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Season 16/17 Stagsnet Match Report
English Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Mansfield Town  
2 - 0
 Leyton Orient
Whiteman 48, D.Rose 56.
 
 
Attendance: 3925 (279 from Leyton Orient)
 
Date: 28 January 2017

STAGS DISPOSE OF O’S WITH EASE

Martin Shaw and Simon Chamberlain at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill

Mansfield Town beat Leyton Orient comfortably by 2-0, a scoreline which barely reflected Mansfield’s superiority. After a goalless first half lit up by a brilliant piece of play from Ben Whiteman when he danced past 2 defenders and fired just over the bar, plus a bad miss from Danny Rose who fired into the ground and up and over the bar from 6 yards, the Stags scored twice early in the second half to seal the points. On 48 minutes, Joel Byrom’s free kick came out to Whiteman who lashed a shot left footed into the left corner of the net from the edge of the area to make it 1-0. A great finish from Whiteman. On 52 minutes, Shaq Coulthirst, on his home debut, turned and hit the post with a tremendous effort from 20 yards out of the blue. It was 2-0 on 56 minutes as Whiteman’s low cross from the left was met by Danny Rose who slid the ball into the roof of the net from a tight angle on the right. A great piece of anticipation and finishing from Danny Rose, similar to his goal against Blackpool. The Stags were very comfortable after that although Leyton Orient nearly made it a nervy finish with a free kick from the edge of the box in stoppage time that was blocked and the rebound knocked against the outside of the left post. A fine performance from Mansfield, particularly in the second half. Both goals were a result of high quality play from Ben Whiteman who continues to look a top class player. Danny Rose justified his inclusion in the team with his good finish. The defence and goalkeeper had little to do, and looked comfortable. Joel Byrom had another good game in midfield, as did Lee Collins alongside him, and CJ Hamilton provided some marauding runs that gave the defence a torrid time. Shaq Coulthirst was the sponsor’s man of the match and had a decent game, particularly his brilliant effort against the post, but for us Whiteman had to be the man of the match. So 4 wins and 1 draw from the 5 league games in January and the Stags move closer to the play-off zone, now just two points outside it with a big game at Barnet to come next Saturday.

There was a great atmosphere in the ground, with an improved attendance largely due to the excellent buy-one-get-one-free offer put on by John and Carolyn Radford. Also much hard work had gone on since the last home game getting together a singing section in Q block in the West Stand Upper tier, with the introduction of new banners too; well done to everyone who organised that, it was a clearly a success.

Mansfield were unchanged from the side that won at Cambridge last Saturday, hence there were 5 changes from the team that played in the Checkatrade Trophy on Tuesday. So home debuts for Shaq Coulthirst and Hayden White. Steve Evans said that it was a reward for the team that won at Cambridge, but that if it had been based on training he might have made a couple of changes as a couple of players had reacted really well in training. And after this victory today it would be no surprise to see the same eleven start next Saturday at Barnet.

Orient changed their formation from the last game from 3 at the back to a flat back 4, with Nicky Hunt at right back. Ollie Palmer was on the bench.

Before the game there was a minute’s applause for Lindy Delapenha, the first black player to play for the club, who died this week. Lindy was a few years before our time but those a little older than us held him in very high regard.

It was a nice sunny day in Mansfield, until it rained heavily just before half time.

Mansfield were quick out of the blocks winning two early free kicks, then a corner and several throw-ins.

The first chance came on 3 minutes as Nicky Hunt’s backpass didn’t reach his keeper, Coulthirst intercepted and Danny Rose poked wide of the left post.

On 12 minutes, a quick free kick to Benning on the left, he cut past Hunt, and his shot was pushed wide by the keeper for a corner.

Danny Rose played a 1-2 with Coulthirst on 15 minutes and got in a left footed shot from the edge of the area which was low and on target but lacked power to beat the keeper.

On 20 minutes, Jake Kean went down as the physio came on, seemingly to treat a spurious injury, and Krystian Pearce ran down the tunnel at great speed to go to the toilet! The second time this season, as Scott Shearer had a spurious injury to allow Pearce to go to the toilet in the Doncaster Checkatrade Trophy game.

Whiteman showed his class as he danced past 2 defenders on 23 minutes and fired a shot just over the bar from 20 yards. That oozed quality.

On 25 minutes, a good tackle by Benning on Dalby.

The Stags put together a good move on 28 minutes, to Coulthirst who shot well wide of the right post.

A rare Orient attack on 34 minutes as Hunt slip a perfect pass to Massey overlapping, who cross across the face of goal evaded everyone.

On 40 minutes, Hamilton played a nice ball forward to Benning, to the edge of the area, and Bennings’s low shot was pushed away.

The Stags should have been in front on 41 minutes. Byrom’s free kick from the right fell to Danny Rose 6 yards out, who fired into the ground and up and over the bar. He should have scored.

It was now raining after the earlier sunshine.

On 44 minutes, an Orient corner from the right, and a header was blocked some distance from goal.

