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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
 Colchester United
Hemmings 22.
 
 Comley 51
Attendance: 4050 (163 from Colchester)
 
Date: 10 March 2018

STAGS HELD TO THIRD CONSECUTIVE HOME DRAW

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

Mansfield Town were held to a 1-1 draw for the third successive home game, having led 1-0 on each occasion, this time against mid-table Colchester United. The Stags deservedly led at the break thanks to a fine finish from Kane Hemmings who lobbed the ball over the keeper after a long ball forward from Conrad Logan was allowed to bounce by the defence. It was a first half of few chances, but Mansfield did well in pressing Colchester back and forcing them into errors. Early in the second half a long ball forward from Logan seemed to set CJ Hamilton through on goal in a 1-on-1 with the keeper, but Hamilton was penalised for a push in the back on defender Vincent-Young. From the pitchside video, there was a slight push by Hamilton so the referee probably made the correct call. Within a minute, Colchester were level. Following a corner from the left, Joel Byrom had a chance to clear, but only cleared as far as Brandon Comley, who took a few paces forward into the area and was not closed down by Benning, before shooting low across keeper Logan from the right into the bottom left corner. A poor goal to concede all round. The rest of the second half continued to be disappointing for Mansfield, who lacked the intensity from that first half, and there was none of the pressing that had pushed Colchester back in the first half. The Stags didn’t create enough but did have some chances to win it. On 70 minutes, sub Paul Digby looped a header against the bar from MacDonald’s corner. On 86 minutes, Rose fired into the side netting after great play going forward by Pearce. And the Stags were so nearly back in front with a triple chance on 87 minutes. Great play on the right by Hayden White getting past one defender into the area and his cross came out to Benning who thundered a shot goalwards, which was brilliantly saved by the keeper up in the air, out to Mellis, whose goalbound header was again saved by the keeper for a corner. From that corner taken by MacDonald, Pearce had a free header which he put over the bar. Colchester had more of the ball in the second half than they did in the first without being good enough to create shots at goal, other than the goal they scored. Overall, a disappointing afternoon for the Stags who lacked sparkle, and it was very much two points dropped against a mid-table team. A huge game coming up next week, away to Notts County, who are in third place, three points ahead of the Stags having played a game more. Very much all still to play for with ten games of the season left, but Mansfield will need to play better than this.

David Flitcroft made two changes from the side that drew with Lincoln and both were expecting. Joel Byrom, who had done well as a second half substitute for Adam King against Lincoln, started in place of King. Zander Diamond returned to the side in place of the suspended Rhys Bennett. It was a 4-4-2 formation, with Alex MacDonald in a deeper role than we tended to see him under Steve Evans. Alfie Potter was still out with his tweaked hamstring but Flitcroft said he will be available next week. Paul Digby came onto the bench as central defensive cover. As against Lincoln, Lee Angol was preferred on the bench to Ricky Miller. Colchester welcomed back top scorer Sammie Szmodics and striker Kurtis Guthrie from injury.

David Flitcroft’s family, including brother Gary Flitcroft, were in attendance, guests of John and Carolyn Radford.

The pitch had stood up well to very heavy overnight rain. It was considerably milder than of late.

On 4 minutes, Szmodics played the ball forward to Dickenson, who fired over the bar from 16 yards out on the left. Great defensive play by Hamilton two minutes later in his own half. On 9 minutes, Vincent-Young sent an ambitious shot from 35 yards well wide.

Mansfield’s first chance came on 13 minutes. Benning’s free kick from the halfway line into the area was headed up in the air by defender Frankie Kent and gave Hemmings a chance to head over the keeper into the net, but inexplicably he headed across the box to his right well over the head of Rose.

Good play by Hamilton on 16 minutes to win a free kick.

On 21 minutes, Guthrie played a good ball forward and to his right to Drey Wright who hacked a shot wide from 14 yards from a good position on the right.

The Stags took the lead after 22 minutes thanks to a fine finish from Kane Hemmings who lobbed the ball over the keeper after a long ball forward from Conrad Logan was allowed to bounce by the defence, and Tom Eastman was slow to attempt to clear, allowing Hemmings to nip in. A super goal from Hemmings. While Hemmings celebrated at one end, Logan celebrated his assist in front of the Quarry Lane stand. Logan’s accurate balls down the middle have contributed to some key moments this season.

On 24 minutes, a ball forward from Byrom to Rose who controlled brilliantly and shot straight at the keeper from the right hand side.

Straight to other end and an important defensive touch by MacDonald as Colchester squared the ball just outside the Stags box. A minute later, Szmodics chipped the ball forward and great play by Hamilton to shield the ball away from Drey Wright. On 32 minutes, a good challenge from Byrom after Dickenson got away from White.

On 35 minutes, a crossfield ball from Hemmings was blocked by the referee, but Benning picked up the loose ball and laid off to MacDonald who fired wide from 25 yards.

On 39 minutes, Rose was fouled 33 yards out in a central position. MacDonald sent a powerful free kick over the bar.

A minute later, great pressing from the Stags forced Colchester into conceding a throw in.

On 42 minutes. Colchester long throw into the middle, it came out to the right hand side, Wright shot goalwards and Logan palmed away for a good save.

More good pressing from Mansfield on 44 minutes, Anderson won the ball and won a corner. Byrom’s corner to the far post, Pearce headed back but over the bar.

