Flitcroft praise for Hemmings after last-gasp penalty

Mansfield boss David Flitcroft hailed Kane Hemmings’ “courage” after the striker held his nerve to convert a dramatic penalty and snatch a 1-1 draw at promotion rivals Notts County.

Terry Hawkridge’s scrappy first-half goal looked to have given County a crucial three points in their quest for automatic promotion but, after Lewis Alessandra handled right on the edge of the box eight minutes into stoppage time, Hemmings fired low to Adam Collin’s right from the penalty spot.

With the majority of the 12,563 crowd at Meadow Lane screaming for him to miss, Flitcroft was impressed by how cool his forward’s spot-kick was.

He said: “Hemmo showed a lot of courage and character to step up to that with the ferocity from the crowd.

“You can’t let that affect you and he blasted it into the bottom corner. I don’t think people realise sometimes the unbelievable courage that takes.

“There was a lot of time for Kane to have to hold his nerve and show his courage.

“A million per cent we deserved it. The game was a real slug-out at times – in the first half there wasn’t a lot between the two teams. It was very scrappy.

“Second half it came alive. I was delighted with the last 35 minutes. There was more energy about our performance.

“We asked more questions and it was more front-foot, so we thoroughly deserved the reward of the penalty. I am delighted with that second-half performance.”

The draw means that County remain three points ahead of the Stags in third in the League Two table, with the final months of the season looking set to be a fight for automatic promotion.

Magpies boss Kevin Nolan slammed referee Andy Woolmer for the late penalty decision and claims his side didn’t deserve to leave with anything less than a victory.

He said: “My lads have been robbed of two points. We played really well and they got the goal they deserved. They limited Mansfield to very few chances.

“The first chance they had in which the keeper had to make a save was in the 98th minute. I am flabbergasted and I don’t know how we have come off the pitch having drawn the game.

“The referee cost us two points with a horrendous, terrible, decision. It was outside the box and the referee has no excuses.

“It’s so bad because my lads had to earn the right to get a goal and to try for a clean sheet. We did enough to win the game but the referee has given them a penalty out of nothing.

“This is third v fifth. It’s so disappointing and it is happening week in and week out. But I am so proud of my lads.”