Season 18/19 Stagsnet Match Report
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Mansfield Town
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MK Dons
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Mellis 17.
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Houghton 24
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Attendance: 4329 (394 from MK Dons)
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Date: 27 October 2018
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STAGS DRAW WITH MK DONS
Martin Shaw and Simon Chamberlain at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town drew 1-1 with high-flying in-form MK Dons in a good game at the One Call Stadium this afternoon. Both goals were of exceptional quality. The Stags took the lead on 17 minutes when Jacob Mellis fired an exocet missile that ripped into the right corner of the net from 28 yards following a free kick that had been cleared. We congratulated Mellis on the goal after the game and he replied with “About time!” MK Dons were level on 24 minutes with another terrific strike. Jordan Houghton fired a screamer into the right corner of the net from 28 yards. Overall this was a fair result which could have gone either way. The first half was the best advert for League Two we had seen this season, with those two tremendous goals, plus MK Dons had hit the post through great play from the powerful Chuks Aneke while the Stags had had several chances with Tyler Walker bringing a good save from the keeper and going close on two other occasions. The Stags should also have had a penalty on 36 minutes in our opinion. Walker knocked the ball over Jordan Moore-Taylor to get goalside of Joe Walsh, Walsh lifted his left leg to try to clear the ball, missed the ball and brought down Walker with a clumsy challenge. From our position in the West Stand, it looked like a penalty. From our pitchside footage, it also looks like a penalty. But referee Seb Stockbridge, who had a poor game overall, decided it was not a foul. In the second half, there were fewer chances, with MK Dons the better side initially, before the Stags finished the game on top. A reasonable point for Mansfield in a keenly-contested encounter against a side that had won five games on the trot. The Stags now have three games against sides that we expect to finish in the bottom half of the table, in Crewe, Cheltenham and Grimsby, and will hope to win at least two of these. The Stags were unchanged from the side that won at Morecambe. On the bench, there was a return from injury for Craig Davies. Will Atkinson also returned to the bench after suspension. Sterling-James and Law dropped out of the squad. Alex MacDonald and Hayden White remained out through injury. MK Dons were unchanged from the side that beat Notts County. The side contained Rhys Healey, striker who played against the Stags twice for Cardiff in the FA Cup last season. He is on loan from Cardiff this season. MK Dons came into the game on the back of five successive victories in the league. MK Dons and Mansfield had let in the fewest goals this season in League Two, just 9 each. It is the first time the clubs have met since 2008. A note on the MK Dons away following of less than 400, so poor given a regular home attendance of around 6000, and that they had won 5 on the trot and that it is just a 100 minute journey. They had a flag behind the goal saying “We’re the Dons”. No you’re not. The Dons are from Wimbledon. Before the game, The Last Post was performed beautifully followed by minute’s silence to remember the fallen. The weather had changed markedly in the last 24 hours, and it was now just above freezing, with a bitterly cold wind blowing towards the Quarry Lane End, which was behind MK Dons in the first half, and behind Mansfield in the second half. The Stags started the game right on top. On 3 minutes, Khan played forward to Walker who took one touch and fired in a powerful low shot which the keeper knocked away for a corner with his boot. On 5 minutes, a free kick from Khan came to Benning whose shot was deflected high for a corner. Khan’s corner eventually reached Pearce who miskicked with a chance to shoot. Another chance for Walker on 8 minutes, set up by Khan and Hamilton, and Walker volleyed over the bar. Then on 10 minutes, Bishop crossed and Rose, sandwiched between two defenders, headed wide. Nothing had been seen of MK Dons as an attacking force but on 11 minutes, Olejnik slid out but let the ball slip from his grasp, Agard picked up the loose ball and found Aneke who shot goalwards but Olejnik was back in place to save. Olejnik made another small error moments later but got away with it as the offside flag went up. Sweeney was booked for a late tackle on 14 minutes. He will be suspended for the next game as that was his fifth booking this season. From the resulting free kick, taken by Lewington, Walsh headed straight at Olejnik. The Stags went in front on 17 minutes. A free kick inside the MK Dons half from Benning. It didn’t beat the first defender, and was cleared as far as Mellis who fired an exocet missile that ripped into the right corner of the net from 28 yards. We congratulated Mellis on the goal after the game and he replied with “About time!” The Stags went close again on 20 minutes. Khan made a good run forward, and laid off to Walker on the right who sent a low shot just wide of the left post. Olejnik did well on 21 minutes to come out quickly and cleared into the stand. MK Dons were level on 24 minutes with another terrific strike. Jordan Houghton fired a screamer into the right corner of the net from 28 yards. Two goals of exceptional quality. At half time, Stags fan Graham who works for Chelsea TV, pointed out to me that both goals came from Chelsea youngsters. On 28 minutes, Benning fired a low shot from 28 yards straight at the keeper. A minute later at the other end, Healey made his way forward and his low shot from 25 yards was pushed away by Olejnik. On 33 minutes, a low across to Agard, 5 yards out but great defending from Hamilton to get it away. Then on 35 minutes, the visitors hit the post. Mellis lost the ball just outside the area to Aneke, who turned brilliantly, holding off Sweeney on the edge of the area in the process, and he poked a low shot against the outside of the right post from 12 yards. Powerful stuff from Aneke, who should then have scored. The Stags should have had a penalty on 36 minutes in our opinion. Walker knocked the ball over Moore-Taylor to get goalside of Walsh, Walsh lifted his left leg to try to clear the ball, missed the ball and brought down Walker with a clumsy challenge. From