Archived News from February 2018
|
SENSATIONAL STAGS RATTLE IN 5,IT COULD HAVE BEEN10
|
 |
|
English Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Mansfield Town 5 - 0 Newport County Rose 6, Potter 9, 28, 61, MacDonald 34. Attendance: 2866 (57 from Newport) Date: 13 February 2018 Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town produced a sensational performance to beat Newport County 5-0 at the One Call Stadium last night. Mansfield scored 4 goals in the first half, the first time they have done that since the 8-1 win over Barrow in the Conference promotion season. It’s no exaggeration to say it could have ended 10-0 and Newport could not have complained, such were the chances that the Stags created. Mansfield were stunning going forward, carving Newport to pieces time and time again. Alfie Potter, recalled to the starting XI, scored a hat-trick, the first of his career, with a goal each for Danny Rose and Alex MacDonald. This was a Newport side that was arguably unlucky not to beat a near-full-strength Spurs side a couple of weeks ago in the FA Cup at Rodney Parade, Spurs rescued by a late Harry Kane equaliser, before Spurs won the replay 2-0 at Wembley a week ago. Newport had had their game at the weekend postponed, so came into the game fresh, while Mansfield came out just on the wrong side of a tough encounter at Swindon. But it was the Stags who looked fresher from the 1st minute to the last, with a number of outstanding individual performances, not only from the each of the goalscorers, but also CJ Hamilton who gave experienced full back David Pipe an absolute mauling. Actually every one of the Stags team played very well. Mansfield have now won 5 home league games on the trot. Mansfield remain 3 points outside the top 3 and 4 points above 8th placed Exeter, though Exeter have 2 games in hand. The Stags go to Exeter on Saturday in yet another big game. FULL REPORT IN THE MATCH CENTRE ---------------------------- MATCH REPORT: Five-Star Stags batter bewildered Newport chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Tuesday 13 February 2018 Five star Mansfield Town appropriately marked Pancake Day with a 5-0 ‘battering’ of bewildered Newport County tonight with Alfie Potter grabbing a hat-trick. The Stags turned in their best display of the season at a freezing cold One Call Stadium and could and should have won by a far bigger margin. Mansfield Town v Newport County Alfie Potter who scored the second goal for the Stags second goal of the first half. They were totally dominant and an absolute delight to watch, though sadly the game attracted the lowest gate of a thrilling season. It was the perfect way to bounce back from a first defeat in 10 League games at Swindon last weekend. The game was over as a contest by the break as Stags forged a 4-0 lead through an Alfie Potter brace, Alex MacDonald and Danny Rose. Potter completed his hat-trick on 61 minutes. In truth it could have been many more as Steve Evans’ side showed exactly what they are capable of as we enter the ‘business end’ of the season. Mansfield made two changes as Swansea City loanee Adam King made his debut in central midfield in place of Joel Byrom while winger Alfie Potter took over from Will Atkinson with Alex MacDonald moving across into a central role. Jacob Mellis and Zander Diamond were back among the substitutes. Stags were looking to get back to form after a first defeat in 10 League Two games at Swindon last weekend. Newport, now six points outside the play-offs, have failed to win in their last three League games and were without a match last weekend due to a postponement. Potter was too high with an early cross and an early shot as Mansfield began the game in positive fashion. On five minutes Day had to save with his legs as Bennett and Pearce helped the ball on with headers to a waiting Hemmings, who drilled a six yard finish on target. However, a minute later Mansfield were ahead. Pearce burst into the left of the box and shaped to shoot. Instead he took the ball to the left by-line and then pulled a superb pass back across the six yard area to an unmarked Rose who could hardly miss tucking away his 16th goal of the season. Stags were clearly right in the mood and on nine minutes were 2-0 ahead. This time Hamilton showed his pace to burst between two opponents and