Season 16/17 Stagsnet Match Report
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Mansfield Town
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Notts County
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Green 54, pen 90, Henderson 90+5.
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Rodman 82
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Attendance: 5763 (1546 from Notts County)
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Date: 8 October 2016
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SUPERB SECOND HALF SEES STAGS SINK NOTTS YET AGAIN
Martin Shaw and Simon Chamberlain at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town put in a superb second half performance to sink Notts County for the third successive time and retain Nottinghamshire bragging rights. Notts County were the better side in the first half and Mansfield were grateful to Scott Shearer for two fine saves and a Lee Collins header off the line in the opening 20 minutes. But the second half was a completely different affair as Mansfield took the lead on 54 minutes, with substitute Matt Green scoring within 23 seconds of coming on. Mal Benning floated a cross from the left into the middle, where Pat Hoban nodded down to Green 12 yards out. Green shot goalwards, it deflected off Richard Duffy as the defender to block it, and spun into the net, wrongfooting the keeper. The Stags were unlucky not to increase the lead on 63 minutes, as McGuire played a ball forward to Hoban who beat the offside trap, and with the keeper advancing and the ball bouncing up, Hoban lobbed over the keeper only to see it rebound off the front of the bar. But on 82 minutes, Notts were level, a free kick from just inside Mansfield’s half, fell to Alex Rodman who fired into the net from the right. Three minutes later, Mansfield should have had a clear penalty as sub Darius Henderson was smashed in the face inside the area by Forte as they challenged for the ball. The referee atoned for that gaffe by awarding Mansfield a penalty on 90 minutes. Benning knocked the ball past Tootle and both players went down in a heap and the referee immediately pointed to the spot. Green stepped up and smashed it into the top left corner of the net giving the keeper no chance. The Stags made it 3-1 on 90+5 minutes. Clements knocked the ball up with his right foot, and smashed it with his left foot high into the Notts County half. Henderson outmuscled two defenders and fired left footed into the bottom right corner of the net. A show of brute strength and clinical finishing. As the Notts supporters slunk away, the Stags were left to celebrate a great second half performance. The aggregate score between the two sides this season and last season is now Mansfield 10-1 Notts County. No midweek game for the Stags this week so plenty of time to enjoy this moment, before the visit of Wycombe next Saturday. Adam Murray named an unchanged side from the side that drew at Crewe 7 days ago. No place in the starting line-up for Matt Green who scored from the bench at Port Vale in the Checkatrade Trophy on Tuesday. He was on the bench here, along with a welcome return from injury for Jack Thomas. Tom Marriott was kept in the first team squad for the game and warmed up before the game, but was not in the final 18. Notts County came into the game in good form, with four successive away victories, in stark contrast to their form when the teams last met in March and Mansfield won 5-0. Former Stags loanee Vadaine Oliver was on the bench. The crowd was 600 down on last season’s game (400 down on home fans). The form going into both games was similar: Mansfield came into the game last season on the back of a disappointing March which had seen them slide down the table. Therefore much of that difference can be put down to the excessively early kick-off time of 12.15pm, on police advice, keeping plenty of Stags fans away who would otherwise have come, compared to the later kick-off last season of 1pm. Three of these excessively early 12.15pm kick-offs this season are costing the club a great deal of money. Paralympic gold winner Ollie Hynd led the teams out before the game and got a great reception. It was a pleasant day, slightly cool, dry and cloudy after morning sunshine. Notts started the better of the two teams. On 6 minutes, a free kick 26 yards out, in a central position after Forte was brought down. Dickinson fired over and wide. Notts were nearly in front on 10 minutes. Great play from Forte, cutting inside from the right onto his left foot and firing a low shot that was heading just inside the right post before Shearer made a fine save tipping it onto the post and away for a corner. At the other end on 12 minutes, Hurst chested down to Mitch Rose who scuffed a shot wide from 25 yards. On 16 minutes, a free kick for Notts 30 yards from goal to the right of centre. Dickinson made a mess of it as he tried to lay off a short ball. Another free kick for Notts on 18 minutes, 30 yards out on the right touchline. Dickinson curled into the middle, Hollis laid off for Jon Stead who turned and fired goalwards, and Lee Collins did brilliantly to head off the line. On 20 minutes, Forte got goalside of Pearce in a 1-on-1 with Shearer after a pass from Stead, and Shearer saved brilliantly getting enough on Forte’s shot to force it over the bar. With the two saves from Shearer and the header