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Season 18/19 Stagsnet Match Report
English Football League Trophy - Checkatrade Trophy, group stage
Lincoln City  
1 - 2
 Mansfield Town
Rhead 5.
 
 Butcher 8, Walker 72.
Attendance: 4205 (260 from Mansfield)
 
Date: 4 September 2018

STAGS COME FROM BEHIND TO WIN AT LINCOLN IN CHECKATRADE TROPHY

Martin Shaw at Sincil Bank

Mansfield came from behind to win 2-1 at Lincoln City in the Checkatrade Trophy last night on an enjoyable evening for Stags fans. Each win in the group stages of this competition earns £10,000 for the club, which is of course useful. Lincoln are the holders of the trophy and took 26,000 fans to Wembley last season, hence it was no surprise to see an usually large crowd for the early stages of this competition with 4,000 home fans turning up to the game last night. Not surprisingly the Stags made 7 changes from the win over Carlisle on Saturday (including a debut for Timi Elsnik), while Lincoln made 8 changes from Saturday when they won at Exeter. Mansfield put in a battling and hard-working performance and eventually emerged as deserved winners. Lincoln took the lead on 5 minutes. Harry Toffolo’s cross from the left was over everyone in the middle and came to the right side of the area where Harry Anderson and Mal Benning battled for the ball. Anderson got the better of Benning and crossed into the middle where Matt Rhead was unmarked and headed in from 3 yards. Rhead should have been picked up by Hayden White probably but White was in no-man’s land 5 yards away. White and Benning should both have done better. The Stags were level within 3 minutes. White chipped a nice ball forward to the right side of the area where Calum Butcher and Adam Crookes battled for the ball. Crookes slipped over allowing Butcher to fire under the keeper Sam Slocombe with the outside of his right boot from 7 yards. Butcher could have scored again on 44 minutes when he nipped in to intercept a backpass, and rounded the keeper but his goalbound shot was blocked by the chest of Crookes. A fair scoreline at the break. The Stags went in front on 72 minutes, White slid a ball forward and Butcher flicked on delightfully into the path of substitute Tyler Walker who hit a first time rocket shot from the edge of the area into the bottom corner of the net giving Slocombe no chance. It was a goal worthy of winning any game, and it was enough to win this one. The goal came just 56 seconds after Walker had come on as substitute. It adds to the list of good substitutions this season with players making an impact about a minute after coming on with Rose scoring 78 seconds after coming on against Accrington, and Rose hitting the post 36 seconds after coming on against West Brom, plus of course Davies scoring as substitute against Colchester. Lincoln’s Michael O’Connor was sent off in injury time for hitting Calum Butcher with his hand from above on the top of Butcher’s head, sparking a bit of a melee. Earlier, the Stags had Preston, White, Rose, Benning, Elsnik, and MacDonald all booked. All of the yellows were justified, though White was silly for talking his way into the book after a foul against him wasn’t given. The good news is that yellows and reds in the Checkatrade Trophy do not count towards disciplinary points for league games. They only count for future Checkatrade Trophy games. After the game Lincoln boss Danny Cowley bemoaned this rule claiming it was new for this season. It was actually the same rule last season, which he ought to have known having got all the way to the final. In a witty interview on Sky Sports News, David Flitcroft said “Danny will probably start making the rules to this competition and administering. He wanted to be the linesman tonight, he wanted to be the referee, he wanted to do offsides. He’ll probably get his way and be able to, further down the line, make the rules up.” Cowley complained that Mansfield were over-physical, but only one player deserved to be sent off, and it was his own O’Connor. Flitcroft was furious at the final whistle with both Cowley brothers, Danny and assistant Nicky, and it was easy to see why given his post match comments. Overall a good night for the Stags, with a committed performance, ahead of an 11 day break before the next game, at home to Exeter in the league.

This was the first match in the group stage of the Checkatrade Trophy. Mansfield will play Wolves U21 in October and Scunthorpe in November, with the top two teams in the group of four going through to the next round. It is a good opportunity for players who are not getting much game time in the league, to get competitive action and stake a place for a place in the side in the league. And last night’s game was certainly competitive!