then race into the box before pulling a pass back across into the centre where Potter beat Day with a superb first time finish. It was almost 3-0 on 20 minutes as Hemmings sent an inviting ball for Hamilton to race onto and his low cross was turned narrowly wide by Rose when he looked a certain scorer. Newport thought they had pulled one back from a 22nd minute free kick. Dolan fired it forward from 35 yards and the ball deflected into the path of Labadie, who tucked it away only to see a raised offside flag. Stags continued to pile on the pressure and on 28 minutes Potter grabbed his second. Benning won a tackle just outside the box on the left and burst into it before his low cross set up Rose. Again he looked certain to score but failed to make a good contact with his first attempt and then saw his lifted follow-up come back off the bar before Potter showed him how to do it with a vicious rising blast high into the net. The fourth goal was not long coming. Newport struggled to clear Stags’ fourth corner of the evening, getting the ball as far as MacDonald just outside the box, and he drilled an unstoppable finish through everyone into the net on 34 minutes. Rose was inches wide with a volley from a Potter cross on 36 minutes as Newport prayed for the interval. The desperate visitors ended the half with a succession of corners and Logan had to palm away a low, angled cross-cum-shot from Bennett in the four added minutes. Newport made a double change at the break with O’Brien and Jackson on for Doland and Nouble. The lively Hemmings pulled a shot wide and MacDonald had a shot blocked as Stags resumed their assault. On 51 minutes Day made a double save to keep out Rose and King before King blazed the loose ball over. On 55 minutes Bennett turned the ball against the foot of the post from MacDonald’s ball in, then seconds later a completely unmarked Hemmings somehow lifted over from four yards from Rose’s cross. The night got no better for the Exiles as Bennett limped off to be replaced by Tozer on 58 minutes. Just to rub it in Potter completed his hat-trick on 61 minutes. CJ Hamilton teased the defenders on the left before sending a low cross through everyone to Potter, who swept a low finish back across Day. MacDonald narrowly curled a 20 yard free kick into the sidenetting as the torture continued for Newport. Potter was rightly given an ovation as he was replaced by Penney on 76 minutes, Miller on for Hemmings three minutes later. Rose quickly hit the by-line and set up Miller for a close range finish that again Day saved with his legs. With Day out his goal on 83 minutes, King launched an audacious effort goalwards from 50 yards which saw Day recover to tip it over at the last minute. Jackson headed just over from a Willmott cross in a rare Newport raid seconds later, the final whistle a merciful release for the Welshmen. STAGS: Logan; Anderson, Pearce, Bennett, Benning; Potter (Penney 76), King, MacDonald, Hamilton; Rose (Spencer 89), Hemmings (Miller 79). Subs not used: Olejnik, Diamond, Mellis, Atkinson. NEWPORT: Day, Pipe, White, Demetriou, Butler, Bennett (Tozer 58), Dolan (Jackson HT), Labadie, Willmott, Amond, Nouble (O’Brien HT). Subs not used: Bittner, McCoulsky, Reid, Sheehan. REFEREE: Ben Toner of Lancashire. ATTENDANCE: 2,866 (57 away). CHAD STAGS MAN OF THE MATCH: Alfie Potter. Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/match-report-five-star-stags-batter-bewildered-newport-1-9015749 ------------------ Mansfield Town 5 Newport County 0 southwalesargus.co.uk, by Andrew Penman A SHOCKING 5-0 defeat at Mansfield Town leaves Newport County AFC with a mountain to climb if they are to force their way back into the League Two play-off race. Michael Flynn and his men scaled their own Everest to complete the Great Escape from relegation last season and it will take a similar run of form over the next few months if they are to trouble the top seven this time round. And they will have to improve tenfold on this embarrassing showing if they are to avoid sliding further down the table. http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/football/newportcounty/15991721.Mansfield_Town_5_Newport_County_0/ After the pride at Wembley came the fall at the One Call Stadium. County were supposed to be well rested after Saturday’s home clash with Forest