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Archived News from July 2017

MANSFIELD 2-3 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY
22nd July 2017 0:23


Pre-Season Friendly
Mansfield Town 2 - 3 Sheffield Wednesday
Taft 32, Bennett 81. Rhodes 12, Lees 53, Joao 83.
Attendance: 4319 (1517 from Sheffield Wednesday)

Date: 15 July 2017

Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill

Mansfield Town’s first home pre-season friendly ended in a 3-2 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday. But against this quality of opposition it was an excellent workout for the Stags and if it hadn’t been for a sloppy late goal conceded, the Stags would have grabbed a deserved draw. Sheffield Wednesday, who only missed out on promotion to the Premier League in the playoffs, ran rings around Mansfield in the opening 20 minutes, with players of the quality of George Boyd, Jordan Rhodes, Sam Winnall, Adam Reach standing out. Rhodes headed Wednesday in front, but Mansfield regrouped and got a foothold into the game midway through the half, deservedly equalising when George Taft rifled home from close range. The second half of that first half was tremendous from the Stags, with encouraging performances especially from Jacob Mellis, Mal Benning, CJ Hamilton, and Paul Digby. Mansfield played a different side in the second half. The second half was very even. Tom Lees headed Wednesday back in front, before Johnny Hunt had a goal disallowed for Mansfield. Rhys Bennett deservedly equalised from a corner on 81 minutes. But the Stags conceded a sloppy goal on 83 minutes to hand victory to the Owls. Plenty of players impressed in the second half, including Danny Rose, Omari Sterling-James, Alfie Potter and Johnny Hunt.

FULL REPORT IN THE MATCH CENTRE

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REPORT: Mansfield Town 2-3 Sheffield Wednesday
chad.co.uk, by MARK DUFFY, Saturday 15 July 2017

Mansfield Town’s first home friendly of the summer ended in defeat on Saturday but they can take heart from giving Sheffield Wednesday a good run for their money.

As pre-season games go this was one of the better ones you’ll see, both teams playing some decent football at times and a few goals added into the bargain too.

George Taft got the Stags equaliser in the first half. The cliched ‘useful run-outs’ would have pleased both managers, though how much they’ll read into events at this early stage of the summer is hard to tell.

But for those attending it was good to see their teams’ new faces in action and both sets of fans can look ahead with a degree of optimism based on what was on show.

Wednesday had the first opening of note seven minutes in when a long ball forward was headed away by George Taft but only to the feet of Sam Winnall who drove low into the arms of Conrad Logan from just outside the penalty area.

The visitors were dominating possession early on, most of their work going through Barry Bannan in midfield.

And it was Bannan who began the move which led to the opening goal on 12 minutes. His pass through midfield found David Jones who in turn fed Adam Reach down the left, and after he’d beat Hayden White he crossed to find Jordan Rhodes six yards out and he headed down past Logan and into the corner of the net.

Stags could have levelled three minutes later when an error at the back allowed Jacob Mellis to feed Jimmy Spencer but his shot from a slight angle was gathered easily by Cameron Dawson. George Boyd was then denied by Logan at the other end after Stags got in a muddle at the back, Daniel Pudil and Boyd then both seeing efforts blocked by Logan from the corner.

For a pre-season game it was proving entertaining stuff, Boyd again going close with a low drive from the edge of the area after a pull-back from Jack Hunt.

Stags then got level on 32 minutes after CJ Hamilton had been fouled down the inside left channel. Paul Anderson whipped in a free-kick which Wednesday made a total mess of clearing and the ball fell to defender George Taft who slammed it home on the half volley from a few yards out.

Chances dried up a little as the half then fizzled out, Anderson firing straight at Dawson right on the whistle but the teams ultimately going in level after both had enjoyed good spells of the game.

Both sides made a large number of changes at half-time but it was two players who remained on the pitch that combined for Wednesday’s second goal on 54 minutes. Jones curled in a corner from the right and Tom Lees got up to powerfully head home via the underside of the crossbar.

Stags responded with Rhys Bennett’s cross being deflected just too high and then Krystian Pearce nodding the resulting corner narrowly past the post.

Fernando Forestieri saw a free-kick deflected over at the other end on 65, before Stags cleared the corner and broke away in a move that ended with Will Atkinson shooting just wide of the far post.