away from Collins, the Stags were hanging on in the opening 20 minutes. The Stags were close to taking the lead on 25 minutes. Bennett put in a great hard low cross from the right, and Danny Rose under pressure at the far post stabbed wide. A minute later, Mitch Rose broke forward and shot wide of the left post from 25 yards. Clements put in a great tackle on 33 minutes. Two minutes later, Hurst fired in a shot from 25 yards which flicked up off a defender and easily saved by the keeper. A minute after that, a shot from distance by Clements was blocked. Yet another free kick for Notts on 40 minutes, 30 yards out on the right touchline. Dickinson fired it into the middle, it flicked off McGuire and then off Hoban wide of the right post. On 43 minutes, Mitch Rose gave the ball away, then won it straight back, the Stags broke 4 on 4, but Benning’s ball forward was poor. 0-0 at the break. Notts County had dominated the opening 20 minutes and Mansfield were grateful to Scott Shearer for 2 saves and a Lee Collins header off the line. For the remainder it was even and Mansfield went close through Danny Rose. Half time 0-0 On 46 minutes, McGuire was booked for a foul on Milsom. The free kick, from 27 yards out, left of centre, was fired over the bar by Aborah. On 48 minutes, Hoban and Hurst set up Danny Rose who shot well wide of the right post. Then on 50 minutes, Hurst pushed forward and shot from 22 yards but didn’t get a good connection on it. On 51 minutes, a good corner from Hurst from the right, and Pearce headed well over. Then a corner at the other end on 52 minutes, and Aborah chipped just wide of the left post. Matt Green replaced Danny Rose on 54 minutes. And within 23 seconds Green had opened the scored. Benning took a throw-in from the left near the corner flag, short to Hurst, who knocked it back to Benning. Benning floated a cross into the middle, where Hoban nodded down to Green 12 yards out. Green shot goalwards, it deflected off Duffy as the defender to block it, and spun into the net, wrongfooting the keeper. The ground erupted. The Stags were in front, with the help of a fortunate deflection. Oscar Gobern replaced Hurst on 60 minutes. The Stags were unlucky not to increase the lead on 63 minutes. Green played the ball inside to McGuire, who played a ball forward over the top with the outside of his right boot to Hoban who beat the offside trap, and with the keeper advancing and the ball bouncing up, Hoban lobbed over the keeper only to see it rebound off the front of the bar. Hoban deserved a goal. The Stags were now right on top. On 65 minutes, Dickinson scuffed a low shot straight at Shearer. Then on 67 minutes, Forte broke and was well-tackled by Clements. Vadaine Oliver was on as a substitute on 70 minutes, and whereas Matt Green had a goal within 30 seconds of coming on, Oliver had a yellow card within 30 seconds for a foul on Pearce. The Stags were again close to increasing the lead on 72 minutes. Benning’s corner from the left, Pearce attacked it with a good run and sent a clean header just over the bar. But on 82 minutes, Notts were level. Yet another free kick for Notts in Mansfield’s half. This time conceded by Bennett who picked up a yellow card for a deliberate foul on Forte. Dickinson took the free kick from just inside Mansfield’s half, and the ball fell to Alex Rodman who fired into the net from the right. On 83 minutes, Vadaine Oliver fired over the bar acrobatically. Jack Thomas had been ready to come on as substitute. But instead, the Stags brought on Darius Henderson, in place of the impressive Hoban, on 84 minutes. And on 85 minutes, Henderson should have had a penalty as he was smashed in the face inside the area by Forte as they challenged for the ball. The referee waved play on. It was extraordinary that it was not given as it was a clear penalty. On 87 minutes, Shearer did well to push away a corner. At the other end on 88 minutes, a lovely ball forward from Clements and Henderson headed inches wide of the right post. The referee atoned for his earlier gaffe by awarding Mansfield a penalty on 90 minutes. Benning knocked the ball past Tootle and both players went down in a heap. The referee immediately pointed to the spot. Green stepped up and smashed it into the top left corner of the net giving the keeper no chance. On 90+4 minutes, Gobern was booked for kicking the ball away after a foul had been given. Another unnecessary booking. The Stags made it 3-1 on 90+5 minutes. Clements knocked the ball up with his right foot, and smashed it with his left foot high into the Notts County half. Henderson outmuscled two defenders and fired left footed into the bottom right corner of the net. It was a show of brute strength and clinical finishing from the Stags striker. He removed his shirt to celebrate with the fans, and picked up a yellow card as a result. It was now bedlam inside the stadium. Mansfield fans taunted Radio Nottingham’s veteran Notts County commentator Colin Slater with a chant of “Slater, Slater what’s the score?” Full time and as Notts supporters slunk away, the Stags were left to celebrate a great second half performance. The aggregate score between the two sides this season and last season is now Mansfield 10-1 Notts County. FURTHER REFLECTIONS (MY WEEKLY BLOG FOR THE CHAD NEWSPAPER): Mansfield Town’s win over Notts County on Saturday was one of those days that we live for as