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Archived News from November 2016

STAGS WIN AT PRIDE PARK TO PROGRESS IN EFL TROPHY
15th November 2016 13:25


English Football League Trophy - Checkatrade Trophy
Derby County academy 2 - 3 Mansfield Town
Hanson 24, Weimann 84. Hemmings 2, Henderson 5, Clements 90+3
Attendance: 870 (357 from Mansfield)

Date: 8 November 2016

Martin Shaw at the iPro Stadium, Pride Park

Mansfield Town won 3-2 against Derby County’s academy side at Pride Park to progress to the second round of the Checkatrade Trophy. Derby included several players with first team experience including Andreas Weimann who played a lot in the Premier League for Aston Villa, 34 year old keeper Chris Weale, Chris Baird and Jason Shackell. Plus Mason Bennett, born in Langwith, who’s played on loan at Chesterfield, Bradford and Burton, as well as 28 games in Derby’s first team. Mansfield were quick out of the blocks and took a two goal lead inside 5 minutes. Ashley Hemmings continued his fine form from Saturday with a low shot through the keeper on 2 minutes after a good flick on from Darius Henderson. Henderson himself doubled the lead on 5 minutes rolling the ball into an empty net after Hemmings created panic between the goalkeeper and defence. Mansfield’s 357 travelling fans enjoyed the two goals, which were both scored right in front of them. Derby pulled a goal back on 24 minutes as Jamie Hanson’s free kick from the edge of the D took a deflection off the wall to wrong foot Scott Shearer in the Mansfield goal. Henderson nearly restored Mansfield’s two goal lead but his good turn and shot ended in the side netting. The second half was fairly even, Weimann fired over from 30 yards for Derby, while for Mansfield, CJ Hamilton had a shot blocked, Howkins headed well wide, and Benning and Clements shot wide. But, unexpectedly, Derby levelled on 84 minutes with a freak goal as Weimann’s shot looped up off Oscar Gobern, over Shearer, and just under the crossbar. Matt Green was nearly presented with a goal by keeper Weale, but Mansfield saved the best for last and grabbed a deserved winner on 90+3 minutes as Chris Clements curled in a wonderful shot from 22 yards into the top right corner. It was a goal worthy of winning any game. The 357 Stags fans celebrated and so they should given the quality of Clements’ effort. So Mansfield pick up £10,000 in prize money for this victory, not to be sniffed at, to add to the £10,000 for the win at Port Vale, and progress to the second round. The draw is on Thursday morning at 10.30am live on Sky Sports News, and Mansfield will be away from home, having finished second in the group to Doncaster. The win is a confidence booster for Mansfield, who head to Fratton Park on Saturday back in the league.

It was a small crowd, as expected, at Pride Park given the general dissatisfaction with the tournament. I don’t think the format will be the same next year. Before the first game in the EFL Trophy against Doncaster Rovers, I wrote extensively on Stagsnet and in the CHAD why I thought the whole idea of the EFL Trophy this season is flawed, but why I thought we will not see Premier League U23 sides in the Football League in the future. Subsequently, the EFL indeed confirmed that it has completely ruled out the possibility of including Premier League U23 teams in the Football League as part of its Whole Game Solution. The EFL though is still considering restructuring to 4 divisions of 20 clubs because the clubs are playing too many games. That’s utter nonsense in my opinion especially given the ludicrous inclusion of extra games in the EFL Trophy this season.

It was third and final game in the round-robin stage of the competition. Mansfield knew a victory would take them through, and a defeat would send them out. A draw would mean a penalty shoot-out for a bonus point, and qualification would then depend on the result in the other game, between Doncaster and Port Vale.

Mansfield made five changes from the side that lost to Plymouth in the FA Cup on Saturday. In came Scott Shearer, Kyle Howkins, Oscar Gobern, Jack Thomas and Darius Henderson. Out went Brian Jensen, Lee Collins, Jamie McGuire, Mitch Rose and Matt Green. Clements was captain, in the absence of Collins and Green, as reward for recent fine form and to encourage him to take his leadership and talking on the field to another level. Youth team centre half Kieran Harrison was in the 18 man squad for the first time, though didn’t come on.

