Season 16/17 Stagsnet Match Report
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Mansfield Town
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Wycombe Wanderers
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Green 81.
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Bloomfield 23
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Attendance: 2898 (252 from Wycombe)
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Date: 15 October 2016
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STAGS COME FROM BEHIND TO CLAIM A POINT FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS SEASON
Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town went behind for just the 4th time this season in the league as Wycombe Wanderers took a first half lead this afternoon. But unlike the 3 previous occasions, Mansfield came from behind to pick up a point with a late equaliser from Matt Green. And in the end Mansfield were frustrated not to win the game as Wycombe’s outstanding goalkeeper Jamal Blackman, on loan from Chelsea, pulled off a stunning save in stoppage time to deny Darius Henderson a winner with a header that had goal written all over it. Green’s goal was his 80th in league and cup competitions for Mansfield. He started from the bench here for the 5th game running but would have started today had he not been ill earlier in the week. Mansfield had a good opening 15 minutes, and should have been in front on 11 minutes when Pat Hoban did well to win the ball, the ball was fed back to him, he rounded keeper Blackman but Danny Rowe got back to clear his shot off the line. But Wycombe sounded a warning twice, as Scott Shearer saved well from Gape, and then Cowan-Hall just failed to turn in a Paul Hayes clip to the far post. It was no surprise when they went in front on 23 minutes as Gobern was dispossessed and some crisp passing from Wycombe put Matt Bloomfield clean through on goal and he fired past Shearer from 14 yards. Hoban had another chance for Mansfield when a good ball from Mitch Rose put him in space on the right but he fired wide of the right post. The second half was a different affair though as Mansfield dominated. The introduction of Green and the returning Jack Thomas gave Mansfield more potency going forward. There were several chances to equalise, including Bennett heading just wide from Benning’s corner, and then Benning’s shot with the outside of his left foot bringing a terrific save from Blackman. The equaliser finally came on 81 minutes. Clements was hauled down on the edge of the centre circle. Collins took it quickly to Benning, who crossed high from the left, sub Henderson headed on and Green fired in from 12 yards. Good strength from Henderson and clinical from Green. Incidentally, after the game Wycombe’s boss Gareth Ainsworth was highly critical of the referee, including citing that the foul on Clements in the build up to the goal was not a foul. Video evidence shows it was a very clear foul. On 88 minutes, Benning’s free kick was saved by Blackman. Then a rare second half chance for Wycombe who could have won it themselves as Stewart sent a free header from a corner into the side netting. But it looked like Mansfield would pick up a late winner for the 4th time this season as Jack Thomas crossed from the right and Henderson headed towards the right corner of the net and Stags fans were out of their seats ready to celebrate as keeper Blackman, 6 feet 6 and remarkably agile, somehow clawed it away. It was probably the best save I’ve seen at Field Mill since Rod Arnold against Cambridge in 1975. Overall slightly disappointing from Mansfield, especially poor for the last 30 minutes of the first half, but positives to take including the second half performances of Green, Jack Thomas, and Henderson, and Mal Benning who was my man of the match. The Stags remain a point outside the play-offs ahead of next week’s visit to Luton. Mansfield were forced into a change from the side that beat Notts County last week. Jamie McGuire, who Murray would have wanted to do a job on Adebayo Akinfenwa, as he has done previously, was not available having been in hospital on Thursday when his leg swelled up and he fainted after an earlier knock in training. He was replaced by Kyle Howkins, back from his hamstring injury. Another change was that Oscar Gobern replaced Kevan Hurst. Matt Green, would have started had he not been ill earlier in the week. Murray explained that Iacovitti was not in the 18 because he only returned from Scotland U21 duty on Wednesday. Murray started with three at the back, Howkins Pearce, and Collins, and two wing backs, Bennett and Benning. Clements and Gobern were in central midfield, with Mitch Rose just behind Hoban and Danny Rose. During the first half