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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
Wycombe Wanderers  
0 - 1
 Mansfield Town
 
 Pearce 13
Attendance: 4218 (305 from Mansfield)
 
Date: 14 April 2017

SUPER STAGS WIN AT WYCOMBE TO STAY IN THE HUNT

Martin Shaw at Adams Park

Mansfield Town produced a fine performance to win 1-0 at Wycombe Wanderers, who started the day one point above the Stags. The win moves Mansfield to within two points of the play-off positions with 4 games to go, ahead of Monday’s mouth-watering clash with Luton Town at the One Call Stadium. The Stags were much the better side in the first half, producing an incisive attacking display, taking the game to the home side, and should have been further ahead that 1-0 at the break. The crucial goal came on 13 minutes. An excellent free kick delivery from Joel Byrom, 38 yards out, was met by Krystian Pearce, who rose above Adebayo Akinfenwa to head past Jamal Blackman from 10 yards and against the inside of the right post. The ball came back out and Pearce headed it back into the empty net. Unlucky for Pearce in the first place to hit the post, then lucky that it came back so he could head it in! But a good goal, with a cracking delivery from Byrom. The Stags should have been further ahead with 3 great chances for Alfie Potter in the space of a minute on 34 minutes. Firstly a great break from the Stags as Ben Whiteman found Potter, whose shot from inside the box was blocked for a corner. Then a minute later, Mal Benning crossed low from the left, keeper Blackman could only push the cross straight Potter who shot goalwards, with the keeper nowhere, and Aaron Pierre cleared off the line. The ball came back to Potter whose shot was pushed wide by Blackman. The second half saw Wycombe on top and pushing Mansfield back but a combination of excellent defending, most notably from Pearce, Taft and Bennett, and some wonderful saves from Jake Kean, preserved the Stags lead in a tense finale. Kean’s best save came on 81 minutes as Harriman crossed from the right and Akinfenwa’s close range powerful header was brilliantly tipped over. One of the saves of the season. Kean also saved well from Akinfenwa on 89 minutes as Pierre’s high punt forward was headed on by Akinfenwa and Kean tipped wide. Kean also pushed Jacobson’s free kick on 74 minutes. Stags players also threw their bodies on the line, none more so than Ben Whiteman who did well to block Kashket’s shot over the bar on 71 minutes. So a tremendous win for Mansfield, enjoyed by the 305 jubilant travelling fans. The Stags deserved the win by virtue of being better than Wycombe in both boxes, both attacking and defending, including goalkeeping. Plenty of good performances through the side. Potter was incisive going forward, but should have taken one of his three great chances. Danny Rose played well up front. Joel Byrom was excellent in midfield, and provided that bit of quality, to go along with a battling display. At the back, Pearce, Taft and Bennett were terrific in central defence, with White and Benning doing well at wing back. And behind them, Jake Kean produced some match-winning saves.

It was a pleasant day in Buckinghamshire. A bit of a wind, but much of the game played in sunshine.

Mansfield made two changes from the side that lost narrowly at Doncaster. Hayden White returned from injury, and also coming in was Alfie Potter, controversially denied a stonewall penalty in the 89th minute at Doncaster. Coulthirst and MacDonald dropped to the bench. There was a switch in formation, which Steve Evans brought in to counteract Wycombe’s potent attacking force, including the dangerous Jacobson. Bennett, Pearce and Taft were in central defence, with White and Benning at wing back. Byrom and Whiteman were in central midfield, with Potter behind Green and Danny Rose. Lee Collins was not in the 18 due to a cut above his eye, but he should be ok for Monday. There was no space in the 18 for CJ Hamilton, left out of the 18 presumably because a winger was not required on the bench with the wingbacks employed. Wycombe made 5 changes from their last game, with top scorer Scott Kashket back from injury, partnering Akinfenwa and Garry Thompson up front.

It was a huge game for both teams, a one neither side could afford to lose.

On 2 minutes, Danny Rose’s snap shot was straight at Blackman from 20 yards.

On 5 minutes, a good move from the Stags. Benning crossed into the middle but it was claimed by Blackman.

On 10 minutes, a long ball forward by Kean, Danny Rose flicked on and Potter did well to find Green who was offside but couldn’t squeeze his shot past Blackman anyway.

The Stags took the lead on 13 minutes. An excellent free kick delivery from Byrom, 38 yards out, was met by Pearce, who rose above Akinfenwa to head past Blackman from 10 yards and against the inside of the right post. The ball came back out and Pearce headed it back into the empty net. Unlucky for Pearce in the first place to hit the post, then lucky that it came back so he could head it in! But a good goal, with a cracking delivery from Byrom.

On 23 minutes, Danny Rose fouled Jacobson 30 yards out. Just after the whistle went, Marcus Bean fired into the net from 30 yards though Kean did not attempt to save it. The resulting free kick from Harriman was over the bar.

Danny Rose was booked on 26 minutes for a foul on Blackman though it was probably for an accumulation of fouls as he had committed two fouls earlier.

Byrom put in a couple of good challenges in his own half on 27 minutes but was then booked for a foul on Akinfenwa on 29 minutes.