my position in the West Stand, it looked like a penalty. From our pitchside footage, it also looks like a penalty. The referee Seb Stockbridge, who had a poor game overall, decided it was not a foul. A great tackle by Preston in the area on 37 minutes after a surging run forward from Healey. Good play from Mansfield on 38 minutes. Rose did superbly to find Hamilton, who cut inside from the right and fired a powerful shot wide of the left post. On 40 minutes, more good play by Rose, who found Khan, who played inside to Mellis and he pulled his low shot well wide. At the other, Aneke showed real power to break forward but he miscued his shot giving Olejnik an easy save. Straight to the other end, Hamilton found Khan, who laid off to Benning who shot well wide. 1-1 at the break and it had been high quality stuff from two sides that were playing good football. It had been the best advert for League Two we had seen this season in one half of football. Two tremendous goals, plus MK Dons had hit the post while the Stags had had other chances and should have had a penalty for the foul on Walker. Half time 1-1 Calum Butcher replaced Khan at the start of the second half. Khan had picked up an Achilles tendon problem towards the end of the first half. Butcher went into an attacking midfield role, behind Walker and Rose. On 46 minutes, Bishop won the ball back after initially losing it, and tried to shoot but slipped as he shot and it trickled through to the keeper. Nearly a freak goal on 50 minutes. Butcher crossed from the right, it was deflected and sailed over the keeper, who gave it up as it flew just wide of the far post for a corner. From the resulting corner, taken by Mellis from the left, Sweeney headed wide of the right post. Benning was booked for a foul on Healey on 51 minutes. CLARIFICATION: Benning is now one booking away from suspension having picked up four yellow cards this season (plus one in the Carabao Cup and one in the Checkatrade Trophy, but they do not count towards league suspensions this season). Nearly a freak goal at the other end on 53 minutes. An MK Dons long throw was cleared to Lewington who lobbed onto the roof of the net from 35 yards. Healey got into the area on 54 minutes and Olejnik did well to push wide his left footed shot. A bad foul by Aneke on Pearce on 56 minutes. Aneke was not booked. He had been lucky also to escape a booking in the first half. Two minutes, Aneke fouled Olejnik, and was STILL not booked. Olejnik was later to receive attention (on 66 minutes) and it looked like he would have to come off but he bravely carried on. On 64 minutes, Olejnik made a great low save after Aneke found Agard who shot on target, and Olejnik stopped it one handed, low to his right. Moments later, Bishop uncharacteristically gave the ball away, Gilbey got into the area and Olejnik this time made an easy save. On 68 minutes, Benning found Mellis from a free kick, but Mellis’s low shot was tamely wide of the right post. A great tackle by Sweeney on 69 minutes as Aneke got into the area. Hamilton went close on 70 minutes. A great run down the right, he cut inside and shot into the side netting. A good effort. Hamilton was fouled 25 yards out on 74 minutes. Benning’s free kick was straight into the wall, it came back to him and his low shot gave the keeper an easy save. Referee Stockbridge got in the way of Mellis on 77 minutes, summing up a poor performance. MK Dons went close on 78 minutes. Aneke laid off to sub Brittain who fired over from a good position 16 yards out. Hamilton was again in the action on 79 minutes. He battled well, then lost the ball, was gifted it back, and took too long to get in a shot, and when he did it was blocked. Another great tackle by Sweeney on 79 minutes, and then a great tackle by Mellis a minute later. Craig Davies replaced Walker on 82 minutes. Good to see him back from injury. On 82 minutes, Benning’s free kick into the area fell for Pearce who shot well wide. On 84 minutes, Aneke fouled Bishop. He had to be booked surely after he should have been booked on three previous occasions? He wasn’t. Though the OPTA stats and MK Dons twitter feed say Aneke was booked on this occasion. I didn’t think he was and have double checked on the video. Aneke was immediately substituted. Into 4 minutes of stoppage time. Atkinson replaced Hamilton on 90+1 minutes. Benning did well to shepherd the ball out for a goal kick a minute later. Two later corners for the Stags, by Mellis from the left hand side. The first was into a good area but cleared. The second was disappointing, not clearing the first defender and it was the last kick of the game. A fair result, and a good game, particularly in the first half. Man of the match: Jacob Mellis |
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Report by: Martin Shaw and Simon Chamberlain at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill
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Line Up:
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(3-4-1-2)
Olejnik 7 Made three decent saves. Let the ball slip from his grasp on one occasion but got away with it. Preston 7 One great tackle on Healey. Solid game. Pearce 7 Another solid game. A couple of shots wide. Sweeney 7 Two great tackles in the second half. Allowed Aneke to turn him and shoot against the post. Hamilton 6.5 Some good runs. One good effort into the side netting, and another powerful shot wide. Some good defending. Mellis 7.5 Exceptional goal. One great tackle. Good game. Bishop 7 Really good first half, trying to keep MK Dons at bay. One uncharacteristic error. Benning 6.5 Decent game. Khan 7 Created four shooting chances. Missed in the second half when went off with injury. Walker 6 Three shots, one of which brought a good save. Was brought down for what should have been a penalty. Rose 6.5 Good first half with several pieces of good play. Quiet second half. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Butcher (for Khan, 46 mins) 6 Didn’t effect the game enough.
Davies (for Walker, 82 mins) - Atkinson (for Hamilton, 90+1 mins) - Subs not used: Logan, Gibbens, Elsnik, Graham. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(3-4-3) Nicholls; Walsh, Moore-Taylor (Brittain 46), Cargill; Williams, Houghton, Gilbey, Lewington; Agard, Aneke (Watson 84), Healey. Unused subs: Moore, Hancox, D’Ath, Simpson, Thomas-Asante.
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Referee:
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Seb Stockbridge 5 Poor. Missed a penalty for a foul on Walker. Should have booked Aneke ... four times!
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