Archived News from September 2014
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UNLUCKY STAGS DENIED AT WYCOMBE
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Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Wycombe Wanderers 2 - 1 Mansfield Town Hayes pen 29, Murphy 77. Rhead 4 mins. Attendance: 3106 (261 from Mansfield) Date: 13 September 2014 Martin Shaw and Jeff Barnes at Adams Park Mansfield Town were somehow beaten at Wycombe this afternoon after a dominant performance where the Stags were outstanding in the opening 30 minutes and could easily have been 4-0 ahead, but a controversial penalty for Wycombe then cancelled out Matt Rhead’s towering header. Rhead’s header came from a Murray corner. The Wycombe penalty came as a shot from 25 yards struck Martin Riley on the left elbow just inside the box, and everyone in the stadium and on the pitch seemed amazed as the referee gave the penalty and yellow-carded Riley. All of the Wycombe media were certainly as surprised as the Mansfield media that the penalty was given. The DVD confirms that the incident was just inside the box but that it was innocuous. The penalty certainly changed the momentum of the game, but the Stags slowly regained their mojo and started to dominate again from about the hour mark. The Stags had a total of 16 corners to Wycombe’s 2, but fell behind on 77 minutes as Murphy headed home. The Stags were unable to equalise despite more chances late on. Plenty of positives from a good performance, but the Stags need to start converting more chances. Bingham, who looked a handful, was denied on four occasions. The 261 Stags fans were enraged at the performance of the referee, who was poor throughout, and gave the team a standing ovation at the end of the game. If the Stags can keep up this level of performance, good results will surely follow. ----------------------------------- Saturday, 13th September 2014: Wycombe Wanderers 2 Mansfield Town 1 chad.co.uk report by John Lomas Mansfield Town’s superb first half display at Wycombe earned them nothing as they were knocked back by a contentious penalty decision and ultimately lost it to Peter Murphy’s 77th minute winner. http://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/sport/local-sport/saturday-13th-september-2014-wycombe-wanderers-2-mansfield-town-1-1-6839533 Although the 30th minute handball decision against Martin Riley looked a harsh one, Stags were so much in charge at that stage and had created so many chances, they really should have had Wycombe dead and buried at that point New signing Rakish Bingham could have had a hat-trick while Matt Rhead had scored one from a fourth minute corner and should have had another from the same position. Instead referee Darren Deadman decided Riley had handled a 25-yard Paul Hayes shot and Hayes made hay from the spot to level. Stags boss Paul Cox was furious with that and several other decisions that went against his side and was finally sent to the stands in stoppage time at the end by Mr Deadman. Mansfield were always well in the game and the corner count ended up 16-2 in favour of the away side. But it’s putting the ball in the net that really counts and that failure to finish off Wycombe when they had them on the ropes came back to haunt them in the end as the Chairboys climbed to fourth place and Stags dropped to 13th. A training injury on Thursday ruled out Jamie McGuire. Chris Clements took over the central midfield role and McGuire sat on the bench just to make up a full seven. That was the only change which meant Ritchie Sutton kept his place in the back three, despite limping off last weekend with a hamstring injury. Although not 100 per cent fit, with little cover at the back right now, Stags felt Sutton was sufficiently recovered to take a chance on. Fergus Bell had also shaken off a swollen ankle picked up in last weekend’s 2-1 win at Exeter. The game started untidily with free kicks at both ends. But in the second minute Rhead’s flick gave Bingham a sniff of goal on the right of the box, and he forced Ingram to beat away a powerful on-target shot at his near post, the keeper then claiming the right wing corner. Another Rhead flick two minutes later saw Bingham onside with almost too much time. He eventually tried to slot under the keeper at the near post, but the ball struck the keeper’s body and ended up in the sidenetting. However, Stags were rewarded for their bright start seconds later as, from the resulting corner, Murray sent it long to the far post where Rhead rose in unstoppable fashion to power a header back across Ingram and into the net on four minutes. The home side had barely left their own half in that opening four minutes and more good work from Bingham saw Beevers win a third corner for the visitors on eight minutes, taken by Clements and punched clear by Ingram. A great ball from Marsden into the path of Bingham on nine minutes saw an offside flag raised as the youngster beat Ingram at the second attempt. It took Wycombe 11 minutes to threaten as a long free kick from their own half saw Evtimov leave his line to gather only to spill the ball, the Bulgarian grateful to see Beevers on hand to hook clear. A minute later Pierre spun well on the edge of the box to rifle a powerful shot over the Mansfield bar. Mansfield hit back with a