Mansfield Town 3 Darlington 3

Division 3 Northern
5 November 1932

Requested by Paul Taylor.

Below: Harry Johnson

Harry Johnson nets 3 against Darlo  

On 5th November 1932, the Stags were at home to Darlington for their first ever league meeting. It was the Stags second season of football league status and they were lying just above halfway whilst their opponents were bottom of Division 3 (North). But Darlington raced into a three goal lead with goals from Hutchinson and R. Johnson. With 73 minutes gone, the Stags were dead and buried, except that they weren’t, because they had a certain Harry Johnson in their side.   The Mansfield Reporter and Sutton Times described the finale:
“After 73 minutes, a long forward pass put Harry Johnson through just over the halfway line and, running close in, he fired in a high shot which gave the custodian no chance. Three minutes before the end, Johnson’s persistency (sic) was again rewarded, for following up a centre from the left, he sent the ball into the visitors’ goal. Close on time, Weightman, from just outside the penalty line, placed a “free” (sic) well into the goal and Johnson guided the ball calmly past the astonished goalie to the outburst of loud cheering. It was a thrilling and unexpected finish.”  

The game ended 3-3.  

Harry Johnson scored 104 league goals for the Stags in just 163 appearances, and all this after he had scored 205 league goals for Sheffield United. Johnson holds the distinction of being the all-time record league goalscorer for both the Stags and Sheffield United.