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Season 17/18 Stagsnet Match Report
English Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Cambridge United  
0 - 0
 Mansfield Town
 
 
Attendance: 4324 (499 from Mansfield)
 
Date: 13 January 2017


STAGS DENIED WIN AT CAMBRIDGE BY WRONG OFFSIDE FLAG

Martin Shaw at the Abbey Stadium

Mansfield Town had to settle for a 0-0 draw at Cambridge United this afternoon, and were denied victory when Danny Rose’s clever flick into the net from close range was wrongly disallowed for offside. The incident came on 68 minutes when Jacob Mellis forced his way into the area with good skill, but then lost control of the ball, defender Harry Darling tried to clear the ball, it ricocheted back off Mellis across the edge of the six yard box, where Danny Rose was quicker than defender Greg Taylor to get on it and cleverly flick past the keeper with the outside of his right boot. Studying our pitchside video frame by frame clearly shows that, as the ball came off Mellis, Danny Rose was in an onside position, behind Taylor, who didn’t know where he was, before putting the ball in the net. I have just edited a video for release at midday on Sunday which shows the key seconds frame by frame. Huge frustration for Mansfield. Huge stroke of luck for Cambridge and for Greg Taylor who was beaten to the ball by Danny Rose. However recall that Mansfield were fortunate to beat Cambridge earlier in the season. Aside from the disallowed goal, Mansfield had enough good possession in the final third in the second half to have won the game anyway, but didn’t make enough of it with some poor crosses, final balls and decision making, and certainly not testing the Cambridge keeper enough. The first half had been very even with Jake Carroll firing Cambridge’s best chance over the bar after a great 1-2 with George Maris on the left, as Conrad Logan did well to make himself look big, while Mal Benning fired a couple of 23 yard shots just over the bar, and Danny Rose sent a good effort just wide from a CJ Hamilton pull-back from the byline. For a long spell in the second half, the Stags were right on top. Alex MacDonald sent a 30 yard free kick towards the top corner of the net where the keeper did well to tip it over, and Danny Rose knocked a left-footed effort just over the bar from a Benning cross. Earlier in the half, Conrad Logan made a good save from Uche Ikpeazu’s close range effort on the turn, saving with his legs. Ikpeazu was a threat all game, showing great strength and often occupying several defenders in a way that only Adebayo Akinfenwa also does in League Two. So a point for the Stags, which on the face of it, away to an improving Cambridge, who were unbeaten in four games, with two wins at home and a 3-3 draw at Notts County, was a decent result. Mansfield’s run is now extended to just one loss in the last 20 games in all competitions and it is starting to look a formidable run. The Stags have to take the disallowed goal here on the chin and move onto the next one, and what a next one it is, with Championship high-flyers Cardiff coming to town on Tuesday night in an FA Cup replay, with the massive prize being a game at home to the best side in England, Manchester City, live on BBC1 in round four. It promises to be an exciting occasion.

Mansfield boss Steve Evans made one change to the side that drew at Cardiff last week. Kane Hemmings was touch and go to return from a slight hamstring strain, but he just wasn’t quite there in training on Friday, so didn’t make the trip. Danny Rose was fit to return after the injury (a knee in his pelvis) that he picked up at Wycombe and he replaced Hemmings. On the bench, a welcome return from injury for Joel Byrom. Before announcing the team to the press, for a bit of fun, Steve Evans again, with a huge smile on his face, asked me to name the team. With a bit of luck, since I couldn’t be sure on the injury front, I got the starting eleven right, and then named the seven subs as well, amid some hilarity with Steve Evans joking that it was lucky we didn’t have twenty quid on it.

Cambridge brought in new signings Adam Phillips and Billy Waters. Phillips is an ex-Liverpool youngster who came with a good reputation and looked to have a bit of class. Waters has played against us before for Cheltenham and I think is less impressive, though was generously given the man of the match award by the home sponsors. Young Harry Darling came in for his league debut in defence. Greg Taylor, was played for the Stags at left back in the Conference promotion run-in 5 years ago, played at centre half. Barry Corr was on the bench having rejoined the club on a three week contract yesterday for the club to assess his fitness. I had listened to the Sports preview programme on BBC Radio Cambs on Friday evening. The excitement from both fans and presenters at the return of Barry Corr was quite extraordinary.

