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Season 16/17 Stagsnet Match Report
English Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Mansfield Town  
1 - 1
 Luton Town
Potter 23.
 
 Hylton pen 51
Attendance: 4632 (892 from Luton)
 
Date: 17 April 2017

STAGS PEGGED BACK BY HYLTON PENALTY

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

Mansfield Town were held to a 1-1 draw by Luton Town in a tight game this afternoon that keeps the Stags right in the play-off mix. Mansfield took the lead on 23 minutes when Mal Benning’s cross was headed back by George Taft to Alfie Potter whose first shot was blocked before he volleyed in the rebound. It was a similar incident to the chances he missed at Wycombe, and was Potter’s first goal for Mansfield. A minute before the goal Mansfield could have had a penalty when George Taft went down off the ball from a corner as he tangled with Scott Cuthbert, and Krystian Pearce headed the ball towards the left post where Danny Hylton cleared off the line. It’s rare for referees to give penalties for that sort of incident off the ball. Luton had a penalty shout of their own when Pelly Ruddock blasted the ball at Rhys Bennett from point blank range, but the referee ignored their claims, presumably thinking that Bennett couldn’t do anything about it. The Stags were deservedly ahead at the break. After Benning fired a shot just over the bar early in the second half, Luton were level from a soft, but correctly awarded penalty. James Justin’s throw-in found Hylton on the byline who tried to knock the ball past George Taft along the byline inside the area, and Taft unnecessarily stuck his arm out and deflected the ball away. It was a certain penalty, but so unnecessary and costly. Hylton took the penalty himself and chipped it straight down the middle as Kean dived to his right. Luton were the better side for a spell after that as Glen Rea knocked the ball over from 4 yards from Alan Sheehan’s ball across, and Hylton headed just over the bar after great play from substitute and former Stags player Ollie Palmer on the right. Then Hylton headed wide from a corner, but it Mansfield who finished the game stronger, as Alex MacDonald fired in a wonderful shot from 25 yards that the keeper tipped wide, and from the resulting corner Rhys Bennett headed just over the bar. Probably a fair result in the end, but gutting to drop 2 points on the basis of an unnecessary penalty. The Stags had plenty of possession during the game, but didn’t carve out many efforts on goal despite good approach play. Nevertheless not a bad performance at all against the 4th best team in the league and the Stags remain right in the hunt for a play-off spot, just 2 points behind 7th place. It’s exciting to be in this position and the Stags go to Stevenage next Saturday knowing that a win would move them one point behind Stevenage and probably very close to that top 7 with two more games to go after that. Some good performances particularly from the defence, and Alex Macdonald on a substitute for the final half hour, really caught the eye.

Mansfield made one change from the side that won at Wycombe on Good Friday. Shaq Coulthirst came in for Matt Green up front. Green picked up a knock at Wycombe and didn’t train on Saturday but did train on Sunday and Evans explained that Coulthirst was picked ahead of Green having played well for Peterborough against Luton before. So Evans continued with three central defenders and with White and Benning at wing-back. CJ Hamilton was back on the bench, as was Lee Collins who had recovered from the cut above his eye which had required stitches. Luton had Danny Hylton up front, who was in the final selection of three for League Two player of the season. Ollie Palmer, on loan to Luton from Leyton Orient, was on the bench. Luton included Lawson D’Ath in midfield who Steve Evans tried to sign in January but the player wanted too much money to come to Mansfield. Luton also started with three central defenders and two wing-backs.

It was a pleasant day in Mansfield with much of the pitch based in sunshine for some of the game.

Mansfield’s 1987 Freight Rover Trophy winning team at Wembley were at the game after the celebration dinner last night, and were paraded on the pitch at half time.

On 6 minutes a good square ball from Coulthirst from the left gave a possible shooting chance for Potter on his left foot but he tried to get the ball onto his right foot and the chance was gone.

At the other end a minute later, Bennett swept up well after a good ball in the area from Hylton.

On 8 minutes, Luton had a penalty shout when Pelly Ruddock cut back inside Whiteman on the left on the byline onto his right foot and blasted the ball at Bennett from point blank range, but the referee ignored their claims, presumably thinking that Bennett couldn’t do anything about it.

On 11 minutes, there was a crunching foul on White, right in front of the Stags dugout, but no foul given. White was eventually able to continue.

On 16 minutes, Vassell crossed towards Hylton and White did well to head the ball back to Jake Kean. On 18 minutes, a long diagonal ball towards Hylton, and Bennett nodded back to Kean who had to dive to take the ball.

On 22 minutes great play by Benning to win a corner. From the resulting corner, taken by Byrom, Mansfield could have had a penalty when Taft went down off the ball from a corner as he tangled with Scott Cuthbert, and Pearce headed the ball towards the left post where Hylton cleared off the line. It’s rare for referees to give penalties for that sort of incident off the ball.

Mansfield took the lead on 23 minutes when Benning’s cross was headed back by Taft to Potter whose first shot from 16 yards was blocked before he volleyed in the rebound. It was a similar incident to the chances he missed at Wycombe, and was Potter’s first goal for Mansfield.

On 28 minutes, with the Stags now right on top, Danny Rose appeared to be brought down just outside the area in the D, following a Byrom free kick, but nothing was given.

On 30 minutes, a great block by Taft on Vassell on the edge of the area. Moments later good play by Coulthirst though it didn’t come to anything.

On 32 minutes, a high ball forward from Sheehan and Taft did well to put behind for a corner. From that corner, Kean caught commandingly high above his head.

