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Season 17/18 Stagsnet Match Report
English Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Mansfield Town  
2 - 1
 Morecambe
Hemmings 8, Rose 88.
 
 Lang 50
Attendance: 3058 (63 from Morecambe)
 
Date: 23 December 2017

LATE ROSE WINNER FOR STAGS OVER MORECAMBE

Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill

Mansfield Town got back to winning ways in the league with an 88th minute header from Danny Rose at the back post from a magnificent cross from the right by substitute Paul Anderson. It was harsh on Morecambe who belied their lowly status with a fine performance that deserved a point as a minimum. The Stags have of course been in the reverse position several times this season, unable to win games they deserved to win, so will know how Morecambe feel. Mansfield could have been ahead after 5 minutes when CJ Hamilton volleyed into the side netting from a good position. But in an exciting start to the game, Morecambe could then have been ahead in the 7th minute when the excellent Adam Campbell, formerly of Notts County, set up Luke Conlan, unmarked, for a shot which was excellently saved by the advancing Conrad Logan. From the resulting corner from the right, Hayden White appeared to be fouled off the ball, ignored by the referee, allowing Sam Lavelle a free header at the left post. His downward header was brilliantly scooped away by Logan. The Stags were ahead within seconds. Logan’s long goal-kick was flicked on by Danny Rose, Kane Hemmings, returning from injury, controlled the ball superbly with one touch, took one more touch, then fired clinically into the left corner of the net from the edge of the D. Great finishing from Hemmings, and he was straight back into the form he was showing when he got injured. The rest of the half saw Morecambe play some good football, especially down the left with Campbell, Conlon and Michael Rose impressing, but without creating any further clearcut chances. Morecambe were deservedly level on 50 minutes, with clever play on the right involving Campbell and right wing-back McGowan who played a fine ball inside for Callum Lang who fired past Logan from an angle on the right. Campbell fired against the outside of the left post on 66 minutes, and Michael Rose fired just wide from 25 yards on 73 minutes. Mansfield could have gone in front when Mal Benning launched a terrific ball down the line for CJ Hamilton, who cut inside and sent a great shot just over the bar. That Danny Rose goal came on 88 minutes. Mansfield could have had a penalty on 90+4 minutes when Danny Rose knocked the ball past the keeper in the area and went down. From the pitchside footage and main camera footage I have, I can’t tell if the keeper clipped Rose or not. Rose was booked for diving by the referee. On 90+6 minutes, Morecambe could have got a late equaliser, which they would have deserved. Michael Rose’s shot was deflected into the side netting. From the resulting corner, Morecambe’s goalkeeper Barry Roche came up for the corner, and managed to get his head onto the ball, sending it goalwards where it was very well saved on the line by Logan, scooping it away. And with that the referee blew the final whistle and bring relief to the Stags. An important win and it’s very tight at the top now. The Stags are one point outside the play-offs and just three points outside the top 3. On to Grimsby on Boxing Day in what is likely to be a tight game. In the meantime, Merry Christmas everyone!

Steve Evans made four changes from the side that drew with Yeovil. He also reverted to 4 at the back from 3 at the back. In came a new midfield pairing of Paul Digby and Calum Butcher, who had just started together in central midfield in one game, away to Lincoln. Evans explained that Butcher played well at Blackpool and deserved his goal there, and he would be encouraging him to push forward again. Digby meanwhile has been good in training. Kane Hemmings returned to the side after injury, before which he was playing very well. CJ Hamilton started on the left wing after impressing as sub last week. Out went Pearce, Atkinson, Mellis, Angol. Once again for a bit of fun, I had a go at naming the team before Steve Evans announced it, but he told me, with a big grin, before I started, that I had no chance, and he was right. I didn’t get Digby and Butcher, I also thought that Pearce would replace Bennett, so I got 8 out of 11.

Morecambe included former Stags striker Vadaine Oliver up front. Kevin Ellison, so often a scourge of the Stags in the past, including as long as a decade ago for Chester, started on the bench, as he was returning from injury.

On 3 minutes, Campbell created space to shoot from 25 yards, it was blocked by Benning, straight back to him, and he scuffed his next shot well wide. Moments later, Vadaine Oliver, scuffed a shot straight at Logan.

Mansfield could have been ahead after 5 minutes when CJ Hamilton volleyed into the side netting from a good position on the left, after White’s ball flicked off a Morecambe head straight to him.

