Season 17/18 Stagsnet Match Report
|
|
|
||
|
Wycombe Wanderers
|
|
Mansfield Town
|
||
|
Akinfenwa 7.
|
Potter 52, Angol 81
|
|||
|
Attendance: 4227 (299 from Mansfield)
|
||||
|
Date: 30 December 2017
|
||||
|
SUPERB STAGS WIN AT WYCOMBE
Martin Shaw at Adams Park Mansfield Town produced a barnstorming second half performance to come from behind to win at high-flying Wycombe Wanderers this afternoon. Wycombe had previously won 6 home games in a row in all competitions. It was the second time this season Mansfield have won after going behind (the first being the Cambridge game). Mansfield are now only outside the play-off zone on goal difference, level on points with Wycombe who are in 6th place, three points behind 3rd placed Lincoln, and seven points behind 2nd placed Notts County. Mansfield’s run is now extended to just one loss in the last 17 games in all competitions. The first half, on a windy afternoon, was the Adebayo Akinfenwa show as the Stags defence simply couldn’t cope with him. Nicknamed The Beast, he bullied the Stags defence into submission and could have had four first half goals on his own. He opened the scoring on 7 minutes. Poor defending by Alfie Potter on the left as right back Dominic Gape got past him to the byline and chipped a cross to the far post where Akinfenwa got the better of Zander Diamond to powerfully head past keeper Bobby Olejnik from 6 yards. In fairness to Diamond, he had been hit in the face by a free kick 4 minutes earlier, and had to go off injured as a result 10 minutes later having tried to struggle on. On 10 minutes, Akinfenwa nearly had a second goal as he headed Joe Jacobson’s corner towards the right corner of the net, but Olejnik pushed it away. On 45+3 minutes, a lucky ricochet presented Akinfenwa with a free shot at goal from 16 yards and he fired against the outside of the left post, the ball came out to Nathan Tyson who fired goalwards and Olejnik made a fine save tipping it over the bar. From the resulting corner, Akinfenwa headed just wide at the far post. Akinfenwa on his own could have had four goals, but the Stags had just about hung in there despite a poor first half performance. Steve Evans told me after the game that he said to his centre halves Krystian Pearce and Rhys Bennett at half time that they had been bullied out of it and needed to do better in the second half. They agreed, and they certainly did brilliantly in the second half. The second half was an astonishing turn around. The Stags produced a barnstorming second half performance that had Wycombe well and truly on the ropes for almost its entirety. Lee Angol had had a sight of goal on 47 minutes, then on 50 minutes great play down on the left involving Benning and Hamilton set up another chance for Angol, but the keeper smothered his shot. The Stags were level on 52 minutes. Mal Benning’s free kick was superbly headed down by Pearce to Hamilton, whose shot was blocked and fell kindly for Alfie Potter who sidefooted under the keeper into the net from 10 yards. It certainly atoned for his first half error. Great play from the Stags on 55 minutes, as Potter found Anderson who crossed in from the right to Angol, who played to Mellis, back to Angol, and Angol fired over from the edge of the box. On 57 minutes, Potter got into the area on the right, and went down. It was a bit too far away for me to see if it should be a penalty, but John Peers texting into our commentary on iFollow Stags from behind the goal and with a good view, thought it should have been. From the pitchside video, Jacobson sticks out a leg as Potter cuts inside him, Potter goes down, Jacobson withdraws his leg and protests his innocence. I think that was a penalty, though it is a very hard one to tell, and the referee probably couldn’t tell. The referee did not book Potter for diving. Benning shot wide of the left post on 58 minutes. Another chance for Mansfield on 59 minutes, Potter crossed, Angol controlled and his shot was blocked by the keeper. The ball looped up, Angol headed back across goal, but the ball was cleared. The chances kept on coming, a shot from Mellis on 62 minutes was deflected for a corner, then MacDonald shot over from 14 yards on 63 minutes. The Stags got the goal their second half play merited on 81 minutes and what a goal it was. A throw-in from Benning to Potter on the left, Potter played forward to the overlapping Benning with a wonderful little reverse pass, Benning crossed low across the edge of the six-yard box and it was just a fraction behind Lee Angol who magnificently back-flicked it across the keeper and into the net. What skill from Angol and a goal his second half play merited. Wycombe had been well and truly on the ropes but launched a fightback into the final 