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Archived News from March 2010

STAGSNET STATISTICAL REVIEW AND PREVIEW
21st March 2010 17:51


The 5-0 away victory at Histon on March 20, 2010, was the Stags' biggest one for 81 years. On September 2, 1929, Worksop were slain 8-3 (McLachlan 3, Daykin, Roseboom, Simpson + an own-goal), at their place in Midland Counties League. To find a Stags away win with a bigger margin, one must go as far back as April 19, 1926. On that date, the Stags beat Castleford Town away 7-0 (Moore 3, Taylor 4)in Midlands Counties League. In that same campaign, the Stags hit seven goals in another away game. On Boxing Day, December 26, 1925, Shirebrook were beaten 7-1 at their place. That same 1925-26 season saw the Stags also rout Castleford Town at home to a 10-1 scoreline on January 16, 1926, with Hart netting five times, two from the spot.

The 5-0 game at Histon was also the first time in nearly fifteen years the Stags had scored five or more goals on the road. On October 7, 1995, Wigan were beaten 6-2 at their place in Division Three, Stags scorers Hadley 3, Peters, Doolan and Harper one apiece. Current Colchester manager Adrian Boothroyd figured for the Stags in that 6-2 rout which cost then Wigan boss Graham Barrow his job.

Below are the Stags league away wins in which five goals or more were scored (in chronological order) after WW I:

October 24, 1925: Grantham Town 2, Mansfield Town 5 (Midland Counties League)
December 12, 1925: Alfreton Town 3, Mansfield Town 5 (Midland Counties League)
December 26, 1925: Shirebrook 1, Mansfield Town 7 (Midland Counties League)
April 19, 1926: Castleford Town 0, Mansfield Town 7 (Midland Counties League)
September 2, 1929: Worksop Town 3, Mansfield Town 8 (Midland Counties League)
March 8, 1952: Chester City 1, Mansfield Town 5 (Division 3 North). First time the Stags scored five away and won in the FL)
March 27, 1963: Lincoln City 2, Mansfield Town 6 (Division 4)
September 19, 1964: Peterborough 4, Mansfield Town 5 (Division 3)
February 26, 1965: Workington 1, Mansfield Town 5 (Division 3)
November 15, 1966: Doncaster Rovers 4, Mansfield Town 6 (Division 3, highest aggregate for a Stags away win)
May 1, 1993: Preston NE 1, Mansfield Town 5 (Division 2 after the introduction of the PL)
December 27, 1994: Scarborough 2, Mansfield Town 5 (Division 3)
October 7, 1995: Wigan 2, Mansfield Town 6 (Division 3)

On September 10, 1930, the season before the election to the Football League, the Stags played a 6-6 away dray at Loughborough Corinthians. On November 16, 1935, the Stags played their league game with the highest aggregate score, a 5-7 defeat at York City in the old Division 3 North.

The Stags' biggest away win in the FA Cup is a 8-0 victory at Scarborough in the first round on November 22, 1952.

Details checked and compiled by Svante Bernhard aka Sweden Stag mainly courtesy of the centenary book

Svante Bernhard aka Sweden Stag (pictured above right)

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The Stags now hope to build upon their impressive 5-0 away rout of Histon, in fact the Stags' biggest win on the road for 81 years, exactly September 2, 1929, 8-3 at Worksop in the Midland Counties League, when BSP stalwarts Altrincham travel to Field Mill.

By the time of the Stags away encounter at Moss Lane on October 10, 2009, they hoped to end the away hoodoo (three straight away defeats). That was also done to a 2-1 scoreline in a tough encounter (more in the Match Centre). That was also revenge for last seasons 0-1-defeat, that by a goal after only twelve (!) seconds on September 23, 2008, believed to the fastest-ever goal scored or conceded in any Stags fixture since Stagsnet reports began.

The return fixture at Field Mill on April 21, 2009, was seen live by the previewer on his latest trip to England. This was a game won 2-0 but the score-line should have been much higher, had not the Altrincham keeper Acton made a man-of-the-match performance, but with no chance on either goal.

Yet that home fixture was postponed several times due to different reasons.

On the first date, November 18, 2008, the game was called off due to Altrincham having an FA Cup replay against off-the-field-relegated Luton Town, a replay which Alty lost.