But in an exciting start to the game, Morecambe could then have been ahead in the 7th minute when the excellent Adam Campbell set up Luke Conlan, unmarked, for a shot which was excellently saved by the advancing Conrad Logan. From the resulting corner from the right, Hayden White appeared to be fouled off the ball, ignored by the referee, allowing Sam Lavelle a free header at the left post. His downward header was brilliantly scooped away by Logan.

The Stags were ahead within seconds. Logan’s long goal-kick was flicked on by Danny Rose, Kane Hemmings, returning from injury, controlled the ball superbly with one touch, took one more touch, then fired clinically into the left corner of the net from the edge of the D. Great finishing from Hemmings, and he was straight back into the form he was showing when he got injured.

On 13 minutes, Kenyon fired well over from 25 yards.

On 26 minutes, a good break from Mansfield. Danny Rose did well to find Hemmings on the left, and Hemmings squared a perfect ball into the path of Hamilton, just inside the box in a central position, but Hamilton sliced a terrible shot well wide.

On 33 minutes, Kenyon’s high ball reached Oliver, and produced an overhead kick high across the face of goal, but harmless as there was no-one there and Logan could collect. On 35 minutes, Butcher played a 1-2 with Hemmings on the left, Butcher went down as he looked to shoot, but there was no foul. On 40 minutes, ironic applause after Danny Rose won his first free kick of the game, though he had clearly been fouled multiple times earlier.

An extraordinary free kick for Mansfield on 44 minutes. MacDonald took the kick from 25 yards out, on the left. Morecambe tried to play the Stags players offside, but Max Muller was left in the area playing them onside and Mansfield had 5, yes five, players unmarked, as Diamond sent a free header wide.

The first half saw Morecambe play some good football, especially down the left with Campbell, Conlon and Michael Rose impressing, but without creating clearcut chances after the 7th minute.

Half time 0-0

On 46 minutes, Michael Rose tried his luck from 25 yards and was wide of the left post.

Morecambe were deservedly level on 50 minutes, with clever play on the right involving Campbell and right wing-back McGowan who played a fine ball inside for Callum Lang who fired past Logan from an angle on the right. Benning was caught slightly out of position as McGowan found Lang, but it was a well-worked goal.

Hemmings had played very well, but returning from injury he was only due to play up to an hour, and he was duly substituted on 54 minutes by Paul Anderson. Boos from some fans (because Hemmings had played well) not realising that he just couldn’t play on and was spent for the afternoon. Two or three fans, sitting behind the dugouts, evidently took their protests too far, with abuse aimed at the Stags management, and then some disagreements with other fans and with stewards, led to one fan being ejected from the ground. Meanwhile Evans and Raynor argued back with the fans, which despite the provocation was not wise. Mellis also replaced the ineffective Butcher. Anderson went up front, as he did against Yeovil, Mellis into the attacking midfield role.

On 56 minutes, Michael Rose clipped a clever ball forward into the area, and Lang was a whisker away from a vital deflection which would probably have sent it past Logan.

On 59 minutes, Hamilton played a 1-2 with Mellis into the area, but Hamilton was late on the return ball, fouling his man and picking up a booking.

On 61 minutes, Michael Rose fired just wide of the left post. Too many shots coming in from Morecambe as they were not closed down. On 64 minutes, Michael Rose’s corner was just past the far post.

Campbell fired against the outside of the left post on 66 minutes. Too much space again, with Mellis not closing him down.

On 68 minutes, MacDonald crossed from the right, and Danny Rose glanced a header wide of the left post.

Atkinson replaced Digby on 70 minutes in a like for like swap.

For Morecambe, Kevin Ellison replaced Vadaine Oliver on 73 minutes. Oliver had worked hard, with no end product.

Michael Rose fired just wide from 25 yards yet again on 73 minutes. Again, no-one closing him down.

Mellis fired wide at the other end, from 28 yards, on 75 minutes.

Michael Rose crossed from the left on 76 minutes, and Adam McGurk headed tamely straight at Logan. At the other end a minute later, Hamilton put a cross into a great area in the six yard box, but no-one could get on the end of it.

A chance for Ellison on 79 minutes. Atkinson gave the ball away, Morecambe broke, McGurk sent in a high cross from the right, to Ellison who volleyed goalwards, and it was blocked by White’s backside as White knew little about it.

