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An independent supporters' website dedicated to Mansfield Town FC
Season 16/17 Stagsnet Match Report
English Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Morecambe  
1 - 3
 Mansfield Town
Mullin 6.
 
 D.Rose 4, 33, Whiteman 39
Attendance: 1497 (327 from Mansfield)
 
Date: 25 March 2017

SUPER STAGS WIN AT MORECAMBE

Martin Shaw at the Globe Arena

Mansfield Town produced a very good attacking display for a comfortable 3-1 win at Morecambe this afternoon. All the goals came in the first half when the Stags were right on top, on the front foot and creative going forward. Mansfield were ahead after just 4 minutes. Mal Benning’s free kick from the halfway line was headed out by Dean Winnard, under pressure from Kyle Howkins, to Alex MacDonald on the edge of the area who fired the ball across the area to Danny Rose who swept the ball into the net from 12 yards. A great finish from Rose. Morecambe were level though on 6 minutes. Danny Rose chased down a backpass, Morecambe keeper Barry Roche hurriedly cleared down field, Howkins made a fatal error of allowing the massive clearance to bounce, Paul Mullin barged him aside and slid a shot wide of Jake Kean into the net. Devastating route one football. Howkins appealed for a foul, but in my opinion it was not a foul by Mullin, and Howkins has to be better there, firstly not allowing the ball to bounce and then not getting barged aside. After the game Steve Evans said he didn’t know if it was a foul or not. The Stags made it 2-1 on 33 minutes. Ben Whiteman did very well to dispossess Michael Rose 30 yards from the Morecambe goal, he fed the ball to Danny Rose on his right on the edge of the area, and Rose took one touch before firing low towards the bottom left corner of the net from the right. Keeper Roche got a hand on it, but the ball squirmed under him and into the net. A good finish from Rose though keeper Roche should have done better. Mansfield made it 3-1 on 39 minutes. Whiteman did well to win the ball off Michael Rose just inside his own half. He set Shaq Coulthirst away down the left. Coulthirst made his way into the area, and laid off a perfect pass to Whiteman who side-footed into the bottom left corner of the net from 16 yards. This was Whiteman’s finishing back to how it was when he first joined the club after a lean shooting spell. The Stags had chances to score more but that was the end of the scoring. A very good performance from the Stags with Whiteman and MacDonald excelling in midfield, Coulthirst giving the Morecambe defence all kinds of problems, and Danny Rose taking his two goals well. At the back, Rhys Bennett was the pick of the defence. The chase for the play-offs is incredibly tight now. Mansfield are a point outside the play-offs and just two points behind 5th place, with a big game against 7th placed Exeter next Saturday.

Mansfield made just one change from the side that beat Carlisle, with Howkins in for the injured Pearce. Howkins had come on for Pearce last week and Pearce was nearly recovered but not quite according to Steve Evans. He should be fit for next Saturday. Bennett took over as captain with both Collins and Pearce out. George Taft came in to the 18 instead of Pearce, his first time back in the squad since injury against Barnet on 10th September. Shearer didn’t travel due to a virus, so Jensen came on to the bench. It was another attacking line up from Mansfield, with Steve Evans saying he wanted as many goalscoring options on the pitch as possible. MacDonald was on the right and Matt Green on the left of a 4 man midfield, with Byrom sitting slightly deeper than Whiteman who was playing box to box. Coulthirst and Rose were again up front.

Morecambe came in to the game on a terrible run of 5 straight defeats after a terrific February. They included the excellent Kevin Ellison who always seems to play well against Mansfield, but he didn’t on this occasion.

The pitch was bobbly, and particularly muddy on the near side in front of the main stand where it doesn’t get any sunshine. However it was nowhere near as bad as Cheltenham. It was a glorious day in Morecambe, beautifully sunny and up to 18 degrees. Mercifully there was no wind, which there usually is here, and which ruined the game at Mansfield on Boxing Day.

On 3 minutes, Byrom fed Coulthirst who put in a good cross from the left, Green rose well but could only put his header over the bar.

