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An independent supporters' website dedicated to Mansfield Town FC
Season 17/18 Stagsnet Match Report
English Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Mansfield Town  
4 - 1
 Grimsby Town
Angol pen 34, pen 80, Pearce 54, Osbourne OG 64.
 
 Jones pen 85
Attendance: 4625 (1252 from Grimsby, not including police)
 
Date: 9 September 2017

STAGS SCORE TWO PENALTIES AND THUMP GRIMSBY

Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill

Mansfield Town thumped Grimsby Town 4-1 in the early kick off at the One Call Stadium today. There had been much talk about the Stags missing three penalties in the last six games, all being very costly. This time the Stags had two penalties and Lee Angol confidently dispatched both into the net. The first came on 34 minutes, after David Mirfin had been clearly tripped in the area, to open the scoring. The second penalty put the icing on the cake and opened up a 4-0 lead on 80 minutes after Angol himself cleverly drew a foul from Nathan Clarke. Angol’s penalties capped a powerful display in which he was a real handful for the Grimsby defence. In between the two penalties, there were two further goals, both heavily involving Krystian Pearce, who was my man of the match. On 54 minutes, a really fine corner from the right by Joel Byrom was met on the volley by Pearce who clipped the ball into the roof of the net from 4 yards. Straight off the training ground, and well worked. Then 10 minutes later, a fine free kick from near the corner flag on the left from Alex MacDonald was met by Bennett who headed down into the ground and back up again and drew a magnificent save from Grimbsy keeper James McKeown, pushing the ball away to the right. Pearce was first to the loose ball, turning it back into the middle, where Karleigh Osbourne deflected it into his own net. Our pitchside video footage confirms what I already thought, that Pearce’s low cross was not on target before Osbourne turned it in, so it goes down as an own goal. Grimsby got a consolation on 85 minutes with a penalty of their own as sub Jaiyesimi got goalside of Bennett who clumsily brought him down for a clear penalty, which was converted by another sub Sam Jones. A thoroughly deserved win for Mansfield against a Grimsby side who looked average. The Stags played a lot better than this against Luton two weeks ago and didn’t get their rewards, but did here showing the importance of converting spot kicks. Plenty of good performances throughout the side. Krystian Pearce was my man of the match with a totally commanding performance in defence, plus scoring one and drawing an own goal. David Mirfin alongside him also had a very good game indeed, and won the first penalty. Rhys Bennett played very well at right back, and his fine header led to the own goal, though blotted his copybook giving away a late penalty. Johnny Hunt had come in for Mal Benning at left back and gave a very steady performance. Up front, Lee Angol was a real handful, and there are definite signs that he is forging a partnership that is just starting to click with Kane Hemmings. In midfield, Joel Byrom played well and put in some fine set pieces, as did Alex MacDonald on his first start of the season. Jacob Mellis worked hard and provided some creativity. Calum Butcher started slowly but came into the game well at the end of the first half and in the second half. In goal, Conrad Logan had a difficult moment in the first half dealing with a high ball towards the roof of his net, but kept it out if rather inelegantly, and then late on made a fabulous save from former Stag Mitch Rose. There were also signs that there was a better understanding between Logan and his defence. A very satisfactory afternoon. The Stags will look to build on this against Wycombe on Tuesday night.

Three changes from the Mansfield side that drew at Carlisle. No surprise as Johnny Hunt came in for Mal Benning at left back. Benning had been named by Evans as being at fault for goals in each of the last two games following a man of the match performance at Accrington. Also no surprise as Calum Butcher came in for his first start. But rather than in central midfield, as he played as substitute at Carlisle, he came into right midfield, which allowed him to start as well as Jacob Mellis who was in central midfield. Alex MacDonald was also in for his first start, on the left side of midfield. Out went Will Atkinson, who had not been pulling up trees in recent games, and more surprisingly Paul Anderson.

Grimsby included Mitch Rose who left the Stags in the January transfer window and had returned here last season with Newport County. Chris Clements is playing for the reserves at the moment and was not in the 18.

The scoreboard was finally working for the first time this season. It was a glorious sunny day, in the first half at least, which made it difficult to read the scoreboard. However in the second half the scoreboard was off again.

Stags assistant manager Paul Raynor watched much of the game from the directors’ box, though did appear at pitchside at various intervals. Steve Evans said post match that Raynor had been a little unwell, but presumably also it did allow Raynor to get a view of the game from a different angle, and a better angle regarding the positioning of players.

This was the first of 8 (eight) 1pm kick-offs this season, on the insistence of the police. That’s 20% of the afternoon fixtures this season. Ridiculous in my opinion.

The Stags started on the front foot and created a chance after just 20 seconds. Hunt played the ball down the left, Byrom headed forward, Angol got into the area on the left and fired in a left footed shot from a tight angle which the keeper tipped away for a corner. It was a good effort that was heading for the top corner.

