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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  
1 - 1
 Coventry City
Hemmings 16.
 
 Clarke-Harris pen 71. Willis sent off 15
Attendance: 6105 (1523 from Coventry)
 
Date: 24 February 2018

STAGS MISS CHANCES TO BEAT 10-MAN COVENTRY

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

Mansfield Town miss a glorious opportunity to move into the top 3 when they were unable to beat a Coventry side reduced to 10 men after 15 minutes. The Stags produced wave after wave of pressure on the Coventry goal but lacked sufficient quality in the final third to force the win. Coventry had started the game on top and Conrad Logan pulled off a fine save after just two minutes keeping out a header by Rod McDonald. On 15 minutes, a pinpoint kick forward from Logan was brilliantly controlled by Danny Rose, who was immediately through on goal, and clumsily bundled over from behind by Jordan Willis just outside the area. Willis was correctly sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity outside the area. Alex MacDonald took the resulting free kick, which deflected off Kane Hemmings and trickled into the net, wrong-footing the keeper, for Hemmings’ 9th goal of the season. Mansfield stretched Coventry for the remainder of the half, and created good chances to seal the game, with Rhys Bennett heading over unmarked from an Alfie Potter corner, CJ Hamilton running at goal from the right and firing straight at the keeper, and Hemmings heading wide from Paul Anderson’s cross from the right. The second half started in the same vein with a shot by Hemmings saved by the keeper after good play from Hamilton and then Alex MacDonald firing just wide from 25 yards. But a warning shot from Coventry on 69 minutes as Ryan Haynes played a great 1-2 to get into the Stags area and his shot was brilliantly tipped against the post by Logan. But moments later Coventry were awarded a penalty. Alex MacDonald picked up a loose ball in the box and had a chance to clear it down Bishop Street, but instead tried to control it, stumbled, and Jonson Clarke-Harris went down over him. The referee gave a penalty. A very soft penalty, but MacDonald should not have given the referee a decision to make, by clearing the ball initially. Clarke-Harris buried the penalty into the left corner of the net. Steve Evans thought Mansfield should have had a penalty for a handball inside the area which was given as a free kick outside the area, on 82 minutes, but our pitchside video footage suggests it was just outside the area. Alex MacDonald’s resulting free kick towards the near post was just pushed away by the keeper. Another Mansfield claim for a penalty on 87 minutes as Dominic Hyam pushed Ricky Miller from behind inside the area, and Miller went down. The referee booked Miller for diving. From the video footage, there is a push, albeit gentle, in the back of Miller and it is probably more of a penalty than the one awarded to Coventry. However it would have also come into the category of soft, as was the one for Coventry which was given. Jacob Mellis tried his luck with a couple of shots towards the end but both were off target. So two huge points dropped and the Stags run of 5 home league wins on the trot is over. Mansfield are two points outside the top 3, with Wycombe losing at home, and there are a massive 12 further games to go, starting at Stevenage next week. Incidentally, over the past 12 games, Mansfield are second in the form table, having taken 27 points, with Accrington having taken 28. If Mansfield can repeat that form in the next 12 games, a top 3 place will surely be secured.

It was the first time Coventry had played a competitive game at Mansfield since 1975, and the first time in a league game since 1964.

As expected, Steve Evans kept the same side from the side that won so well against Exeter and Newport. Coventry included Jonson Clarke-Harris, on loan from Rotherham. Steve Evans said during the week that Clarke-Harris was a player he would have been interested to sign, but he had already concluded his business.

It was a sunny but cold day in Mansfield. There was a sharp breeze in the Upper Tier of the West Stand, which was less pronounced at pitch level and did not affect the game.

Mansfield had started the previous two games against Newport and Swindon on the front foot. But it was Coventry who started the game on top here. An early corner from Michael Doyle to the near post saw an effort from Clarke-Harris blocked for another corner. The next corner, to the far post, was headed goalwards by Rod McDonald and Conrad Logan pulled off a fine diving save.

