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Season 17/18 Stagsnet Match Report
English Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Newport County  
1 - 1
 Mansfield Town
McCoulsky 69.
 
 Rose 21
Attendance: 3146 (160 from Mansfield)
 
Date: 21 October 2017

STAGS DRAW 1-1 AWAY AGAIN

Martin Shaw at Rodney Parade

Mansfield Town drew their second away game in four days 1-1 at Newport County this afternoon. And as at Barnet on Tuesday, the Stags led 1-0 at half time but were pegged back, and in the end grateful to goalkeeper Conrad Logan with some good saves and one super save late on to preserve a point. The scene was set for the game in the opening 15 minutes as Newport won two throw-ins halfway inside the Stags half and Ben Tozer hurled the most enormous throws into the Stags box creating chances for the home side. The Stags were under an aerial bombardment which was to continue. The Stags however were in front after 21 minutes. Alfie Potter’s ball in from the right came off a combination of Kane Hemmings and defender Ben White to Danny Rose six yards out, to the right of centre. Rose fired a low shot first time across the keeper like an arrow into the bottom left corner of the net for his 8th goal of a fine season. Newport had some pressure after that but created little in terms of goalscoring chances during the rest of the half. People often talk about big moments in games and there was certainly a big moment on 60 minutes when Alex MacDonald’s free kick from the left, level with the edge of the area, was met by Potter at the far post who volleyed against the post from 3 yards with the keeper beaten. If it had been 2-0 at that stage, Newport’s spirit would probably have been broken, but as it was they were level on 69 minutes. Yet another throw-in from Tozer hurled into the box, and for just about the first time in the game so far, the Stags defence misjudged it as it sailed over Bennett and Rose, and Shawn McCoulsky was quickest to react to the bouncing ball turning it into the net from 6 yards. Disappointing from Bennett and Rose, and from White who was not as quick as McCoulsky to react to the bouncing ball. However mitigating circumstances for Bennett and Rose if we’re being generous were that it was windy and a high ball in the wind like that might just have travelled a bit further than you’d expect. After that, Newport looked the more likely winners with Conrad Logan making a number of good saves to preserve the precious point. Frank Nouble powered past Hunt and MacDonald on the right before firing in a low shot from an angle that Logan pushed wide, then MacDonald made a mess of a clearance allowing Nouble to shoot from the right and again Logan was down well to save, then Logan tipped over a shot from Rigg which may have been going over already, and finally the best of the lot on 86 minutes as Logan superbly tipped over Padraig Amond’s header following a corner. My Newport commentary counterparts reckoned that save was as good as anything they’ve seen for a while. I thought it was similar to his late save at Barnet, which also preserved a point. So a point that was a fair reward for the Stags’ hard work, and much credit to keeper Conrad Logan for those late saves to preserve the point.

The Stags remain 4 points outside the play-offs. It’s the Checkatrade Trophy on Tuesday and a trip to Meadow Lane. There will be clearly be plenty of changes and opportunities for the likes of Olejnik, Spencer and others who haven’t had so much game time. There is also £10,000 for the winners of each group stage game, so it’s still a game we want to go and win.

Mansfield made three changes from the side that drew at Barnet. David Mirfin was injured at Barnet, and was replaced in central defence by Rhys Bennett. Paul Digby dropped out of the side having played as part of a central defensive three at Barnet as Steve Evans reverted to a flat back four here. He was replaced by Alfie Potter, returning from injury. Johnny Hunt returned at left back having lost his place to Mal Benning who had played at left wing-back at Barnet. So far this season, Hunt has shown himself to be a better defender than Benning while Benning has been better pushing forward and was better suited to the wing-back role employed at Barnet. So the back four was White and Hunt at full back with Pearce and Bennett in central defence. The midfield 4 were, in a line from right to left: Potter, Butcher, Atkinson, MacDonald. Danny Rose played in a deeper role than normal, just behind Kane Hemmings who was on his own up front. Before the game, Steve Evans said that he’d asked Hemmings to play a different role to usual today, and it became clear after kick off what he meant.

Newport have been resurgent this season and sit in the play-off positions. Their home defeat to Colchester on Tuesday was their first defeat at home since March. They started with three central defenders at the back, and wing-backs, but switched to four at the back during the second half.

Much had been said about Storm Brian hitting Britain today and a wind gusting at 71mph had been recorded along the South Wales Coast at the Mumbles in Swansea earlier this morning. There was a wind at Newport but it was not as gale force as that and probably had less impact on the game than I was initially expecting, though still certainly had an effect. It did get a little stronger the longer the game went on, and was behind Newport in the second half. There was also heavy rain in spells. Last season, with the dreadful pitch at Rodney Parade, this game would unquestionably have been postponed. But the owners of the ground, the Welsh Rugby Union, have spent three quarters of a million pounds on the pitch and turned it into what is now virtually a perfect pitch. We were told before the game by my counterparts who do the Newport commentary, that representatives from Tottenham, who soon move into their new stadium, plus West Ham and Wembley Stadium, have recently been to see how the pitch played and are considering a similar pitch. Needless to say, the pitch was indeed perfect.

