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Season 17/18 Stagsnet Match Report
English Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Barnet  
1 - 1
 Mansfield Town
Coulthirst 85.
 
 Hemmings 45+1
Attendance: 1262 (223 from Mansfield)
 
Date: 17 October 2017

COULTHIRST DENIES STAGS VICTORY

Martin Shaw at The Hive

Mansfield Town were denied victory at Barnet by a late equaliser from former Stag Shaq Coulthirst at the Hive last night. It was an equaliser Barnet deserved after putting Mansfield under plenty of pressure in the second half though the home side created almost no chances until that late equaliser. The first half was quite even, Barnet had more possession but Mansfield had the better chances. Both sides had harmless shots from long distance before the Stags went closest on 22 minutes as Hayden White got to the byline and chipped a fine cross to Danny Rose who acrobatically fired a shot towards the right post or just inside it before it was cleared away by Michael Nelson. White was first to the clearance chesting down to Alex MacDonald who did well to create space for himself before firing in a low shot that the keeper did well to save with his legs. Two good efforts, with Rose’s reminding me of his goal against Swindon. Barnet didn’t create any worthwhile chances in the first half, Vilhete shot wide from an impossible angle, and Akinola fired straight at Logan from 30 yards. The Stags took the lead on 45+1 minutes. White was clumsily tripped by Akinola 28 yards from goal to the left of centre. After all the talk of Mansfield giving away sloppy free kicks that were costly, here were Barnet doing the same thing. Akinola was harshly booked as it looked more clumsy than deliberate. Will Atkinson rolled the free kick short to MacDonald, who fired into the area, it was going wide before Kane Hemmings turned it into the net from 6 yards for his first Stags goal. My initial thought was that MacDonald was shooting for goal, but from the video it may have been a well-worked set piece given Hemmings’ initial movement towards the ball. The first 15 minutes of the second half was quiet but then Barnet started to put Mansfield under pressure with a series of corners. However neither side created a chance of any description until 72 minutes, when Krystian Pearce miscued a clearance, and Akpa-Akpro sent Coulthirst away down the left. Coulthirst fired across Logan and wide of the right post. The Stags were close to increasing the lead a minute later at the other end. Superb play from Rose, chasing down a lost cause and picking the pocket of man-mountain Santos, Rose found Hemmings with a fine pass, Hemmings was in a great position and curled a low shot towards the bottom right corner but keeper Ross tipped it away with a good save. If Hemmings could have got his shot further into the corner, he probably would have scored, but he gave the keeper a chance. Barnet still had more of the ball, but it was Mansfield who had a couple of half-chances from set pieces with headers for Pearce. Barnet levelled 5 minutes from time, a goal that their pressure deserved. Fonguck played a good 1-2 with Coulthirst on the edge of the area, Fonguck getting the ball back via a little touch from Mal Benning. Fonguck tried to lay the ball off to Akpa-Akpro, but Pearce dived in with a sliding challenge that rebounded off Logan into the path of Coulthirst, who slid the ball goalwards. Paul Digby slid in to try to clear the shot but could only divert it into the roof of the net. A real scramble of a goal but Coulthirst was in the right place at the right time. Hemmings had a half chance to restore the lead as he played a 1-2 with Rose, but the ball was taken off his toe as he was about to shoot. Into stoppage time and Barnet looked the more likely winners as Tutonda had a shot blocked, and then on 90+4 minutes, Conrad Logan made a fine save to preserve a point as Vilhete crossed from the right and Charlie Clough looped a header than was going just under the bar before Logan tipped it over. Overall a disappointing performance from Mansfield in an attacking sense, creating little during the game going forward from midfield and coming under plenty of pressure during the second half, but Mansfield were resolute at the back and nearly held on for the win as Barnet created even fewer good chances. It was an improvement on the dreadful performance against Swindon, but much more of an improvement is needed if the Stags are to climb up the table from the current mid-table position. Barnet had much of the ball, and in David Tutonda, their left wing back, had the best player on the pitch, but for all their pressure, they created even fewer chances than Mansfield. So, on to Newport, who are in the play-off positions and 4 points ahead of Mansfield.

A change of formation for Mansfield and three changes in personnel from the side that lost to Swindon with a dreadful showing. The Stags switched to three at the back, with two wing-backs. Mal Benning returned to the side in place of Johnny Hunt. Evans explained pre-match that Hunt had done nothing wrong and that while Hunt offers more defensive solidity, Benning offers more of an attacking force and that was what he wanted tonight. Evans added that Hunt could come back into the team if the formation and game plan was going to be different. Paul Digby replaced Jacob Mellis. Evans said pre-match that this was to “suit the way we’re going to play tonight”, and it soon became clear that he was slotting into a defensive back three. Up front, Hemmings came in for Spencer.
So the formation was:
Logan in goal;
Central defensive three of Digby (right), Pearce, Mirfin (left);
White and Benning at wing-back;
Atkinson and Butcher in midfield behind
MacDonald in a free role behind the front two
of Hemmings and Rose.

Anderson was originally named on the bench but pulled up in the warm up and was replaced on the bench by Hamilton.