At the other end on 4 minutes, Clarke crossed in from the right, and JJ Hooper flicked a header well wide, well marshalled by the Stags defence.

On 16 minutes, MacDonald won a free kick on the left. The free kick was played in by MacDonald, it was cleared, Mitch Rose went down, the Stags were just about to play back in, when the referee stopped play because of the head injury for Rose. A bit unlucky for the Stags. The referee gave an uncontested drop ball, which was booted by Grimsby through to Logan. Logan returned straight to the far end, where Angol headed on to Hemmings, who found MacDonald to his left. MacDonald slid a clever ball forward to Hemmings whose shot from a tight angle was blocked by the keeper. It was on target.

On 20 minutes, Angol was fouled on the left. MacDonald took the free kick again, to the far post where Bennett tried to head back across goal but it went out for a goal kick.

Calum Butcher was booked for a foul on the right on 21 minutes. The new signing from Millwall had not got into the game yet.

An uncomfortable moment for Logan on 23 minutes. A very high ball by Karleigh Osbourne was launched into the air and was dropping into the roof of his net, when he pushed it wide. It looked inelegant, but he probably felt it was better to be safe than sorry and take a chance on letting it slip into the net. The resulting corner was headed away by Hunt to Dixon who fired just over the angle from 25 yards.

A good tackle by Pearce who was then fouled on 25 minutes. Two minutes later, a good block by Pearce as Dembele (probably Grimsby’s best player) pushed forward and shot from 22 yards. A minute after that though slack defending from Mansfield not closing down right back Zak Mills who fired well wide from 12 yards out on the right.

On 32 minutes, a Stags throw-in came out to Hunt whose shot from the edge of the area was on target but blocked.

The Stags took the lead on 34 minutes, and it came from the Stags’ 4th penalty of the season, but the first that has been converted. Mellis won the ball 35 yards from goal, dribbled forward towards the edge of the area, slightly overran the ball, and as David Mirfin went to knock the loose ball forward just inside the area on the left, he was tripped by Zak Mills for a definite penalty. The referee immediately pointed to the spot. No complaints from the Grimsby players. Up stepped Lee Angol and lifted the ball into the right corner of the net, and importantly high enough that the keeper wouldn’t get to it even if he dived the right way, which he did. Fine penalty.

The goal lifted the Stags confidence and they played some decent football as Grimsby then struggled to get the ball out of their own half for a few minutes.

On 39 minutes a good header away by Mirfin. On 43 minutes, a Grimsby corner, Logan clawed away as far as Woolford who got in a low shot which Logan saved well, low down.

A good move from the Stags on 45 minutes, and a great cross from Calum Butcher from the right, to Mellis at the far post who volleyed wide from a difficult chance. Good play from Butcher who had otherwise struggled to get into the game in the first half. Butcher then drew a foul 2 minutes into stoppage time level with the edge of the area but the free kick was cleared.

Half time 1-0, the Stags edging it and deservedly in front.

As the half ended, I counted between 40 and 50 police in the away end, staring into the away fans. After the game, Paul Broughton mentioned to me that the Stags would only have to pay about half of today’s police bill though. The police presence seemed over-the-top in my opinion.

Half time 1-0

Grimsby started the second half quite well. On 46 minutes, a quick free kick from Dembele to Woolford 14 yards out and he fired just over the bar. Then good play by MacDonald tracking back. On 51 minutes, a Grimsby ball in, Woolford knocked the ball down and Bennett did well to put behind for a corner before he could shoot.

On 52 minutes, a Johnny Hunt long ball forward to Hemmings who had beaten the offside trap but he couldn’t control the ball when he would have been in for a 1-on-1. At the other end a minute later, good trickery from Dembele in the area on the left and shot wide of the left post.

On 54 minutes, Mansfield made it 2-0. A really fine corner from the right by Byrom was met on the volley by Pearce who clipped the ball into the roof of the net from 4 yards. Straight off the training ground, and well worked. It was fitting that Pearce scored, as he’d been excellent so far.

On 56 minutes a great move from the Stags, Hemmings to Mellis, who played a super ball across for Angol, but although he got a touch on it he couldn’t turn it goalwards. Then good interplay on 60 minutes between Angol and Hemmings just outside the area, to MacDonald who fired just wide of the left post across the keeper from the right.

The Stags made it 3-0 on 64 minutes. A fine free kick from near the corner flag on the left from MacDonald was met by Bennett who headed down into the ground and back up again and drew a magnificent save from Grimbsy keeper James McKeown, pushing the ball away to the right. Pearce was first to the loose ball, turning it back into the middle, where Karleigh Osbourne deflected it into his own net. Our pitchside video footage confirms what I already thought, that Pearce’s low cross was not on target before Osbourne turned it in, so it goes down as an own goal.

