Archived News from February 2009
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TEN MAN STAGS BEAT YORK WITH DUFFY PENALTY
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Blue Square Premier
Mansfield Town 1 - 0 York City Duffy pen 42 Attendance: 2576 (389 from York) Date: 7 February 2009 --------------------- Observer report by Steve Hartshorn. STAGS VICTORY EARNED BY TOGETHERNESS Mansfield Town 1 York city 0 Mansfield Town proved just what a community based Club it has become under the ownership of Andrew Perry, Steve Middleton and Andrew Saunders. The Stags recorded a 1-0 win over York City but in a week when the poor weather left the area under a blanket of snow, the clubs supporters and staff pulled together in a magnificent effort to clear the pitch to ensure the game was played. Couple that with the battling qualities shown by Holdsworth's side, who for 33 second half minutes had to play with 10 men and you could see just why there is a total feeling of togetherness emanating from Field Mill. The victory means that the Stags have now won four and drawn one of their five games since the appointment of David Holdsworth as Manager, making all the efforts put in by people from the bottom to the very top of the Club all worth it in a day warmth on a bitterly cold day. The game started with the Field Mill pitch edged by the shifted snow but with slight patches still showing signs of the cold weather the area had suffered all week, and with the referee and both managers happy that the pitch was playable both sides trooped out rubbing hands but pleased the game was going ahead. It was obvious from early on in the proceedings that the idea of both sides playing good football was a bit of a forlorn hope as the ball at times seemed to have a life of its own but Stags and York got their heads down for the battle between two former League Clubs. The Stags chose to give a debut to Scott Gardener, who had signed for the club on transfer deadline day and he slotted in at right back replacing the suspended Gary Silk. Holdsworth started with a 4-4-2 formation, whilst the visitors favoured 4-3-3 but the first 15 minutes of the game was more a case of both sides probing at each other rather than creating any clear cut chances. On 19 minutes there was a brief scare for Mansfield when a ball into the box was dropped by Marriott after he had collided with his central defender Garner, but he managed to dive on the ball at the second attempt before City could capitalize. The Stags were looking to attack mainly down the left hand side with Blackwood, whilst York were content to try and hit the Stags on the break with neat passing from their front three. On 22 minutes Mansfield had their first real attempt on goal. Garner headed Mayo free kick down to his fellow centre half, Moses but his lobbed effort drifted over the crossbar. A minute later and a good enterprising attack involving O'Connor and Blackwood set Mayo free inside the York box, however his ball across the area was cleared by a combination of two defenders to earn the Stags the first corner of the game. York then created the next opportunity but McBreen's ball across the face of the Stags goal was not capitalized upon by the inrushing Boyes. On 33 minutes there was a significant booking for Mansfield when defender, Scott Garner was booked for kicking the ball away after he had conceded a free kick. An attack down Mansfield's right hand side presented York with a great opportunity to take the lead, but after Parslow had nodded the ball on, Brodie from close range, could only head straight at Marriott who saved well. York were having a good spell of pressure as they tried to put an end to a run that had seen them win just once in their last six games. Midfielder Mackin let loose from 25 yards, the ball took a deflection that almost fooled Marriott but he quickly rearranged his feet and made a good save. Then on 41 minutes the breakthrough was achieved when the referee awarded Mansfield a penalty kick. Michael Blackwood stumbled through two challenges before being upended in the six-yard box by the York City keeper, Ingham. It looked as if Paul Mayo was going to take the kick, something he was a bit of an expert of during his time with Lincoln City, but Rob Duffy took the responsibility and neatly slotted the ball down the middle with the keeper diving to the left. The goal celebrations amused the crowd as at first Duffy, and then a selection of celebrating Stags players dived headlong into the snow that had been packed in front of the North stand end of the ground. It seemed though that the only person not pleased was the referee who produced a yellow card for one of the gleeful Stags players. Just as the half time whistle was about to blow, a free kick from former Stag, Simon Brown almost found the head of Brodie at the far post, but the City front man failed to make serious contact. After just three minutes of the 2nd half, Manager, David Holdsworth was forced into a change. During the first period, Blackwood had required treatment on two occasions and had obviously not shaken off his injury so was replaced by Louis Briscoe. Just five minutes later and Briscoe keeps his feet well and unleashes a powerful shot, which is charged down by the York defence. Then on 57 minutes Mansfield were rocked back when centre half, Scott Garner needlessly handled the ball as Brodie tried to break clear giving the referee no other option than to produce a second yellow and then a red card. From the resulting free kick, Marriott had to save well from a shot by Brodie. On the hour mark, Holdsworth shuffled his pack, bringing on MacKenzie for O'Connor and moving