Archived News from October 2002
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REPORTS FROM VARIOUS SOURCES AND MATCH STATS
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Report from footymad.net :
Mansfield ground out their first clean sheet of the season to pick up a precious point at hapless Peterborough. The Stags went into the high noon clash with confidence following their 6-1 trouncing of Tranmere last week and were the happier of the two sides with a point at London Road - although they could just have easily pinched all three. Striker Iyseden Christie was guilty of squandering a golden chance either side of half time, firstly when firing straight at Mark Tyler when clean through on goal and later blazing well over from eight yards after Craig Disley had picked out his run. The home side also had chances to secure a win, with Bradley Allen the main culprit midway through the first half when heading a David Farrell corner wide of the mark with the goal at his mercy. Farrell wasted a couple of opportunities himself after roaming down the left-hand side of the penalty area in the second period, but for much of the affair the Mansfield defence were well in control and were worthy of praise for their clean sheet after leaking 35 goals in their opening 12 matches. Despite the away point, Stags boss Stuart Watkiss was slightly disappointed that his men did not find the back of the net. "I can't complain about 90 per cent of our play but our finishing let us down," he said. "Peterborough had chances as well but I thought we were on top and it's disappointing not to have taken a maximum return. "There were many pleasing things however and I think we're now adapting better to the higher level of football." Opposite number Barry Fry was more critical of his own players, grumbling: "Apart from Sagi Burton, who was fantastic, we were very poor throughout. "Apart from my captain Andy Edwards, the side was the same as the one that beat Brentford 5-1 two weeks ago, and I can't understand why we didn't perform today." --------------- Match Statistics (Posh/Stags) 9 Goal Attempts 11 4 On target 2 5 Off target 9 0 Woodwork 0 8 Corners 8 6 Fouls 19 4 Offside 4 ---------- BBC report: Mansfield striker Iyseden Christie had a day to forget in his side's draw with Peterborough at London Road. Christie missed three golden chances to earn Stuart Watkiss' men three points against a poor Posh side that were booed off by their fans. Barry Fry's men have now failed to win their last three league games and the visitors will be happier with the point as it follows on from their 6-1 win over Tranmere. It was Mansfield's first clean sheet of the season and they may feel disappointed not to have claimed three points after creating a number of good opportunities. Mansfield's first chance came when Iyseden Christie headed Scott Sellars' free-kick wide before Andy Clarke had a left-foot shot from 20 yards blocked by goalkeeper Arjan Van Heusden at the other end. The hosts then started to find their feet with Matthew Gill's right-foot shot bringing a save from Van Heusden before Bradley Allen somehow headed the ball wide from just two yards following David Farrell's inswinging corner. In a frantic final few minutes, Mansfield looked more likely to pinch a winner only for Christie to squander yet another golden opportunity from close range. Peterborough defender Sagi Burton was booked in stoppage time and despite a late surge forward, the home side were unable to snatch a last-gasp winner. ---------- CHAD report: Stags grab first clean sheet in Posh draw MANSFIELD Town recorded their first clean sheet of the season at the 14th time of asking in a 0-0 stalemate at Peterborough United this afternoon. It was a tremendous result for Stuart Watkiss' side but could have been so much better had Iyseden Christie accepted one of three golden chances which fell his way. "We have a point and a clean sheet so I have to be happy," said Watkiss. "But the over-riding feeling is one of disappointment as I felt we were the better side over 90 minutes and we did create good chances. There were plenty of positives. "It's a shame we couldn't use one of the six goals we scored against Tranmere last week. "We are showing a bit more steel at the back. But we just were not ruthless enough again in front of goal. We would have been deserved winners if we had got the goal but we would have probably settled for a point at the outset of the day." The noon kick-off saw both sides struggle for any fluency in the first 20 minutes, though both clubs did waste gilt-edged opportunities within 60 seconds of each other. Firstly Christie, in a great central position, got only a glance on a free header from Scott Sellars' cross that he should have at least got on target. Then, soon after, a scuffed kick-out from keeper Arjan Van Heusden looked to have gifted Andy Clarke a certain goal only for the keeper to throw himself bravely at the striker's feet and atone for his error. With Liam Lawrence and Craig Disley then beginning to boss the midfield, Mansfield enjoyed a good spell of possession and Christie even had the ball in the net from Sellars' through ball on 26 minutes only to be foiled by an offside flag. Christie wasted another chance when, with only the keeper to beat as he ran in from the right of the box, he tried to lob Mark Tyler but got no lift and succeeded only in offering him a tame backpass into his arms. Peterborough's best chance of the game fell to Bradley Allen when he put a close range free header wide of the far post on 40 minutes following poor marking at a corner. But the visitors' defence, with skipper Neil Moore, in commanding form, did not let them have another real sniff. Stags had the best of the second half exchanges and Craig Disley headed over a gaping goal after Christie had won his challenge with the keeper while Colin Larkin sent a cross-cum-shot onto the roof of the net with better options to his left. Lever produced a great challenge in the box to foil Allen in front of goal but their attack was so toothless overall that manager Barry Fry changed both strikers in the 63rd minute to the boos of the home fans and to no avail! Mansfield finished the game strongly and should have snatched victory five minutes from time after a great move saw Lawrence and Larkin set up Christie in space eight yards from goal only to blaze his finish over the top. Stags forced two corners in stoppage time to end the afternoon on a high and, for the first time this season, enjoy a clean sheet and two games unbeaten on the trot. --------- Posted by Martin Shaw |
Latest | October 2002