Anderson replaced MacDonald on 66 minutes. Good applause for MacDonald who had played well on his 1st start of the season.

On 73 minutes good communication between Logan and Bennett as Logan called to Bennett to leave a cross for him. That was encouraging.

On 74 minutes, great play from Pearce to win the ball, he found Hemmings, who found Angol 20 yards out and he fired just wide of the right post.

The Stags made it 4-0 on 80 minutes, with another penalty. A short throw-in from the right from Bennett to Angol, who went past Dixon, and then showed trickery to go one way then the other to get past Clarke and went down. The referee gave the penalty after taking his time to think about it. In my opinion, Angol went to ground slightly too easily with only a very slight touch from Clarke. Grimsby players this time were not happy with the decision. Angol again stepped up to take the kick and again took it towards the right corner of the net. Keeper McKeown this time got a touch on it but could only push it into the roof of the net. This was not quite as good a penalty as his first one as he gave the keeper a chance by not lifting it quite as high as the first one, but it was still good enough.

On 82 minutes a brilliant move from the Stags with fantastic one touch football, culminating in Butcher’s ball in from the right and Angol went for goal with a scissors kick but was penalised for high kicking.

Atkinson replaced Butcher on 82 minutes. Butcher had come into the game towards the end of the first half and in the second half. However it appeared that he was not as effective in that position as in the centre where he played at Carlisle. But it did mean that both he and Mellis could play in the same side.

Grimsby got a consolation on 85 minutes with a penalty of their own as sub Jaiyesimi got goalside of Bennett who clumsily brought him down for a clear penalty, which was converted by another sub Sam Jones. Jones’ penalty was not a good one, low and only just to the right of centre, Logan dived over it and nearly saved it.

On 87 minutes, the Stags won a free kick 22 yards out on the left. Hemmings took it short to Pearce who nearly had a chance.

Potter replaced Mellis on 88 minutes. Mellis came off to a rapturous reception.

Logan produced a super save on 89 minutes. A Grimsby free kick into the Stags box, there were claims for handball from the Grimsby fans to no avail. The ball came out to Mitch Rose who fired in a shot from 25 yards that Logan tipped over. It was a capital shot from Mitch Rose and an even better save from Logan.

On 90+4 minutes, another chance for Mitch Rose against his former club as a cross was cleared to him, but this time his shot nearly hit the roof of the North Stand.

So a thumping victory for the Stags, albeit against a Grimsby side who looked pretty average.

Man of the match: Krystian Pearce

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



Line Up:
(4-4-2):
Logan 7 Had a difficult moment in the first half dealing with a high ball towards the roof of his net, but kept it out if rather inelegantly, and then late on made a fabulous save from former Stag Mitch Rose. There were also signs that there was a better understanding between Logan and his defence.
Bennett 7.5 Played very well at right back, and his fine header led to the own goal, though blotted his copybook giving away a late penalty with a clumsy challenge.
Pearce 8.5 My man of the match with a totally commanding performance in defence, plus scoring one and drawing an own goal.
Mirfin 8 Also had a very good game indeed, and won the first penalty.
Hunt 7 Gave a very steady performance having come in for Benning.
Butcher 7 His first start. Started slowly but came into the game well at the end of the first half and in the second half. However it appeared that he was not as effective in that position as in the centre where he played at Carlisle. But it did mean that both he and Mellis could play in the same side.
Byrom 7 Played well and put in some fine set pieces, including an assist for the second goal.
Mellis 7 Worked hard and provided some creativity.
MacDonald 7 Some fine set pieces, including for Bennett’s header leading to the third goal. His first start of the season following injury.
Hemmings 7 There are definite signs that he is forging a partnership that is just starting to click with Angol. Involved in several fine moves. Miscontrolled a couple of times.
Angol 8 His penalties capped a powerful display in which he was a real handful for the Grimsby defence. Also had a good effort after just 20 seconds that brought a fine save.
Sub Line Up:
Anderson (for MacDonald, 66 mins) -
Atkinson (for Butcher, 82 mins) -
Potter (for Mellis, 88 mins) -
Subs not used: Olejnik, Diamond, Spencer, Danny Rose.
Opposition Line Up:
(4-4-2): McKeown; Mills (Davies 60), Clarke, Osborne, Dixon; Dembele (Jaiyesimi 74), Mitch Rose, Berrett, Woolford; Vernon, Hooper (Jones 59). Subs not used: Collins, Summerfield, Matt, Killip.
Referee:
Paul Tierney 7 Was slightly generous with the Stags’ second penalty. Certainly the other two penalties were correct.


Season 17/18 Reports