On 7 minutes, some good one-touch football in triangles from Mansfield down the left hand side involving Hamilton, Benning and Hemmings, but the ball ran through to the keeper.

On 12 minutes, Hemmings played a good ball forward, Hamilton outpaced his marker but his touch let him down and he put it out for a goal kick.

On 14 minutes, Marc McNulty laid off to Clarke-Harris who shot was easily saved by Logan.

Coventry had been the better side in the opening stages.

A key moment in the game on 15 minutes. A pinpoint kick forward from Logan was brilliantly controlled by Danny Rose, who was immediately through on goal, and clumsily bundled over from behind by Jordan Willis just outside the area. Willis was correctly sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity outside the area. Alex MacDonald took the resulting free kick from 19 yards, which deflected off Kane Hemmings and trickled into the net, wrong-footing the keeper, for Hemmings’ 9th goal of the season.

Michael Doyle was booked for chopping down Anderson on 19 minutes.

On 20 minutes, Hamilton got down the left and played a great cross along the floor into the middle, but none of the 5 Mansfield bodies in the middle could get on the end of it, and it went out for a throw-in. On 23 minutes, good play from the Stags on the right, the ball came back to MacDonald, who sent a low shot from 28 yards wide of the left post.

At the other end on 27 minutes, a Coventry free kick from Shipley from 45 yards out, was headed by Grimmer across to Rod McDonald who headed tamely straight at Logan.

The Stags should have increased the lead on 30 minutes as Rhys Bennett headed over unmarked from the middle of the goal from an Alfie Potter corner from the right. It was a glorious chance and a fine corner.

On 33 minutes, a Stags ball forward from King flicked off a Coventry head into the path of Rose who got to the byline on the left and his cross into the middle couldn’t find Hemmings.

On 35 minutes, Clarke-Harris headed down to McNulty who crossed from the right and Logan did well to scoop it over his own bar.

On 38 minutes, Rod McDonald had his pocket picked by Rose, but Grimmer rescued his teammate, heading the ball back to his keeper.

Another great chance for the Stags on 40 minutes. A Coventry corner was cleared and Pearce played a great ball down the right touchline. Hamilton did superbly to beat his man Doyle on the right and cut inside, but fired straight at the keeper. He should have scored.

On 43 minutes, an even better chance as Hemmings headed wide from Paul Anderson’s cross from the right.

The Stags ahead 1-0 at the break but should have been ahead by more, against the ten men of Coventry. The Stags had played well after Coventry had their man sent off, stretching Coventry, but would regret missing those chances.

Half time 1-0

King was booked for a foul on Doyle on 49 minutes.

A bit of humour from Steve Evans on 53 minutes as he feigned to take a throw-in.

Moments later a great tackle by Bennett on Bayliss.

On 55 minutes, a good run by Hamilton down the left, the ball finally came out to Anderson, whose low shot was blocked.

Great pace by Hamilton getting to the byline on 59 minutes, and winning a corner.

There was a great atmosphere from the Stags fans, with Q block in fine voice.

On 63 minutes, another good chance for Hemmings. Hamilton won the ball, played inside to Hemmings who played back to Hamilton on the wing. Hamilton crossed back to Hemmings whose shot was well saved. Hemmings should have scored.

Moments later, a great tackle by Bennett on McNulty.

Another good move by the Stags down the left on 64 minutes, as Hamilton played a 1-2 with Benning, but it ricocheted to the keeper who held on his byline.

On 65 minutes, Alex MacDonald fired powerfully just wide from 25 yards.

It was wave after wave of Stags pressure, but the second goal didn’t come.

A warning shot from Coventry on 69 minutes as Ryan Haynes played a great 1-2 with Shipley to get into the Stags area and his shot was brilliantly tipped against the post by Logan.