though it switched to four at the back, with Collins in front of the back four, and Mitch Rose (right)/Clements/Gobern (left) across the middle. Wycombe had not won away from home this season. The Wycombe commentator told me before that game that they had not won away from home for 15 games now. He pointed to Aaron Pierre and goalkeeper Jamal Blackman, on loan from Chelsea, as their outstanding players this season. Blackman was only brought in at short notice when their regular keeper got injured. It was a lovely day in Mansfield. Unusual for the visit of Wycombe as it has usually rained when we have played them at home in recent times, as the Wycombe commentator reminded me. On 3 minutes, Mitch Rose won a free kick level with the edge of the area on the right. Clements whipped it over the bar, disappointing delivery. A minute later at the other end, a Wycombe ball in from the right and Collins got in an important clearance. On 8 minutes, a good ball forward from Clements to Mitch Rose, who didn’t have the power to get past the last defender. The Stags should have been ahead on 11 minutes. Pat Hoban did well to win the ball with a sliding challenge, Danny Rose slid a good ball forward back into his path, Hoban rounded keeper Blackman, but Rowe got back to clear his shot off the line. From the resulting corner by Clements from the right, Howkins headed well wide. On 14 minutes, Danny Rose was brought down on the byline 2 yards outside the area. Benning took the free kick into the middle and keeper Blackman claimed. It was to set the scene on the afternoon as Blackman came and claimed so many balls into the middle. On 15 minutes, a quick throw from Benning on the left, Danny Rose got to the byline, pulled it back into the middle but Hoban couldn’t get quite there. Then on 17 minutes, a long throw from Mitch Rose (I don’t think he has been on long throw duty before), and Danny Rose flicked on, but to the keeper. On 19 minutes, Scott Shearer saved well from Gape, who fired in a shot from the edge of the box, Shearer pushed it away, and Collins cleared for a corner. Two minutes later, Cowan-Hall just failed to turn in a Paul Hayes clip to the far post. There was a bad foul by Gobern in the build-up to that chance which went unpunished luckily for him. It was no surprise when Wycombe went in front on 23 minutes as Gobern was dispossessed and some crisp passing from Wycombe put Matt Bloomfield clean through on goal and he fired past Shearer from 14 yards. On 27 minutes, a free kick from Benning from the halfway line, keeper Blackman came to the edge of his area to claim. At the other end on 30 minutes, Jacobson’s free kick from the left 30 yards out, and Akinfenwa headed well over. A minute later, Rowe crossed from the right, Akinfenwa headed towards the left post, and Shearer tipped it wide. I don’t think it was going in anyway but it was still a good save. Mansfield had by now switched to four at the back, with Collins in front of the back four, and Mitch Rose (right)/Clements/Gobern (left) across the middle. On 33 minutes, Hoban headed down and it came off Danny Rose’s knee for a goal kick. Clumsy from Rose. On 37 minutes, a good move from Mansfield and Benning won a corner. From the corner, the keeper claimed. On 39 minutes, Hoban had another chance for Mansfield. A good move forward, Gobern to Mitch Rose, who played a good ball to put Hoban in space on the right but he fired wide of the right post. Pearce was booked on 40 minutes for a foul on the halfway line on Cowan-Hall. On 44 minutes, Rowe was just over the bar from 25 yards for Wycombe after selling Gobern a dummy. Then on 45+2 minutes, Bennett crossed from the right and the keeper plucked out of the air to sum up the first half. The Stags had done well in the opening 15 minutes, but the last 30 minutes had been poor from Mansfield with Wycombe taking the lead after twice going close. Half time 0-1 At the break, two changes for Mansfield with Jack Thomas replacing Gobern, and Green for Danny Rose. The midfield three was now Clements (right)/Jack Thomas (centre)/Mitch Rose (left). On 52 minutes, a Clements free kick from the left, Bennett headed on, and Green sent an overhead kick over his own shoulder and wide of the right post. Then on 54 minutes, a Benning corner from the left, and Bennett headed just wide of the left post. On 61 minutes, Jack Thomas crossed from the right, a great cross, but Green headed well wide from a better position than he seemed to realise. The Stags were right on top. On 63 minutes, a free kick for Wycombe, 30 yards out left of centre. Jacobson wasted it with a little dink straight out for a goal kick. Henderson replaced Hoban on 67 minutes. A good move from Mansfield on 69 minutes, the ball to Benning 30 yards out, set up by