The Stags made 7 changes from the side that beat Carlisle. In came Logan, Gibbens, Atkinson, Benning, Elsnik, Butcher and Davies. Rested were Olejnik, Hamilton, Bishop, Khan and Walker. Pearce and Sweeney were away on international duty as was Sterling-James. It was Timi Elsnik’s debut on loan from Derby for the rest of the season. Elsnik was with Flitcroft’s Swindon on loan last season. After the game, Timi told me his name is pronounced “Elshnik”. Alex MacDonald was captain. Young Jason Law, signed by Adam Murray, was on the bench. Murray had told me when he signed Law that he expected him to break into the first team quite quickly, but it hasn’t happened so far. Lincoln were without the injured Matt Green. Matt Rhead was captain.

The Stags created a chance within the opening 40 seconds. Rose flicked on to Davies who tried to bend into the top corner from the left but was well wide.

Lincoln took the lead on 5 minutes. Harry Toffolo’s cross from the left was over everyone in the middle and came to the right side of the area where Harry Anderson and Mal Benning battled for the ball. Anderson got the better of Benning and crossed into the middle where Matt Rhead was unmarked and headed in from 3 yards. Rhead should have been picked up by Hayden White probably but White was in no-man’s land 5 yards away. White and Benning should both have done better.

The Stags were level within 3 minutes. White chipped a nice ball forward to the right side of the area where Calum Butcher and Adam Crookes battled for the ball. Crookes slipped over allowing Butcher to fire under the keeper Sam Slocombe with the outside of his right boot from 7 yards.

Lincoln could have regained the lead on 9 minutes. Rhead flicked on to Mensah, who was unmarked on the left and sent a left footed shot across goal and wide of the right post.

Preston was booked for a sliding challenge on 12 minutes.

Good play from Rose on 17 minutes as he did well to get to the byline and cross was nearly onto Davies’ head.

Butcher turned and shot wide with his left foot on 20 minutes.

Superb play from Butcher on 21 minutes as he forced his way into the area on the left and his cross was deflected into the side netting by Bostwick when the deflection could easily have taken it in.

On 23 minutes a poor ball from Preston to MacDonald who was robbed by McCartan who forced his way into the area, Logan was out to narrow the angle and palmed his shot wide. Good keeping. Poor from Preston, and MacDonald could have done better too.

White was fouled on 28 minutes, but the referee played on. Moments later, White was booked for protesting.

Rose was booked on 31 minutes as he miscontrolled the ball and then stretched to win it back with a late tackle on Rhead.

Butcher fired in a shot from 25 yards on 32 minutes but a block took the sting out of it through to the keeper.

On 33 minutes, following a free kick from the left, a shot from Elsnik was straight at the keeper.

Benning was booked for a deliberate foul on 33 minutes, Mansfield’s fourth yellow card.

On 38 minutes, White crossed to Davies who took a good first touch and then fired an acrobatic shot which was blocked for a corner by Bostwick. From the resulting corner from MacDonald from the left, Davies back-flicked wide of the near post.

On 40 minutes, Harry Anderson crossed from the right, Rhead headed well wide.

Atkinson was flattened on 41 minutes just outside the area, but the referee waved play on.

Butcher could have scored again on 44 minutes when he nipped in to intercept a backpass, and rounded the keeper but his goalbound shot was blocked by the chest of Crookes.

On 45+2 minutes, Elsnik curled a left footed cross in and Preston flicked just wide.

A sloppy ball from MacDonald on 45+2 minutes, and he was got out of jail by White.

A fair scoreline at the break, and entertaining stuff. Butcher had equalised for Mansfield after Crookes slipped and then been gifted another chance from a backpass but he couldn’t convert.

Half time 1-1

On 48 minutes, following a free kick from Toffollo, McCartan fired in a shot that was heading inside the right post, but White blocked for a corner. Logan punched away the resulting corner.

