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An independent supporters' website dedicated to Mansfield Town FC
Season 17/18 Stagsnet Match Report
English Football League Trophy - Checkatrade Trophy
Mansfield Town  
1 - 3
 Lincoln City
Potter 6
 
 Whitehouse 40, Palmer 79, Green 90+6.
Attendance: 2495 (898 from Lincoln)
 
Date: 29 August 2017

STAGS BEATEN BY LINCOLN IN CHECKATRADE TROPHY

Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill

Mansfield were beaten at home by Lincoln City in the Checkatrade Trophy this evening. The Stags made 10 changes from Saturday, and Lincoln made 6 changes from Saturday. It was an opportunity for players to impress and force their way into the side for the next league game, and one of those certainly did that as Alfie Potter capped an outstanding first half display with a super goal on 6 minutes to put Mansfield in front. Potter won a header from a Bobby Olejnik kick to glance the ball into the path of Jimmy Spencer. Spencer took one touch to turn and played an immaculate ball back into the path of Potter who broke into the area and lifted a shot over keeper Paul Farman from 12 yards. It was a fine goal, a perfect pass from Spencer and a clinical finish from Potter, who had started it off with a good little header. The Stags played some good football in an opening 40 minutes in which they were very much on top. George Taft headed an Alex MacDonald free kick over the bar. Then Mansfield had a glorious chance to extend the lead on 33 minutes. Jack Thomas cleared a Lincoln corner to Potter who ran from his own half, and played a perfect ball into his path of Omari Sterling-James but from inside the area, Sterling-James fired across the keeper from the right and wide of the left post. Outstanding from Potter, but Sterling-James should have hit the target. Lincoln had not been in the game, but out of the blue and from the first bit of quality they had shown on the evening, they were level on 40 minutes. Long put in a fine cross from the right and Whitehouse headed down and past Olejnik. No chance for Olejnik. Johnny Hunt and Alex MacDonald had doubled up trying to stop Harry Anderson getting a cross in, but then allowed Long too much space to put in a cross. When the ball came in, Whitehouse got a free header, escaping the attentions of George Taft and Jack Thomas. On the stroke of half time, another good chance for the Stags with great play from Sterling-James on the left wing and his cross found Potter who fired into the ground and over the bar via a deflection. A good first half from Mansfield. At the break, the Lincoln official website reporter said to me that Mansfield should have been out of sight at half time. But it was only 1-1. However the second half was a different affair as Lincoln gradually got on top. On 52 minutes, Olejnik made an excellent save, tipping over a shot from 10 yards from Ollie Palmer. The Stags were close to retaking the lead though on 77 minutes when Hunt put in a great free kick from the right and Paul Digby glanced a header against the bar. Within two minutes, Lincoln were in front. Long appeared to foul MacDonald on the right, but play carried on, Long played a super 1-2 with Harry Anderson, got to the byline, and slid a hard low ball across the 6 yard box where Ollie Palmer forced the ball into the net from close range under pressure from Hayden White. Good play from Lincoln, and a similar goal to Luton’s first on Saturday. The Stags pushed for an equaliser, sub Will Atkinson fired a shot just wide and against the back stanchion on 86 minutes. Then on 90+6 minutes, Evans sent keeper Olejnik up for a Stags corner, the ball came out to Johnny Hunt, his shot was charged down, Lincoln broke, and Matt Green fired into an empty net with Olejnik still trying to get back, and despite Will Atkinson’s late attempt to stop the shot going in. Lincoln celebrated wildly in front of their 900 travelling fans and why shouldn’t they. Disappointing for the Stags. The Stags lost the first game in this competition last season, and went on to qualify with wins over Port Vale and Derby U23, so still have a chance but will need to beat Notts County and Everton U23 in October. Alfie Potter was my man of the match after an outstanding first half, though he faded later on, and he will have forced himself into contention for Saturday at Carlisle. Bobby Olejnik had a good game, with one excellent save from Palmer and may take over from Conrad Logan in goal. Alex MacDonald also had a decent game on his return to the side. Johnny Hunt started very well, but made a couple of mistakes after that. Krystian Pearce had a fine game.

Steve Evans made 10 changes from the side that drew with Luton, and he would have made 11 if he was allowed to. The rules of which players you can select based on the previous game, the next game, played a certain number of games in their career, number of appearances during the season etc, are extremely complex this season. The player keeping his place was Krystian Pearce. Zander Diamond continued to miss out through injury but should be fit for Saturday. Jimmy Spencer started with Steve Evans saying that he needed game time, while Danny Rose did not start as he did not need game time as he is now “supremely fit” according to Evans pre-match. Jack Thomas started and needed to show what he could do. Alex MacDonald returned from injury for his first appearance since Malta. It was Johnny Hunt’s and George Taft’s first game since pre-season. Hence it was Hunt’s competitive debut for Mansfield. All players were looking to stake a claim to play at Carlisle.