A word on the Stags travelling fans. It was horrendous weather today, but 160 fans gave their side good support on a long away day.

There were a couple of early Newport throw-ins in the Stags half. A towel was quickly produced to dry the ball. However on 7 minutes, when the Stags won a throw in, level with the edge of the Newport penalty area, which Hayden White was to take, there wasn’t a towel to be found. White rightly complained to the referee and a few minutes later, there were towels at both ends.

On 11 minutes, a long throw-in from Tozer, and O’Brien flicked a header wide. Two minutes later, another long throw-in from Tozer came out to Butler who volleyed over the bar.

The Stags won two free kicks in a minute after 15 minutes. Firstly Macdonald’s free kick from 40 yards was cleared out to Butcher who fired in a shot from 25 yards which was blocked. Then MacDonald’s free kick from 35 yards was dinked in, Pearce headed down to White but he couldn’t control and it was cleared.

On 19 minutes, White found Atkinson who got to the byline in a dangerous position as defender Dan Butler slipped, but his cross was blocked when he was in such a good position and MacDonald was in space in the middle.

The Stags took the lead on 21 minutes. Potter’s ball in from the right came off a combination of Hemmings and defender Ben White to Danny Rose six yards out, to the right of centre. Rose fired a low shot first time across the keeper like an arrow into the bottom left corner of the net for his 8th goal of a fine season.

The Stags had another free kick on 24 minutes. This time Hunt took it and tried a shot from 35 yards but it was straight into the wall.

On 30 minutes, a Newport cross from the right by Pipe to the near post, Nouble missed it and it came off Bennett for a corner. Logan should have come for that in my opinion. On 36 minutes, Nouble shot well over the bar from the edge of the area on the right.

Rose had a high ball played forward to him on 41 minutes. He initially controlled the ball but then lost it.

On 43 minutes, good goalkeeping from Logan coming out and diving at Nouble’s feet with perfect timing.

Hayden White was booked for three fouls on Nouble in the space of two minutes on 45 minutes.

On 45+2 minutes, a Newport corner from the left, Demetriou got ahead of Bennett, as Bennett slipped, to head goalwards and Logan punched away.

The Stags led 1-0 at the break. Newport had put Mansfield under a bit of pressure after the Stags took the lead, with plenty of throw-ins, corners, and free kicks into the box but the Stags had stood up to it well so far.

Half time 0-1

On 50 minutes, Nouble did well to get to the byline but the Stags cleared his cross.

Claims for a penalty from the home side on 53 minutes as a ball into the Stags area hit Bennett on the hand. The referee correctly waved away the appeals as the ball simply ricocheted on to Bennett’s hand with his arm in a natural position by his side.

The Stags claimed for a penalty of their own at the other end a minute later. Hunt’s throw-in reached Butcher whose shot from 17 yards was blocked but again it was not a penalty as it hit Demetriou from close range.

Hunt was booked as Newport tried to clear into the Stags half on 54 minutes.

On 56 minutes, White’s throw-in reached Hemmings on the edge of the area. He turned well and sent a left-footed shot wide.

The Stags were so unlucky not to make it 2-0 on 60 minutes. MacDonald’s free kick from the left, level with the edge of the area, was met by Potter at the far post who volleyed against the post from 3 yards with the keeper beaten. If it had been 2-0 at that stage, Newport’s spirit would probably have been broken. People often talk about big moments in games and this was certainly a big moment.

Newport reverted to four at the back, and it was to serve them well as they were to get right on top in the 20 minutes of the game.

On 66 minutes, a good move from the Stags. Atkinson did well to win the ball, Potter broke forward down the right but his cross was too close to the keeper.

On 67 minutes, Potter won the ball, Atkinson broke forward well and found Hemmings who shot left-footed at the keeper.

Straight to the other end, as Rigg ran the length of the pitch on the left and crossed to the far post where Nouble headed against the back of his own player McCoulsky and wide for a goal kick.

Newport were level on 69 minutes. Yet another throw-in from Tozer hurled into the box, and for just about the first time in the game so far, the Stags defence misjudged it as it sailed over Bennett and Rose, and Shawn McCoulsky was quickest to react to the bouncing ball turning it into the net from 6 yards. Disappointing from Bennett and Rose, and from White who was not as quick as McCoulsky to react to the bouncing ball. However mitigating circumstances for Bennett and Rose if we’re being generous were that it was windy and a high ball in the wind like that might just have travelled a bit further than you’d expect.

