area.”
Stevenage dominated the first half with Christy Pym having to make a fine save to deny Kane Smith as well as being beaten by Young’s thunderbolt.
The hosts went up a gear after the break and Murphy Cooper made saves from Stephen Quinn, Lee Gregory and Keanu Baccus as Stevenage soaked up pressure, although Pym also had to deny Elliot List 13 minutes from time.
It was a first away win of the campaign for Stevenage and boss Alex Revell said: “The performances have been there and we have not made a big thing about it with the players as that can make it greater than it really is.
“We knew wins would come if we maintained our standards and today’s performance had everything.
“It was a tremendous effort and that’s what you have to do to win games.
“I thought we completely dominated the first half and should have been out of sight.
“You knew Mansfield were not going to be the same team in the second half as you know the manager and what they are about. That’s why they were five unbeaten.
“We had a golden chance to go further ahead and didn’t take it and we then had to make sure we held on – and the effort they put in to do that was incredible.
“We have struggled here over the years, so to come here and put in a performance like that first half and the effort, energy and togetherness second half, this is a serious result.”
On Young’s free-kick, Revell added: “We lost a few balls yesterday while he was practising them, but we don’t mind him missing them in training if he delivers that.
“I thought his performance deserved it, he is growing in confidence as a player. It was a special goal and one he will savour for a long time.”
