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Season 17/18 Stagsnet Match Report
Pre-Season Friendly
Alfreton Town  
0 - 2
 Mansfield Town
 
 Rose 80, Mellis 87.
Attendance: 735 (431 from Mansfield)
 
Date: 29 July 2017

MELLIS QUALITY LIGHTS UP STAGS PERFORMANCE

Martin Shaw at the Impact Arena

Mansfield Town won 2-0 in this afternoon’s pre-season friendly at Alfreton, with 7 days to go until the big kick-off at Crewe. Afterwards Steve Evans described it as a patchy performance from the Stags and that was a good description as the Stags looked solid enough, and produced some good stuff going forward but also had long spells where they were ineffective. Evans chose two different 11’s for the first 60 minutes and the last 30 minutes, and it was the team who played the last 30 minutes that caught the eye, with two fine goals in the final 10 minutes. On 80 minutes, Danny Rose finished very well, taking the ball into the area from 35 yards out, before clinically sliding the ball into the bottom right corner of the net, after a fine ball to him from Jacob Mellis. Then on 87 minutes a simply magnificent goal from Mellis. First he controlled a high clearance beautifully on the edge of the box, skipped past one defender, then another, then two more, before slotting into the bottom left corner of the net from 8 yards. Wow what a goal. With respect to all the players who Mansfield have had in recent years, this is simply on another planet in terms of skill level. I made an effort to get the video of the goal released as soon as I possibly could after the game finished so that you can enjoy it wherever you are. Earlier, some patchy stuff from the team that played the first 60 minutes, with no-one really enhancing their claim for a starting place next week.

Alex MacDonald again missed out through injury. Rhys Bennett was also out with a slight bruised foot. Trialist Jordan Slew was not involved, and he will not be joining the club, at least at this moment in time.

David Mirfin, having disappointed in his performance at Matlock, was the only player to play the full 90 minutes. After the game, Steve Evans said he thought he’d signed his uncle having watched him at Matlock, where he was just recovering from illness!

One or two players playing out of position in the team that played the last 30 minutes: Jack Thomas at right back, Johnny Hunt in right midfield. George Taft played at left back, a position he has played before for the Stags and previous clubs.

1st 60 minutes team (4-1-3-2):
Conrad Logan;
Hayden White, David Mirfin, Krystian Pearce, Mal Benning;
Joel Byrom,
Alfie Potter, Paul Digby, Paul Anderson;
Lee Angol, Omari Sterling-James.

Last 30 minutes team (4-4-2):
Bobby Olejnik;
Jack Thomas, Zander Diamond, David Mirfin, George Taft;
Johnny Hunt, Will Atkinson, Jacob Mellis, CJ Hamilton;
Jimmy Spencer, Danny Rose.

Steve Evans made a point of saying that the starting 11 for the first 60 minutes will not be the starting 11 at Crewe. He also commented that the performances of Sterling-James and Potter at Gainsborough had earned them a place in the team playing the first 60 minutes, rather than the last 30 minutes.

After the game in live commentary on iFollow, I picked my team for the game at Crewe. Here it is:
Bobby Olejnik in goal. He has excelled in pre-season, though Logan has not made any mistakes of note.
Rhys Bennett at right back. He was Mr Dependable last season and has done well in pre-season. Hayden White has made one or two mistakes in pre-season, though has been excellent going forward, but I just have Bennett ahead of him.
Mal Benning at left back. Johnny Hunt has done well, but I see Benning ahead of him.
Krystian Pearce in central defence. He has done well in pre-season after a fine season last year. David Mirfin has not looked overly impressive, though he was ill before the Matlock game, and Evans may put Mirfin in ahead of Pearce.
Zander Diamond alongside him. I have him just ahead of Taft. I think Diamond will be the captain.
Alfie Potter on the right side of midfield. Potter was excellent at Gainsborough and has looked busy.
Jacob Mellis in central midfield. The easiest player to pick and the first player on the team sheet. Simply magnificent in pre-season.
Paul Digby also in central midfield. Has really impressed ever since the first game in Malta. Fine box to box player and very good in the air.
Paul Anderson on the left of midfield. CJ Hamilton however has looked lively in the last 3 games, and I think will be pushing Anderson hard for a starting place.
Danny Rose. Fine goal today.
Lee Angol. Several goals in pre-season. Angol and Rose seem the most likely scorers of the 4 strikers currently in the squad, though Sterling-James has impressed.

It was a lovely sunny day in Alfreton, though clouded over in the second half.

Alfreton included former Stags Craig Disley and Craig Westcarr. Adam Smith is part of the squad and was running around the pitch before the game but presumably not fit to play. Chris Sharp, son of former Everton striker Graeme Sharp, played up front; he has played against the Stags before for Telford.

On 4 minutes, Westcarr shot from 20 yards straight at Logan. On 9 minutes, Benning was penalised for a foul 25 yards from goal. Westcarr took the resulting free kick, into the wall and off Byrom for a corner. Two minutes later, Byrom brought down Westcarr from behind. Westcarr took the free kick again and fired into the wall again, sending the rebound well wide.

On 14 minutes a good run by Potter cutting inside from the right to the centre and sending a left footed shot well wide from 25 yards. On 15 minutes at the other end, an Alfreton free kick from the right, came to left back Tom Allan who shot from 6 yards, and Logan made a good save at his near post. On 20 minutes, Westcarr played a 1-2 then fired over. Byrom received a verbal lashing from Evans on the touchline just in front of us for allowing Westcarr to get into a shooting position.

It had been a disappointing start to the game from the Stags, offering nothing going forward.