On 70 minutes a ball forward found McCoulsky who got past Bennett and fired a good effort from a tight angle over the bar.

Mansfield made a double change on 73 minutes bringing on Spencer and Sterling-James for Hemmings and Rose. It was fair enough taking off Hemmings and Rose who had covered so much ground, but I would have brought on Angol.

On 75 minutes, Butler crossed from the left, McCoulsky headed well wide.

A good save from Logan on 78 minutes. Nouble powered past Hunt and MacDonald on the right with brute strength and fired a low shot across Logan from an angle but Logan did well to push it wide.

On 79 minutes, MacDonald fired in a good effort from 28 yards which the keeper saved.

Another good save from Logan on 81 minutes as Nouble fired in a curling left-footed shot from the right and Logan saved at full stretch, after MacDonald had made a mess of a clearance .

A good run from Sterling-James on 83 minutes as he sped past Butler who brought him down for a deserved yellow card. The free kick was 30 yards out to the left of centre, Sterling-James took it himself and blasted into the side netting. Not a bad effort.

On 84 minutes, Potter lost the ball, Rigg took a few paces forward and from 20 yards fired in a rising shot that appeared to be going over but Logan couldn’t take any chances and tipped it further over.

Before the resulting corner was taken, Pearce was booked for hauling down a Newport player. The home fans wanted a penalty, showing a lack of understanding how the rules of the game work.

When the corner was finally taken from the left, Logan made a superb save, tipping over Amond’s header.

On 87 minutes, the umpteenth Tozer long throw of the afternoon, Bennett headed it out and Nouble volleyed over the bar.

Anderson replaced Potter on 87 minutes.

Butcher was booked for kicking the ball away on 90+2 minutes. Then Dolan’s free kick from deep flicked off Amond’s head and just wide of the right post.

The Stags held the ball in the Newport half for the next two minutes of stoppage time but couldn’t create a chance. Indeed MacDonald held on to the ball, trying to win a corner rather than try to get it into the middle.

Full time and a hard-earned point for the Stags. In isolation, not a bad result, as it wasn’t at Barnet. But the defeat to Swindon last Saturday with that dreadful performance means it was a poor week with just 2 points from 3 games. Indeed the Stags have taken just 5 points from the last 6 games. Improvement is needed. In the league, the Stags have difficult games against Exeter, Coventry and Stevenage coming up, followed by a run of 5 games against teams currently in the bottom 7.

I commented before the game that I have never seen a good game of football played in strong winds, and today was no different.

Man of the match: Conrad Logan

Report by: Martin Shaw at Rodney Parade



Line Up:
(4-4-1-1):
Logan 8.5 Three good saves and one superb save in the final 12 minutes to preserve a point.
White 6 He was not as quick as McCoulsky to react to the bouncing ball for the Newport goal.
Pearce 6.5 Did ok.
Bennett 5 Misjudged the long throw-in as it sailed over him for the Newport goal. Allowed McCoulsky to get past him and shoot over the bar. Headed out straight to Nouble who fired over. Below par.
Hunt 7 Fine game, the pick of the defence.
Potter 7 Lively. Unlucky to hit the post. Several good runs. Some good interceptions.
Atkinson 5.5 Two good breaks forward in the second half. Was in a great position on the byline when a defender slipped in the first half but wasted his cross. Would like to see him offering more.
Butcher 5.5 A couple of shots that were blocked. But not offering enough from midfield.
MacDonald 6.5 Great free kick for Potter’s effort against the post. But his set pieces generally of a variable quality. Fired in a good effort from 28 yards which the keeper saved. Made a mess of a clearance presenting a chance to Nouble who forced Logan into a good save.
Rose 7 Played in a deeper role than normal. Took his goal well. Covered a lot of ground. Could have done better with the Newport goal.
Hemmings 6 Got in two shots in the second half, one at the keeper and one wide. Worked hard.
Sub Line Up:
Spencer (for Hemmings, 73 mins) - Didn’t really get into the game.
Sterling-James (for Rose, 73 mins) - Not a bad effort from a free kick into the side netting after he’d won the free kick himself with a good run.
Anderson (for Potter, 87 mins) -
Subs not used: Olejnik, Digby, Mellis, Angol.
Opposition Line Up:
(3-5-2): Day; White (Rigg 58), O’Brien, Demetriou; Pipe, Dolan, Bennett (McCoulsky 65), Tozer, Butler; Amond, Nouble. Subs not used: Bittner, Barnum-Bobb, Owen-Evans, Quigley, Willmott.
Referee:
Charles Breakspear 7 Handled the game very well despite the bleating of the Newport manager after the game. Correctly turned down a penalty appeal for each side. Dean and I had a surprisingly long chat with him and Steve Evans before the game. It was interesting to me how relaxed he was with Steve Evans, far from the perception that some fans have that referees must hate Evans.


Season 17/18 Reports