right wing corner on 14 minutes and the same combination almost conjured up a repeat performance as Murray sent it to the back post where Rhead again rose for a powerful free header only this time sending it straight at the keeper. How Stags were only one ahead at this stage was anyone’s guess and the away fans were left wondering if they would pay for their finishing later on. Mansfield’s fifth corner after just 17 minutes was pulled back short for Murray, who saw his shot easily blocked. Wycombe broke quickly and Scowen set up home skipper Hayes for a first time sidefooted effort. On 19 minutes Beevers helped the ball into the path of Bingham only for the striker to balloon a finish well over. Riley headed a Jacobson cross behind for Wycombe’s first corner on 22 minutes. It was cleared out as far as Scowen, whose low 20-yard shot was blocked. Marsden slid into Jacobson to earn a 26th minute booking to give Wanderers a free kick just outside the box on the left, Tafazolli heading clear. Out of the blue on 30 minutes the home side were gifted a penalty kick. A Hayes snapshot from 25 yards struck Riley on the edge of the box and to the visitors’ amazement the referee pointed to the spot and booked Riley for an apparent handball, though few people in the ground had seen it. Hayes gratefully stepped up to tuck a low penalty inside the right hand post and the home side were somehow level after all that had gone before. Stags boss Paul Cox was furious and continued to remonstrate with the fourth official, but Wycombe were level and almost went ahead within a minute as Wycombe finally got their tails up against a shellshocked Mansfield. Sutton slipped as he tried to stay with Hayes down the left and the striker was able to race clear of him and send in a low cross in front of goal that Holloway should have buried but somehow lifted over. On 41 minutes Wood put over a dangerous cross from wide on the right, this one bouncing through a crowd of players in the six yard box and Holloway getting a touch at the far post but unable to guide it on target. Wood won another home free kick on the left which Jacobson put into the box and Holloway nodded over. A minute from the break Bell almost sent Bingham clear, but the striker was marginally offside. As soon as the half-time whistle blew, Paul Cox marched straight onto the pitch to query the penalty decision with the referee as Stags went in wondering how the game was level. McClure took over from the dangerous Holloway for the home side for the second half. Wycombe enjoyed the early pressure without testing Evtimov, then on 57 minutes Stags won the first corner of the half. A second followed soon after, and then a third as the away fans behind the goal began to raise the noise levels. Clements was in well to tidy up as the Chairboys broke quickly when the third corner was cleared. Then Bingham was blocked off as he tried to chase a Clements through ball with nothing given and the striker furious with the referee. Some fine passing from the away side earned Mansfield corner number nine, but again Ingram remained untested. Rhead’s flick again threatened to put Bingham in, but he ended up winning a corner that was headed away. Instead the home side broke swiftly with Beevers having to concede a corner as he blocked Scowen’s finish. On 68 minutes Evtimov was always firmly behind Scowen’s 25-yard swerving shot. Rhead’s challenge had Stags temporarily three on two on 71 minutes, but, with Bingham to his right, Clements delayed too long and was crowded out before he could test the keeper or pass. Bingham then skipped past Pierre to get into the box on the left by-line before Pierre conceded a corner with a desperate lunge. That was the first of two successive corners, Wycombe clearing both. The home side sent on Lewis as a 76th minute sub and, soon after Evtimov had got down bravely at the feet of McClure, they swept ahead through Murphy on 77 minutes. Hayes headed a left wing cross back in front of goal where Murphy jumped to power a header past Evtimov. The game had looked likely to peter out all square at that stage, but Mansfield suddenly had a rescue mission to perform and Palmer was sent on as a third striker at the expense of Bell. Soon after Hayes bundled a poor finish wide after an excellent initial turn on the edge of the box. Stags and their fans were angry again on 85 minutes as Murray felt a hand halted his by-line cross and screamed for a penalty. Instead Stags were handed corner number 14. Wycombe cleared that and another two in quick succession as they held onto their slim advantage. The home side then enjoyed a spell of pressure of their own which ended with Evtimov making flying save to his left to take a rising Wood shot out of the air at full stretch. Four minutes added on time saw manager Cox sent to the stand for verbal abuse of the officials in the last of them as Mansfield’s afternoon of misery was made complete. WYCOMBE WANDERERS: Ingram, Jombati, Jacobson, Pierre, Mawson, Scowen (Lewis 76), Murphy (Bloomfield 80), Rowe, Wood, Hayes, Holloway (McClure HT). Subs not used: Richardson, Kretzschmar, Walker. MANSFIELD TOWN: Evtimov; Sutton, Riley, Tafazolli; Marsden, Murray, Clements, Bell (Palmer 80), Beevers (Taylor 85); Rhead, Bingham. Subs not used: Studer, Fisher, McGuire, Heslop, Thomas. REFEREE; Darren