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Season 16/17 Stagsnet Match Report
English Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Hartlepool United  
0 - 0
 Mansfield Town
 
 
Attendance: 3775 (203 from Mansfield)
 
Date: 17 September 2016

POINT FOR HARD-WORKING STAGS AT HARTLEPOOL

Martin Shaw at Victoria Park

Mansfield Town earned a point in a 0-0 draw at Hartlepool United this afternoon with a hard-working performance. The first half was low on entertainment with the Stags creating nothing going forward, but some good defending limiting Hartlepool to 2 or 3 chances despite some good wingplay from former Stag Nathan Thomas. Mansfield made a change at the break bringing on new signing Oscar Gobern in midfield. Gobern was a free agent after leaving QPR following injury and previously played 70 times for Huddersfield. He has good pedigree having come through the Southampton academy where he knew Ryan Tafazolli, and he has signed for the Stags until January. He immediately provided some more quality in midfield with some good skills though will need to time to get more match sharpness. The second half was much more entertaining and both sides could have won the game. Hartlepool had the ball in the net on 55 minutes when Nathan Thomas knocked in following a corner, but the offside flag was correctly up before Thomas put the ball in the net. Then brilliant play from Mal Benning on 59 minutes as he beat two defenders before bending a right foot shot just wide of the right post. The two best chances of the game came in a two minute spell on 72 minutes. Brilliant play from Nathan Thomas, surging forward from the halfway line and laying a perfect ball into the path of Billy Paynter, who lifted his shot over Scott Shearer and over the bar. Then at the other end, Mitch Rose slid a brilliant ball forward into the path of Matt Green in the area to give him a one-on-one with Hartlepool keeper Trevor Carson and I expected the net to bulge but Carson made himself big and blocked Green’s shot with his left leg. A satisfactory point for Mansfield, with some good performances, notably from Alex Iacovitti, rock solid in central defence, Bennett and Benning at full back, and Collins and McGuire in front of the back four. Gobern also impressed enough with some good skills and class to suggest he could become an important player. After the game it was announced that Adam Chapman had left the club by mutual consent.

Mansfield made two changes from the side that lost to Barnet. Taft was missing through injury. Hemmings was also left out. In came Jamie McGuire and CJ Hamilton. The Stags started with a 4-4-2 formation. Collins and McGuire were alongside each other in central midfield, with Mitch Rose and Hamilton either side. New signing Oscar Gobern, 25 years old, was on the bench. Young Lewis Collins, from the U21 squad, travelled with the squad and warmed up before the game, though was not on the bench. After the game it was announced that Adam Chapman had left the club by mutual consent. Adam Murray also revealed after the game that Matt Green is about to sign an extended contract, which is very good news.

Hartlepool included winger Nathan Thomas, who left the Stags last season to enable him to move back to the North-East, and who was in fine form after a brace last week against Yeovil including one cracking goal. Hartlepool had won two away games this season, at Yeovil and Exeter, but had not won at home this season.

It was a gorgeous warm sunny day.

On 2 minutes, Nathan Thomas was straight into the action, as he got past Bennett and Mitch Rose on the left, and fired in a low cross in to a dangerous area. Shearer got enough of a hand on it and then Pearce headed away.

On 11 minutes, Alessandra broke into the Stags box on the right, and his shot was deflected over the bar.

Two corners for Hartlepool. McGuire got up to head both away.

At the other end, on 14 minutes, Green made a good run to the byline on the right, crossed to the far post, where Hamilton pulled the ball back but it was cleared. Then on 21 minutes a free kick for the Stags 28 yards out, which Benning took, and the keeper held his cross-shot under his own bar. Straight to the other end and Mitch Rose did well to block a shot from Alessandra.

On 25 minutes, a long ball forward found Paynter in the area, he got goalside of Pearce, and lifted a ball across to Laurent, who fired well over the bar from a good position under good pressure from Benning. Poor defending from Pearce.