Lincoln had five ex-Mansfield players in their 18. Ollie Palmer and Luke Waterfall started. Palmer played against Mansfield for both Leyton Orient and Luton last season. This was his first start for Lincoln. Matt Green, Matt Rhead, and Nathan Arnold were on the bench.

The Lincoln manager is Danny Cowley, assisted by his brother Nicky. The last time we came across them was as manager of Concord Rangers, who we played in the FA Cup three years ago. The Stags won the replay at Concord with a goal by Ollie Palmer, now signed by Cowley.

The Stags were ahead after just 6 minutes. Potter won a header from a Bobby Olejnik kick to glance the ball into the path of Jimmy Spencer. Spencer took one touch to turn and played an immaculate ball back into the path of Potter who broke into the area and lifted a shot over keeper Paul Farman from 12 yards. It was a fine goal, a perfect pass from Spencer and a clinical finish from Potter, who had started it off with a good little header.

On 14 minutes, a good move from the Stags as Potter played a neat ball to Spencer who found Johnny Hunt in the area and about to pull the trigger from 8 yards but a great tackle from Long denied him. Good play from Potter and Spencer.

A minute later, at the other end, Hunt made a great interception.

On 17 minutes, a free kick for the Stags on the right hand side almost level with the edge of the penalty area. MacDonald floated it in, Taft rose well but headed over.

On 23 minutes, more good defending by Hunt to stop Long crossing. Then Pearce brought down Knott 25 yards out in a central position. Habergham took the free kick, straight into the wall.

The Stags should have increased the lead on 33 minutes. Jack Thomas cleared a Lincoln corner to Potter who ran from his own half, and played a perfect ball into his path of Omari Sterling-James but from inside the area, Sterling-James fired across the keeper from the right and wide of the left post. Outstanding from Potter, but Sterling-James should have hit the target.

On 35 minutes, Hunt blotted his copybook as he gave the ball away in his own half but Taft eventually cleared.

On 37 minutes, a good move again from the Stags. Potter played the ball in from the right, and Spencer laid off towards Jack Thomas who couldn’t quite get there in the area.

MacDonald was booked for a sliding challenge on Anderson on 38 minutes. Note that yellow cards only count towards future Checkatrade trophy games, not towards league games.

On 39 minutes, Jack Thomas did well to win a free kick on the left. MacDonald took the free kick, Digby got in a header but it was high and wide.

Lincoln were level on 40 minutes, out of the blue and from the first bit of quality they had shown on the evening. Long put in a fine cross from the right and Whitehouse headed down and past Olejnik. No chance for Olejnik. Johnny Hunt and Alex MacDonald had doubled up trying to stop Harry Anderson getting a cross in, but then allowed Long too much space to put in a cross. When the ball came in, Whitehouse got a free header, escaping the attentions of George Taft and Jack Thomas.

Digby was booked for stopping the keeper from taking a free kick on 42 minutes.

Before play restarted, Lincoln manager Danny Cowley was spoken to by the referee and sent to the stand.

On 45 minutes, great play by Sterling-James on the left. He forced his way into the area to the byline and crossed to the far post where Potter fired into the ground and over the bar via a deflection.

On 45+1 minutes, Potter did well to win the ball just outside his own area. He was fouled but got away and released the ball to Sterling-James who progressed to the edge of the area and his shot from 28 yards was blocked.

A good first half from the Stags who should have been at least one goal ahead but had been pegged back.

Half time 1-1

On 47 minutes, a ball forward to Spencer in the area. It looked like he was held back and brought down but the referee waved play on. From the pitchside video, it was a possible penalty as Spencer was pulled down by Raggett who was already falling to the floor.

On 50 minutes, a shot from Ollie Palmer from the right was tipped wide by Olejnik though it may have been going wide anyway.

From the resulting Lincoln corner, Potter won the ball again and made a great break all the way into the Lincoln half, fed Thomas on the right, who played the ball in but Potter couldn’t quite control it in the area.

A great save from Olejnik on 52 minutes kept the scores level. Maguire-Drew’s free kick fell to Ollie Palmer whose shot from 10 yards was brilliantly tipped over by Olejnik.

