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An independent supporters' website dedicated to Mansfield Town FC
Season 17/18 Stagsnet Match Report
English Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Mansfield Town  
3 - 2
 Cheltenham Town
Hamilton 35, 90+4, Hemmings 81. White sent off 67.
 
 Pell pen 24, Adebayo 74. Moore sent off 41. Wright sent off 83
Attendance: 3483 (149 from Cheltenham)
 
Date: 20 January 2018

STAGS BEAT CHELTENHAM IN EXTRAORDINARY GAME

Martin Shaw and Simon Chamberlain at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill

Mansfield Town came from behind twice to grab all three points with a 95th minute winner from CJ Hamilton sealing a 3-2 win over Cheltenham Town in a truly extraordinary game that also saw 3 straight red cards. Cheltenham were ahead on 24 minutes when Harry Pell converted a penalty after Krystian Pearce tripped Mo Eisa in the box. The Stags levelled on 35 minutes when great play from Alfie Potter down the right set up a close range finish for CJ Hamilton. On 41 minutes, Cheltenham defender Taylor Moore was sent off for an arm in the face of Danny Rose. Moore apologised to Rose as he left the field. Cheltenham manager Gary Johnson was also sent to the stands for first of all shouting to Danny Rose that he was a cheat (Rose clearly had done nothing wrong), then pushing Paul Raynor in the chest. It was 10 vs 10 on 67 minutes when Hayden White was sent off for a terrible tackle on Ilias Chatzitheodoridis. Cheltenham regained the lead on 74 minutes when sub Danny Wright broke forward down the left and crossed in to Elijah Adebayo who finished expertly at the near post. Mansfield were level on 81 minutes with a goal for the returning Kane Hemmings who had only been on as sub for 3 minutes. Pearce pulled back from the byline to MacDonald who made for the byline and in turn pulled back to Hemmings who turned and smashed in from close range. Another red card on 83 minutes as sub Danny Wright was sent off for an arm in the face of Potter after Potter had fouled him. 10 vs 9 now. 6 minutes of stoppage time were added and on 90+4 minutes, Mal Benning knocked a ball forward into the area from the edge of the box and the ball fell nicely for CJ Hamilton to smash gleefully into the roof of the net from 6 yards after the ball came off a combination of Hemmings and a defender. Even after that, Conrad Logan had to make a great save from Adebayo to preserve the three points. An incredible game and incredible entertainment, if not the best performance from Mansfield, but great fighting spirit from the Stags to go to the end and win the game. Mansfield are in the play-off zone, and 2 points behind 3rd place, and just 4 points behind 2nd placed Notts County. A week for everyone to catch their breath before we face Kevin Ellison and Morecambe again next Saturday.

Mansfield are top of the form table (last 6 games) and just one defeat in 15 league games.

The red card for Hayden White was Mansfield’s first red card of the season. Mansfield had been one of only two sides in League Two not to have a player sent off this season until this game (the other being Wycombe).

Steve Evans made one change from the side that lost to Cardiff. Potter came in for Anderson on the right of midfield. Evans explained that Anderson has played a lot of games recently. Anderson was not too effective against Cardiff in my opinion and so a chance for Potter. Hemmings was fit to return to the bench and Evans explained that he would have liked to have had 3-4 days more training out of him before throwing him in to the starting XI. There was really good news during the week of course that Hemmings would be staying on loan from Oxford until the end of the season. So MacDonald continued in the attacking midfielder role, just behind Rose, in a 4-4-1-1 formation.

After a cold night (with the pitch covers on) and a wet morning, the pitch was in perfect condition and it turned into a nice afternoon with some brightness.

Cheltenham created the first chance of the game on 2 minutes. Mo Eisa cut down the left, onto his right foot and squared for Brian Graham who was unmarked and shot wide of the right post from 22 yards.

On 5 minutes. Morrell was booked for a dive 40 yards from goal. Morrell didn’t complain but bizarrely Cheltenham manager Gary Johnson seemed to be claiming after the game that this indicated that the referee had a poor game, when he said “In my opinion the FA have got to look at that as a whole game today. Have you ever seen someone booked for diving in the middle of the pitch in the first five minutes of a game? I felt the referee started off on the wrong foot and couldn’t get a grip of the game from thereon.” Nonsensical comments from a manager who lost the plot today. UPDATE: from the video, it was a blatant dive; well done to the referee, embarrassing stuff from Gary Johnson and indeed the player Morrell.