Deadman of Peterborough. ATTENDANCE: 3,106 (261 away). CHAD STAGS MAN OF THE MATCH: Matt Rhead. ----------------- Report: Wycombe 2-1 Mansfield Author: @wwfcofficial Wanderers returned to winning ways with an excellent 2-1 victory over Mansfield Town at Adams Park. Read more at http://www.wycombewanderers.co.uk/news/article/report-wycombe-2-1-mansfield-1911288.aspx#gx7GxoWr5bmhlGGe.99 The Blues had to do it the hard way, coming back from a goal down after Matt Rhead thumped home a header in the opening five minutes after a poor start from the hosts. But they were literally handed a way back into the game when Martin Riley stuck out an arm to deflect Paul Hayes' shot, and the striker dispatched the penalty himself to level the scores. The winning goal came with a quarter of an hour remaining when Hayes turned provider for Peter Murphy to head home in front of a gleeful home terrace. The return of Josh Scowen, coupled with the absence of Paris Cowan-Hall, prompted a tactical reshuffle from Gareth Ainsworth, who handed Aaron Holloway his first league start in a 4-3-3- formation alongside Paul Hayes and Sam Wood up front. Mansfield, in a 3-5-2 formation, created the game’s first chance when Matt Rhead flicked on for Rakish Bingham to get his shot away, but the striker’s powerful drive was parried away by Ingram. The hosts didn’t heed the warning and allowed Bingham even more time moments later, but his tame shot was deflected into the side netting by Ingram, prompting a corner from which the opening goal arrived. A delivery towards the back stick was met by a towering header from Matt Rhead, who evaded any challenge to send a bullet into the top corner with fewer than five minutes on the clock. The goal sprung Wycombe into action and they caused panic for Stags keeper Dimitar Evtimov when he fumbled a long free-kick but Aaron Pierre was crowded out, before the defender fired over when the ball was returned into the box. At the other end, Mansfield’s height caused a threat from set pieces and Rhead was gifted another free header on 14 minutes, but couldn’t aim it away from Ingram. Half chances for Paul Hayes and Rakish Bingham evaded the target before the game involved into more of a midfield scrap, but the equalising goal came in controversial circumstances. Paul Hayes fired speculatively goalwards from 25 yards and referee Darren Deadman deemed that Martin Riley had moved his arm towards the ball just inside the area, awarding a penalty which Hayes duly dispatched, despite the keeper’s best efforts. Town looked shell-shocked and almost fell behind immediately when Hayes robbed a defender and escaped down the left, crossing the ball into the six-yard box only for Aaron Holloway to turn it over the bar when sliding in. After a poor start, Wanderers finished the half strongly, and Holloway had a sight of a maiden Wycombe goal when Sam Wood’s cross missed everyone and flew past his boot at the back post as he just struggled to react in time. Matt McClure replaced Holloway up front at the break and there seemed to be more tempo all over the park, as Mansfield continued to threaten from set-pieces into the penalty area. One such opportunity saw Matt Rhead send another header towards goal and as Rakish Bingham looked set to turn the ball home, Sido Jombati hooked clear from within the six-yard box. At the other end, Josh Scowen was relased after fine play from Sido Jombati and Sam Wood, but after some fine footwork, the ball was forced out for a corner. Wanderers’ momentum was growing, and a brilliant passage of play almost let in Matt McClure, but his touch was just too heavy and it was scrambled clear. Nevertheless, in the same movement, the ball was whipped in from the left and when Paul Hayes nodded it back across goal, Peter Murphy was in the right place at the right time to nod home his fourth goal of the campaign. The midfielder sustained a head injury whilst scoring and needed to be replaced by Matt Bloomfield, and he was involved in a smart move in the final few minutes which resulted in Sam Wood's dipping volley being well saved by the keeper. Stags boss Paul Cox was sent to the stands in stoppage time for an act of dissent, and it was the final act of note as the Blues held on for an impressive win. Wycombe: Ingram, Jombati, Jacobson, Mawson, Pierre, Rowe, Murphy (Bloomfield 78), Scowen (Lewis 76), Wood, Holloway (McClure 45), Hayes. Unused subs: Richardson, Walker, Kretzschmar. Mansfield: Evtimov, Sutton, Tafazolli, Riley, Beevers (Taylor 85), Bell (Palmer 78), Murray, Marsden, Clements, Rhead, Bingham. Unused subs: Studer, Fisher, McGuire, Heslop, Thomas. Referee: Mr D Deadman Attendance: 3,106 (261 from Mansfield Town) --------------------- Wanderers sink last year's saviours Mansfield Bucks Free Press, by Pete Grant Wanderers 2 Mansfield Town 1 PETER Murphy popped up to score his fourth goal of the season from midfield as Wycombe Wanderers ended a mini-goal drought to sink last season’s saviours Mansfield Town 2-1. http://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/11472304._/? Blues went behind after just four minutes when Matt Rhead rose to head in from a corner for the Stags and show no sign of extending the courtesy given when helping keep them in the league at the death last campaign. But man of the match Paul