Stags went even closer soon afterwards as Zander Diamond’s divine through ball found Danny Rose down the right but his low ball in couldn’t be turned home by trialist Jordan Slew.

Marco Matias tested Bobby Olejnik with 12 to go but the sub keeper was equal to his shot, the game lacking the fluidity of the first-half but remaining entertaining nevertheless.

And it would be Stags who would get the next goal with eight minutes to go, Joel Byrom’s corner to the back post headed down and in by Bennett.

However, it took just a couple of minutes for Wednesday to get back in front, recent sub Lucas Joao sliding the ball home after it broke to him in the penalty area.

Mansfield: 1 Conrad Logan (Bobby Olejnkik 46), 3 Mal Benning (Joel Byrom 46), 4 Paul Digby (Jordan Slew 64), 8 Jacob Mellis (Alfie Potter 46), 9 Lee Angol (Omari Sterling-James 46, Jack Thomas 83), 10 Paul Anderson (Danny Rose 32), 14 George Taft (Krystian Pearce 46), 15 Jimmy Spencer (Will Atkinson 46), 16 Hayden White (Rhys Bennett 46), 18 David Mirfin (c) (Zander Diamond 46), 22 CJ Hamilton (Johnny Hunt 46)
GOALS: Taft 32, Bennett 82

Sheff Wed: 25 Cameron Dawson (Joe Wildsmith 46), 4 David Jones, 5 Daniel Pudil, 15 Tom Lees, 17 Jordan Rhodes (Steven Fletcher 46), 19 Adam Reach, 21 Morgan Fox (Fernando Foriesteri 46), 24 Sam Winnall (Liam Palmer 46), 26 George Boyd (Gary Hooper 46), 32 Jack Hunt (Marco Matias 46, Lucas Joao 80), 41 Barry Bannan
Subs not used: 3 Jordan Thorniley, 6 Connor O’Grady, 7 Matt Penney, 20 James Murphy, 22 Atdhe Nuhiu, 33 Sean Clare, 34 Dan Wallis (GK)
GOALS: Rhodes 11, Lees 53, Joao 84
Ref: John Brooks Att: 4,319

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/report-mansfield-town-2-3-sheffield-wednesday-1-8651798

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Sheffield Wednesday pre-season report: Mansfield Town 2 Owls 3
thestar.co.uk, by CHRIS HOLT,Saturday 15 July 2017

Sheffield Wednesday registered their second win of pre-season today but they were made to work hard for the 3-2 victory over Mansfield Town at Field Mill. Jordan Rhodes had the Owls in front for his third goal in two games but Stags equalised just before the break through George Taft. Danny Rose holds off a challenge from Wednesday's Adam Reach at Field Mill. Pic: Dean Atkins After a host of half time substitutions, Tom Lees had Wednesday back in front early in the second half and it looked as though it would remain that way. That was until Ryan Bennett had Mansfield back level again late on, only for substitute Lucas Joao to score just a minute later. The Owls took control and exerted pressure on the Stags defence right from the early stages. Sam Winnall had a sight on goal in the seventh minute which was easily saved by Conrad Logan and three minutes later, after some impressive build-up play, Barry Bannan's cross towards Rhodes just evaded the Wednesday striker. There was to be no let off for the home side in the 11th minute though as good play on the left from Adam Reach saw the winger fire the ball into the box where Rhodes headed in from a couple of yards out. George Boyd had a couple of half chances with both going wide and on 17 minutes Daniel Pudil warmed the hands of Logan with a well-struck shot after Boyd's lay-off which the keeper was forced to beat away. Mansfield came into the game in the latter period of the first half and on 31 minutes they got an equaliser when Wednesday failed to clear a corner and George Taft shot through a crowded goalmouth to level the score. Steve Evans' men were arguably the better team for the remainder of the half with Wednesday having slowed up considerably following Taft's goal. However, aside from a decent effort from Paul Anderson from the edge of the box which Dawson saved, neither side really looked like going in front. Wednesday made six changes at the break with Steven Fletcher, Gary Hooper, Fernando Forestieri, Marco Matias, Liam Palmer and Joe Wildsmith coming on for Rhodes, Winnall, Boyd, Morgan Fox, Jack Hunt and Dawson. The second period was eight minutes old when Wednesday reclaimed the lead. Forestieri won a corner after his shot was deflected away; David Jones took it superbly, finding Lees who headed in powerfully, off the underside of the crossbar. Johnny Hunt had the ball in the net for Stags ten minutes later but his effort, which came after Daniel Pudil had slipped in the box, was ruled out for offside. Former Sheffield United academy player Jordan Slew, who was released by Plymouth in May, came on in the second half for the home side. he's currently on trial at Field Mill. And he could have made a big impression a few minutes after coming on as the impressive Danny Rose squared the ball to him from the right but Slew was denied by Wildsmith. The final stages were played at a slow pace, only punctuated by the odd flash of brilliance from Forestieri, who looked lively after coming on at the break. Mansfield looked to have got the draw that on the balance of play they would have deserved when Ryan Bennett headed in unmarked at theback post, but with six minutes remaining, Joao slotted in from 12 yards to win it for Wednesday. Mansfield Town: Logan, Benning, Digby, Mellis, Angol, Anderson, Taft, Spencer, White, Mirfin, Hamilton. Subs: Olejnik, Bennett, Pearce, Diamond, Atkinson, Potter, Hunt, Thomas, Sterling-James, Slew, Byrom, Rose. Sheffield Wednesday: Dawson, Hunt, Lees, Piudil, Fox, Boyd, Jones, Bannan, Reach, Winnall, Rhodes. Subs: Wildsmith, Thorniley, O'Grady, Penney, Hooper, Fletcher, Matias, Palmer, Joao, Murphy, Nuhiu, Clare, Wallis, Forestieri. Referee: John Brooks