Henderson, Jack Thomas and Mitch Rose, but Benning fired just wide. Then on 72 minutes, a free kick, 29 yards out to the right of centre, but Clements was well over the bar. Keeper Blackman produced a great save on 74 minutes to deny Benning. Benning shot from outside the box with the outside of his left boot, and Blackman brilliantly pushed away to his left. Benning put his head in his hands. From the resulting corner by Clements, Pearce headed wide. Collins was booked on 79 minutes for a late tackle on Cowan-Hall. The equaliser finally came on 81 minutes. Clements was hauled down on the edge of the centre circle. Collins took it quickly to Benning, who crossed high from the left, sub Henderson headed on and Green fired in from 12 yards. Good strength from Henderson and clinical from Green. Incidentally, after the game Wycombe’s boss Gareth Ainsworth was highly critical of the referee, including citing that the foul on Clements in the build up to the goal was not a foul. Video evidence shows it was a very clear foul. Green’s goal was his 80th in league and cup competitions for Mansfield. And his 4th in 3 games, all from the bench. On 83 minutes, a lecture to Akinfenwa and Benning from the referee. Benning was announced as the sponsor’s man of the match, and almost immediately he produced a great tackle on 86 minutes. On 88 minutes, Benning’s free kick was saved by Blackman, Henderson retrieved the loose ball back to Bennett who scuffed a shot straight at the keeper from close range. A minute later, Benning into the area on the left, and fired into the side netting. He put his head in his hands again. On 90+1 minutes, another Clements free kick and another catch by the keeper. Collins made a great run from his own half all the way to the left side of the Wycombe area and crossed into the middle but it was cleared. Then a rare second half chance for Wycombe on 90+2 minutes who could have won it themselves as Stewart sent a free header from a corner into the side netting. On 90+3 minutes, it looked like Mansfield would pick up a late winner for the 4th time this season as Jack Thomas crossed from the right and Henderson headed towards the right corner of the net and Stags fans were out of their seats ready to celebrate as keeper Blackman somehow clawed it away. It was probably the best save I’ve seen at Field Mill since Rod Arnold against Cambridge in 1975. FURTHER REFLECTIONS (MY WEEKLY BLOG FOR THE CHAD NEWSPAPER): Mansfield’s draw with Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday was a slightly disappointing game. The Stags had a good opening 15 minutes but were then really poor for the last 30 minutes of the first half, before improving in the second half and finishing very strongly. The Stags went behind for just the 4th time this season in the league, a remarkable statistic perhaps given we are more than a quarter of the way through the season. But unlike the 3 previous occasions, Mansfield came from behind to pick up a point with a late equaliser. In the end Mansfield were frustrated not to win the game as Wycombe’s outstanding goalkeeper Jamal Blackman, 6 feet 6 and remarkably agile, on loan from Chelsea, and according to The Sun newspaper earning £13,000 per week from Chelsea, pulled off a stunning save in stoppage time to deny Darius Henderson a winner with a header that had goal written all over it. Jack Thomas crossed from the right and Henderson headed towards the right corner of the net and Stags fans were out of their seats ready to celebrate as keeper Blackman, somehow clawed it away. It was probably the best save I’ve seen at Field Mill since Rod Arnold against Cambridge in 1975. Ten minutes before that, Mansfield had equalised with Matt Green scoring his 80th goal in league and cup competitions for Mansfield. He is sixth in Mansfield’s goalscoring list of players since Mansfield first joined the Football League in 1931. Green started from the bench against Wycombe for the 5th game running but would have started had he not been ill earlier in the week. The goal came when Clements was hauled down on the edge of the centre circle, Collins took the free kick quickly to Benning, who crossed high from the left, Henderson headed on and Green fired in from 12 yards. Good strength from Henderson and clinical from Green. After the game Wycombe’s boss Gareth Ainsworth was highly critical of the referee, including citing that the foul on Clements in the build up to the goal was not a foul, but video evidence shows it was a very clear foul. In the first half, Mansfield had a good opening 15 minutes, and should have been in front when Pat Hoban did well to win the ball with a sliding challenge, Danny Rose slid a good ball forward back into his path, Hoban rounded the keeper, but Wycombe midfielder