Archived News from November 2017
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SUPER STAGS WIN AT COVENTRY
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English Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Coventry City 0 - 1 Mansfield Town MacDonald 84 Attendance: 8410 (1565 from Mansfield) Date: 11 November 2017 Martin Shaw at the Ricoh Arena Mansfield Town produced their best away performance of the season to deservedly win 1-0 in the club’s first visit to the magnificent Ricoh Arena. The first half was quite even and a great advert for League Two football, as Danny Rose hit the left post, just seconds after he slipped in the area but quickly recovered his feet, Coventry keeper Lee Burge made a wonderful save tipping over CJ Hamilton’s effort which deflected a Byrom shot towards the roof of the net, and Paul Anderson should have scored from 12 yards, firing straight at the keeper. At the other end Conrad Logan made a couple of good saves from Marc McNulty. But the second half saw Mansfield really take control and finally get the goal their play deserved on 84 minutes as Alex MacDonald fired in a wonderful goal from 30 yards. He was teed up by Danny Rose, MacDonald took one step forward and sent in a swerving shot that keeper Burge got a fingertip to but it nestled in the right corner of the net. A fabulous goal worthy of winning any match. Earlier Kane Hemmings was inches wide with a good shot, MacDonald fired just over the bar, and Hamilton’s cross-shot was just out of reach of Rose. The Stags were denied the most blatant of penalties on 90+3 minutes as excellent play by sub Callum Butcher put Kane Hemmings through on goal and he was brought down as he was about to shoot. Scandalous refereeing to wave play on and Kane Hemmings was booked for protesting. And it could have been so costly. In the 7th minute of stoppage time, when 5 minutes had been added on, a chance for Coventry, as they were awarded a free kick 23 yards from goal. Tricky midfielder Jodi Jones sent in a fine shot that Conrad Logan saved low down to his right to secure the points. A late equaliser would have been a travesty of justice but would not have been the first time this season that the Stags have been denied a deserved victory by a late equaliser. Logan made one other fine save, on the stroke of 90 minutes, deflecting Ponticelli’s effort over the bar as the keeper was out quickly at the striker’s feet, and Hemmings headed off the line following a corner. A great win for the Stags and reward for the magnificent travelling army of 1565 fans who outsung the Coventry fans throughout the entire 90 minutes. The only negative of a super day was a booking for Danny Rose, for a dive in the penalty area according to the referee, his 5th booking of the season, which will see him suspended at home to Stevenage next week. Mansfield are now unbeaten for 7 games. 1 league win, 3 league draws, 3 cup wins. And just two points behind Coventry who are in 6th place. This was Mansfield’s first game against Coventry since October 1975 when, in the League Cup, the Stags beat a Coventry side that was then in the top flight. Mansfield made three changes from the side that won at Shaw Lane. Pearce and Mellis were suspended after picking up 5 bookings. Before the game Evans commented that Pearce’s bookings were for kicking attackers which you accept, while Mellis’s were for dissent which is disappointing. (Incidentally Callum Butcher and Danny Rose were just one booking away from a suspension at the start of play). Pearce was replaced by Bennett who slotted in at centre half. White came in at right back, Anderson moved from right back to right midfield, and MacDonald moved from right midfield to centre midfield. The other change was that Hunt replaced Benning at left back. FULL REPORT IN THE MATCH CENTRE ------------------------------ MATCH REPORT: MacDonald the hero as Stags snatch win at Coventry chad.co.uk, Saturday 11 November 2017 Alex MacDonald superb 25-yard shot six minutes from time gave Mansfield overdue reward for a dominant performance at the Ricoh Arena at the Stags won it 1-0. Steve Evans’ men held sway for long periods, creating more and better chances before the midfielder sent the away hordes into ecstasy with a delightful effort that left goalkeeper Lee Burge helpless. Coventry City vs Mansfield Town - CJ Hamilton of