Read more at: http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-wednesday/sheffield-wednesday-pre-season-report-mansfield-town-2-owls-3-1-8651797

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Report: Mansfield 2-3 Owls
swfc.co.uk

The Owls edged a five-goal pre-season clash at Mansfield on Saturday afternoon.

Goals from Jordan Rhodes, Tom Lees and Lucas Joao ultimately sealed the victory in what proved a good workout for Carlos Carvalhal’s squad.

Rhodes - with his third goal in two games - put the Owls in ahead with a trademark header before George Taft levelled for the hosts.

Just moments after the interval, Lees regain the lead with a powerful header that clipped the underside of the bar on the way into the net before Rhys Bennett looked to have salvaged a draw late in the game.

But with his first touch of the game, Joao calmly converted from close range following good work from Gary Hooper to snatch victory at the last.

The Owls showed early signs of intent with plenty of possession in the final third, keeping the Stags firmly on the back foot.

Sam Winnall was first to test goalkeeper Conrad Logan but saw his low effort well saved by the former Leicester man.

The heavy pressure continued with little relief for the hosts and the inevitable breakthrough came on 11 minutes with Rhodes expertly heading home from Adam Reach’s centre.

With little to offer in reply, the Owls continued to come forward as Daniel Pudil stung the palms of Logan before George Boyd saw his strike whistle agonisingly wide of the upright.

Mansfield upped the ante after the half hour mark and were rewarded with the equaliser.

Paul Anderson’s delivery from the wide free kick fell to Taft, who was on hand to smash high into the roof of the net.

Wednesday made six changes for the start of the second half and much like the first, began the brighter of the two sides.

And just eight minutes in, the visitors regained their one-goal lead through Lees, who rose high to head in off the crossbar from David Jones’ dangerous delivery.

The game began to open and as Mansfield pushed for the equaliser, they left spaces at the back for Wednesday to exploit, with Fernando Forestieri and Marco Matias proving dangerous outlets for the visitors.

Joe Wildsmith was called into action late in the game and saved superbly from Jordan Slew eight yards out before a neat piece of trickery from Forestieri almost led to a third Wednesday goal.

Then came Mansfield’s second leveller of the game with just under ten minutes to go on the clock, as Bennett’s downward header crept in at the back post.

The Owls, though, were not to be denied a second successive pre-season victory as Hooper fed into the path of Joao, who confidently slotted home from close range to regain Wednesday’s lead at the last.

Owls: Dawson (Wildsmith 46), Hunt (Palmer 46), Lees, Pudil, Fox (Matias 46 (Joao 80)), Boyd (Forestieri 46), Bannan, Jones, Reach, Winnall (Fletcher 46), Rhodes (Hooper 46)

Unused substitutes: Wallis, O’Grady, Thorniley, Penney, Murphy, Clare, Nuhiu

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