Rowe got back to clear his shot off the line. But then Mansfield were poor for the rest of the half with Wycombe twice sounding a warning, as Scott Shearer saved well from Gape, and then Cowan-Hall just failed to turn in a Paul Hayes clip to the far post, before they deservedly took the lead. The disappointing Gobern was dispossessed and some crisp passing from Wycombe put Matt Bloomfield clean through on goal and he fired past Shearer from 14 yards. The second half was a different affair though as Mansfield dominated. The introduction of Green and the returning Jack Thomas gave Mansfield more potency going forward. There were several chances to equalise, including Bennett heading just wide from Benning’s corner, and then Benning’s shot with the outside of his left foot bringing a terrific save from Blackman. And then after Green did equalise, Benning’s free kick was saved by Blackman before that world class save by Blackman from Henderson. Overall slightly disappointing from Mansfield, but positives to take including the second half performances of Green, Jack Thomas, and Henderson, and Mal Benning who was my man of the match. The Stags remain a point outside the play-offs ahead of next Saturday’s visit to Luton. -------------- CHAD ARTICLE Is this the best save at Field Mill since Rod Arnold against Cambridge in 1975? chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Monday 17 October 2016 Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/is-this-the-best-save-at-field-mill-since-rod-arnold-against-cambridge-in-1975-1-8186121? Stags expert Martin Shaw regarded Jamal Blackman’s stoppage time save on Saturday as the best save he’d seen at Field Mill since Rod Arnold against Cambridge United in 1975. Do you agree with that or can you think of a better one? On Saturday the imposing 6ft 6ins Chelsea stopper showed why he is on wages of £676,000 a year with a flying save to his left to deny Darius Henderson, who was on the verge of celebrating what looked to be a late winner. Shaw recalled: The Arnold save was in the 74/75 season in the FA Cup third round against Cambridge at Field Mill in January 1975. Mansfield won 1-0. “It was a shot towards the bottom right corner of the net. Arnold got down to his left and scooped it out - the best save I’ve seen by a Stags keeper. The Chad’s Stan Searl also called it ‘the save of the season’.” -------------- Man of the match: Mal Benning |
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Report by: Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill
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Line Up:
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(3-4-1-2)
Shearer 6.5 Saved well from Gape and Akinfenwa. No chance with the goal. Howkins 7 Looked solid on his return to the side. Pearce 6 Did ok. Collins 7 Defended well, some important clearances. One great run forward. Bennett 6 Got forward a lot. Headed just wide from a corner and scuffed a close range shot straight at the keeper. Defended ok. Clements 6 Some poor set pieces, and too many claimed by the keeper (albeit the keeper commanded his box superbly). Also a few good set pieces. Gobern 4 Poor first half and rightly subbed. Dispossessed in the build up to the goal. Benning 8 Involved in a lot. Brought good saves from the keeper. Got forward a lot. Like Clements, some good set pieces and some others claimed by the keeper. M.Rose 6 Involved in a couple of good moves but not at his best. Hoban 6 Got in good positions for a couple of great chances but couldn’t take either. D.Rose 6 Good first 15 minutes, including great ball for Hoban. Subbed at half time. |
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Sub Line Up:
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J.Thomas (for Gobern, 46 mins) 7 Some very good crosses from the right. Livened up the midfield. Hopefully he can get back to his best form.
Green (for D.Rose, 46 mins) 7 Clinical finish for his goal. Overhead kick just wide. Would have started if he hadn’t been ill earlier in the week. Henderson (for Hoban, 67 mins) 7 Assist for Green’s goal and so nearly got the winner. Subs not used: Jensen, Hurst, Hamilton, Hemmings. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(4-4-2): Blackman; Harriman, Stewart, Pierre, Jacobson; Rowe, Bloomfield (Wood 90), Gape, Cowan-Hall; Hayes (Thompson 78), Akinfenwa. Subs not used: Richardson, Jombatti, Bean, Weston, Freeman.
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Referee:
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Brett Huxtable 5 The first time he’s refereed a Stags game since the nightmare game at Braintree in 2013. Made some poor decisions, but decisions nowhere near as bad as Gareth Ainsworth made out.
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