A poor sequence of play from the Stags on 49 minutes, Logan played out to Gibbens, putting Gibbens in trouble, Gibbens left his pass back to Logan a bit short, Logan tried to boot clear, it hit Preston and went out for a corner. Sunday league stuff. From the resulting corner, Rhead turned and fired well wide.

A long spell without chances at either end. On 67 minutes, Luque shot well wide.

On 69 minutes, great play by White on the right to get to the byline, he put in a good cross, and Davies headed over from an impossible angle, when he should have headed back across goal.

A double change on 71 minutes: Walker replaced Rose, Hamilton replaced Davies.

The Stags went in front on 72 minutes, White slid a ball forward and Butcher flicked on delightfully into the path of substitute Tyler Walker who hit a first time rocket shot from the edge of the area into the bottom corner of the net giving Slocombe no chance. It was a goal worthy of winning any game, and it was enough to win this one. The goal came just 56 seconds after Walker had come on as substitute. It adds to the list of good substitutions this season with players making an impact about a minute after coming on with Rose scoring 78 seconds after coming on against Accrington, and Rose hitting the post 36 seconds after coming on against West Brom, plus of course Davies scoring as substitute against Colchester.

On 76 minutes, Elsnik played forward to Walker in the area on the left, but he sent a poor effort wide.

A minute later, a great ball forward from White, Hamilton controlled, cut inside and his shot was deflected for a corner off Bostwick.

Elsnik was booked for a deliberate foul 83 minutes,

On 88 minutes, White burst forward, and with Walker in space, White overhit his ball forward.

4 minutes added on. On 90+3, Lincoln’s Michael O’Connor was sent off for hitting Calum Butcher with his hand from above on the top of Butcher’s head, sparking a bit of a melee. MacDonald was also booked in the aftermath.

A good performance and the Stags will qualify with a game to spare if they can beat Wolves U21 on October 9. That is because Wolves U21 drew at Scunthorpe last night, with Scunthorpe winning the penalty shoot-out for an additional point.

Man of the match: Calum Butcher


Report by: Martin Shaw at Sincil Bank



Line Up:
(3-5-2)
Logan 7 Really good save from McCartan in the first half. A couple of good punches away. No chance with the goal.
White 7 Should have done better for Rhead’s goal, in no-man’s land 5 yards away from Rhead. Otherwise defended very well and played a part in both goals. Some other good crosses.
Preston 6.5 Did ok.
Gibbens 7 Had a good game.
Atkinson 7 Did well at right wing back with some good attacking.
MacDonald 7.5 One terrible ball and was rescued by White. Otherwise led by example as captain with tackles and good ratting.
Elsnik 7 Slowly got into the game and showed flashes of what he can do. Looks to have some quality.
Butcher 8.5 Scored the first and delightful flick for Walker for the second goal. Several other pieces of really good play. Really fine game.
Benning 6 Mistake for the goal when he was beaten by Harry Anderson who crossed for Rhead’s goal.
Rose 6 A good cross and a good flick on but overall not at his best. No efforts on goal.
Davies 6 One good effort after good control. A couple of other misses.
Sub Line Up:
Walker (for Rose, 71 mins) - Super goal to win the game within 56 seconds of coming on.
Hamilton (for Davies, 71 mins) - Good piece of control, and shot deflected for a corner.
Subs not used: Olejnik, Bishop, Khan, Hamilton, Law, Graham.
Opposition Line Up:
(4-5-1): Slocombe; Gordon, Bostwick (McCombe 80), Crookes, Toffolo; Anderson, Chapman, Luque (O’Connor 80), McCartan, Mensah (Andrade 67); Rhead. Subs not used: Smith, Frecklington, Akinde, Adebayo-Smith.
Referee:
Ross Joyce 7 Got all the yellow cards and red card right in my opinion. A couple of mistakes when he missed clear fouls on White and Atkinson. Lost some control in stoppage time.


Season 18/19 Reports