5 minutes. On 84 minutes, Dan Scarr headed straight at Olejnik from a cross from the left. On 90+1 minutes, Olejnik had to stretch to tip a dangerous cross from Nick Freeman over the bar. From the resulting corner, Wycombe claimed for a penalty which was not given. From the video, Mackail-Smith lofted a shot towards the roof of the net from 4 yards. Angol, who was about a yard away, blocked the ball with his right arm, with his elbow sticking slightly out from by his side. From the video, you can see that the referee had a perfect view and carried on. It was a difficult one for the referee (as was the Potter possible penalty earlier). It could have been given, and I would say the two incidents evened themselves out. The Wycombe keeper Scott Brown came up for the next corner, but there was a header well wide. On 90+4 minutes, an 80 yard ball forward from Jacobson straight into the box, Akinfenwa flicked on but wide of the right post, and Mansfield had the victory. An incredible second half recovery, and the result of the season in my opinion, considering the high flying opposition who had won 6 on the trot at home, considering how Mansfield had been bullied out of it in the first half, and considering how Mansfield coped with losing the spine of the team: Danny Rose and Zander Diamond forced off with injury on 18 minutes, and Conrad Logan out ill with a virus, plus other players affected by the virus. Some super performances, Mal Benning was terrific going forward (on as substitute), Paul Anderson played very well at right wing-back then at right back, Bobby Olejnik made three good saves, Alex MacDonald worked so hard throughout, Alfie Potter recovered from poor defending for Wycombe’s goal to have an outstanding second half going forward, and Lee Angol gave Wycombe plenty of problems culminating in that wonderful goal. There is little time to enjoy this victory and recover, as the Stags are in action again in less than 48 hours at home to Carlisle. If it’s anything like this game, you won’t want to miss it. Come on Mansfield! Steve Evans was forced into changes from the draw at Grimsby due to a virus in the camp. Conrad Logan was not 100% and sat out the game on the bench, with Bobby Olejnik coming in for his first league start. Hayden White was also suffering from the illness and did not travel. There were others too including 2 or 3 who started the game though they were not named. Steve Evans also noted to me that not all players tell the truth about whether they are feeling ill for fear of not getting their place back if they lose it. I predicted that Mansfield would revert to 3 at the back as they had won here with this formation last season, and indeed Steve Evans did do this. Paul Anderson filled in at right wing back, CJ Hamilton was at left wing back in a very attacking formation. Mellis and MacDonald were behind Potter in midfield in a 3-4-1-2 formation. Steve Evans told me before the game that we had drawn too many games and it was time to be bold with an attacking formation, we needed to win more, even if it meant sometimes losing. Wycombe were unchanged from the side that beat Newport on Boxing Day. They had won 6 home games in a row in all competitions. It was a windy day in Bucks. Wycombe had the wind behind them in the first half, Mansfield had it in the second half. On 3 minutes, MacDonald fouled Eze 32 yards out, to the right of centre. Jacobson took the free kick straight into the wall where it hit Diamond full in the face. The referee stopped the game to allow Diamond to get treatment. He continued but was later to go off. Wycombe were ahead on 7 minutes. Poor defending by Potter on the left as right back Dominic Gape got past him to the byline and chipped a cross to the far post where Akinfenwa got the better of Diamond to powerfully head past keeper Olejnik from 6 yards. In fairness to Diamond, he had been hit in the face by a free kick 4 minutes earlier, and had to go off injured as a result 10 minutes later having tried to struggle on. On 10 minutes, Akinfenwa nearly had a second goal as he headed Joe Jacobson’s corner towards the right corner of the net, but Olejnik pushed it away. On 14 minutes, Hemmings was fouled by Scarr to earn a free kick on the right. MacDonald’s free kick was headed up in the air and the keeper caught it under pressure. A double forced change for Mansfield on 18 minutes. Rose limped off after getting a knee in his pelvis, and was replaced by Angol. Diamond also had to go off to be replaced by Benning. The Stags reverted to a 4-4-2 formation with Anderson at right back, Benning at left back, Potter in right midfield and Hamilton at left midfield. The Stags would need to show considerable character to get out of this with this spine