But moments later Coventry were awarded a penalty. Alex MacDonald picked up a loose ball in the box and had a chance to clear it down Bishop Street, but instead tried to control it, stumbled, and Jonson Clarke-Harris went down over him. The referee gave a penalty. A very soft penalty, but MacDonald should not have given the referee a decision to make, by clearing the ball initially. Clarke-Harris buried the penalty into the left corner of the net. Logan was booked between the penalty being awarded and being taken; from the video it seems to be for trying to put the penalty taker off.

Rose went down in the area on 73 minutes, but it was no foul. Hamilton picked up the loose ball but couldn’t get a shot in.

Miller replaced Hemmings on 74 minutes.

On 79 minutes, a great ball from King out to the right to Anderson, but Anderson wasted his cross into the middle.

Mellis replaced King on 80 minutes. King had played well.

Steve Evans thought Mansfield should have had a penalty for a handball inside the area which was given as a free kick outside the area, on 82 minutes, but our pitchside video footage suggests it was just outside the area. Alex MacDonald’s resulting free kick towards the near post was just pushed away by the keeper.

On 84 minutes, Hamilton played inside to Mellis, but he sent a poor shot from 22 yards wide of the left post.

Another Mansfield claim for a penalty on 87 minutes as Dominic Hyam pushed Ricky Miller from behind inside the area, and Miller went down. The referee booked Miller for diving. From the video footage, there is a push, albeit gentle, in the back of Miller and it is probably more of a penalty than the one awarded to Coventry. However it would have also come into the category of soft, as was the one for Coventry which was given.

On 88 minutes, good play between Hamilton, Miller and Mellis, but the ball just ran through to the keeper.

A great tackle by Pearce on Bayliss on 90 minutes.

Another chance for Mellis on 90+1 minutes, as Miller found Mellis, and Mellis fired over the bar from 25 yards.

On 90+3 minutes, Potter did well to get to the byline on the right, his cross was cleared up in the air, and Rose did well to get in a header, but sent it wide.

So a draw, and two points dropped given how the game panned out. On to Stevenage next week, where the Stags will be looking to pick up three points.

Man of the match: Rhys Bennett/CJ Hamilton

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



Line Up:
(4-4-2)
Logan 7.5 Two really fine saves. Fine ball forward which was controlled so well by Rose in the red card incident.
Anderson 6 One good cross for Hemmings. One poor cross.
Pearce 7 Good game, some good tackles.
Bennett 7.5 Several great tackles. Missed a glorious chance when he headed over.
Benning 6 Some good link-up play with Hamilton, but not his best game.
Potter 6 Great corner for Bennett’s header, but didn’t get into the game enough until one stoppage time cross.
King 7 Played well.
MacDonald 6.5 Nearly the lost the ball a couple of times in his own half in the first half. Gave away the penalty with poor decision making not to clear the ball immediately, regardless of whether the referee gave the correct decision. His free kick was deflected in. Just wide with a couple of long range shots, and brought a good save from the keeper with another free kick. Some other good play and continued to work hard.
Hamilton 7.5 Missed 1-on-1 with the keeper after a great run to get into that position. Miscontrolled on a couple of occasions, but did cause the defence a lot of problems going forward down the left.
Rose 6.5 Brilliant control to win the free kick which led to the red card and goal. Didn’t get enough service in the box.
Hemmings 6 Scored, deflecting in the free kick, but missed some good chances and was not at his best.
Sub Line Up:
Miller (for Hemmings, 74 mins) -
Mellis (for King, 80 mins) -
Subs not used: Olejnik, Diamond, Penney, Atkinson, Spencer.
Opposition Line Up:
(4-4-2): Burge; Grimmer, Willis, McDonald, Haynes; Bayliss, Doyle, Kelly (Hyam 21), Shipley; McNulty (Ponticelli 67), Clarke-Harris (Biamou 81). Subs not used: O’Bryen, Stokes, Vincenti, Reid.
Referee:
Michael Salisbury 5 Got the red card right, though that was an easy decision. The penalty for Coventry was soft, and the penalty not given for the foul on Miller was probably more of a penalty than the one awarded to Coventry. However it would have also come into the category of soft.


Season 17/18 Reports