Matt Somner to centre half. York clearly felt that they now had the advantage as they virtually threw everything bar the kitchen sink at a beleaguered 10 men Mansfield. Debutant right back, Scott Gardener was then felled and required lengthy treatment on the touchline. He eventually was replaced by Tomi Ameobi and Captain, Jonathan D'Laryea was moved to cover in at right back. It meant an unusual look to the Stags back four that now contained two central midfielders. The visitor's upped the pressure and Marriott had to save from Duffy and Somner threw his body in the way of a goal-bound effort to win City their first corner of the game. The Stags to a man were showing great spirit but on 80 minutes City almost levelled. A free kick from the left found Parslow who from close headed towards goal. Thankfully Marriott was on hand to turn the ball onto the post, from the resulting rebound, Boyes saw his effort cleared from the goal line. On 84 minutes Briscoe cut inside but saw his shot blocked, the ball then dropped to the feet of MacKenzie but his half volley sailed over the bar. With just 60 seconds of normal time remaining, Marriott again proved to be a hero as he denied Brodie once more. The home crowd were astonished when 5 minutes of added on time was announced but it was to be Mansfield's day, as they held firm to celebrate as one an important and worthy victory, both on and off the pitch. This coming week Stags face two tough trips away, first they travel to 2nd placed, Histon and then they make a Valentines day trip to play off chasing, Cambridge United. Observer Man of the match – This week the award goes to everyone who turned up to help the club get the game on by clearing the pitch, from the folks with the shovels and wheelbarrows to Steve Middleton's Wife who supplied all with a supply of Bacon cobs. Well done to all. ---------------- report from Minstermen.net Mansfield Town 1 York City 0 By Minstermen.net A controversial penalty award three minutes before the half-time interval sent the Minstermen to a 1-0 defeat against ten-man Mansfield Town, who had Scott Garner sent-off early in the second-half at Field Mill. The key incident occurred when York keeper Michael Ingham was adjudged to have brought down Michael Blackwood, despite appearing to have made contact with the ball before his opponent went over him. Rob Duffy stepped up to comfortably score from the spot. But the dismissal of Stags defender Scott Garner for a second yellow card twelve minutes into the second-half seemed to turn the contest back into the visitors' favour. However, York couldn't find sufficient quality to conjure up an equaliser despite their continual pressure. The Minstermen had already earlier enjoyed much of the play while both sides still had the full complement of players. Leading scorer Richard Brodie glanced a close-range header straight at keeper Alan Marriott just after the half-hour, while Levi Mackin's deflected 30-yard shot was also saved five minutes later. Mansfield's only response up to that point had come from Adie Moses' driven effort that flew well over the target after Paul Mayo's free-kick had been headed back. The hosts were still handed an undeserved advantage three minutes before the break though when DUFFY netted from the penalty spot following a highly dubious decision against Ingham. The Minstermen's chances appeared to significantly increase after home defender Garner was sent-off for a second handball offence just before the hour. Brodie had an effort saved from the subsequent free-kick before ex-Mansfield striker Simon Brown chipped straight at Marriott. York substitute Adam Smith soon curled a 65th minute free-kick wide before Christian Smith fired a long-range effort off-target two minutes later. Brodie then turned sharply before forcing Marriott into making another save, while Adam Boyes, Brown and Brodie each had shots charged down. Mansfield also survived a couple of penalty appeals before clearly attempting to break the flow of the game with a number of their players requiring treatment. The visitors went desperately close with eight minutes remaining as Adam Smith's cross was met by Danny Parslow, whose header was superbly parried by Marriott. Boyes' attempted follow-up was also charged down. A rare break up the opposite end then found substitute Neil MacKenzie firing over from 25-yards after Parslow had blocked Louis Briscoe's initial effort. But it was York that were still in search of a late equaliser when Brodie was again denied by Marriott from six-yards after Christian Smith had provided the cross. However, the vital goal just wouldn't come as the visitors failed to find the net for the first time in thirteen games. MINSTERMEN.NET MATCH CENTRE MANSFIELD TOWN 1 Mansfield Town : Alan Marriott, Paul Mayo, Scott Garner, Adie Moses, Scott Gardner (Tomi Ameobi 65), Curtis Woodhouse, Jonathan D'Laryea, Matt Somner, Michael Blackwood (Louis Briscoe 48), Robert Duffy, Aaron O'Connor (Neil MacKenzie 59) subs (unused) : Jason White, Mark Stallard Goals : Duffy (42 pen) Booked : Garner (33), Moses (42), Duffy (90); Sent-off : Garner (57) Stats : shots 7, on target 3, off target 4, corners 3, fouls 10 YORK CITY 0 York City : Michael Ingham, Simon Rusk, Kyle Critchell, Danny Parslow, Mark Robinson (Liam Shepherd 83), Simon Brown, Levi Mackin, Christian Smith, Adam Boyes, Daniel McBreen (Adam Smith 63), Richard Brodie subs (unused) : Andy McWilliams, Mark Greaves, Onome Sodje Goals : none Booked : Brodie (90) Stats : Stats : shots 12, on target 9, off target 3, corners 3, fouls 12 Ref : G. Eltringham Att : 2,576 ----------------- |
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