Mansfield Town - Pic By James Williamson The Stags then held firm in a frantic finish with goalkeeper Conrad Logan diving at Jordan Ponticelli’s feet and doing well to hold a Jodi Jones free-kick in the fifth minute of added time. After surviving a strong Coventry start in which strikers Ponticelli and Marc McNulty both went close, Stags enjoyed a purple patch, carving out four good openings in six minutes against the league’s meanest defence. Kane Hemmings fizzed a left-footer just wide before CJ Hamilton’s opportunism twice caused problems. Coventry keeper Burge saved after the winger re-directed a wayward Joel Byrom shot and had to be alert again to stop Paul Anderson’s snap shot after Hamilton had surged into the home box. Coventry City vs Mansfield Town - Kane Hemmings of Mansfield Town goes up for a header - Pic By James Williamson The excellent spell ended with leading scorer Danny Rose recovering his footing before leaving Burge stranded with a quickly-taken shot which rattled a post. Logan stretched to keep out a low effort from McNulty as Coventry steadied the ship before half-time. Alex MacDonald swept a 52nd minute shot onto the roof of the net after a sublime passing move while Hemmings held his head in his hands midway through the half after curling marginally wide from the edge of the box. A rare slip in an otherwise rock-solid Mansfield back four gifted Coventry a 79th minute corner and nearly proved costly. Substitute Max Biamou’s close range header was on target but Hemmings was well placed on his own line to nod clear, before MacDonald struck late on. Referee: Nicholas Kinseley 6/10 Attendance: 8,410 (1,565 away) Match rating 3/5 Star man: Alex MacDonald Coventry City: (4-4-2): Burge 6, Grimmer 6 (Davies 74 6), McDonald 6, Willis 5, Haynes 6 Vincenti 6 (Biamou 65 6), Kelly 5, Doyle 5, Jones 5, Ponticelli 6, McNulty 6. Subs not used: O’Brien, Stokes, Beavon, Shipley, Stevenson Mansfield Town: (4-4-2): Logan 8, White 6, Bennett 7, Diamond 7, Hunt 6, Anderson 7 (Atkinson 83 n/a), MacDonald 8, Byrom 6, Hamilton 8, Hemmings 7 (Digby 90+4 n/a), Rose 7 (Butcher 90+2 n/a). Subs not used: Olejnik, Spencer, Potter, Sterling-James Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/match-report-macdonald-the-hero-as-stags-snatch-win-at-coventry-1-8852729 ------------------ RATINGS: Stags at Coventry player by player chad.co.uk, by STEPHEN THIRKILL, Saturday 11 November 2017 Stephen Thirkill gives his ratings for Mansfield Town’s players in their 1-0 win at Coventry City today His man of the match award went to Alex Macdonald Conrad Logan 8 Two good first half saves to keep out Jordan Ponticelli and Marc McNulty followed by two even better saves in stoppage time ensured Stags went home with the win. Hayden White 7 Solid, strong and dependable throughout and kept Coventry dangerman Jodi Jones out of the game. Rhys Bennett 8 Made a superb block in the early stages of the game to prevent a goal. Solid in the air and showed excellent positional sense and command of the situation. Zander Diamond 8 Led the line well and was impressive in the tackle and in the air. Effectively kept Marc McNulty quiet and won the battles that counted. Johnny Hunt 7 Played a disciplined role to ensure Mansfield kept a good shape at the back, but got forward when opportunities allowed. Won the personal battle with Peter Vincenti. Paul Anderson 6 (Replaced by Will Atkinson 83 mins) Wasted a great chance to open the scoring on 22 mins with a tame effort straight at Lee Burge. Effort was there but failed to stamp his influence on the game. Will Atkinson 5 Came into the game too late to influence matters either way, Alex MacDonald 9 Was the driving force in the midfield throughout with his boundless energy and passion. Chased, harried and delivered. Impressed with his deliveries from set-pieces and hit an absolute screamer from 25 yards to deservedly win the game. Joel Byrom 8 Poor backpass to Logan nearly cost Stags a goal in the first half. Otherwise a fine display with his pressing and tracking game ensuring Mansfield protected the back four and had control in midfield. CJ Hamilton 6 Failed to stamp his authority on the game. Got back well to help out Johnny hunt defensively, but offered little going forward. Wasted a good chance just after the restart. Danny Rose 7 (replaced by Calum Butcher 90 +1) Linked up well with Hemmings