On 23 minutes, a really good move though: Byrom headed to White on the right, White headed down to Potter, who plated back to White, a good cross in, and Sterling-James sent a first time shot just wide of the right post.

On 26 minutes, brilliant vision from Digby, sending a diagonal ball from the right 35 yards out, to Anderson on the left, who chested the ball down, took a touch and his shot was saved by the keeper. Lovely football. Two minutes later, White attempted a similar ball from the right, and put it out for a goalkick.

A chance for Alfreton on 29 minutes, a long throw level with the edge of the area, and Allan headed just wide of the left post via a deflection.

On 31 minutes, Sterling-James did well to win a free kick. The free kick taken Byrom was into the right area but cleared. Then Potter did well to win a free kick. Like several players, he was blowing hot and cold.

On 37 minutes, an excellent free kick from Byrom, skimmed off the top of Mirfin’s head and just the wrong side of the left post.

On 41 minutes, Byrom’s corner from the left, Pearce did well to find space and headed down but just wide of the left post. He should have scored or at least got it on target. Byrom has started the game disappointingly but then put in three fine set pieces.

On 45 minutes, Digby squared to Benning, who pushed forward with no-one challenging him, and blasted just over from 22 yards.

Overall a disappointing half from Mansfield, a bit flat, so close to the big kick-off. Some good moments but no-one was really enhancing their claim to start at Crewe.

Half time 0-0

On 47 minutes, Digby played a great ball over the top, Sterling-James ran on to it into the box, did well to hold off his defender Priestley and his shot was saved. Sterling-James claimed a penalty for Priestley holding his arm and tugging him off balance, and from the video he certainly had a case. From the resulting corner, by Byrom from the right, Pearce had another free header and the keeper saved low on his line. The ball came off Pearce’s shoulder when a good connection was surely have seen the ball power into the net.

On 50 minutes, Byrom’s free kick from the right, Mirfin was having the shirt pulled off his back, ignored by the officials, and Digby had a shot blocked. On 53 minutes, Shiels biffed Angol on the head off the ball, in front of us. The ref, who had a poor game overall, lectured Shiels, in the presence of captain Disley.

On 55 minutes, from Byrom’s free kick, Mirfin flicked on, and Angol nearly got there, the keeper doing well to get out quickly. A minute later, Benning did well to win the ball on the left, pushed forward, played inside to Sterling-James, who found space for a low shot, which the keeper saved low down.

On 61 minutes, the Stags went close. Pearce was fouled 28 yards from goal, to the left of centre. Sterling-James took the free kick, and it was heading just inside the angle of bar and post on the left before the keeper tipped over. Great free kick, great save.

The Stags changed almost the entire the side on 63 minutes, just Mirfin staying on.

On 67 minutes, a great free kick from Mellis, flicked on by Jimmy Spencer just wide of the far post. Laughably, the officials gave a corner to the Stags. That corner was cleared for another corner. The next corner was taken short by Mellis, to Hamilton, who fired in a blockbuster which felled an Alfreton defender and caused the game to be stopped. From the video, Hamilton’s shot was on target.

On 70 minutes, Hamilton won a corner, Mellis took it from the left, Diamond did well to get above his marker and headed over the bar.

Alfreton left back Tom Allan tried his luck from 40 yards on 71 minutes and was wide of the right post.

On 72 minutes, an Alfreton goal kick, was powerfully headed back by Taft, Rose played a lovely ball to Spencer, whose shot from the edge of the area was saved.

On 77 minutes, Hamilton switched to the right, showed electric pace to get to the byline, crossed in, the keeper got a hand on it, presenting a golden chance to Rose who headed wide.

The Stags took the lead on 80 minutes, Danny Rose finished very well, taking the ball into the area from 35 yards out, before clinically sliding the ball into the bottom right corner of the net, after a fine ball to him from Jacob Mellis.

On 84 minutes, a great trap from Spencer, to Atkinson, to the overlapping Jack Thomas, but he put in a terrible cross behind for a goal kick. Evans, right in front of me, was exasperated.

On 85 minutes, Andre Johnson crossed in and Tom Platt headed over. That came after Jack Thomas gave the ball away under no pressure.

The Stags made it 2-0 on 87 minutes with a simply magnificent goal from Mellis. First he controlled a high clearance beautifully on the edge of the box, skipped past one defender, then another, then two more, before slotting into the bottom left corner of the net from 8 yards. Wow what a goal.

A good last 30 minutes from the fresh Stags side. In particular, Mellis and Hamilton really impressed with Diamond, Spencer, and Rose also doing very well.

Not long to wait now until the big kick-off. There is one pre-season friendly left, at Rainworth on Tuesday. Steve Evans will decide and let fans know on Monday what sort of team he will be putting out.


Report by: Martin Shaw at the Impact Arena



Line Up:
1st 60 minutes team (4-1-3-2):
Conrad Logan;
Hayden White, David Mirfin, Krystian Pearce, Mal Benning;
Joel Byrom,
Alfie Potter, Paul Digby, Paul Anderson;
Lee Angol, Omari Sterling-James.

Last 30 minutes team (4-4-2):
Bobby Olejnik;
Jack Thomas, Zander Diamond, David Mirfin, George Taft;
Johnny Hunt, Will Atkinson, Jacob Mellis, CJ Hamilton;
Jimmy Spencer, Danny Rose.
Sub Line Up:
-
Opposition Line Up:
Elliott; Topliss, Shiels, Priestley, Allan; Johnson, Platt, Disley, Snodin; Westcarr (Robertson 83), Sharp. Subs not used: McGowan, Marshall, Morrison, Brough, Evans, Trialist.
Referee:
James Oldham


Season 17/18 Reports