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Season 17/18 Stagsnet Match Report
English Football League Trophy - Checkatrade Trophy
Notts County  
1 - 2
 Mansfield Town
Smith 34.
 
 Angol 1, Hamilton 73.
Attendance: 2290 (405 from Mansfield)
 
Date: 24 October 2017

STAGS WIN AT NOTTS COUNTY IN CHECKATRADE TROPHY

Martin Shaw at Meadow Lane

Mansfield put in a fine performance to win 2-1 at Notts County in the Checkatrade Trophy this evening. After a run of 4 games without a win (2 defeats and 2 draws) since beating Notts County in the league, it was a boost to get back on the winning trail, albeit in a competition that is not top priority. There was a welcome return from injury for Joel Byrom and he oozed quality with his set pieces, getting 55 minutes of action. And a surprise recall from loan for Jack Thomas who replaced Byrom as substitute and put in what I thought was his best performance since his wonderful form upon breaking into the team in 2015. Both teams made ten changes from their respective games on Saturday. The Stags were ahead after 47 seconds. Omari Sterling-James knocked the ball high into the Notts County half, Lee Angol nicked the ball off Haydn Hollis 30 yards from goal, took a touch forward, and shot left footed from 25 yards low and into the bottom right corner of the net. He didn’t hit it with power but the key was it was just inside the post and the keeper couldn’t reach it. The Stags were within a whisker from making it 2-0 on 5 minutes. A great corner from the right by Byrom, Paul Digby got in a fine header from 6 yards which the keeper somehow saved, literally on his goal-line. I thought it was over the line watching in real time but the video seems to suggest that it was on the line and not over it. The Stags came just as close on 27 minutes. Sterling-James lifted a delightful ball forward for Jimmy Spencer to run on to, and former Notts man Spencer smashed a terrific shot against the right post from 18 yards. The ball came out to Lee Angol, 10 yards from goal with the keeper nowhere. Angol chested it down and was about to knock it into the empty net when Shaun Brisley slid in with a brilliant goal saving challenge. Angol should have scored without a doubt but also credit to the defender for a wonderful challenge. On 30 minutes, Spencer appeared to be tripped on the byline in the area, but the referee waved away the Stags appeals for a penalty. The game should have been over already. But Notts County equalised on 34 minutes. Elliot Hodge’s corner from the left was taken short, back to him, he crossed to the far post where Brisley nodded back across goal and veteran Alan Smith knocked in his first goal for Notts County from close range. Spencer was down on the ground when the ball was knocked in. After the game Steve Evans said that the analyst’s video footage from a wide angle showed Spencer elbowed in the face off the ball. From the footage from the main camera, which is the footage I have, the incident is off screen. Some good football from the Stags in an entertaining first half but all square at the break in a game that should have been sewn up. However the Stags did go on to win it with a cracking goal on 73 minutes from CJ Hamilton, his first competitive goal for Mansfield. Paul Anderson’s ball in from the right was punched out by the keeper as far as Hamilton 16 yards from goal. Hamilton chested the ball away from his defender to give himself a yard of space before hammering a wonderful right footed shot into the top left corner of the net. A great moment for Hamilton who ran off and slid on his knees to celebrate. Hamilton nearly added another goal when his left footed shot from 25 yards was pushed over by the keeper. Any win is a good win and the 405 travelling Stags fans enjoyed this performance and victory and gave the team a great reception at the end. The Stags played with freedom, knocked the ball around well and created plenty of good moments. Mansfield also picked up £10,000 for this win. The Stags return to the league on Saturday in a huge game with Exeter City, and several players have put themselves in the frame tonight to play in that game.

The top two teams from the group will progress to the next round. The other results so far: Mansfield lost 3-1 at home to Lincoln, Notts County beat Everton U23 2-1, Lincoln beat Everton U23 2-1. So with one game to play, Lincoln have 6 points, Notts County and Mansfield have 3 points. The Stags play their final game in the group next Tuesday, at home to Everton U23, while Lincoln play Notts County a week later. Mansfield need to win to give themselves a good chance of going through, and would go through unless Notts County then won at Lincoln and edged Mansfield out on goal difference. Mansfield could however go through with a draw if Lincoln were then to beat Notts County.

Mansfield made ten changes from the side that drew at Newport. New rules this season allow you to make plenty of changes, providing they are essentially first team players and you aren’t playing a team full of youth team players. The only player to remain in the side was Rhys Bennett. Mansfield lined up with:
Olejnik in goal,
the back four of Anderson at right back, Digby and Bennett at centre half, and Benning at left back.
A diamond midfield with Byrom at the back, Mellis at the front, and Sterling-James and Hamilton out wide.
Spencer and Angol were up front.