Danny Rose was booked on 43 minutes for a challenge in Luton’s half on Sheehan, just after Rose had got away with a similar challenge on the same player which was not given as a foul.

The Stags deservedly ahead at the break. Potter had been busy going forward and this time took one of his chances, unlike at Wycombe on Friday, with a good finish.

Half time 1-0

On 49 minutes, great play by Benning, pushing forward from 25 yards out to the edge of the area and firing a shot just over the bar.

Luton were level from a soft, but correctly awarded penalty, on 51 minutes. James Justin’s throw-in found Hylton on the byline who tried to knock the ball past Taft along the byline inside the area, and Taft unnecessarily stuck his arm out and deflected the ball away. It was a certain penalty, but so unnecessary and costly. Hylton took the penalty himself and chipped it straight down the middle as Kean dived to his right.

Kean was booked for tripping Hylton as Hylton went to retrieve the ball from the net. Another stupid booking.

On 57 minutes Glen Rea knocked the ball over from 4 yards after a short corner from the right by Sheehan was played back to him and his low cross-shot found Rea. It was a good chance.

On 59 minutes, Ruddock got to the byline on the right and crossed high above the byline, Kean got a hand on it and White turned it behind for a corner at the far post. The Stags were now under pressure.

White came off on 60 minutes to be replaced by MacDonald. White had been hurt in the first half, but was taken off for a tactical change to switch to 4-4-2, with Bennett moving to right back, and Potter moving to left midfield.

On 62 minutes, a good move from the Stags but Benning’s cross wasted possession.

Ollie Palmer came on for Luton on 64 minutes to some boos from Stags fans as he replaced Vassell.

On 66 minutes, another good move forward from Mansfield but again the Stags couldn’t create a chance. Good play from Luton as they broke straight to the other end with Palmer bursting past Byrom and getting down the right and putting in an excellent cross for Hylton who powered a header just over the bar.

On 67 minutes, Mansfield pushed forward as MacDonald found Coulthirst in the area who went down but it wasn’t a penalty.

On 69 minutes, Palmer was brought down by Pearce on the left. Sheehan took the free kick into the middle and Palmer headed wide from 4 yards.

On 75 minutes, a free kick for the Stags from the left. MacDonald’s free kick was out to Whiteman who fired well over the bar.

Hamilton replaced Potter on 75 minutes.

On 79 minutes, MacDonald’s free kick came out to Taft whose shot was blocked.

Green replaced Danny Rose on 80 minutes.

The Stags were now on top again but without creating clearcut chances. The game was on a knife-edge.

On 85 minutes, MacDonald crossed low and hard from the right and Green wasn’t quick enough to react as it went past him and he missed it.

A minute later, Coulthirst broke forward but with Green in space didn’t release him and the move broke down.

On 88 minutes, a Luton corner by Olly Lee from the right and Hylton got a good connection it but headed wide

Mansfield were finishing the game the stronger, and nearly regained the lead on 90+1 minutes with Alex MacDonald’s wonderful shot from 25 yards that the keeper superbly tipped wide.

From the resulting corner by Byrom from the right, Bennett headed just over the bar. He got a good connection and that was a chance.

On 90+2 minutes, a scramble in the Luton area but the ball seemed to get stuck as Bennett and Pearce couldn’t get a shot in.

Probably a fair result in the end. Not a bad performance at all against the 4th best team in the league and the Stags remain right in the hunt for a play-off spot. On to Stevenage next Saturday with all to play for.

Man of the match: Rhys Bennett/Alfie Potter

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



Line Up:
(3-2-3-2)
Kean 6.5 Didn’t have a save to make apart from a back-header from his own player. One good catch from a corner.
Bennett 7.5 Good game in defence, initially as part of a 3 man central defence, then at right back. Headed a good chance over the bar in stoppage time.
Pearce 7 Good game.One header cleared off the line.
Taft 6.5 Some good blocks and clearances. But unnecessarily conceded the penalty which was costly.
White 7 Decent game at wing back. Sacrificed in the second half to switch formation.
Benning 7 Some good play pushing forward down the left. One good piece of play where he pushed forward and fired just over the bar.
Whiteman 5.5 One poor shot well over the bar. Wasn’t on his game today.
Byrom 7 Two really good corners which created chances for Pearce and Bennett.
Potter 7.5 Busy going forward and took his goal well.
Coulthirst 6 One or two pieces of good hold-up play but didn’t create much.
D.Rose 6 Worked hard but created little.
Sub Line Up:
MacDonald (for White, 60 mins) - Really caught the eye. One wonderful shot from 25 yards that was superbly saved. Has probably warranted a starting place at Stevenage.
Hamilton (for Potter, 75 mins) -
Green (for D.Rose, 80 mins) -
Subs not used: Jensen, Howkins, Collins, Arquin.
Opposition Line Up:
(3-2-3-2): Moore; Rea, Cuthbert, Sheehan; Justin, Potts (O’Donnell 84); Ruddock, Lee, D’Ath; Vassell (Palmer 64), Hylton. Subs not used: Smith, Gray, Marriott, Gambin, King.
Referee:
Mark Brown 6 Got the Luton penalty right. Correctly turned down Luton early claim for a penalty. Correctly booked Rose and Kean. Turned down Mansfield’s claim for a penalty in an incident off the ball which referees rarely give as penalties. Generously didn’t book any Luton players.


Season 16/17 Reports