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Season 17/18 Stagsnet Match Report
English Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Morecambe  
1 - 2
 Mansfield Town
Lang 32.
 
 Rose 70, Spencer (initially credited as Benning) 90+4
Attendance: 1416 (334 from Mansfield)
 
Date: 27 January 2018

ANOTHER LATE WINNER FOR THE STAGS AT MORECAMBE

Martin Shaw at the Globe Arena

For the second time in a week, Mansfield Town claimed a 94th minute winner, amid great scenes at Morecambe this afternoon. After CJ Hamilton knocked in that late winner last week against Cheltenham, this time a mis-hit shot from Mal Benning crept into the corner of the net and sent the travelling 334 Stags fans into raptures. Jimmy Spencer tried to get a touch on Benning’s shot as it crept in, but from the main camera footage and our pitchside footage, it is not possible to say conclusively if Spencer did actually get a touch. I’m awaiting seeing our behind-the-goal footage which will give a better angle. We could do with snicko or hot-spot!! UPDATE: I now have the behind the goal footage (thanks to Chris Holloway), and Spencer is obscured from view by Lavelle and the goalkeeper. In the absence of definitive footage, I don’t think there is sufficient evidence to take the goal away from Benning, whose shot it was.

FURTHER UPDATE: the dubious goals committee later awarded the goal to Jimmy Spencer. An absurd decision.

Morecambe will be thoroughly sick of the Stags; just a month ago, it was Danny Rose who headed home an 88th minute winner against them. The first half was a poor quality game on a difficult bobbly and muddy pitch. Mansfield had the better of the opening 25 minutes and Zander Diamond had an on-target shot blocked following a free-kick, but it was Morecambe who went closest to breaking the deadlock on 28 minutes when Luke Conlan’s shot from 24 yards was deflected just over the bar by Alex MacDonald’s backside. From the resulting corner, Alex Kenyon headed over the bar. Morecambe were ahead on 32 minutes and it was a personal disaster for Krystian Pearce. Andrew Fleming headed a ball forward, Kevin Ellison headed it on, Callum Lang would have been offside but made no attempt to go for the ball. It was left to Pearce, who could have turned and played the ball upfield, but instead elected to play a backpass to Conrad Logan. He left his backpass short and Lang nipped in to take the ball around Logan and slot into the empty net. A howler from Pearce, and not offside. Lang had also scored in the game at the One Call stadium a month ago, is on loan from Wigan, and was the EFL young player of the month for December. The goal set Mansfield back and it was Morecambe who were much the better side for the rest of the half. Mansfield brought on Will Atkinson and Paul Anderson at the break and they both contributed to the Stags looking better going forward. Mansfield could have had a penalty when Danny Rose went down under a clumsy challenge from Luke Conlan but the referee wasn’t interested. The Stags were level on 70 minutes. A good one-two on the left byline between Hamilton and Atkinson, Hamilton squared across the edge of the six-yard box to Danny Rose who fired into the net, getting to the ball ahead of Luke Conlan. After that it was the Stags pushing for the winner. Danny Rose shot wide of the left post after a good ball from Kane Hemmings, then Hemmings sent a low shot from 28 yards towards the bottom left corner which the keeper did well to save. CJ Hamilton missed a glorious chance on 85 minutes, when Benning chipped a glorious cross in from the left which gave Hamilton a free header but somehow he headed over the bar. But the Stags were not to be denied and won it on 90+4 minutes. MacDonald chipped a cross in from the right, Aaron McGowan headed out to the edge of the area, where Benning ran on to it and mis-hit a shot towards the bottom right corner of the net. Jimmy Spencer stuck out a leg and may or may not have got a touch as the ball carried on into the right of the net with the keeper unmoved. Benning celebrated by running towards the Stags fans amid great scenes. Steve Evans ran down the touchline to celebrate. So another three points for Mansfield, who are up to 3rd place, into the automatic promotions places and just one point behind 2nd placed Notts County, though several teams beneath Mansfield have a game or two in hand.

Mansfield made two changes to the side that beat Cheltenham and both were enforced. Hayden White was suspended for three games while Jacob Mellis was out with a hamstring injury. In came Zander Diamond and Kane Hemmings. Rhys Bennett switched to right back and Alex MacDonald into central midfield. Before announcing the side, Steve Evans asked me to guess the side for a bit of fun as he often does. I successfully predicted the starting XI but when challenged to name all seven subs as well, I fell at the sixth sub amidst some amusement!

Morecambe made just one change from the side that played Mansfield a month ago with Kevin Ellison coming into the starting XI in place of Adam Campbell. They again played three at the back with two wing-backs. Former Stags striker Vadaine Oliver was up front.

Heavy morning rain had been forecast but fortunately only light rain came. The heavy rain was dumped on Barrow instead, just ten miles away as the crow flies, across Morecambe Bay, forcing their game to be postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. As it was, the pitch was bobbly and a little muddy, and difficult to play on.