of the team now out. But there was still plenty of quality out there and plenty of time left. On 21 minutes, Angol got the ball 40 yards from goal as the keeper miscued straight to him, and with the keeper well off his line he had a chance to lob at goal but elected to play to Hamilton on his left and Hamilton’s ball in towards the unmarked Hemmings was blocked. On 26 minutes, MacDonald’s free kick from the half way line was straight to the keeper. Anderson was clearly fouled on 30 minutes as he pushed forward 10 yards inside the Wycombe half. It should have been a free kick and a yellow card but astonishingly the referee played on. Steve Evans told me afterwards that the referee admitted he had made a mistake having spoken to the fourth official. On 38 minutes, Tyson crossed from the left and Akinfenwa got away from Bennett to head over the bar. Bennett looked disappointed with himself. Angol was booked on 39 minutes for an accumulation of fouls (his third). More outrageous refereeing on 41 minutes as a high boot from O’Nien landed in the face of Mellis who was not stooping. The referee gave a free kick and it should have been a minimum of a yellow card, possibly even a red card for dangerous play, but the referee produced neither. Outrageous. Steve Evans told me afterwards that it should have been a mandatory yellow card at a minimum. On 43 minutes, Tyson broke away from the defence down the left but MacDonald did well to track back and force Tyson to turn back and square to Cowan-Hall who shot wide. On 45 minutes, Anderson found himself on the left wing, he crossed into the middle, Angol stabbed it goalwards but the keeper smothered. The home fans were wanting Angol sent off, but from studying the video, he did nothing wrog. Straight to the other end and a half chance for Eze who scuffed a shot wide. On 45+3 minutes, a lucky ricochet presented Akinfenwa with a free shot at goal from 16 yards and he fired against the outside of the left post, the ball came out to Nathan Tyson who fired goalwards and Olejnik made a fine save tipping it over the bar. From the resulting corner, Akinfenwa got away from his marker Pearce to head just wide at the far post. A poor first half from Mansfield, bullied out of it at the back by Akinfenwa who on his own could have had four goals, but the Stags had just about hung in there. The Stags also produced little going forward, and several free kicks notably from Benning were completely wasted. Steve Evans told me after the game that he said to his centre halves Krystian Pearce and Rhys Bennett at half time that they had been bullied out of it and needed to do better in the second half. They agreed, and they certainly did brilliantly in the second half. The second half was an astonishing turn around. Half time 1-0 On 47 minutes, Potter crossed in and a sight of goal for Angol as he headed away to the left of the goal. Not quite a half chance, perhaps a quarter chance! A much better chance for Mansfield on 50 minutes. Great play down on the left involving Mellis and Benning, and Hamilton set up another chance for Angol, but the keeper smothered his shot from 7 yards. More than a half chance, more like three-quarter chance! The Stags were level on 52 minutes. Benning’s free kick was superbly headed down by Pearce to Hamilton, whose shot was blocked and fell kindly for Alfie Potter who sidefooted under the keeper into the net from 10 yards. It certainly atoned for his first half error. Great play from the Stags on 55 minutes, as Potter found Anderson who crossed in from the right to Angol, who played to Mellis, back to Angol, and Angol fired over from the edge of the box. On 56 minutes, Potter crossed in, Bennett headed down but well wide. On 57 minutes, Potter got into the area on the right, and went down. It was a bit too far away for me to see if it should be a penalty, but John Peers texting into our commentary on iFollow Stags from behind the goal and with a good view, thought it should have been. From the pitchside video, Jacobson sticks out a leg as Potter cuts inside him, Potter goes down, Jacobson withdraws his leg and protests his innocence. I think that was a penalty, though it is a very hard one to tell, and the referee probably couldn’t tell. The referee did not book Potter for diving. Benning did well to get past Mackail-Smith and then shot wide of the left post on 58 minutes. Another chance for Mansfield on 59 minutes, Potter crossed, Angol controlled and his shot was blocked by the keeper. The ball looped up, Angol headed back across goal, but the ball was cleared. The chances kept on coming. On 62 minutes, Hamilton on the left played the ball inside to Mellis whose shot was deflected for a corner. A minute later, Potter crossed superbly