Hayes was on hand to capitalise on a soft penalty award after half an hour, before Murphy nodded in from close range with ten minutes to go to seal the three points for the Chairboys. Four months ago the Stags proved Blues’ lifeline, sending the Adams Park faithful into fits of delirium when they sank Bristol Rovers on the last game of the season to keep Wanderers up. Blues stepped out with frustratingly few goals to their name in recent matches, failing to find the back of the net on five of their last seven in all competitions - a statistic that has already seen them dumped out of two cup competitions at the first hurdle. And though his team have been carving out opportunities, Ainsworth wasn’t helped with the absence of frontman Steven Craig, sidelined after suffering a nasty concussion during last week’s draw with Bury. This gave Adam Holloway an opportunity to step up alongside Paul Hayes, with Sam Wood pushing forward to form an impromptu 4-3-3 formation. Paris Cowan-Hall, who suffered with niggling injuries so much of last season, was ruled out with a knock after making a bright start to the campaign, with Josh Scowen taking his place. A largely positive start to the new league season saw the Chairboys nestled in fifth with the arrival of a patchy Mansfield side, who with two away losses on the board were hoping to find some consistency on the road. If Blues fans expected a second dose of help from the Stags, they were mistaken, when an early test for keeper Matt Ingram saw him tip round the post when Rakish Bingham fired from close range inside two minutes. And two minutes later, Bingham broke free again, with bags of time at his disposal, almost too much, as he ran out of time to slot the ball past the onrushing keeper. And Wanderers were made to pay, when from the resulting corner, Rhead rose to head unchallenged and thunder the ball past a hapless Ingram. Bingham continued to prove a thorn in Blues’ side, breaking free again but this time being ruled offside in his second one-on-one with Ingram. A response from Wanderers saw Aaron Pierre tee himself up for a 20-yard drive in the mould of a centre forward, with the ball oinly just fizzing over. Rhead almost scored an identical second, rising in the right place at the right time after another corner to nod goalwards - but this time Ingram collected. Paul Hayes failed to connect properly with his first real effort of the day, his speculative half volley whizzing far over the bar as Blues searched leveller. Some good work by Scowen on the right allowed Joe Jacobson to whip one in, but no head came to meet it. And another excellent delivery from the Welshman, this time from the right, came to the same end, as Blues seemed to wake up as the half grew older. A nasty challenge on Jacobson saw Liam Marsden earn a yellow card, and on another day, could have seen red, after recklessly diving in to halt his progress towards the box. The referee pointed to the spot after a handball by Stags’ Martin Riley after half an hour, and while it looked suspiciously close to being outside the box, Hayes stepped up to coolly slot the ball home to the keeeper's left for an equaliser. And it should have been 2-1 moments later when Hayes burst down the right and set up Holloway, who with the goal gaping, sliced the ball over from close range under pressure from the retreating Mansfield defence. Both sides pressed hard for another as half time approached, with Holloway a whisker away from putting Blues ahead but couldn’t connect with Wood’s looping cross form the right. Ainsworth replaced Holloway at half time, with Matt McClure given the nod to kick Wanderers on and find a second. And the homes side were the brighter of the two early on in the second period, keeping the majority of the play in the Stags’ half. But as Mansfield found their way back into the game, Rhead again had a chance to climb above the Blues back line and get a header away, this time wide as the home defence struggled to contain him. Scowen was unlucky to see his effort blocked after scampering down the right wing and perservering to put himself in a shooting position. The busy Aaron Pierre popped up on numerous occasions to make important stops, calmly sliding in the box to prevent Bingham from closing in on a goal scoring chance after 70 minutes. But it was Peter Murphy who took the initiative to nod in his fourth goal of the season from close range and put Blues ahead, after Hayes had redirected Jacobson’s cross back across goal and the prolific scouser reacted quickest. But picking up what appeared to be a head injury in the process, the goal hero was helped off and replaced with Matt Bloomfield. The final few minutes saw a penalty shout for the visitors as Stuart Lewis appeared to handle the ball in the box, but the referee ingored the claims. And a ping pong exchange at the other end saw the ball fall to Wood, whose thumped drive was stopped well by keeper Dimitar Evtimov. And as Blues saw out the dying moments of the game, Paul Cox was sent to the stands after a heated exhange with the fourth official. Wanderers: Ingram, Jombati, Jacobson, Pierre, Mawson, Scowen (Lewis 76), Murphy (Bloomfield 80), Rowe, Wood, Hayes (c), Holloway (McClure 45) Attendance: 3106 -------------------- |
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