On 4 minutes, a Stags corner from the left from Byrom, Danny Rose turned just inside the area and went down but it did not look like a foul.

Morecambe were forced into an early change on ten minutes when Old limped off. Kenyon switched from midfield to be the third central defender and Fleming came on into midfield.

The first chance for either side came on 13 minutes. Byrom’s free kick into the area from the right came to Diamond via Bennett and Diamond’s goalbound shot was blocked.

On 22 minutes, Hemmings looked to get away from Lavelle 40 yards from goal and both players went down in a heap. The referee decided it was a foul by the Morecambe central defender and booked Lavelle.

Byrom was having a disappointing first half typified by a terrible ball forward on 24 minutes out for a goal kick.

On 25 minutes, Oliver fired in a shot on the turn from the edge of the area which was blocked by Pearce.

On 27 minutes, MacDonald’s long throw came to Hemmings who fired in a snap shot but it bobbled through to the keeper.

Mansfield had the better of the opening 25 minutes, but it was Morecambe who went closest to breaking the deadlock on 28 minutes, when Luke Conlan’s shot from 24 yards was deflected just over the bar by MacDonald’s backside. From the resulting corner, Kenyon headed over the bar, unmarked. Hemmings claimed that Kenyon had pushed him out of the way but the referee did not see a foul.

Good goalkeeping by Logan on 31 minutes as he was out quickly to claim the ball at the feet of Lang at the edge of his area.

Morecambe were ahead on 32 minutes and it was a personal disaster for Krystian Pearce. Andrew Fleming headed a ball forward, Kevin Ellison headed it on, Callum Lang would have been offside but made no attempt to go for the ball. It was left to Pearce, who could have turned and played the ball upfield, but instead elected to play a backpass to Conrad Logan. He left his backpass short and Lang nipped in to take the ball around Logan and slot into the empty net. A howler from Pearce, and not offside against Lang. It is possible that Ellison was offside when Fleming headed it forward, but as Fleming headed it forward, Ellison and all the defenders are out of shot of the main camera footage. Bennett was on the move so could possibly have been playing him onside. Lang had also scored in the game at the One Call stadium a month ago, is on loan from Wigan, and was the EFL young player of the month for December.

Diamond was booked for a foul on 40 minutes after the referee played advantage to Morecambe and the referee later came back with the yellow card.

On 41 minutes, McGowan got past Hamilton on the right and put a ball in which reached Oliver who was offside but his shot was well saved by Logan anyway.

On 43 minutes, Ellison crossed in from the left, Oliver rose high but couldn’t get on top of it and headed well over the bar.

On 45+2 minutes, the Stags should have got in a shot as they played the ball from side to side on the edge of the area and eventually Benning lost the ball.

The Stags behind at the break then. They had been doing ok until the howler from Pearce gifted the goal to Morecambe and after that, the Stags looked shell-shocked and would have to step it up in the second half.

Half time 1-0

Evans needed to make changes and he boldly made a double change at the break. He brought on Anderson to bring more of an attacking threat from the right back position, Bennett moved to centre half and Diamond was sacrificed being already on a booking. Atkinson replaced Potter. Potter had not got into the game in the first half. MacDonald moved to the right side of midfield.

Atkinson was immediately into the game pushing Mansfield forward with a good break down the right.

The Stags had a shout for a penalty on 47 minutes. A ball forward from Benning and the ball was headed by Lavelle against the arm of Kenyon but it just seemed to hit his arm which was by his side and the referee correctly did not give a penalty. The video confirms it was a good decision.

On 48 minutes, Lang headed for the byline and was trying to win a penalty as he went down under pressure from Bennett. Lang claimed for a penalty, Logan reckoned it was a dive, the referee gave a corner. From the video, Bennett had an arm on Lang as Lang went down and some referees might have given a penalty.

On 51 minutes, a free kick from Michael Rose into the area and Danny Rose did well to clear away at the far post.

Good play from Atkinson on 53 minutes to win the ball and force the Stags forward. He found Byrom who was fouled. Byrom took the resulting free kick into the box but Morecambe’s defence rushed out leaving several Stags players offside.

On 56 minutes, Benning pushed forward from the halfway line and was fouled as he was about to shoot. MacDonald took the resulting free kick from 29 yards straight into the wall.

There was a half chance for Morecambe on 59 minutes as a throw-in from the right reached Fleming whose low shot bobbled through to Logan.

On 61 minutes the Stags could have had a penalty when Danny Rose went down under a clumsy challenge from Luke Conlan but the referee wasn’t interested.

On 65 minutes, MacDonald fired wide of the right post from 30 yards. On 68 minutes, Byrom dinked a free kick from 35 yards into the area, Danny Rose headed on and the keeper saved low at the left post.

