Season 16/17 Stagsnet Match Report
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Mansfield Town
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Morecambe
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Fleming 13
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Attendance: 3237 (79 from Morecambe)
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Date: 26 December 2016
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STAGS BEATEN AT HOME BY MORECAMBE IN TERRIBLE GAME
Martin Shaw and Simon Chamberlain at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town were beaten 1-0 at home by Morecambe this afternoon in a truly terrible game. Despite a lot of possession and 13 corners (to Morecambe’s 2 corners), the Stags created very few clearcut chances and rarely looked like scoring against the team with the worst goal difference in the league. Mansfield were hopeless in the first half, and having gone behind on 13 minutes, didn’t look like scoring until Pat Hoban fired just wide on 43 minutes with a good effort just past the left post. So 1-0 to Morecambe at the break and that is now 15 home league and cup games out of 15 this season in which Mansfield have failed to score at home in the first half. The second half wasn’t much better with Mansfield only looking like scoring when Kyle Howkins unleashed a powerful drive from 20 yards which the keeper parried out to Danny Rose, who could only fire the rebound against the post with the goal gaping. After that, Morecambe wound the clock down expertly. The only goal of the game had come on 13 minutes, as Rhys Turner got past Howkins just outside the area, squared for Peter Murphy, who swept a shot goalwards from close range which was well parried by Scott Shearer, but Andrew Fleming was quickest to the loose ball to fire into the empty net. Stags defenders appealed in vain for a handball in the build-up to the goal, but there was no infringement. So an afternoon as frustrating as they come for the Stags fans. An awful performance, the Stags deserved nothing from the game, and will have to play very much better if they are get anything from the game against top-of-the-table Doncaster on Saturday. The transfer window opens after that, before the trip to Blackpool on Monday. It looks like plenty of changes will be needed if the Stags are to have any chance of a play-off push. The Stags are currently 8 points off the play-offs and 5 above the relegation zone. It was a windy day, which almost never makes for a good game. Mansfield made two changes from the side that lost at Exeter. Benning was suspended. In came Howkins for his first start under Steve Evans, following injury. Evans has previously said that Tony Pulis at West Brom rates Howkins, and if Pulis rates him, he must be good. Howkins’ loan period from West Brom is up in January. Howkins came in at centre half, alongside Pearce. Collins switched from right back to left back. Bennett switched from centre half to right back. So only Pearce continued in the same position from the game at Exeter. Hurst was left out, and in came Henderson, with Paul Raynor explaining pre-match that Henderson’s second half performance at Exeter had earned him a start. So Henderson and Hoban were up front together, with Green on the right wing, and Hemmings on the left wing. Before the game, I queried whether Henderson and Hoban could play well together given their similar strengths, and this was the first time they had started together. We expect it will be the last time they start together. Before the game, Crawley confirmed that striker Adi Yussuf had ended his loan early and returned to Mansfield. Paul Raynor, in pre-match interview with Charlie Slater on Radio Nottingham confirmed that Crawley “didn’t want him”. After the game Steve Evans said he would be back for a short time, suggesting that he’ll be going out on loan again. Morecambe, a club in turmoil off the field with directors resigning this week, included former Stags left back James Jennings, on loan from Cheltenham, and Kevin Ellison whose always been a thorn in our side. On 7 minutes, a high cross from Collins from the left, defender Edwards completely missed it, and Green missed it too, not anticipating that Edwards would miss it. Poor from both players. The Stags defence was caught napping on 10 minutes. A Morecambe corner from the right, was taken to the edge of the area where McGowan, completely unmarked, side-footed over the bar. Straight to the other end and Hemmings sent a tame shot straight at keeper Roche from 25 yards. A good tackle by Howkins on 12 minutes, a second good piece of defending in a couple of minutes. Then a long Morecambe throw-in came out to Fleming whose shot bobbled wide of the left post. Mansfield didn’t heed the warning signals and Morecambe were deservedly in front on 13 minutes. Rhys Turner got past Howkins just outside the area, squared for Peter Murphy, who swept a shot goalwards from close range which was well parried by Scott Shearer, but Andrew Fleming was quickest to the loose ball to fire into the empty net. Stags defenders appealed in vain for a handball in the build-up to the goal, but there was no infringement. On 15 minutes, a Hemmings corner from the right, was almost under the bar when a defender put behind for another corner. On 20 minutes a good tackle by McGuire on Ellison. On 23 minutes, another Hemmings corner from the right, to the far post where Henderson got his head on it whilst almost on