Steve Evans explained pre-match that Byrom would get the first 45 minutes on his return from a six week absence with a foot injury, and he would be replaced at half time by Jack Thomas, recalled from loan at Boston where Boston are struggling in the bottom 3 of Conference North. Steve Evans also revealed pre-match that Lee Angol has finally shaken off a virus that had kept him out of the starting XI though fit enough for the bench.

Notts County had former Stag Nicky Hunt at right back, and unsurprisingly he got a roasting from Hamilton on the wing with his pace.

It was a mild night in Nottingham. There was some rain during the game.

The Stags were ahead after just 47 seconds. Omari Sterling-James knocked the ball high into the Notts County half, Lee Angol nicked the ball off Haydn Hollis 30 yards from goal, took a touch forward, and shot left footed from 25 yards low and into the bottom right corner of the net. He didn’t hit it with power but the key was it was just inside the post and the keeper couldn’t reach it.

The Stags were within a whisker from making it 2-0 on 5 minutes. A great corner from the right by Byrom, Paul Digby got in a fine header from 6 yards which the keeper somehow saved, literally on his goal-line. I thought it was over the line watching in real time but the video seems to suggest that it was on the line and not over it.

On 6 minutes, another Byrom corner from the right reached Spencer who turned and his shot was blocked.

On 14 minutes, the first we’d seen of Notts County on the attack, as Alan Smith played the ball in, Sterling-James did well at the far post to stop a shot coming in, but finally Dan Jones fired wide. 3 minutes later another chance for Notts as Callum Saunders looked to be offside but the flag stayed down and he sent a free shot over the bar. Video evidence shows he was indeed half a yard offside.

On 20 minutes Spencer was fouled on the left outside the area. Another good delivery from Byrom, which Bennett headed down and wide. On 24 minutes, a good run from Sterling-James, to the byline where he went down but it wasn’t a foul.

The Stags went very close on 27 minutes. Sterling-James lifted a delightful ball forward for Spencer to run on to, and former Notts man Spencer smashed a terrific shot against the right post from 18 yards. The ball came out to Angol, 10 yards from goal with the keeper nowhere. Angol chested it down and was about to knock it into the empty net when Shaun Brisley slid in with a brilliant goal saving challenge. Angol should have scored without a doubt but also credit to the defender for a wonderful challenge.

On 30 minutes, Spencer appeared to be tripped on the byline in the area by the keeper, but the referee waved away the Stags appeals for a penalty. It looked a penalty to me. The video shows it was a certain penalty.

Good defending by Bennett on 31 minutes to hold off Saunders. Then a good tackle by Benning.

The game should have been over already. But Notts County equalised on 34 minutes. Hunt crossed from the right, it was deflected and Olejnik pushed it wide for a corner. Elliot Hodge’s corner from the left was taken short, back to him, he crossed to the far post where Brisley nodded back across goal and veteran Alan Smith knocked in his first goal for Notts County from close range. Spencer was down on the ground when the ball was knocked in. After the game Steve Evans said that the analyst’s video footage from a wide angle showed Spencer elbowed in the face off the ball. From the footage from the main camera, which is the footage I have, the incident is off screen.

The referee came across to speak to Evans a couple of minutes later. I’d guess that Evans had had word from Sean O’Callaghan, the analyst, that footage clearly showed the foul on Spencer off the ball and Evans had made this point vociferously.

On 38 minutes, Byrom’s free kick was cleared to Sterling-James who sent in a shot on target, but it deflected wide. The resulting corner from Byrom was in to the right area but no-one was on the end of it.

Olejnik nearly made a horrible mess on 40 minutes as he dribbled around a County player rather unnecessarily.

On 45 minutes, great play from Mellis, he played the ball out to the left, got the ball back from Benning, and Mellis’s shot deflected off Spencer and over the bar. Then another good move, Hamilton to Spencer who shot goalwards from the edge of the area and the keeper saved comfortably on his line. On 45+1 minutes, a County corner from the left was headed over the bar by Hollis. Moments later, County claimed that Olejnik had carried the ball out of his area but it did not look like it to me.

Some good football from the Stags in an entertaining first half but all square at the break in a game that should have been sewn up.

Half time 1-1

Byrom continued at the start of the second half.

On 49 minutes, a good run by Hamilton down the left, he played the ball in, it reached Sterling-James on the right, who fired a shot on target which was deflected for a corner.

On 50 minutes, Sterling-James sent in a powerful shot which the keeper parried away with a good save.

A chance for Notts County on 53 minutes, when a free kick from the left was knocked wide at the far post. On 56 minutes, a shot from 35 yards by Milsom and Olejnik made a good save, tipping wide.

Joel Byrom left the action on 57 minutes, replaced by Jack Thomas, as expected, just a little later than planned.

