Archived News from September 2003
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STAGS BURY BURY!!
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For Stagsnet report, visit the Match Centre.
------------- MANSFIELD 5-3 BURY Mendes 30 Connell 21, 78 Corden 36, 44 Seddon 58 Lawrence 63, 88 Attendence: 4145 Report from Bury FC website: The first of two consecutive away games for the Shakers took place at Field Mill tonight. After failing to take all three points against Cheltenham on Saturday Bury will be looking for an upturn in their erratic form and will be hoping to produce a quality display against the Stags. Mansfield started the game in 7th place in the league but had accumulated just one point more than the Shakers. Top scorer Andy Preece has netted four goals in the last seven games and will be adopting a lone role at the head of Bury's 4-5-1 formation. Once more unto the bench is Gareth Seddon who along with Porter and O'Neil give the management plenty of options should any change in style be required. Glyn Garner was called into early heroic action with a stunning save to his left after a driven cross by Corden was hammered goalwards by the on-rushing Disley from six yards. Despite his perfect connection the scores remained level. Just five minutes later and Corden cut inside Lee Unsworth and unleashed a 25 yard piledriver which fortunately for Bury just cleared the crossbar. A carbon copy attempt by MacKenzie again had Garner watching closely as the shot sailed over the bar. A fabulous piece of individual skill by Corden saw him twist and turn his way past Unsworth before firing in a low shot that Garner had to move smartly to save. On 20 minutes the Mansfield crowd were incensed after a penalty appeal was turned down when home favourite Mendes collapsed under a challenge just inside the Bury area. And then suddenly the Shakers were in the lead. Unsworth threaded a pass through to Thornley who broke produced a sublime cross that found Connell in the box and from six yards his downward header left keeper Pilkington to make his first contribution to the game by picking the ball out of the back of the net. Mansfield continued to apply pressure and on 25 minutes Vaughan managed to put a header from just a few yards wide of the post. A superb break by Bury saw O'Shaughnessy release Preece who carried the ball towards the Mansfield area. Both Thornley and O'Shaughnessy had continued their runs and were unmarked in the box but Preece's attempted shot from the left side of the area was blocked for a corner. Just two minutes later and Mansfield were deservedly level when a Lawrence cross to Mendes found him lurking at the far post and from 4 yards out he planted his header into the top left corner of the Bury goal On 35 minutes Mansfield pressure football saw thwn take the lead as another Lawrence cross was deflected to Corden who from 6 yards swivelled and hit an unstoppable volley into the Bury net. On 40 minutes a Duxbury free kick was met by Preece who looped the ball over the flapping Pilkington but the ball was deflected for a corner. Bury had a chance to get back into the game when a pass through the crowded midfield area put Lee Connell through on goal but Pilkington was quickly off his line and blocked the shot. Just three minutes later and Mansfield extended their lead after a superb team move which was started by Mendes and after a swift interchange of incisive passes with his teamates he received the return pass inside the area. He showed his awareness of the situation and instead of firing the ball through the crowded area he found Corden who again cut in from the left of the goal and planted another unstoppable shot into the centre of Garner's goal. The half time whistle brought some welcome relief from the onslaught for Bury. Bury are simply unable to cope with the pace and passing ability of Mansfield and seem bewildered and unable to exert any influence on the game. Manager Andy Preece and his team will need to utilise all their tactical knowledge and skill to keep Mansfield from further pulverising the Bury rearguard in the second half. The outcome of the half time tactical masterclass was the replacing of Duxbury with Seddon as Bury looked to quickly get back into the game. On 50 minutes Lawrence went on a scintillating run down the Bury left and after cutting inside Woodthorpe, nutmegging Unsworth, and after cutting outside Woodthorpe he broke free in the box and brought a smart save out of Garner. On 53 minutes came the moment that Shakers fans everywhere had been eagerly awaiting as Kennedy replaced Woodthorpe on the left side of the Bury defence and suddenly Bury were back in the game and began to exert some pressure on the Mansfield defence. A Kennedy clearance found Thornley and he produced yet another superb cross into the box which was collected by Seddon who fired a shot in at goal. Just a few minutes later and Strong had a great chance to put the Shakers back in the game but his weak header from 10 yards was easily gathered by Pilkington. It seemed that Bury had finally absorbed the football lesson that they had been subjected to for 58 minutes when a moment of pure quality from Seddon reduced the deficit to a single goal. Andy Preece fed the ball to Seddon and he unleashed a 30 yard shot that arrowed into the bottom corner of the Mansfield goal. Goal of the Season? Well it will certainly be a contender!! Keith Curle immediately changed his personnel and Disley was replaced by Beardsley with an enforced change just a minute later when an injury to Artell brought John-Baptiste into the fray. Just as Bury were beginning to get themselves back into the game Lawrence re-established their two goal cushion after great work by Mendes in the box found him in space 12 yards from goal. Yet another unstoppable shot whistled past Garner. 4 goals conceded and Garner had no chance of saving any of them. Mackenzie had the chance to seal the game just minutes later but his shot was saved by Garner. But Bury were not beaten yet. Chances fell to Connell and Preece as the Shakers battled hard but could not convert the chances on offer. Preece was the substituted and his place taken by Porter. A Porter lay off just minutes later then produced the second goal of the season contender as Connell matched Seddon's earlier effort and fired in a shot from 25 yards that Pilkington was unable to prevent smashing into the back of the net. 4-3! An amazing passage of play saw The Stags clinch the game in the 87th minutes. A goalmouth scramble of epic proportions saw shots rain in on the Bury goal, one was blocked, one saved, and one hit the crossbar before falling to Lawrence who blasted the ball past Garner from 10 yards. The game was brought to a conclusion and the three points earned by Mansfield were a deserved reward for their play in the first half. Credit is due to the Shakers for their storming second half performance but ultimately the ground lost in the first half could not be regained. Bury: Garner, Unsworth, Woodthorpe, Swailes, Strong, Connell, Duxbury, O'Shaughnessy, Singh, Preece, Thornley Subs: Seddon, Porter, O'Neil, Gunby, Kennedy Mansfield: Pilkington, Mendes, Corden, Artell, Curtis, Hassell, Vaughan, MacKenzie, Lawrence, Day, Disley Subs: Clarke, White, Beardsley, Mitchell, John-Baptiste Referee: M Atkinson Assistants: C Bassindale and A R Parker Fourth Official: M Weaver |
Latest | September 2003