The Stags were level on 70 minutes. A good one-two on the left byline between Hamilton and Atkinson, Hamilton squared across the edge of the six-yard box to Danny Rose who fired into the net, getting to the ball ahead of Luke Conlan. After the game, Morecambe boss Jim Bentley was unhappy that a foul was not given for Pearce on Oliver very early in the build-up to the goal. It probably was a foul, but the ball travelled a long way before it ended up in the net.

Byrom was booked for a foul on Lang on 71 minutes. A great clearance from Bennett from a high ball in on 72 minutes then a few seconds later, he made another good clearance.

On 73 minutes, Danny Rose shot wide of the left post after a good ball from Kane Hemmings, who had also done well to win the ball.

It was the Stags pushing for the winner.

On 77 minutes, Byrom dinked another free kick from 35 yards into the area. It flicked off Pearce just wide of the left post.

On 78 minutes, Hemmings sent a low shot from 28 yards towards the bottom left corner which the keeper did well to save.

Spencer replaced Hemmings on 79 minutes. Evans had said before the game he didn’t expect Hemmings to play the full 90 minutes.

On 81 minutes, Spencer did well to flick on to Hamilton whose cross was blocked for a corner. From the resulting corner by Byrom, Atkinson got in a flying header which the keeper saved low down.

Hamilton missed a glorious chance on 85 minutes, when Benning chipped a glorious cross in from the left which gave Hamilton a free header but somehow he headed over the bar. At the other end a minute later a great block from Byrom in his own area from a Fleming shot. Moments later, Oliver missed his kick when trying to shoot then had a cross blocked by Bennett.

On 87 minutes, great defending by Pearce as Ellison tried to get through on the right in the area. Then on 90 minutes, another good Bennett clearance.

But the Stags were not to be denied and won it on 90+4 minutes. MacDonald chipped a cross in from the right, Aaron McGowan headed out to the edge of the area, where Benning ran on to it and mis-hit a shot towards the bottom right corner of the net. Jimmy Spencer stuck out a leg and may or may not have got a touch as the ball carried on into the right of the net with the keeper unmoved. Benning celebrated by running towards the Stags fans amid great scenes. Steve Evans ran down the touchline to celebrate. In the absence of definitive video footage, I don’t think there is sufficient evidence to take the goal away from Benning, whose shot it was.
FURTHER UPDATE: the dubious goals committee later awarded the goal to Jimmy Spencer. An absurd decision.

Great scenes at the end of the game with players and fans celebrating and Steve Evans fist-pumping in sheer delight.

A good second half performance from the Stags after not doing enough in the first half, and probably just about a deserved win in the end.

Super reward for the Stags fans who were terrific, getting behind the side even when things weren’t going well. A week to recover before the visit of Barnet next week. Of course the transfer window closes this week. After the game Steve Evans announced that a young midfielder, a bit like Ben Whiteman as he said, has signed on loan from a Premier League club, but the Premier League club said that the Stags cannot reveal the name until Sunday or Monday.

Man of the match: Mal Benning

Report by: Martin Shaw at the Globe Arena



Line Up:
(4-4-2)
Logan 6.5 Alert when he was out quickly at the feet of Lang. Good save from Oliver when Oliver was offside anyway. No chance with the goal.
Bennett 7.5 Two good clearances and a good block in the closing stages.
Diamond 6 Did ok. Sacrificed at half time to get Anderson into the game, being on a booking.
Pearce 5.5 An absolute howler for the goal. Defended well in the second half.
Benning 8 The hero with the late winner, albeit with a mis-hit shot. His goal has been a long time coming! Glorious cross for Hamilton’s header over the bar. Defended solidly.
Potter 5 Did not got into the game in the first half and subbed at the break.
Byrom 6.5 Disappointing first half, but some good set pieces in the second half, and one great block at the back towards the end.
MacDonald 7 Worked so hard again.
Hamilton 7 Super play to set up Rose’s goal. Missed a great chance when he headed over the bar.
Rose 7 Took his goal well.
Hemmings 6.5 Good play to set up a chance for Rose.
Sub Line Up:
Anderson (for Diamond, 46 mins) 7 Did well in the second half.
Atkinson (for Potter, 46 mins) 8 Very good in the second half. Fine one-two with Hamilton in the build-up to Rose’s goal. Decent header on target. Real energy pushing the Stags forward.
Spencer (for Hemmings, 79 mins) - From our 3 camera angles, it is not possible to say conclusively if he did actually get a touch on Benning’s mis-hit shot for the goal. One good flick-on as Hamilton won a corner.
Subs not used: Olejnik. Digby, Butcher, Angol.
Opposition Line Up:
(3-4-1-2): Roche; Old (Fleming 10), Lavelle, Muller; McGowan, Rose, Kenyon (Thompson 83), Conlan; Lang (Wildig 72); Oliver, Ellison. Subs not used: Nizic, Campbell, Lund, McGurk.
Referee:
Seb Stockbridge 7 Handled the game well. Turned down three penalty appeals, none of which were stonewall.


Season 17/18 Reports