On 15 minutes, a great diagonal crossfield ball from MacDonald to Hamilton who chested down into the area but was tackled by Taylor Moore as he was about to shoot.

On 20 minutes, Byrom squared to White who took a few paces forward and sent a blistering shot just over the bar from 25 yards.

Byrom was booked on 22 minutes and a late tackle after Hamilton left a pass to him short. Hamilton apologised to Byrom afterwards.

Cheltenham were ahead on 24 minutes when Harry Pell converted a penalty after Krystian Pearce (not Hayden White as I originally thought) tripped Mo Eisa in the box. Winchester had played the ball forward to Eisa, who tried to nick the ball past White and Pearce came in and tripped him. Pell sent the penalty low down the middle as Logan dived to his right.

Mellis went down off the ball and had to be replaced with a hamstring injury on 28 minutes. At this stage we don’t know how long he’ll be out. On came Lee Angol to join Rose up front, as MacDonald dropped back to central midfield in a 4-4-2 formation.

On 30 minutes, Angol got to the edge of the area and the ball fell for Rose whose shot was blocked.

MacDonald was booked for a foul on Eisa 40 yards from goal on 30 minutes.

On 33 minutes, Winchester’s volley from 22 yards was wide of the right post.

A minute later at the other end, MacDonald got to the byline on the right, pulled the ball inside to Rose, who swivelled but couldn’t get a shot in as he slipped over.

The Stags levelled on 35 minutes when great play from Alfie Potter down the right set up a close range finish for CJ Hamilton. Potter beat left wing-back Ilias Chatzitheodoridis with great pace getting to the byline and playing the ball across the face of goal where Angol missed it but Hamilton stuck out a leg to turn it into the net. Hamilton’s first league goal for Mansfield (he scored at Notts County in the Checkatrade Trophy).

On 37 minutes, Hamilton got the byline on the left but his cross went through a crowd of players. A minute later at the other end, Dawson got to the byline on the right, pulled the ball back, and Brian Graham flicked well wide.

On 41 minutes, Cheltenham defender Taylor Moore was sent off for an arm in the face of Danny Rose. In real time, and from studying the video from two different angles, it appears clear to me that Moore apologised to Rose as he left the field. The Cheltenham media also confirmed that Moore did apologise to Rose.

From the resulting free kick, Grimes headed behind for a corner under pressure from Pearce.

Before the restart, Cheltenham manager Gary Johnson was also sent to the stands for first of all shouting something at Danny Rose, who clearly had done nothing wrong, then pushing Paul Raynor in the chest. Steve Evans had of course been sent to the stands at Cheltenham earlier in the season. According to eye-witness Rob Wheldon, a former reporter on this website of course, who was sitting close to Johnson and Rose who were both on the touchline at this point, Johnson shouted to Rose that he was a cheat.

The game finally started on 45 minutes, and the corner from the left by Byrom was headed down by Pearce but headed away by the defence. There was then an accidental collision between Pearce and Eisa and Eisa had to be stretchered on 45+7 minutes, to be replaced by Adebayo (on loan from Fulham).

On 45+10 minutes MacDonald was lucky to escape without a second yellow card after a foul after Potter gave the ball away.

11.5 minutes of stoppage time was played. So 1-1 at the break, and Cheltenham down to 10 men. Cheltenham of course were down to 10 men for most of the game last season at Whaddon Road and Mansfield couldn’t break then down.

Half time 1-1

By the start of the second half, Gary Johnson had taken his place in the Director’s Box to watch the match.

On 47 minutes, MacDonald sent a tame effort straight at the keeper from 28 yards.

On 51 minutes, MacDonald fired a great 50 yard ball to Hamilton who tried to find Angol inside him but it didn’t reach him. Straight to the other end and good keeping by Logan who was out of his area quickly.

Another good ball from MacDonald on 53 minutes, this time a long diagonal ball to Angol who headed towards the roof of the net where the keeper held easily.