the floor, and out for another corner. A chance for the Stags on 26 minutes, a cross in from Hemmings from the left, Green headed towards the roof of the net where the keeper tipped it over. At the other end on 30 minutes, a long throw from Michael Rose came out to Fleming who fired over from a tight angle. On 34 minutes, a free kick from Clements from 35 yards came out to Hemmings who miscued a shot over the bar. Clements was booking for talking out of turn to the referee, after the referee hesitated before giving Mansfield a free kick. On 43 minutes, the Stags’ best chance of the half as Green knocked to Hoban who fired just past the left post with a good shot from 20 yards. A minute later, a cross from the left, Henderson swung a leg and the ball went in the wrong direction, away from goal. Boos at half time for a really poor half from the Stags. Hoban and Henderson looked a hopeless combination up front, Green looked to be able to beat his man on the right, but didn’t do it often enough, Clements looked out of sorts, and the defence looked all at sea in the opening 15 minutes as Morecambe moved into the lead. The best player of the first half for the Stags was undoubtedly Hemmings. So 1-0 to Morecambe at the break and that is now 15 home league and cup games out of 15 this season in which Mansfield have failed to score at home in the first half. Half time 0-1 Hamilton replaced Henderson at the start of the second half, with clear orders to get to the byline and get crosses in. Green joined Hoban up front. Hemmings moved to the right. On 46 minutes, Green miscued a shot wide of the left post from 25 yards. Then on 48 minutes, Hemmings crossed from the right, Hoban nodded down but straight out for a goal kick. Hamilton was already into the action winning a couple of corners. On 51 minutes, McGuire won the ball, Clements knocked it forward and Hoban shot from an angle on the left, which the keeper pushed away for a corner at the near post. On 57 minutes, Bennett crossed behind for a goal kick, summing up his poor performance. On 58 minutes, a low ball forward for Green to run onto, but the keeper came out of his area and more or less tackled Green and out for a throw-in. Poor from Green. Danny Rose replaced Hoban on 61 minutes. A minute later at the other end, Shearer came out of his area to clear. The Stags should have been level on 63 minutes. Howkins unleashed a powerful left footed drive from 20 yards which the keeper parried out to Danny Rose, who could only fire the rebound against the post with the goal gaping. Danny Rose had to twist to get to it and may have been off balance but should still have hit the target. On 66 minutes, Hamilton burst into the area on the left, and shot wide of the left post. Two minutes later at the other end, Turner got the byline and McGuire did well to block his cross. A free kick for Morecambe on 70 minutes, which Michael Rose fired straight at Shearer from 34 yards. On 70 minutes, a side-footed shot from Hamilton from 18 yards was blocked. Then on 71 minutes, Fleming sent a soft shot from 35 yards straight at Shearer. On 75 minutes, Shearer dived bravely at the feet of Turner, who was booked for leaving his boot in. Jack Thomas replaced McGuire on 77 minutes. On 80 minutes, Hamilton got the byline and pulled back but the Stags still couldn’t get a shot in. In the final ten minutes plus 4 minutes of stoppage time, the Stags couldn’t create any more chances and Morecambe wound the clock down effectively. The final whistle was greeted with a chorus of boos from a disgruntled crowd. A word on the crowd: it was the lowest crowd in the Football League today. Man of the match: Ashley Hemmings |
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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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(4-4-2)
Shearer 6 Good save before the goal was knocked in on the rebound. Bennett 5 Poor performance. Howkins 5 A couple of good pieces of defending, but beaten in the build-up to the goal. Unleashed a powerful shot that was parried in the second half. Pearce 5.5 Part of a poor defence. Collins 5.5 Left back. Part of a poor defence. Green 5 Poor game. Set up one chance for Hoban. On the right wing in the first half, looked to be able to beat his man, but didn’t do it often enough. Looked low on confidence. McGuire 6 Some good blocks and tackles. Clements 5 Looked out of sorts. Hemmings 6.5 Pick of the bunch in the first half, on the left. Not as effective on the right in the second half. Hoban 5.5 One shot just wide in the first half, and forced the keeper into a save at his near post in the second half. Henderson 5 Ineffective in combination with Hoban. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Hamilton (for Henderson, 46 mins) 6 Livened things up with some good runs and winning several corners. End product needs to be better.
D.Rose (for Hoban, 61 mins) - Hit the post when he should have scored. J.Thomas (for McGuire, 77 mins) - Subs not used: Jensen, Hurst, M.Rose, Baxendale. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(4-4-2): Roche; McGowan, Winnard, Edwards, Jennings; Murphy, Rose, Fleming, Conlan; Ellison (sub Wildig 83), Turner (sub Mullin 76). Subs not used: Nizic, Molyneux, Massanka, Jordan.
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Referee:
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Mark Haywood 6 No critical decisions to make.
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