George Maris’ brace helps Mansfield edge past plucky Harrogate

League One Mansfield finally edged past battling League Two visitors Harrogate with a 3-2 win in an exciting FA Cup first-round clash.

Half-time substitute George Maris was the Stags’ hero with a second-half brace against a Harrogate side who had twice come from behind.

The visitors’ hopes of an upset took an early blow as Mansfield grabbed a third-minute lead.

Stephen McLaughlin sent in a low cross from the left and Regan Hendry raced in to sweep home from six yards.

But the under-pressure Sulphurites defended well and stayed in the game until the break. They unexpectedly levelled 11 minutes into the second half when Jack Muldoon sent a low cross towards Stephen Duke-McKenna just inside the box, and he fizzed an unstoppable rising drive into the top-left corner.

However, Maris restored Mansfield’s lead in the 67th minute as Jordan Bowery helped the ball towards him from a long Louis Reed pass and Maris saw his 20-yard shot deflect up and over the keeper.

Again Harrogate had an answer and after 80 minutes Anthony O’Connor buried a header from a Reece Smith corner for 2-2.

But three minutes later Nathan Moriah-Welsh found Maris unmarked on the right of the box and he directed a fine low finish into the far bottom corner from 12 yards.