FULL REPORT IN THE MATCH CENTRE

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chad.co.uk MATCH REPORT: Late Clements stunner sees Stags progress in Checkatrade Trophy
chad.co.uk, by SPORTS REPORTER (Agency), Tuesday 08 November 2016

Chris Clements’ dramatic stoppage-time stunner sent Mansfield Town into the second round of the Checkatrade EFL trophy tonight.

Clements’ last-ditch curling effort, plus an early quickfire double from Ashley Hemmings and Darius Henderson handed the Stags a memorable 3-2 victory over Derby County’s U23s at the iPro to progress with Doncaster out the group stage.

Deflected goals from Jamie Hanson and Andreas Weimann looked to have sent Adam Murray’s men crashing out at the first hurdle before Clements’ intervention.

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/match-report-late-clements-stunner-sees-stags-progress-in-checkatrade-trophy-1-8226536?

Murray made five changes to the line-up that lost against Plymouth Argyle at the weekend.

Scott Shearer was recalled in goal after sitting on the bench on Saturday as Kyle Howkins, Jack Thomas, Oscar Gobern and Henderson all started down the M1, with youngster Kieran Harrison named among the substitutes.

And the Stags caught the hosts cold as they flew into a 2-0 lead inside the first five minutes.

The hosts’ defence were napping as Hemmings latched onto Henderson’s flick-on to calmly slot home his second goal in as many games in the second minute.

Just three minutes later and the lead was doubled with Henderson the scorer this time.

The veteran pounced on Chris Weale’s spill to tap his second Stags’ goal into an empty net.

The Rams were given a glimmer of hope before the break as Hanson’s deflected free-kick wrong-footed Shearer in the 24th minute.

After the break former Aston Villa man Weimann whistled his shot over the bar as the rampant Rams went searching for an equaliser.

Weimann got his reward six minutes from time as his strike looped off Gobern and lobbed Shearer as it looked as though the Rams had rescued themselves a penalty shoot-out.

It wasn’t to be, however, as captain Clements ended a thrilling encounter with a sensational strike from 25 yards out after nudging the ball past his marker to sent the Stags’ fans wild in the stands.

DERBY: Weale, Shackell, Baird, Weinmann, Hanson, Rawson, Bennett (Jakobsen 85), Gordon (Santos 66), Guy, Stabana, Vernam (Walker 79). Subs: Cover, Ravas, Lelan, Mitchell-Lawson.

STAGS: Shearer, Bennett, Benning, Pearce, Clements, Baxendale (Hamilton 59mins), Howkins, Thomas (M. Rose 48mins), Hemmings, Gobern, Henderson (Green 73). Subs: Jensen, Hoban, D. Rose, Harrison.

REFEREE: Trevor Kettle of Rutland.

ATTENDANCE: 870 (357 away).

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REPORT: Derby County 2-3 Mansfield Town
dcfc.co.uk. 8th November 2016, by DCFC Media

One moment of great quality in the dying embers saw Derby County’s Checkatrade Trophy journey end in defeat as Mansfield Town edged out 3-2 winners in the final group stage fixture.

The Rams were forced to climb a mountain early doors too as the Stags established a quick fire two goal lead to hold a 2-0 cushion after just five minutes of action through Ashley Hemmings and Darius Henderson.

Jamie Hanson’s deflected free kick halved the deficit, before Andreas Weimann also saw a strike take a nick and loop into the back of the net to set up a grandstand finish at the iPro Stadium.

Mansfield’s captain, Chris Clements, however, struck a sublime winner from all of 25 yards out - a goal that sent Mansfield through to the knockout stages of the competition with Doncaster Rovers at the expense of Derby and Sky Bet League 1 outfit Port Vale.