Mansfield were ahead after just 4 minutes. Benning’s free kick from the halfway line was headed out by Dean Winnard, under pressure from Howkins, to MacDonald on the edge of the area who fired the ball across the area to Danny Rose who swept the ball into the net from 12 yards. A great finish from Rose.

Morecambe were level though on 6 minutes. Danny Rose chased down a backpass, Morecambe keeper Barry Roche hurriedly cleared down field, Howkins made a fatal error of allowing the massive clearance to bounce, Paul Mullin barged him aside and slid a shot wide of Kean into the net. Devastating route one football. Howkins appealed for a foul, but in my opinion it was not a foul by Mullin, and Howkins has to be better there, firstly not allowing the ball to bounce and then not getting barged aside. After the game Steve Evans said he didn’t know if it was a foul or not. From both camera angles we have, there is no evidence of a foul, though some Stags fans who had a different view from side on, are sure that there was a push (more than a barge) on Howkins.

The Stags were stunned. On 8 minutes, a long throw from Michael Rose came out to Wildig, whose shot was deflected over the bar.

On 14 minutes, a good move from Mansfield. Green and Benning did well on the left, Whiteman fed MacDonald who got the ball out to the right, where Danny Rose teed up MacDonald who fired just over.

At the other end a minute later, Michael Rose’s long throw from the right came back to him, and from the corner of the area on the right he fired a left footed shot just over the bar.

Good play from Coulthirst on 17 minutes, Benning’s free kick down the left found Coulthirst whose first shot was blocked, he then turned in the area and his low shot was saved by the keeper. On 19 minutes, Coulthirst did well to win the ball on the left, but as he ran for goal he lost it again.

On 22 minutes, great play by White and he was brought down just outside the area to the right of centre. MacDonald took the free kick which was turned wide by Green.

The referee lectured Evans and Raynor on 24 minutes, right in front of us and appeared to be saying calm down or you’ll be sitting in the stand.

The Stags made it 2-1 on 33 minutes. Whiteman did very well to dispossess Michael Rose 30 yards from the Morecambe goal, he fed the ball to Danny Rose on his right on the edge of the area, and Rose took one touch before firing low towards the bottom left corner of the net from the right. Keeper Roche got a hand on it, but the ball squirmed under him and into the net. A good finish from Rose though keeper Roche should have done better. Danny Rose’s 8th goal of the season.

On 34 minutes, Andrew Fleming fired well over the bar from 35 yards. Three minutes later he fired over the bar again, this time from 20 yards.

Mansfield made it 3-1 on 39 minutes. Whiteman did well to win the ball off Michael Rose just inside his own half. He set Coulthirst away down the left. Coulthirst made his way into the area, and laid off a perfect pass to Whiteman who side-footed into the bottom left corner of the net from 16 yards. A terrific cool finish from Whiteman. His 6th goal for Mansfield.

The Stags deservedly ahead at the break, tremendous going forward on a bobbly pitch, though not quite so good at the back where Howkins had a poor start to the game but was improving as the half wore on. The Stags had of course traded some more attacking flair in the team for less defensive cover with neither Collins (injured) or McGuire selected.

Half time 1-3

On 46 minutes, Wildig fired in a low shot from the right from a tight angle and Kean pushed wide for a corner. Morecambe had 3 corners in quick succession.

On 50 minutes, MacDonald did well to win the ball 40 yards out, played the ball forward to Danny Rose who got in a low shot while stretching for the ball which was well saved. He might have been better squaring the ball.

On 52 minutes, a great move involving MacDonald and White, and White had a great opportunity to put Coulthirst in for a 1-on-1 but couldn’t find him.

On 54 minutes a double chance for Coulthirst on the left. Firstly his shot was saved, then his second shot was blocked by a defender.

Danny Rose was booked for an unnecessary sliding challenge on 55 minutes.

On 56 minutes, Mullin fired a snapshot wide from the edge of the box. Two minutes later, Mullin crossed from the right, Ellison headed back across goal and Howkins did well to head away.