On 56 minutes, a corner from Maguire-Drew, and Waterfall headed straight at Olejnik. The Stags broke straight to the other end, Sterling-James laid off for MacDonald who broke into the area on the left and his shot was deflected through to the keeper who saved by his near post.

More good play by Potter on 58 minutes laying off to Spencer, who in turn laid off perfectly to MacDonald whose low shot was saved.

Good keeping by Olejnik as he dived at the feet of Palmer with perfect timing on 64 minutes.

On 65 minutes, yet more good play by Potter and MacDonald on the right. Potter’s left footed cross to the far post nearly found Hunt who was sliding in but couldn’t quite get there.

Knott tried an audacious chip over Olejnik from 35 yards on 66 minutes and it was only just wide.

On 69 minutes, a Lincoln corner from the right and a free header for Dickie but he headed across goal and it was cleared.

A good tackle by Pearce on the halfway line on 71 minutes.

Atkinson replaced Jack Thomas on 72 minutes. Thomas had done ok, especially since he had had so little game time recently, but he probably needed to be outstanding if he was going to force his way into the reckoning for a first team place.

Matt Green came on for Lincoln after 77 minutes to good applause from the home fans.

The Stags were nearly back in front on 77 minutes. A great free kick in from Hunt from the right, Digby got in a glancing header but it hit the bar and went over.

Within two minutes, Lincoln were in front. Long appeared to foul MacDonald on the right, but play carried on, Long played a super 1-2 with Harry Anderson, got to the byline, and slid a hard low ball across the 6 yard box where Ollie Palmer forced the ball into the net from close range under pressure from Hayden White. Good play from Lincoln, and a similar goal to Luton’s first on Saturday.

A double change for the Stags on 82 minutes. Hamilton replaced Macdonald and Rose replaced Spencer.

The Stags were close to equalising on 86 minutes. Hunt’s long throw from the left was headed out to Atkinson who volleyed just wide of the left post, the ball hitting the back stanchion.

Taft was fouled 26 yards from goal in a central position on 90+1 minutes. It was a great position for a free kick but Sterling-James fired it straight into the wall.

A minute later, Pearce went down in the area but it was not a penalty. From review of the pitchside video, Pearce went down too easily under challenge from Dickie.

Then on 90+6 minutes, Evans sent keeper Olejnik up for a Stags corner, the ball came out to Johnny Hunt, his shot was charged down, Lincoln broke, and Matt Green fired into an empty net with Olejnik still trying to get back, and despite Will Atkinson’s late attempt to stop the shot going in. 3-1 to Lincoln.

A disappointing result. On to Carlisle on Saturday. If the Stags can repeat the level of performance from the Luton game, then there’s every chance of returning from Cumbria with the points. Come on Mansfield!

Man of the match: Alfie Potter


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



Line Up:
(4-4-2):
Olejnik 7 Excellent save tipping over Palmer’s shot. Good keeping diving at the feet of Palmer with perfect timing. No chance with the first two goals, then sent forward for a corner by Evans and no chance with the third goal.
White 5 Disappointing game. Beaten by Palmer for the 2nd goal.
Pearce 7 Fine game, some good challenges.
Taft 5 A combination of Taft and Thomas allowed a free header for the 1st goal.
Hunt 6 Started very well with a few pieces of good defending, but made a couple of mistakes after that.
Potter 9 Outstanding. Numerous excellent runs, and final product to go with them. Ran out of steam late on.
Thomas 6 Did ok, especially since he had had so little game time recently, but he probably needed to be outstanding if he was going to force his way into the reckoning for a first team place.
Digby 6 Good header which hit the bar. Not hitting the good form he had in pre-season.
MacDonald 7 Decent game on his return to the side.
Spencer 7 Three good lay-offs in the first half and one in the second half. His assist for Potter’s goal was perfect.
Sterling-James 6 Should have hit the target with his great chance. Fine play to set up a chance for Potter. Poor free kick into the wall late on.
Sub Line Up:
Atkinson (for Thomas, 72 mins) -
Hamilton (for MacDonald, 82 mins) -
Rose (for Spencer, 82 mins) -
Subs not used: Logan, Bennett, Benning, Byrom.
Opposition Line Up:
(4-5-1): Farman; Long, Waterfall, Dickie, Habergham (Eardley 64); Anderson, Woodyard (Bostwick 64), Whitehouse, Maguire-Drew (Green 77), Knott; Palmer. Subs not used: Vickers, Rhead, Raggett, Arnold.
Referee:
David Webb 6 Possible penalty for a foul on Spencer not given, but it’s not clearcut so fair enough. No howlers.


Season 17/18 Reports