Colchester had a chance to equalise on 45+4 minutes. A ball forward from Guthrie put Szmodics in a 1-on-1 with Logan, Szmodics forced the ball past Logan but the pace was taken off the ball and Benning got back to easily clear off the line.

The Stags deservedly ahead at the break. Not the most half entertaining half of football but Mansfield did well in pressing Colchester back and forcing them into errors.

Half time 1-0

On 49 minutes, Hemmings was booked for a foul on Comley just outside the Stags area. Dickenson’s free kick from the right was straight to Logan.

Moments later, a long ball forward from Logan seemed to set Hamilton through on goal in a 1-on-1 with the keeper, but Hamilton was penalised for a push in the back on defender Vincent-Young. From the pitchside video, there was a slight push by Hamilton so the referee probably made the correct call.

Within a minute, Colchester were level. Following a corner from the left, Byrom had a chance to clear, but only cleared as far as Comley, who took a few paces forward into the area and was not closed down by Benning, before shooting low across keeper Logan from the right into the bottom left corner. A poor goal to concede all round. However, well taken by Comley.

A clear foul on Benning on 55 minutes was not given by the referee.

On 56 minutes, Byrom gave the ball away again.

Atkinson replaced Anderson, and Mellis replaced Byrom on 57 minutes. Neither played had had good games, and Byrom had given the ball away twice in succession, once leading to a goal.

It was now raining lightly.

On 64 minutes, Guthrie pushed forward and crossed into the middle where Pearce got an important touch to clear.

Digby replaced Diamond on 65 minutes. Diamond had pulled up, having over-stretched his hamstring. Digby slotted in at centre half.

On 69 minutes, a good break by Hamilton who crossed to the far post where it was put it behind for a corner with Rose lurking. From the resulting corner by MacDonald, Digby looped a header against the bar.

Pearce was booked for a foul on the halfway line on 71 minutes.

Mellis was booked for a foul just outside the Colchester area on 73 minutes.

On 78 minutes, MacDonald dinked a free kick from 38 yards into the box and Pearce went down claiming a foul in the area, but nothing was given. It was off camera from both the main camera and our pitchside camera.

On 86 minutes, Rose fired into the side netting from a tight angle after great play going forward by Pearce. In hindsight, Rose should probably have pulled the ball across to Hemmings or Mellis.

And the Stags were so nearly back in front with a triple chance on 87 minutes. Great play on the right by White getting past one defender into the area and his cross came out to Benning who thundered a shot goalwards, which was brilliantly saved by the keeper up in the air, out to Mellis, whose goalbound header was again saved by the keeper for a corner. From that corner taken by MacDonald, Pearce had a free header which he put over the bar.

After that the Stags were unable to create any further chances. 6 minutes of stoppage time were added on. In the final of those 6 minutes, a Colchester corner was just cleared.

A disappointing display, particularly in the second half. Mansfield need to improve, starting with a huge local derby next week.

Man of the match: Nobody played well enough to deserve a man of the match award.

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



Line Up:
(4-4-2)
Logan 6.5 One save and one half save. Generally a quiet afternoon. Good kicking, one of which led to the goal.
White 6 Good play to set up the chance for Benning. But didn’t get forward enough.
Pearce 6 Sent a free header over the bar from a corner. Fine play to set up a chance for Rose. Generally defended steadily.
Diamond 6.5 Defended solidly. Forced with a hamstring injury. Likely to be replaced by Bennett next week, who will available after suspension.
Benning 6.5 Failed to close down Comley for the Colchester goal. One thunderous shot that was brilliantly saved. Clearance off the line.
Anderson 5.5 Some good pressing in the first half. But created nothing. Subbed after 57 minutes.
Byrom 5 Gave the ball away twice in succession, once leading to the goal, and promptly subbed.
MacDonald 6 Two good corners created chances for Digby and Pearce. A couple of long range shots. Being played too deep to be effective.
Hamilton 6.5 Several good pieces of defensive work. A couple of good runs, but we’d like to see more.
Rose 6 Struggled with balls up to him in the air which came to nothing. Poor effort into the side netting. One great piece of control and fired at the keeper. Needs better service.
Hemmings 6.5 Took his goal expertly. But didn’t figure enough in the second half.
Sub Line Up:
Atkinson (for Anderson, 57 mins) - Didn’t get into the game, disappointing.
Mellis (for Byrom, 57 mins) - One header saved by the keeper. Limped off at the end of the game.
Digby (for Diamond, 65 mins) - Did well slotting in at centre half. Hit the bar with a looping header.
Subs not used: Olejnik, Angol, Spencer.
Opposition Line Up:
(4-4-1-1): Walker; Jackson (sub Murray, 84), Eastman, Kent, Vincent-Young; Wright (sub Shodipo, 71), Comley, Lapslie (sub Stevenson, 88), Dickenson; Szmodics; Guthrie. Unused subs: Barnes, Prosser, Mandeville, Mandron.
Referee:
Ross Joyce 5 Made some poor decisions and gave too many yellow cards in the second half, in what was not a dirty game. Has refereed 18 games Stags including this one, in the last decade, and Mansfield have only lost one of those games (1-0 at Rushden when Gary Mills was sent off): stat from Paul Taylor.


Season 17/18 Reports