The Stags were close to extending the lead on 60 minutes. Good play as Benning won the ball from Michael Rose and went on a fine run into the area, his shot was blocked, back to Whiteman who shot was saved by keeper Roche, and as Winnard tried to clear, the ball hit Coulthirst and rebounded just over the bar.

Benning was booked for a foul on 63 minutes.

On 64 minutes, Mullin fired well over from 30 yards.

A great tackle by Green in his own half on 69 minutes, then a great tackle by MacDonald in his own half on 71 minutes.

Arquin replaced Danny Rose on 77 minutes. Rose had had a fine game with his two goals, but was on a yellow card.

Baxendale replaced Green on 80 minutes. Green got a good reception from the Stags fans and had played well including defensively. Baxendale’s first game since being a late sub against Orient in January.

On 81 minutes, a high cross from Morecambe sub Jordan and Ellison headed over from 12 yards.

On 83 minutes, Howkins missed the ball and it was recovered by Bennett.

Potter replaced MacDonald on 86 minutes. MacDonald had been really impressive.

On 87 minutes, Whiteman to Coulthirst who turned and fired a left footed shot wide.

On 89 minutes, a long throw into the Stags box and Bennett did well to block a shot.

On 90 minutes, Coulthirst was clumsily fouled on the edge of the D. Coulthirst took the free kick himself, but miles over the bar.

One final chance for Morecambe as Wildig shanked a shot over the stand from 18 yards on 90+4 minutes.

A thoroughly deserved win for Mansfield. The Stags were determined to win every challenge, and constantly pressed Morecambe. Now a week to prepare for a huge game against Exeter next Saturday.

Man of the match: Ben Whiteman/Alex MacDonald


Footnote: Following the game at Morecambe, and with just 7 games to go this season, these are my average player ratings based on the 47 league+cup games so far this season (top 4 players):

Coulthirst 7.05, Byrom 7.04, Whiteman 6.97, M.Rose 6.89.

Note: only ratings for players starting a game are included - ie. sub appearances not included. Minimum 10 games started.

Note that if only the games since 1st January are included, then D.Rose shoots to the top with an average of 7.43 (from 7 games)

Thanks to Pete Wright for his spreadsheet.

Report by: Martin Shaw at the Globe Arena



Line Up:
(4-4-2)
Kean 6.5 No chance with the goal. One save, pushing wide from Wildig.
White 6.5 Defended ok. One great run forward to win a free kick.
Bennett 8 Stand-in captain who has not missed a minute of the Stags’ season. The pick of the defence today.
Howkins 5 Needed to be better for the Morecambe goal, firstly not allowing the ball to bounce and then not getting barged aside. One mistake in the second half when rescued by Bennett. Got better as the game wore on.
Benning 7 Plenty of good play going forward. Defensively ok.
MacDonald 9 Plenty of great creative play pushing forward.
Whiteman 9 Won the ball in the build-up to both the 2nd and 3rd goals. Took his finish for the 3rd goal clinically. Excellent.
Byrom 7 Decent game.
Green 7 Played well including defensively with plenty of tracking back.
Coulthirst 8 Gave the Morecambe defence all kinds of problems. Perfect layoff for Whiteman’s goal.
D.Rose 8.5 Took his two goals well. Worked extremely hard.
Sub Line Up:
Arquin (for D.Rose, 77 mins) -
Baxendale (for Green, 80 mins) -
Potter (for MacDonald, 86 mins) -
Subs not used: Jensen, Taft, McGuire, Hamilton.
Opposition Line Up:
(4-4-2): Roche; Duckworth, Winnard, Whitmore, Conlan (Molyneux 74); Fleming (Evans 68), M.Rose, Turner (Jordan 65), Wildig; Ellison, Mullin. Subs not used: Maher, Wakefield, McGowan, Murphy.
Referee:
Robert Jones 7 Generally handled the game well.


Season 16/17 Reports