Barnet had gone 8 games without a win after a good start to the season. They were without long-term injured strikers John Akinde and Dave Tarpey. But former Stag Shaq Coulthirst returned from injury. He had been Sky Bet League Two player of the month for August. You kind of knew that he would have a big part to play in the game, and so it proved with the late equaliser. Barnet also lined up with three at the back and two wing-backs.

It was pleasant evening in Edgware, and luckily the forecast heavy rain never arrived. I say lucky, lucky for me, as if it rains at The Hive, the press box, including all the equipment, gets wet, as the overhang on the stand roof is not sufficient.

On 6 minutes, Jamal Campbell-Ryce tried a shot for Barnet from 30 yards, which Logan saved low to his right. Moments later, Coulthirst also tried his luck from 30 yards, shooting well wide.

Straight to the other end and Atkinson found Rose on the left, and Rose’s low shot was straight at the keeper.

Good play by Butcher on 12 minutes tracking back to win the ball.

Barnet fans claimed a penalty on 15 minutes as Tutonda slid a good ball down the left wing to Fonguck who cut past Digby into the area and then ran into White. From the video, it was certainly not a foul. To be fair, none of the Barnet players appealed.

The Stags went close on 22 minutes as Hayden White got to the byline and chipped a fine cross to Danny Rose who acrobatically fired a shot towards the right post or just inside it before it was cleared away by Michael Nelson. White was first to the clearance chesting down to Alex MacDonald who did well to create space for himself before firing in a low shot that the keeper did well to save with his legs. Two good efforts, with Rose’s reminding me of his goal against Swindon.

There could have been a John-Thompson-at-Ilkeston moment on 26 minutes as Santos barged Hemmings into the advertising hoarding, right next to the Stags dugout. Luckily Hemmings escaped without injury. The referee didn’t even warn Santos, but saw fit to warn Steve Evans for complaining. Poor refereeing as that could have been a serious injury.

On 31 minutes, Vilhete shot wide from an impossible angle, after a good move down the right.

On 33 minutes Mirfin was blatantly shoved over by Santos 28 yards from goal. Hemmings took the resulting free kick and fired low just wide of the left post.

Rose was getting little change in trying to win headers against enormous Santos, who seemed to be about a foot taller than him.

Benning slipped over on 36 minutes, and then flicked out at Fonguck as he was still on the ground and was booked. A silly booking for Benning. Benning slipped over for the second time just a couple of minutes later. After the game, Evans said that he was surprised when he suggested to Benning to change his boots, and Benning said he'd only brought one pair.

With the Stags momentarily down to 10 men on 38 minutes with Mirfin off the field with two dislocated fingers, Akinola fired straight at Logan from 30 yards.

On 39 minutes, with Mirfin back on the field, a MacDonald corner from the left reached Mirfin who leapt well and headed over and wide.

Great play from Tutonda on the left on 42 minutes, as he got to the byline tying the Stags defence in knots before firing a cross across the six yard box but there was no-one anywhere near it.

On 43 minutes, Vilhete’s corner from the right was headed well wide by Clough.

Benning committed a foul on 45 minutes and got a lecture from the referee. It was presumably a final warning after his earlier silly booking.

The Stags took the lead on 45+1 minutes. White was clumsily tripped by Akinola 28 yards from goal to the left of centre. After all the talk of Mansfield giving away sloppy free kicks that were costly, here were Barnet doing the same thing. Akinola was harshly booked as it looked more clumsy than deliberate. Will Atkinson rolled the free kick short to MacDonald, who fired into the area, it was going wide before Kane Hemmings turned it into the net from 6 yards for his first Stags goal. My initial thought was that MacDonald was shooting for goal, but from the video it may have been a well-worked set piece given Hemmings’ initial movement towards the ball.

On 45+4 minutes, Campbell-Ryce’s free kick from 30 yards out on the left was punched away decisively by Logan.

The first half was quite even, Barnet had more possession but Mansfield had the better chances. And the Stags had the lead right at the end of the half.

Half time 0-1

On 48 minutes, MacDonald won a free kick 35 yards from goal after a surging run forward. He dinked the free kick into the area, Pearce got up well to head goalwards, it was headed out to Rose, who also got up well to head wide. The Stags claimed a corner, but the goal kick was given.

Mirfin was booked for a foul on 49 minutes. He was injured in making the foul.

A half chance for the Stags on 51 minutes. A fast break forward, as Butcher played a great ball down the line which White ran on to and curled a great ball inside to Hemmings. Hemmings was goalside of the defenders and a good first touch would have given him a shot at goal but his first touch was poor and the Campbell-Ryce nipped in to play the ball back to the keeper. Wonderful play from White.

Great play from MacDonald to win a throw-in a minute later. Typical tigerish stuff from MacDonald.

Mirfin limped off on 53 minutes. He’d been injured a few minutes earlier. He was replaced by Bennett, who slotted in to the left side of the central defensive three.

Digby was booked on 54 minutes for taking out the dangerous Tutonda as he pushed forward.

Several fouls by both sides were not given, then Rose was penalised harshly for a foul on the left.