Read more at http://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/report-derby-county-vs-mansfield-town-3406354.aspx#uXd35TeFz8EGbbcJ.99

Showing an experienced back five that contained Chris Weale, Chris Baird and Jason Shackell, the Rams looked to have a solid base to build upon as Wassall’s side sought to extend their stay in this season’s Checkatrade Trophy.

Despite that, the hosts had a mountain to climb as Mansfield made the perfect start to this crucial final group clash of this Checkatrade Trophy meeting and established a two-goal cushion within five minutes.

Hemmings kick started the shock spell by showing great pace to latch on to a flicked header from Henderson, before squeezing a low shot underneath Weale, despite the goalkeeper getting a hand to his effort.

Three minutes later it was 2-0 as the Rams failed to clear their lines after Weale came racing out of his goal to claim a ball forward, leaving Henderson the simple task of finishing the loose ball into the back of an unguarded goal.

Proceedings settled down after that as Wassall’s side began to dictate the tempo of the game.

Farrend Rawson, the Derby captain, headed narrowly wide from Callum Guy’s precise delivery as the hosts began to craft openings, but shortly after that the hosts clawed one back.

Hanson is renowned for his quality from dead ball situations and when the Rams were awarded a free kick 20-yards from goal, there was only going to be one man taking it. The result was a goal as his effort squirmed through the wall and flew past a deceived Scott Shearer.

Weimann had a shout for a penalty waved away moments later after checking on to his right foot, whilst Charles Vernam, playing in a deeper midfield role, saw a snap shot saved by Shearer.

That’s how the first half ended and on a bitterly cold evening in Derbyshire, it took a while for the second 45 minutes to get going.

A lack of chances and quality in the final third was the result of a feisty affair and it took 20 minutes alone for the first effort to be registered of the half as Weimann sent a whistling shot over the crossbar from range.

With the contest on a knife edge, Mitchell Rose, the substitute, saw a drive take a deflection for a corner, whilst Kyle Howkins directed a header from the resulting set playing over Weale’s goal.

As time ticked down, the tempo picked up slightly and Wassall’s men were given a lifeline with six minutes remaining, striking once more to set up a grandstand finish at the iPro Stadium as Weimann saw a cracked shot take a deflection and loop over Shearer to nestle nicely into the far corner of the goal.

Both teams sensed blood knowing that one goal, with Port Vale and Doncaster Rovers goalless too, that there was a big opportunity to still progress, but with five minutes of added time shown, the game’s biggest moment of quality showed itself and ultimately prevailed.

From 20-yards out, Clements, the Mansfield captain, collected a loose clearance, switched the ball on to his right foot, and planted a precise finish beyond the outstretched fingertips of Weale to secure all three points and send them through to the knockout stage of the competition.

Derby County: Weale, Baird, Rawson, Shackell, Stabana, Hanson, Guy, Vernam (Walker, 84), Gordon (Santos, 66), Weimann, Bennett (Jakobsen, 85)

Substitutes not used: Ravas, Cover, Lelan, Mitchell-Lawson

Mansfield Town: Shearer, Bennett, Benning, Pearce, Clements (C), Baxendale (Hamilton, 59), Howkins, Thomas (M. Rose, 47), Hemmings, Gobern, Henderson (Green, 73)

Substitutes not used: Jensen, Hoban, D. Rose, Harrison

Attendance: 870 (357 away supporters)

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Derby County U23s out of the Checkatrade Trophy after losing 3-2 to Mansfield Town
By Steve Nicholson, derbytelegraph.co.uk

Derby County Under-23s are out of the Checkatrade Trophy after losing 3-2 against Mansfield Town at the iPro Stadium.

They fought back from conceding two early goals to draw level thanks to goals from Jamie Hanson and Andreas Weimann but Mansfield's captain Chris Clements settled the tie with a wonderful strike in stoppage time.