from the right, it was cleared to MacDonald who shot over from 14 yards. Wycombe were completely on the ropes. Benning was booked for a foul on 64 minutes. More astonishing refereeing on 71 minutes. Angol was clearly fouled. It was right in front of us and we had a great view. Instead the referee gave the free kick to Wycombe and spoke to both Angol and Scarr. The home fans wanted Angol booked (it would have been a second yellow). From the video, Angol was clearly caught in the face by Scarr’s arm and went down. Ludicrous refereeing. Bennett was booked for a foul on 72 minutes. That looked harsh as it appeared that he had won the ball. MacDonald was booked on 74 minutes. This time it was the correct decision as it was a deliberate foul. Sterling-James replaced Hemmings on 80 minutes. The Stags got the goal their second half play merited on 81 minutes and what a goal it was. A throw-in from Benning to Potter on the left, Potter played forward to the overlapping Benning with a wonderful little reverse pass, Benning crossed low across the edge of the six-yard box and it was just a fraction behind Lee Angol who magnificently back-flicked it across the keeper and into the net. What skill from Angol and a goal his second half play merited. Wycombe had been well and truly on the ropes but launched a fightback into the final 5 minutes. On 84 minutes, Dan Scarr headed straight at Olejnik from a cross from the left by Jacobson. Sterling-James was booked on 89 minutes for preventing a quick throw in. Yellow cards like this need to be avoided. They are mounting up. On 90+1 minutes, Olejnik had to stretch to tip a dangerous cross from Nick Freeman over the bar. From the resulting corner, Wycombe claimed for a penalty which was not given. From the video, Mackail-Smith lofted a shot towards the roof of the net from 4 yards. Angol, who was about a yard away, blocked the ball with his right arm, with his elbow sticking slightly out from by his side. From the video, you can see that the referee had a perfect view and carried on. It was a difficult one for the referee (as was the Potter possible penalty earlier). It could have been given, and I would say the two incidents evened themselves out. The Wycombe keeper Scott Brown came up for the next corner, but there was a header well wide from O’Nien. On 90+4 minutes, an 80 yard ball forward from Jacobson straight into the box, Akinfenwa flicked on but wide of the right post, and Mansfield had the victory. A wonderful win thoroughly enjoyed by the 300 or so Stags fans. Man of the match: Alfie Potter |
||||
|
Report by: Martin Shaw at Adams Park
|
||||
|
Line Up:
|
(3-4-1-2)
Olejnik 7 Made three good saves, and in my opinion wasn’t at fault for the goal. Diamond - Akinfenwa got the better of him to head the goal. In fairness to Diamond, he had been hit in the face by a free kick 4 minutes earlier, and had to go off as a result 10 minutes later having tried to struggle on. Pearce 7 Bullied out of it in the first half by Akinfenwa. Did brilliantly in the second half. Superb head down to Hamilton in the build-up to Potter’s goal. Bennett 7 Like Pearce, bullied out of it in the first half. Akinfenwa got away from head over the bar on one occasion and Bennett noticeably looked disappointed with himself. Brilliant second half. Anderson 7.5 Played very well at right wing-back early on, then at right back. MacDonald 7.5 Worked so hard throughout. Good tracking back. Poor set pieces. Mellis 7 Good second half. Set up a chance for Angol and had a shot deflected wide. Hamilton 7 Played well when switched to left wing from left wing-back. Set up chances for Angol and Mellis. Potter 8 Recovered from poor defending for Wycombe’s goal to have an outstanding second half going forward, scoring one and great play in the build-up to the second goal. Rose - Limped off after getting a knee in his pelvis. Unclear whether he’ll be fit for Monday. Hemmings 6 Quiet game. |
|
Sub Line Up:
|
Angol (for Rose, 18 mins) 8 Gave Wycombe plenty of problems culminating in a wonderful goal back-flicking across the keeper and into the net.
Benning (for Diamond, 18 mins) 7.5 Terrific going forward, including an assist for Angol’s goal. Several wasted free kicks in the first half; much better delivery in the second half. Sterling-James (for Hemmings, 80 mins) - Subs not used: Logan, Digby, Atkinson, Butcher. |
|
Opposition Line Up:
|
(4-3-3): Brown; Gape (Freeman, 87), Jombati, Scarr, Jacobson; O’Nien, Saunders, Eze (Bloomfield, 73); Cowan-Hall (Mackail-Smith, 46), Akinfenwa, Tyson. Subs not used: Ma-Kalambay, Southwell, De Havilland, Williams.
|
|
Referee:
|
Chris Sarginson 4 Absymal, for both sides. Failed to give a yellow card for a boot in Mellis’s face and a blatant foul on Anderson.
|
|
|