On 32 minutes, a cross from the right from Harriman and White’s attempted clearing header looped up and on to the top of his own net.

Kean made two good punches away from successive corners and then a good punch away from a throw in.

On 34 minutes, a great break from the Stags as Whiteman found Potter, whose shot from inside the box was blocked for a corner. Then a minute later, Benning crossed low from the left, keeper Blackman could only push the cross straight Potter who shot goalwards, with the keeper nowhere, and Pierre cleared off the line. The ball came back to Potter whose shot was pushed wide by Blackman.

On 39 minutes, a good move on the right from the Stags as White and Green played a one-two, White crossed to the far post where Benning knocked his shot high over the bar. At the other end on 40 minutes, Bean sent a snapshot from 30 yards into the roof of the stand.

Danny Rose had been booked earlier but he was now getting a battering from the home defenders and getting no protection from the referee.

On 45 minutes, great skill from Akinfenwa to control the ball and fire on to the roof of the net from 25 yards.

On 45+1 minutes, Green put Potter away down the right hand side, he crossed but it was cleared.

A very good first half from the Stags playing good incisive football going forward and should have been more than 1-0 ahead at the break. Byrom and Danny Rose were on yellow cards and having to be careful but both they and Potter had impressed going forward.

Half time 0-1

On 47 minutes, the battering of Danny Rose continued as a clear foul was missed by the referee. Terrible refereeing.

On 54 minutes, Harriman’s shot from 25 yards was blocked well by Potter. A minute later, Thompson crossed from the right and Akinfenwa’s header hit Bennett and went over the bar for a corner.

On 58 minutes, a long ball forward from Wycombe, Akinfenwa chested down, turned and fired over the roof of the stand.

Benning was booked on 59 minutes for tripping Bloomfield. He could have no arguments.

On 60 minutes, Jombati squared to Thompson who got the ball on to his left foot on the edge of the box and fired just over the bar.

Wycombe were getting on top and pushing the Stags back.

Green limped off on 64 minutes to be replaced by Coulthirst.

A good header away by Bennett on the edge of his area. Then good skill on 65 minutes by Coulthirst to control the ball on the halfway line.

MacDonald replaced Potter on 69 minutes. Potter had played really well but missed three good chances in the first half.

On 71 minutes, Harriman played the ball inside to Kashket who fired in a shot but Whiteman did well to block it over the bar for a corner.

On 74 minutes, MacDonald was booked for a foul on Harriman 26 yards out. Jacobson took the free kick which Kean pushed wide. From the resulting corner, the Stags were just able to clear.

On 78 minutes, Kashket turned on the edge of the box and his shot was well blocked by Byrom. Then Bean fired over the bar from 30 yards.

The Stags had a shout for a penalty on 79 minutes. MacDonald was fouled. As Byrom’s free kick came into the middle, the Stags called for a penalty for pulling on Bennett’s shirt.

On 81 minutes, Harriman crossed from the right, and Akinfenwa’s close range powerful header was brilliantly tipped over. One of the saves of the season.

Arquin replaced Danny Rose on 83 minutes. Rose had played really well including under provocation.

On 89 minutes, Pierre lofted a high punt straight down the middle, it was headed on by Akinfenwa headed towards the right corner of the net and Kean did very well to tip wide.

On 90+3 minutes, a ball into the Stags’ area and the Stags were just able to clear.

The Stags held on, and with a combination of fine goalkeeping and defending in that second half, deservedly had the points.

Man of the match: Jake Kean/Krystian Pearce


Report by: Martin Shaw at Adams Park



Line Up:
(3-2-3-2)
Kean 9 Several wonderful saves including the save of the season from Akinfenwa.
Bennett 8 Part of the very good three man central defence.
Pearce 9 Deserved his goal and terrific in defence.
Taft 8 Very good.
White 7 Some good attacking play in the first half. Good defensively in the second half.
Benning 7 Did well at wing back going forward in the first half.
Whiteman 7 Great block from Kashket’s shot in the second half. Good ball played Potter in in the first half.
Byrom 8.5 Excellent in midfield, and provided that bit of quality, to go along with a battling display. Great delivery from the free kick for the goal. Some good challenges at the back and one good block.
Potter 7.5 Incisive going forward, but should have taken one of his three great chances.
D.Rose 7 Played really well including under provocation.
Green 6 Limped off in the second half. Did ok. A couple of good pieces of play down the right.
Sub Line Up:
Coulthirst (for Green, 64 mins) -
MacDonald (for Potter, 69 mins) -
Arquin (for D.Rose, 83 mins) -
Subs not used: Jensen, Howkins, McGuire, Baxendale.
Opposition Line Up:
(4-3-3): Blackman; Harriman, Jombati, Pierre, Jacobson; Bean, O’Nien, Bloomfield (sub: Freeman, 76); Thompson (sub: Weston, 81), Kashket (sub: Jakubiak, 87), Akinfenwa. Subs not used: Richardson, Saunders, Gape, Freeman, Hayes.
Referee:
Robert Jones 6 Ignored several fouls on Rose. Otherwise not bad.


Season 16/17 Reports