Cambridge started strongly and created chances in the opening minutes. On 2 minutes, following a corner, a weak shot from Waters was wide of the right post. A minute later, Ikpeazu found Waters who fired in another shot this time deflected wide of the right post. A good tackle from Pearce on 6 minutes to put the ball out for a throw in. From the throw in, good movement by Jevani Brown to create space and he fired just wide of the left post.

The Stags went close on 10 minutes. Good play by Hamilton down the left, he got to the byline and pulled the ball back to Danny Rose who wrapped his foot around it and fired just wide of the left post. Straight to the other end and some good defending against Ikpeazu by Anderson.

The Stags had the ball in the net on 15 minutes. MacDonald lofted a high ball forward, Rose managed to get past Taylor and fired over the keeper into the net but the whistle had already gone for a foul on Taylor. From the video, that was a reasonable decision.

On 18 minutes, Benning unleashed a good shot from 23 yards that was dipping and only just over the bar. He doesn’t have a goal this season but that was about as close as he’s come.

On 21 minutes, a good move by Cambridge. Brown crossed in from the left and the ball skimmed off the top of the head of Waters and well wide of the right post.

Angol was booked for a late challenge on 22 minutes.

Meanwhile Hamilton had been guilty of giving the ball away too often.

To the delight of the home fans, the referee had a quick word with Steve Evans on 24 minutes but there seemed to be nothing in it.

A clever back flick by Angol on 25 minutes but Mellis hadn’t anticipated it and the ball ran through to the keeper.

Another chance for Benning on 30 minutes as Mellis squared to him. This time his shot from 23 yards was about a yard over the bar.

A good free kick from Cambridge on 32 minutes, Phillips curled from 35 yards just wide of the far post from the left with Waters within a whisker of turning it in at the far post.

Jake Carroll fired Cambridge’s best chance over the bar on 37 minutes after a great 1-2 with George Maris on the left, as Conrad Logan did well to make himself look big.

On 38 minutes, Anderson crossed from the right. It came out to Mellis who ballooned a shot well over the bar. On 39 minutes, another free kick from Phillips into the area but this time Harry Darling somehow managed to knock it away from goal.

On 43 minutes, a high ball into the area from MacDonald, Hamilton headed down but it was comfortably wide of the left post.

Two good pieces of defending by Pearce as the half drew to a close.

0-0 at the break and Cambridge had just about edged it on possession but neither side had an effort on target.

Half time 0-0

Cambridge created the first effort on target of the game on 48 minutes. Logan made a good save from Uche Ikpeazu’s close range effort on the turn, saving with his legs.

On 50 minutes, Hamilton appeared to win a corner however referee Kettle awarded a goal kick. From watching it back from our pitchside footage, Hamilton hits the ball against Halliday's leg from about a foot away and back onto Hamilton's leg and both players' legs are touching the ball as it squirts out of play. Impossible to call so I was initially unfair in criticising the decision.

A good move from the Stags on 51 minutes led to Mansfield’s first effort on target. Benning crossed from the left and Angol headed straight at the keeper.

Another good move from Mansfield on 53 minutes, Potter crossed from the right, Rose tried an acrobatic kick, missed it, it came across to Hamilton who found Angol who tried to tee up a shot for Mellis but his pass was poor.

MacDonald was booked for a deliberate foul on 53 minutes as Cambridge broke following that misplaced Angol pass. Incidentally, Mansfield have the most yellow cards and the fewest red cards in League Two. Work that one out.

On 57 minutes, Waters tried to get past Anderson and both players went down 25 yards from goal. The home side wanted a free kick but the referee played on.

The biggest cheer of the afternoon from the home fans came with Barry Corr warming up!

On 61 minutes, Rose was fouled 30 yards from goal in a central position. MacDonald sent the free kick towards the top corner of the net where the keeper did well to tip it over.

On 64 minutes, Angol ran towards the byline on the left in the area, skipped over a tackle from Harry Darling and his cross-shot went out for a goal kick on the far side.

White replaced Potter on 64 minutes. Anderson moved into right midfield.

Hamilton broke forward on 66 minutes and tried to find Angol who would have been through one-on-one with the keeper if he could’ve controlled the ball but he couldn’t control it and a great opportunity was gone. Angol then miscontrolled a ball to him from Anderson.