The first 15 minutes of the second half had been quiet but then Barnet started to put Mansfield under pressure with a series of 3 corners on the hour mark.

Atkinson was booked for a foul on 64 minutes as the referee brought play back having played the advantage.

A minute later, a good challenge by Bennett on the edge of his own area. On 70 minutes, great play by Atkinson to win the ball on the left.

Neither side had created a decent shot in the second half, but then two chances in a minute, one at either end.

On 72 minutes, Pearce miscued a clearance, and Akpa-Akpro sent Coulthirst away down the left. Coulthirst fired across Logan and wide of the right post.

The Stags were close to increasing the lead a minute later at the other end. Superb play from Rose, chasing down a lost cause and picking the pocket of man-mountain Santos, Rose found Hemmings with a fine pass, Hemmings was in a great position and curled a low shot towards the bottom right corner but keeper Ross tipped it away with a good save. If Hemmings could have got his shot further into the corner, he probably would have scored, but he gave the keeper a chance.

From the resulting corner by MacDonald from the right, Pearce headed over the bar.

On 78 minutes, a free kick by Benning into the area, and Pearce flicked a header wide of the left post.

Barnet levelled 5 minutes from time, a goal that their pressure deserved. Fonguck played a good 1-2 with Coulthirst on the edge of the area, Fonguck getting the ball back via a little touch from Mal Benning. Fonguck tried to lay the ball off to Akpa-Akpro, but Pearce dived in with a sliding challenge that rebounded off Logan into the path of Coulthirst, who slid the ball goalwards. Paul Digby slid in to try to clear the shot but could only divert it into the roof of the net. A real scramble of a goal but Coulthirst was in the right place at the right time.

On 88 minutes, Hemmings played a 1-2 with Rose, but the ball was taken off Hemmings’ toe as he was about to shoot from 10 yards.

Sterling-James replaced Hemmings on 88 minutes.

On 89 minutes, Coulthirst pushed forward but was well held off by Bennett.

On 90 minutes, Rose shot well wide.

Into stoppage time and Barnet looked the more likely winners. On 90+2 minutes, Akpa-Akpro got to the byline and Benning cleared his cross. A minute later, Tutonda had a shot from 10 yards blocked by Digby.

Spencer replaced Rose on 90+4 minutes.

Then on 90+4 minutes, Logan made a fine save to preserve a point as Vilhete crossed from the right and Charlie Clough looped a header than was going just under the bar before Logan tipped it over. From the resulting corner, Clough headed down and wide.

Man of the match: Hayden White


Report by: Martin Shaw at The Hive



Line Up:
(3-4-1-2):
Logan 7 Fine save in stoppage time to preserve a point. Good punch from a free kick earlier.
Digby 7 Slotted in to the central defensive three. Beaten early by Fonguck cutting past him in to the area, but resolute after that, including a good block from a shot by Tutonda.
Pearce 7 Generally defended solidly. One miscued clearance led to a chance for Coulthirst.
Mirfin 7 Battled on despite dislocated fingers but eventually forced off with leg injury. Solid.
White 7 Two good pieces of play to set up the double chance for Rose and MacDonald. Wonderful play to set up a chance for Hemmings. He was fouled to set up the free kick which led to the goal.
Atkinson 5 One good piece of play to win the ball but didn’t offer enough.
Butcher 5 One good piece of play tracking back, and a good ball down the line to set White away, but otherwise didn’t offer enough.
Benning 6 Could he have done better for the Barnet goal? Hard to say. Kept slipping over and didn’t have another set of boots.
MacDonald 6.5 Did well to create space for himself before firing in a low shot that the keeper did well to save with his legs. An assist for the goal; my initial thought was that he was shooting for goal and miscued slightly, but from the video it may have been a well-worked set piece given Hemmings’ initial movement towards the ball. Some good set pieces, and some poor ones.
Hemmings 6.5 Alert to convert his first goal. Got into a great position in the 2nd half and curled a low shot which the keeper saved; if he could have got his shot further into the corner, he probably would have scored, but he gave the keeper a chance. Had two other half chances in the second half but disappointingly didn’t get a shot in.
Rose 5.5 Below par given his fine recent form. Got little change in trying to win headers against enormous Santos. Superb play to set up the shot for Hemmings in the 2nd half.
Sub Line Up:
Bennett (for Mirfin, 53 mins) 7 Did well as substitute in the back three.
Sterling-James (for Hemmings, 88 mins) -
Spencer (for Rose, 90+4 mins) -
Subs not used: Olejnik, Mellis, Hamilton (replaced Anderson on the bench in the warm-up), Angol.
Opposition Line Up:
(3-4-1-2): Ross; Santos, Nelson, Clough; Vilhete, J.Taylor, Fonguck, Tutonda; Campbell-Ryce (Akpa Akpro 68); Coulthirst, Akinola (Mason-Clark 79). Subs not used: Bover, H.Taylor, Shomotun, Blackman, McKenzie-Lyle.
Referee:
Craig Hicks 6 Should have booked Santos for barging Hemmings into the advertising hoarding. Otherwise not a bad game.


Season 17/18 Reports