Mansfield could have gone in front on 80 minutes when Benning launched a terrific ball down the line for CJ Hamilton, who cut inside and sent a great shot just over the bar.

Two minutes later back to the other end, Ellison shot goalwards from an angle on the left and Diamond got in a great diving block.

The game was now a superb spectacle and literally end to end. On 83 minutes, Anderson played a superb 1-2 with Danny Rose on the left, to force his way into the area, but a superb last ditch tackle from Stephen Old prevented him getting in a shot. On 87 minutes, Hamilton’s shot from 20 yards was blocked by McGowan.

The Stags got the all-important goal on 88 minutes, with a header from Danny Rose at the back post from a magnificent cross from the right by Anderson. It was vindication for manager Evans in sending on Anderson as sub.

On 90 minutes, MacDonald fired a long ball down the line. Rose stretched to reach his with his right leg and tried an audacious effort to turn it goalwards, volleying it wide of the left post. An extraordinary effort.

On 90+2 minutes, a free kick for Morecambe 29 yards from goal. Michael Rose’s shot was blocked by Anderson, and looped wide of the right post, with Logan have already dived in the direction of the original shot.

Sub Ellison clashed with White on the left touchline on 90+3 minutes. The referee gave no foul, which White was expecting, though did award Mansfield a throw-in. White booted the ball away in frustration at not getting the foul and was duly booked.

Mansfield could have had a penalty on 90+4 minutes. Muller tried a backpass to his keeper from near the corner flag on Mansfield’s left. Danny Rose chased the ball and got to it first, knocked the ball past the keeper in the area and went down. From the pitchside footage and main camera footage I have, I can’t tell if the keeper clipped Rose or not. Rose was booked for diving by the referee.

On 90+6 minutes, Morecambe could have got a late equaliser, which they would have deserved. Michael Rose’s shot was deflected into the side netting. From the resulting corner, Morecambe’s goalkeeper Barry Roche came up for the corner, and managed to get his head onto the ball, sending it goalwards where it was very well saved on the line by Logan, scooping it away. And with that the referee blew the final whistle and bring relief to the Stags.

A superb game for the neutral, particularly the second half. Disappointment for Morecambe, elation and relief for Mansfield.

Man of the match: Logan/Hemmings.


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



Line Up:
(4-4-2, diamond formation in midfield)
Logan 7.5 Three terrific saves; two just before Mansfield’s first goal, and one in the 96th minute, to earn the victory.
White 6 Difficult game as Morecambe created plenty of danger down their left.
Diamond 7 One great diving block near the end. Defended well. Should have scored with a free header at the end of the first half.
Bennett 6.5 Did ok. Good last ditch defending near the end.
Benning 5.5 Caught slightly out of position for the Morecambe goal. One great ball down the line set up Hamilton for a good run and shot.
Digby 6 Did ok, no obvious errors in the defensive midfield role.
MacDonald 6 One good free kick and one good cross for Rose.
Hamilton 6 Volleyed into the side netting from a good position early on. Then a terrible effort wide from a great position. In the second half one great effort with a run down the left, cutting inside and firing just over.
Butcher 5 Ineffective.
Rose 7 Scored the all important winner with a towering header at the back post. Some other good moments.
Hemmings 7.5 Fine return from injury. Great finish for his goal. Good set-up for a chance for Hamilton.
Sub Line Up:
Anderson (for Hemmings, 54 mins) 7.5 Magnificent cross for Rose’s goal. Superb 1-2 with Rose nearly created a chance.
Mellis (for Butcher, 54 mins) 6.5 Added some class for Mansfield going forward. But guilty of not closing down shots on two occasions.
Atkinson (for Digby, 70 mins) - Gave the ball away dangerously on one occasion. Otherwise did ok.
Subs not used: Olejnik, Pearce, Angol, Spencer.
Opposition Line Up:
(3-5-2): Roche; Old, Lavelle, Muller; McGowan, Rose, Kenyon, Campbell (Thompson 81), Conlan; Oliver (Ellison 72), Lang (McGurk 72). Subs not used: Nizic, Fleming, Lund, Osborne.
Referee:
Ross Joyce 6 Even after studying the penalty incident over and again from two angles, I can’t decide if he made the correct decision. Missed some obvious fouls.


Season 17/18 Reports