The key moment of the game came on 68 minutes. Mellis forced his way into the area with good skill, but then lost control of the ball, defender Harry Darling tried to clear the ball, it ricocheted back off Mellis across the edge of the six yard box, where Danny Rose was quicker than defender Greg Taylor to get on it and cleverly flick past the keeper with the outside of his right boot. Studying our pitchside video frame by frame clearly shows that, as the ball came off Mellis, Danny Rose was in an onside position, behind Taylor, who didn’t know where he was, before putting the ball in the net. I have just edited a video for release at midday on Sunday which shows the key seconds frame by frame. Huge frustration for Mansfield. Huge stroke of luck for Cambridge and for Greg Taylor who was beaten to the ball by Danny Rose.

On 69 minutes, MacDonald pushed forward with a good run but he sent a weak shot straight at the keeper.

The Stags were totally dominant now.

On 70 minutes, Danny Rose knocked a left-footed effort just over the bar from a Benning cross from the byline after a great move.

On 76 minutes, Angol forced his way into the area but the Stags were guilty of overplaying and couldn’t get in a shot.

A rare break for Cambridge on 77 minutes, there was a great tackle on Waters by Bennett but the loose ball fell to Brown who shot straight at Logan.

A good move from Mansfield on 77 minutes, Rose to Angol to Hamilton, Hamilton showed great feet to get to the byline but put in a terrible cross.

Corr came on amidst fever pitch excitement on 79 minutes. I am not sure he actually touched the ball in the remaining minutes.

Sterling-James replaced Anderson on 81 minutes.

A chance for the Stags on 83 minutes as Pearce chested the ball down and had a shot blocked then MacDonald forced his way into the area but his cross-shot was blocked through to the keeper.

A half-chance for Cambridge on 84 minutes which I couldn’t see as somebody stood up in front of me! From the video, it was actually a touch for Corr! Halliday crossed from the right, Corr headed down, but Logan claimed the loose ball.

Great play by MacDonald on 86 minutes to win the ball.

Atkinson replaced Mellis on 87 minutes.

On 89 minutes, two chances for the Stags to hurl long throws into the box and I was surprised Mansfield didn’t send Pearce and Bennett forward.

So the Stags had to settle for a draw. Mansfield are 7th, inside the play-off zone, two points outside the top 3. Now an exciting night on Tuesday to look forward to, though we need to be realistic that Cardiff are a high quality Championship side, and Mansfield will have to play extremely well and Cardiff pretty poorly for there to be an upset. Come on Mansfield!

Man of the match: Danny Rose/Alex MacDonald

Report by: Martin Shaw at the Abbey Stadium



Line Up:
(4-4-2)
Logan 6.5 Good save from Ikpeazu’s close range effort on the turn. Solid.
Anderson 6.5 Defended well.
Pearce 7.5 Very good game, especially in the first half at the back with several good tackles.
Bennett 7 Great tackle on Waters late on.
Benning 7.5 Went close with a couple of shots. Two good crosses, for Rose and Angol. Defended well.
Potter 6 Quiet game. Replaced after 64 minutes.
MacDonald 7.5 Good free kick that forced a good save. A couple of good runs. Some tenacious tackling.
Mellis 7 Great skill and a bit of luck to set up the disallowed goal. Teed up Benning for a couple of shots.
Hamilton 5 Set up Rose’s first half effort. Some poor crosses and final balls too. Guilty of giving the ball away too often.
Rose 7.5 So unlucky to have his excellent finish disallowed. Close with two other good efforts.
Angol 5 Several misplaced passes and one poor cross from a good position.
Sub Line Up:
White (for Potter, 64 mins) -
Sterling-James (for Anderson, 81 mins) -
Atkinson (for Mellis, 87 mins) -
Subs not used: Olejnik, Digby, Byrom, Spencer.
Opposition Line Up:
(4-4-2): Forde; Halliday, Darling, Taylor, Carroll; Phillips (Amoo 64, Dunk 73), Deegan, Brown, Maris; Waters (Corr 79), Ikpeazu. Subs not used: Mitov, O’Neil, Elito, Davies.
Referee:
Trevor Kettle 5 Poor game. But his assistant has to take the blame for the howler that cost Mansfield victory.


Season 17/18 Reports