Hamilton was having an indifferent game, typified by a poor pass, but on 31 minutes he produced a great tackle to stop a cross coming in.

On 39 minutes, Shearer was out of his area quickly as Nathan Thomas approached. Alert keeping.

A free kick for Hartlepool 32 yards in a central position on 45 minutes. Nathan Thomas took it, straight into the wall.

A fairly forgettable first half, and the Stags pleased to go in level at the break after some good defending limited Hartlepool to 2 or 3 chances despite some good wingplay from former Stag Nathan Thomas. Both Thomas on the left and Alessandra on the right impressed for the home side. The Stags created nothing going forward.

Half time 0-0

The Stags made a change at the break. Oscar Gobern replaced Hamilton and slotted into the midfield.

On 53 minutes, Laurent got past 2 Stags defenders and shanked a shot well wide.

Hartlepool had the ball in the net on 55 minutes when Nathan Thomas knocked in following a corner, but the offside flag was up before Thomas put the ball in the net. The corner from the right by Alessandra was headed goalwards by Donnelly, Shearer made a good save pushing it away, and Thomas knocked in the rebound. From the video, Thomas was in an offside position, just goalside of Mitch Rose, as Donnelly headed goalwards.

On 57 minutes, McGuire crossed from the left, Green won the ball, with his back to goal, but was crowded out before he could get in a shot.

Brilliant play from Mal Benning on 59 minutes as he beat two defenders before bending a right foot shot just wide of the right post.

A minute later at the other end, Alessandra got to the byline, pulled back to Laurent, whose first shot was blocked, he fired the rebound towards the crossbar and Shearer turned it over.

McGuire picked up a silly booking on 69 minutes. He took his time over a throw-in, then dropped the ball for Bennett to take it. The referee correctly booked him for time-wasting.

Hemmings replaced Danny Rose on 70 minutes.

The two best chances of the game came in a two minute spell on 72 minutes. Brilliant play from Nathan Thomas, surging forward from the halfway line and laying a perfect ball into the path of Billy Paynter, who lifted his shot over Scott Shearer and just over the bar.

Then at the other end on 74 minutes, Mitch Rose slid a brilliant ball forward into the path of Matt Green in the area to give him a one-on-one with Hartlepool keeper Trevor Carson and I expected the net to bulge but Carson made himself big and blocked Green’s shot with his left leg. A real opportunity for Green.

On 84 minutes, Benning gave away an unnecessary free kick on the right touchline, 10 yards from the corner flag. Nathan Thomas curled the free kick towards the far post, and fortunately for the Stags no-one got a touch as it sailed just wide of the left post.

A minute later at the other end, a Benning corner came out to Hemmings, who shot wide from the edge of the area.

On 88 minutes, a half chance for the Stags, as Lee Collins had a shot blocked, it came to Mitch Rose who had a chance to shoot, but tried to create a better chance for himself and the chance was gone.

5 minutes of stoppage time added on; more than 7 minutes were played due to more stoppages but no further chances for either side.

Not the best game overall, though the second half was more entertaining than the first, but a satisfactory point for sure. The Stags are up to 9th place, one point outside the play-offs. The Stags are at home to Grimsby next Saturday in what will surely be a pulsating atmosphere.