Another chance for Notts County on 59 minutes, a short corner by Liam Walker, back to him and he curled a shot over the bar.

On 62 minutes, a good break by Jack Thomas, good play to find Angol, but Angol couldn’t find Spencer who was unmarked. Poor from Angol. On 65 minutes, a cross to Spencer on the left on the byline but he didn’t keep it in. Poor from Spencer.

On 67 minutes, Milsom’s shot from 16 yards was always going wide, but took a deflection for a corner.

At the other end a minute later, a long throw from Anderson, Angol flicked on, and Hamilton headed straight at the keeper.

The Stags deservedly regained the lead with a cracking goal on 73 minutes from CJ Hamilton, his first competitive goal for Mansfield. Anderson’s ball in from the right was punched out by the keeper as far as Hamilton 16 yards from goal. Hamilton chested the ball away from his defender to give himself a yard of space before hammering a wonderful right footed shot into the top left corner of the net. A great moment for Hamilton who ran off and slid on his knees to celebrate.

On 75 minutes, a long range free kick from Benning was on target and the keeper parried away.

The Stags nearly increased the lead on 79 minutes. Benning curled a super free kick from 35 yards out, on the right hand side, towards the far post. No-one got a touch on it and the keeper had to claw away at the last second.

From the resulting corner, Hamilton nearly added another goal when his left footed shot from 25 yards was pushed over by the keeper.

Great play by Jack Thomas on 81 minutes, as he got the ball out to Hamilton on the left, a great run from Hamilton to the byline and from his cross Sterling-James’s header was deflected for a corner.

On 86 minutes, Liam Walker came close to an equaliser for Notts as his shot from 30 yards was just wide of the left post.

The referee, who had been poor and managed to infuriate both managers, gave another ridiculous decision on 89 minutes as Anderson was penalised for a great tackle. Moments later, Brisley headed wide from a Notts corner.

Potter replaced Sterling-James on 90 minutes.

Angol was booked on 90+1 minutes, as held the ball down by the corner flag. It didn’t even look like a foul.

Hemmings replaced Angol on 90+2 minutes.

So a win for the Stags and any win is a good win. The 405 travelling Stags fans enjoyed this performance and victory, and gave the team a great reception at the end. The Stags played with freedom and a real freshness, knocked the ball around well and created plenty of good moments.

Man of the match: CJ Hamilton


Report by: Martin Shaw at Meadow Lane



Line Up:
(4-4-2, diamond midfield formation):
Olejnik 6 One good save but didn’t put in a performance to put pressure on Logan. Nearly made one horrible mess.
Anderson 7 Very competent at right back.
Digby 7 Good game at centre half. Unlucky with one fine header from a corner which the keeper somehow saved on his line.
Bennett 7 Played well with some good bits of defending.
Benning 8 Back towards his best. Some good tackles. Some good set pieces after Byrom was subbed.
Byrom 8 Oozed quality. Plenty of fine set pieces. Has been a huge miss while out through injury.
Sterling-James 8 Lively, some really good runs. Three shots and one header on target. Delightful ball for Spencer’s shot against the post. Also some good defensive work.
Hamilton 8 His best game for Mansfield as he added good delivery to his approach play. Cracking goal, his first competitive goal for Mansfield. And nearly added a second with another powerful shot. Some great runs as he roasted Nicky Hunt.
Mellis 7.5 Played very well. If he can play like this consistently, he will be the first name on the team sheet, which is what I thought he would be based on pre-season games.
Spencer 7 So close when he smashed a terrific shot against the post. Looked to have been fouled for a penalty. Generally held the ball well.
Angol 7 Took his goal well with his shot just inside the right post after nicking the ball away from a defender. Should have scored with the rebound from Spencer’s shot.
Sub Line Up:
Thomas (for Byrom, 57 mins) 8 Recalled from loan at Boston who are struggling in the bottom 3 of National League North. Played very well, putting in what I thought was his best performance since his wonderful form upon breaking into the team in 2015.
Potter (for Sterling-James, 90 mins) -
Hemmings (for Angol, 90+2 mins) -
Subs not used: Logan, Pearce, Atkinson, Rose.
Opposition Line Up:
(4-4-2): Pindroch; Hunt, Brisley, Hollis, Jones (Dickinson 60); Walker, Thompson, Milsom (Grant 81), Hodge; Smith (Alessandra 80), Saunders. Subs not used: Fitzsimons, Forte, Bird, Howes.
Referee:
Graham Horwood 5 Poor. Managed to infuriate both managers. Missed a clear penalty for a foul on Spencer. Ridiculous bookings of Anderson and Angol, neither of which looked like fouls.


Season 17/18 Reports