and impressed with his movement and hold up play. Unlucky not to get a goal after hitting post midway through first half. Callum Butcher n/a Brought on to wind the clock down in the first of five minutes added time. Kane Hemmings 8 (Replaced by Paul Digby 90 + 3) Excellent movement across the line and into the channels caused Coventry plenty of bother. Went close with three snapshots, cleared a header off his own line and should have been awarded a penalty in stoppage time Paul Digby n/a Brought on to wind the clock down in the third of five minutes added time. Read more at: http://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/sport/football/ratings-stags-at-coventry-player-by-player-1-8852699 ----------------- REPORT: Coventry City 0-1 Mansfield Town - Late Yellows strike sinks the Sky Blues https://www.ccfc.co.uk/news/2017/november/report-coventry-city-mansfield-town/ A late striker from Alex MacDonald meant the Sky Blues fell to their third league defeat at the Ricoh as the visitors leave with all three points. The Mansfield midfielder beat Lee Burge from range in an afternoon full of chances for both sides. Jordan Ponticelli and Marc McNulty both came close for Mark Robins' side but neither could find a breakthrough. City remain sixth in SkyBet League Two, ahead of next weekend's trip to Lincoln. Ponticelli, who kept his place in the side after a brace last weekend against Maidenhead, was presented with a golden opportunity to get a half full of chances underway. The teenager reacted faster than anyone as he raced to a lose ball in the area but saw his first effort saved well by Conrad Logan and his second fly high into the stand. McNulty came close moments later. The former Portsmouth man tried his luck from range but his fierce shot struck the stanchion behind the goal before coming to rest on the roof of the net. The Sky Blues had started by far the stronger, but the visitors came close to finding a breakthrough against the run of play. Kane Hemmings, on loan from Oxford United, chased down a long ball over the top and fired a low effort past Lee Burge but just wide of the far post. Burge was callled upon again minutes later. Alex MacDonald, dangerous all afternoon, cut inside from the right wing and curled a dipping attempt over everybody in the area, but the City 'keeper tipped the ball behind in acrobatic fashion. Danny Rose has scored eight times for the Stags in the league this season, and he nearly made it nine mid-way through the second half. The 23-year-old found space in the area to place his shot towards the far corner but was denied by the post. McNulty felt that he should have had a penalty late on in the half. The forward raced through on goal befre being forced off the ball by Zander Diamond in the area but depsite his best appeals the referee waved for play to continue. In the second half, MacDonald was presented with a good early chance for the visitors. The number seven waited for the ball to come to him before trying to find the top corner but the ball dipped just over the bar. Mark Robins' side certainly had more of the ball in the second half but it was the Yellows who had the best of the chances. Hemmings again came close to finding the corner with a searching effort that looked until the very last second to be heading in. Mansfield woud take the lead with just seven minutes left on the clock. MacDonald, the Yellows' star man on the afternooon, raced through unchallenged before sending a thunderbolt into the far corner. Burge managed to get his fingertips on the effort, but there was no saving it. As the board went up for added-time Ponticelli had one last chance to level the clash, but his effort forced yet another strong save from Logan. The last one that he would have to make. Attendance: 8,410 (1,565 Away) Goals: MacDonald 83' Yellows: McDonald, White, Grimmer, Rose, Jones, Hemmings. Reds: Coventry City XI: Burge (GK), Grimmer (Davies '73), Willis, McDonald, Haynes, Kelly, Doyle, Vincenti (Biamou '63), Jones, McNulty, Ponticelli. Subs: O'Brien (GK), Stokes, Shipley, Stevenson, Beavon Mansfield Town: Logan (GK), Bennett, Diamond (C), MacDonald, Anderson (Atkinson 82'), White, Hunt, Hamilton, Hemmings (Digby 90'), Byrom, Rose (Butcher 90'). Subs: Olejnik (GK), Spencer, Potter, Sterling-James. --------------------- |
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