Potter got into the area on the right on 64 minutes and played a low ball in but Angol missed it.

It was 10 vs 10 on 67 minutes when Hayden White was sent off for a late tackle on Ilias Chatzitheodoridis. The Stags were attacking in the Cheltenham box, Potter had gone down but the referee said no penalty, and then White was late on the tackle in the Cheltenham box. From the video, it was a bad challenge by White worthy of a red card.

MacDonald briefly moved to right back, his third position of the game.

Diamond replaced Angol on 71 minutes as Angol was sacrificed having been a sub himself. Bennett moved to right back, Diamond at centre half, MacDonald moved back into midfield. Potter and Hamilton pushed forward on the wings alongside Rose in a 4-2-3 formation.

Cheltenham regained the lead on 74 minutes when sub Danny Wright broke forward down the left and crossed in to Adebayo who finished expertly at the near post.

On 77 minutes, Pearce had a shot blocked in the area.

Hemmings replaced Byrom on 78 minutes.

On 79 minutes, good play by Benning who got to the edge of the area and his low shot was wide of the right post.

Mansfield were level on 81 minutes with a goal for Hemmings who had only been on as sub for 3 minutes. Pearce pulled back from the byline to MacDonald who made for the byline and in turn pulled back to Hemmings who turned and smashed in from close range.

Another red card on 83 minutes as sub Danny Wright was sent off for an arm in the face of Potter after Potter had fouled him. It was not seen by the referee, but spotted by the linesman. We also had a perfect view of the incident from the West Stand. 10 vs 9 now.

6 minutes of stoppage time were added.

On 90+3 minutes, a ball forward from MacDonald into the Cheltenham area, Bennett flicked on, and Rose stretched for it and missed, but was offside anyway.

The roof came off the One Call Stadium on 90+4 minutes. Benning knocked a ball forward into the area from the edge of the box and it fell nicely for CJ Hamilton to smash gleefully into the roof of the net from 6 yards after the ball came off a combination of Hemmings and defender Oniarise. Hamilton slid onto his knees in front of the West Stand and was engulfed by his teammates.

Straight from the kick-off and Conrad Logan had to make a great save from Adebayo to preserve the three points as Adebayo won the ball in the box and turned and shot.

After more than 8 minutes of stoppage time, the referee finally called time on a breathless game. 20 minutes of stoppage time played in total in the first and second halves. The fans went home with plenty to talk about.

Man of the match: CJ Hamilton

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



Line Up:
(4-4-1-1)
Logan 7 Very good and crucial save to preserve the points just after the winner.
White 5 Got himself sent off with a terrible challenge.
Pearce 7 Good game. An assist for Hemmings’ goal. However gave away the penalty.
Bennett 6.5 Mainly solid.
Benning 7 Some good attacking down the left. Involved in the build-up to the winning goal.
Potter 7 Great play to set up the first goal. Poor pass was nearly costly as MacDonald could have had a second yellow card.
Byrom 6 Didn’t feature hugely.
Mellis - Went off injured after 28 minutes.
Hamilton 8 The hero of the day with the late winner and the earlier equaliser. In truth, he didn’t have the best of games apart from that, but he has to be our man of the match.
MacDonald 8 Played in several different positions and covered every blade of grass on the pitch again. Some quality play.
Rose 6.5 A couple of half-chances and worked very hard.
Sub Line Up:
Angol (for Mellis, 28 mins) 5.5 Not his best game, and was later subbed.
Diamond (for Angol, 71 mins) -
Hemmings (for Byrom, 78 mins) - Scored within three minutes of coming on.
Subs not used: Olejnik, Anderson, Atkinson, Spencer.
Opposition Line Up:
(3-2-3-2): Flinders; Moore, Onariase, Grimes; Winchester, Ilias Chatzitheodoridis (Wright 71); Morrell, Dawson, Pell; Eisa (Adebayo 45), Graham (Atangana 65). Subs not used: Lovett, Sellars, Bower, Thomas.
Referee:
Darren Handley 8 Got all of the key decisions right we think, in a difficult game to handle.


Season 17/18 Reports