Nil nil at the break, Mansfield had started well and finished the half with a great chance for Danny Rose, but needed to put the ball in the net.

Half time 0-0

On 47 minutes, Coulthirst crossed from the right to Hamilton on the left, who crossed back to Coulthirst and eventually cleared away.

The Stags were in front on 48 minutes. Joel Byrom’s free kick came out to Whiteman who lashed a shot left footed into the left corner of the net from the edge of the area to make it 1-0. A great finish from Whiteman.

On 52 minutes, Coulthirst turned and hit the post with a tremendous effort from 20 yards out of the blue.

It was 2-0 on 56 minutes as Whiteman played a nice 1-2 with Coulthirst and Whiteman’s low cross from the left was met by Danny Rose who slid the ball into the roof of the net from a tight angle on the right. A great piece of anticipation and finishing from Danny Rose, similar to his goal against Blackpool.

Ollie Palmer came on for Orient before play restarted to a less than complementary reception from Stags fans.

A brilliant first touch from Hamilton on 65 minutes as he controlled a ball to him, but then he lost the ball. A minute later Collins made a good surging run forward and found Hamilton, but his cross was wasted.

On 67 minutes, Coulthirst shot into the side netting from the right.

On 70 minutes, Whiteman dinked a nice ball forward, Coulthirst knocked down to Danny Rose who went down, but there was no penalty. A minute later, Hamilton fired wide of the left post from 30 yards.

Matt Green replaced Danny Rose on 73 minutes to a great reception for both players.

A rare chance for Orient on 76 minutes as Palmer broke forward, to Semedo on the left, and his cross was headed over by McCallum.

A heart in the mouth moment on 82 minutes as Whiteman went in with a lunging challenge and the referee pulled out the red card from his pocket without raising it, before giving himself a few seconds and showing Whiteman the yellow card.

On 83 minutes Hamilton made a run down the left, played inside to Green who was crowded out but did well to find Whiteman whose left footed shot was saved low down.

Two minutes later, a great run from Hamilton, to Whiteman, who clipped the ball over the top to Coulthirst who controlled the ball but was offside.

Hamilton had Hunt on toast by this point.

Baxendale replaced Whiteman on 85 minutes, probably because he was on a yellow card, and it allowed Whiteman to get a thunderous reception.

On 87 minutes, Coulthirst did well to intercept a loose ball in the Orient defence giving him a 1-on-1 with the keeper but he shot straight at the keeper from an angle.

Orient won a free kick right on the edge of the box on the stroke of 90 minutes. There was a long delay before the free kick as Paul McCallum was stretchered off. During the break Pearce ran off to the toilet again, this time into the North Stand, vaulting over the crowd barriers. When the free kick was finally taken, Kennedy blasted into the wall, and then fired the rebound against the outside of the left post.

Yoann Arquin replaced Coulthirst on 90+4 minutes. A minute later, Parkes fired wildly into the North Stand for Orient.

On 90+6 minutes, Collins knocked the ball forward for Green who forced his way into the area and fired just wide of the post. On 90+8 minutes, Benning shot into the side netting from a tight angle.

A good reception for the Stags at the full time whistle as Pearce quickly made his was down the tunnel and back to the toilet.

A very enjoyable afternoon. After the game, Steve Evans did not conduct the post match interview as he was busy with a player who he has been targeting who watched today’s game. The transfer window closes on Tuesday, and we can expect some more movement.

Man of the match: Ben Whiteman

Footnote: Leyton Orient manager Andy Edwards resigned the day after the game to join the FA. This makes 3 times in the last 6 games that an opposition manager has departed after losing to Mansfield.


Report by: Martin Shaw and Simon Chamberlain at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill



Line Up:
(4-4-2)
Kean 6 Didn’t have a save to make.
White 7 Solid game at right back.
Bennett 7 Good game.
Pearce 7 Did well to get through the game despite needing to go to the toilet on more than one occasion.
Benning 8 Got forward well on numerous occasions. Two shots saved by the keeper and one into the side netting. One fine tackle.
Whiteman 9 High quality play for both goals. And great play in the first half dancing past two defenders before firing just over.
Collins 7 Good game. A couple of good runs forward.
Byrom 7 Another good game in midfield.
Hamilton 7 Some marauding runs that gave the defence a torrid time.
Coulthirst 7 Lively. Unlucky with a great shot out of the blue against the post.
D.Rose 7 Took his goal very well. Bad miss in the first half.
Sub Line Up:
Green (for D.Rose, 73 mins) -.
Baxendale (for Whiteman, 85 mins) -
Arquin (for Coulthirst, 90+4 mins) -
Subs not used: Shearer, Hemmings, J.Thomas, Hoban.
Opposition Line Up:
(4-4-2): Cisak; Hunt, Mezague, Parkes, Kennedy; Massey, Moore, Collins, Semedo; McCallum (Adeboyejo 90), Dalby (Palmer 57). Subs not used: Sargeant, Clark, Judd, Atangana, Moncur.
Referee:
Graham Salisbury 7 Handled the game well.


Season 16/17 Reports