On the second date, January 10, 2009, which could have been David Holdsworth's first game, the weather did not permit the home game going ahead.

In the preview of the game at Altrincham on September 23, 2008, the following was written by the previewer:

"Recently, talk on Stagsnet has been about players' registrations, things that three seasons ago cost our Tuesday night opponents 18 points, finishing last in the Conference but were reprieved due to problems of others".

But that was not to be the first time one of the non-league upper-house stalwarts were to be reprieved.

Fact is that Altrincham now are believed to have an European record on consecutive reprieves from relegation. In 2005-06, when Alty got the above-mentioned then Conf record of 18 points docked (Chester did start on minus 25), Altrincham got their reprieve due to Canvey Island's resignation and former League club Scarborough's financial problems. The following term, Altrincham were reprieved due to Boston United, relegated from the League, not being admitted to the BSP. And in the 2007-08 campaign, the 2005-06 losing Conf promotion finalists Halifax Town ran into trouble off the pitch. As far as the previewer is aware of, the previous European consecutive reprieve record belonged to Germany - and Bavaria. There, some twenty years ago in the German 2.Bundesliga, equivalent to Championship in the UK, the club SpVgg Bayreuth were reprieved from relegation from the German second tier in 1987-88 and 1988-89, respectively - and this due to financial problems of two clubs with the past in the German Bundesliga, Rot-Weiss Oberhausen and Kickers Offenbach. The verdict: both clubs were relegated due to off-the-field problems similar to those of Luton Town, but did not receive points deductions like Luton did last year.

Last season, Altrincham survived on the field, and managed some very good away results. Six wins on the road, and after the Stags v Altrincham game, Altrincham killed off Cambridge's aspirations of winning the BSP by managing a goal-less draw at Cambridge.

But Altrincham were founder members of the current BSP way back in 1979-80 and became the first champions. That season, Alty were just one vote from being elected to the League at Rochdale's expense. Fact is also, that Altrincham have played in all non-league upper-house campaigns bar six. The first Altrincham relegation took place in 1996-97. Just a few years later, Alty returned but stared immediate relegation in their faces due to far too many drawn fixtures, nineteen out of 42.

But in 2004-05, Altrincham were promoted back via the play-offs.

This season, Altrincham have done very well. Having not scored much, Alty haven't conceded much either. The BSP stalwarts took two points off Rushden & Diamonds in injury time on Saturday when netting the 2-2 equalizer at Moss Lane. And on the road, the Alty record is good. Only five defeats in seventeen games (excluding a 3-1 victory at Chester) and only fifteen goals conceded, the lowest for any side bar Tamworth outside the playoff zone, are credentials of Altrincham's progress this season. The proof: Altrincham havee beaten Rushden & Diamonds as well as having managed draws at Stevenage, AFC Wimbledon and Wrexham. Tough to beat.

This season's home BSP fixture was originally due to be played two months ago, but was cancelled due to Altrincham engagement in the FA Trophy.

Altrincham are also known as a very good FA Cup team. For more details, see the preview written on the FA Cup 4th round qualifying game played on October 24, 2009, a fortnight after the Stags' BSP victory at Moss Lane. Then, the Stags booked their ticket to the first round proper of the FA Cup by thrashing Altrincham 3-0 at home in a tough game. More in the match centre.

The player connections between the sides are found below. Here they are:

John McAliskey, Harry Broome, Simeon Hodson, John Jepson, Ged Keegan, Graham Leishman, Colin Little, Fred Morris, Joe O'Neill, Chris Timons, Michael Walker, Simon Woodhead

Best known of the lot are Simeon Hodson, Simon Woodhead and current Alty player Colin Little. O'Neill and Little played for Altrincham in both games against the Stags last season. John McAliskey scored in Altrincham's 2-0 home victory against Kettering last week.

Charlie Mitten did manage both sides in his managerial career. For the Stags as player manager between January 1956 and June 1958, for Altrincham in the 1962-63 season, in which he resigned shortly after the big freeze.

Expect a tight encounter on Tuesday night considering Altrincham's away record so far. But the Stags now need to win after firing blank in their two latest Field Mill games. Cannot afford more of that if any playoff push is to be maintained. Better is to build upon the excellent display at Histon. Come on Mansfield!

Svante Bernhard aka Sweden Stag (pictured above right)

 

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