Defeat left the Rams bottom of Group E with one point from their three matches while Doncaster Rovers and Mansfield progress to the knockout stage of the competition.

Read more at http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/derby-county-u23s-out-of-the-checkatrade-trophy-after-losing-3-2-to-mansfield-town/story-29879133-detail/story.html?#9UDuTtY4hLMAl6f7.99

The topic of conversation in the past day or so has been the injury to first-team right back Cyrus Christie and who will replace him when the Rams return to Championship action after the international break.

Chris Baird is one of the options, and he played the full game against Mansfield at right back. Jason Shackell also played 90 minutes as he continues to build his match fitness following a lengthy lay-off with a calf injury.

Shackell was one of three starters who were in the 18 on duty for the first team against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on Saturday. The other two were Weimann and Hanson, while the experienced Chris Weale was in goal.

Mansfield, of League Two, made five changes to the side that lost 2-1 at home to Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup at the weekend. The new format of what was the Johnstone's Paint Trophy has seen 16 invited Category One academies competing alongside League One and Two sides.

While League One and Two clubs must name a minimum of five "first-team" players in their starting line-up under competition rules, the invited clubs - Derby included - must field at least six players in their starting XI who were under the age of 21 on June 30.

Rams made the worst possible start and found themselves two down inside five minutes.

With only two minutes gone, Ashley Hemmings was afforded far too much space so early in the game and his low angled shot from just inside the area beat Chris Weale. The keeper got plenty on the ball but it squirmed underneath him and found the net.

Weale was at fault for Mansfield's second three minutes later. He slid out in an attempt to gather a ball into the box but allowed it to slip from his grasp and Darius Henderson gratefully guided his finish into an empty net.

Derby started to settle after the early double blow. They began to knock the ball around and Farrend Rawson headed narrowly wide from Callum Guy's corner.

Mansfield put themselves under pressure by conceding too many free kicks, and it was from one of the set pieces that Derby pulled a goal back. Shackell was fouled a yard outside the area and Hanson's free kick deflected off the defensive wall to give Mansfield keeper Scott Shearer no chance.

Boosted by the goal, Derby pushed Mansfield back. Weimann surged into the box and went down under a challenge from Jack Thomas but the referee waved away appeals for a penalty. Weimann was not impressed and was booked for dissent.

Hanson's powerful run took him to the byline. He then beat his marker with a clever bit of skill and chipped an inviting ball to the back post where Malvind Benning made a timely headed clearance as Kellan Gordon was challenging.

Free kicks and yellow cards punctuated the early minutes of the second half and this meant there was little flow to the game. Weimann smashed a shot from 25 yards over the bar before Derby made their first change after 65 minutes when Alefe Santos replaced Gordon.

Mansfield enjoyed a good little spell but they had failed to seriously test Weale since that opening salvo and the contest rather lost its way for long periods in a disjointed and disappointing second half.

There was little sign of another goal at either end until six minutes from time when Bennett fed Weimann in the area and his strike took a wicked deflection to send the ball looping over Shearer.

Derby pressed for a winner but it was the visitors who had the final say as they scored the best goal of the night two minutes into added time. Take a bow Clements, who curled an absolute beauty from 20 yards high beyond Weale to give the Stags victory.

DERBY COUNTY U23s: Weale; Shackell, Baird, Weimann, Hanson, Rawson, Bennett (Kakobsen, 85), Gordon (Santos, 65), Guy, Stabana, Vernam (Walker, 79). Other subs: Ravas (gk), Cover, Lelan, Mitchell-Lawson

MANSFIELD TOWN: Shearer; Bennett, Benning, Pearce, Clements, Baxendale (Hamilton, 59), Howkins, Thomas (M Rose, 49), Hemmings, Gobern, Henderson (Green, 74). Other subs: Jensen, Hoban, D.Rose, Harrison.

Referee: T Kettle (Rutland)

Attendance: 870 (357 Mansfield fans)

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