FURTHER REFLECTIONS (MY WEEKLY BLOG FOR THE CHAD NEWSPAPER):
Mansfield Town earned a point in a 0-0 draw at Hartlepool United on Saturday with a hard-working performance. The first half was low on entertainment, with the Stags creating nothing going forward, but some good defending limiting Hartlepool to 2 or 3 chances despite some good wingplay from former Stag Nathan Thomas. Mansfield made a change at the break bringing on new signing Oscar Gobern in midfield. Gobern was a free agent after leaving QPR following injury and previously played 70 times for Huddersfield. He has good pedigree having come through the Southampton academy where he knew Ryan Tafazolli, and he has signed for the Stags until January. He impressed enough with some good skills and class to suggest he could become an important player for Mansfield. One piece of skill on the touchline was wonderful to watch. He will though need to time to get more match sharpness after having been out of the game for about a year. The second half was much more entertaining and both sides could have won the game. Hartlepool had a goal disallowed early in the second half when Nathan Thomas knocked the ball in following a corner, but the offside flag was up early. At the time it was hard to judge if it was the correct call by the officials, but studying it again on video, Thomas was indeed in an offside position as Donnelly headed goalwards from the corner, Scott Shearer made a good save to keep it out, then Thomas knocked in the rebound. One of Mansfield’s best moments of the game came with excellent play from Mal Benning who beat two defenders before bending a right foot shot just wide of the right post. The two best chances of the game came in a two minute spell in the last 20 minutes. Firstly brilliant play from Nathan Thomas, surging forward from the halfway line and laying a perfect ball into the path of Billy Paynter, who lifted his shot over Shearer and over the bar. Then at the other end, Mitch Rose slid a brilliant ball forward into the path of Matt Green in the area to give him a one-on-one with Hartlepool keeper Trevor Carson and I expected the net to bulge but Carson made himself big and blocked Green’s shot with his left leg. It was a great save to deny Green, who was so close to getting Mansfield’s first goal for 3 games. The news after the game that Green is about to sign an extended contract is great news for the club. Not the best game overall, though the second half was more entertaining than the first, but a good point for sure. Some fine performances, notably from Alex Iacovitti, rock solid in central defence, Bennett and Benning at full back, and Collins and McGuire in front of the back four. The Stags are up one place to 9th place, one point outside the play-offs, ahead of the game against Grimsby on Saturday in what will surely be a pulsating atmosphere.

Man of the match: Alex Iacovitti


Report by: Martin Shaw at Victoria Park



Line Up:
(4-4-2)
Shearer 7 Rightly pleased with his clean sheet after the game. Good save when he turned Laurent’s shot over the bar. Also saved well from Donnelly before Thomas popped in the disallowed goal. Just did enough in getting a hand on an early Nathan Thomas cross. Alert keeping when he was out of his area quickly from a long ball forward.
Bennett 7 Good performance. Beaten in the first few minutes by Nathan Thomas, but did well after that.
Pearce 6 Difficult first half but much improved after that. Allowed Paynter to get goalside of him in the area and set up a chance for Laurent.
Iacovitti 8 Rock solid in central defence, didn’t put a foot wrong.
Benning 7 Generally defended well. Gave away one unnecessary free kick late on in dangerous position. Brilliant play at the other end beating two defenders before bending a right foot shot just wide of the right post.
M.Rose 6.5 Slid a brilliant ball forward into the path of Matt Green in the area to give him a one-on-one.
Collins 7 Solid in front of the back four, and tried to get forward.
McGuire 7 Some good headers away. Silly booking.
Hamilton 5.5 An indifferent game, typified by one poor pass, but produced one great tackle to stop a cross coming in.
D.Rose 6 Won some headers but not involved enough and didn’t get enough service.
Green 6 Got into position for a one-on-one with the keeper but the keeper blocked his shot with his leg. Did ok otherwise with not a lot of service.
Sub Line Up:
Gobern (for Hamilton, 46 mins) 7 Impressed enough with some good skills and class to suggest he could become an important player. One superb piece of skill on the touchline.
Hemmings (for M.Rose, 70 mins) - Had a chance when he shot wide from the edge of the area.
Subs not used: Jensen, Baxendale, Hurst, Hoban, Henderson.
Opposition Line Up:
(4-3-3): Carson; Magnay (Carroll 45), Nsiala, Harrison, Donnelly; Featherstone, Laurent, Hawkins (Deverdics 80); Alessandra, Paynter (Amond 73), Thomas. Subs Not Used: Bartlett, Richards, Fewster, Heardman.
Referee:
Darren Handley 7 Handled the game well.


Season 16/17 Reports