football supporters. Recent home results for the Stags have been poor, but after three good away performances in a week, the Stags put those home woes behind them put with a superb second half performance to blow local rivals Notts County away and retain Nottinghamshire bragging rights. Notts County were the better side in the first half and Mansfield were grateful to Scott Shearer for two fine saves and a Lee Collins header off the line in the opening 20 minutes. But the second half was a completely different affair as Mansfield took the lead, with substitute Matt Green scoring within 23 seconds of coming on, though it certainly had an element of luck involved as Green’s shot deflected off Richard Duffy as the defender tried to block it, and it spun into the net, wrongfooting the keeper. It was a good ball in from Mal Benning and well nodded down to Green by Pat Hoban, who was tremendous all game. The Stags were unlucky not to increase the lead as Jamie McGuire played a ball forward to Hoban who beat the offside trap, and with the keeper advancing and the ball bouncing up, Hoban lobbed over the keeper only to see it rebound off the front of the bar. A great effort. It was a bad blow when Notts equalised with Alex Rodman firing a loose ball into the net following a free kick. Just after that, Mansfield should have had a clear penalty as sub Darius Henderson was smashed in the face inside the area by Forte as they challenged for the ball. An extraordinary miss by the officials. The referee atoned for that gaffe by awarding Mansfield a penalty five minutes later on the stroke of 90 minutes when Benning knocked the ball past defender Tootle and both players went down in a heap and the referee immediately pointed to the spot. Green stepped up and smashed it into the top left corner of the net giving the keeper no chance. A terrific penalty. The Stags made it 3-1 five minutes into stoppage time when Chris Clements knocked the ball up with his right foot, and smashed it with his left foot high into the Notts County half, Henderson outmuscled two defenders and fired left footed into the bottom right corner of the net. A show of brute strength and clinical finishing from Henderson and the first real glimpse Stags fans have seen of what he can bring to the club. As the Notts supporters slunk away, the Stags were left to celebrate a great second half performance. Some super performances throughout the team, with Pat Hoban my man of the match giving the Notts defence a torrid time, closely followed by Clements, Green, and McGuire, not to mention Shearer for his crucial first half saves. The aggregate score between the two sides this season and last season is now Mansfield 10-1 Notts County. The crowd was 600 down on last season’s game against Notts County (400 down on home fans). The form going into both games was similar: Mansfield came into the game last season on the back of a disappointing March which had seen them slide down the table. Therefore much of that difference can be put down to the excessively early kick-off time of 12.15pm, on police advice, keeping plenty of Stags fans away who would otherwise have come, compared to the later kick-off last season of 1pm. Three of these excessively early 12.15pm kick-offs this season are costing the club a great deal of money. Man of the match: Pat Hoban |
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Report by: Martin Shaw and Simon Chamberlain at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill
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Line Up:
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(4-1-3-2)
Shearer 8 Two fine saves in the opening 20 minutes kept the Stags in the game. Bennett 7 Defended well. Very good cross for a chance for Danny Rose. Pearce 7 Caught out once when Forte goal goalside of him in the first 20 minutes, but otherwise did well. Close to scoring with a header just over the bar. Collins 7.5 Very good header off the line. Defended well. Benning 8 His cross in led to the first goal, and won the penalty. Defended well. McGuire 7 Tenacious game in front of the back four. M.Rose 7 Whole hearted performance. Clements 8 Some good tackles. Good distribution. Hurst 7 Decent game. Hoban 9 Excellent game. Set up the first goal for Green, unlucky not to score. Gave the Notts defence a torrid time. D.Rose 6 Chance in the first half. Subbed early in the second half. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Green (for D.Rose, 54 mins) 8 Scored twice, with a slightly fortunate first, and a very well taken penalty.
Gobern (for Hurst, 60 mins) - Henderson (for Hoban, 84 mins) - Terrific cameo. Brute strength and clinical finishing for the goal, and headed just wide. Subs not used: Jensen, J.Thomas, Hemmings, Hamilton. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(5-3-2): Collin; Tootle, Duffy, Laing, Hollis (Richards 60), Dickinson; Rodman, Aborah (Oliver 60), Milsom; Forte, Stead (Collins 60). Subs not used: Loach, Burke, Campbell, Hewitt, Audel.
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Referee:
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Carl Boyeson 6 Generally had a decent game, but needs to go to Specsavers after missing the assault on Henderson in the penalty area. Clearly realised his error and couldn't wait to make up for it with the 90th minute penalty.
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