Green Rovers was postponed but they looked half asleep as the rampant Stags tore into them from the start. Alfie Potter didn’t even appear to celebrate as he completed his hat-trick just after the hour-mark to make it 5-0 - a repeat of the Exiles’ thumping defeat on the same ground in the dog days of Anthony Hudson’s brief reign in 2011. The match was long over as a meaningful contest by that stage and it was merely a damage limitation exercise for the visitors. They never really recovered from a dreadful start, which saw them 2-0 down inside the first 10 minutes. Danny Rose opened the scoring from close range in the sixth minute and Potter doubled the hosts’ advantage three minutes later as he found the corner of the net after a blistering run and cutback from the impressive CJ Hamilton on the left flank. County have not won at Field Mill since a 4-3 opening-day victory in the Conference in August 2012 and you have to go back all the way to 1939 for their last Football League success at the oldest professional ground in the world. And, even with 80 minutes left on the clock, there appeared very little chance of them improving their record in this corner of Nottinghamshire. There was a brief flicker of hope for the shell-shocked 57 travelling fans as skipper Joss Labadie had the ball in the net on 22 minutes but the flag was up for offside. And that was as good as it got for Flynn’s men as Potter added his second of the night to pretty much settle the match after 28 minutes. Mal Benning and Hamilton combined down the left and Rose hit the bar before Potter pounced on the rebound to poke home. And it was 4-0 before half-time as Potter’s corner fell to Alex MacDonald, who drilled his shot through the crowd and past Day from 12 yards. South Wales Argus: Flynn had no choice but to shake things up for the second half and he introduced Mark O’Brien and Marlon Jackson for Matty Dolan and Frank Nouble after the break. Ben Tozer soon replaced the injured Scot Bennett as well but the changes had little effect and Mansfield continued to dominate. Rhys Bennett hit the post and Kane Hemmings missed a glorious chance before Potter’s deflected strike made it 5-0 on 61 minutes. And, while County never gave up, they rarely looked like even grabbing a consolation goal. MacDonald hit the side netting and Day denied Rose and Adam King with a brilliant double save before also stopping a point-blank shot from substitute Ricky Miller and a spectacular long-range effort from King. It could easily have been seven or eight on a night to forget for the Exiles. A third successive defeat in the league means they are now seven points below the play-off places. It has been a very tough fixture list in recent weeks and Flynn and his team will need to make the most of the home comforts at Rodney Parade over the next few weeks if they are to prevent a season of such promise from unravelling. County: Day; Pipe, White, Demetriou, Butler; Bennett (Tozer, 58), Dolan (O’Brien, 46); Willmott, Labadie, Nouble (Jackson, 46); Amond Subs not used: Bittner, Reid, Tozer, Sheehan, McCoulsky Referee: Ben Toner Attendance: 2,866 (57 County) Argus star man: Day ---------------- 5 things we learned from Mansfield Town 5 Newport County 0 southwalesargus.co.uk, by Andrew Penman A HAT-TRICK from Alfie Potter and further goals from Danny Rose and Alex MacDonald saw Mansfield Town inflict a crushing defeat on Newport County AFC at Field Mill last night. Here's what we learned... http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/football/newportcounty/15992450.5_things_we_learned_from_Mansfield_Town_5_Newport_County_0/ 1. A rest did County no good at all While Mansfield were losing at Swindon Town on Saturday, the Exiles were without a game thanks to a waterlogged pitch at Rodney Parade and you would expect the free weekend to work in their favour. But County looked like they were sleepwalking through the first 20 minutes of the match, while the hosts tore into them with all the hunger and desire that we haven’t seen from Flynn’s men since the first match against Tottenham Hotspur on January 27. 2. The Stags did what everyone expected Spurs to do last week The Exiles were rightly praised for keeping Tottenham within reach with a battling display at Wembley las week and avoiding a rout, even though Mauricio Pochettino’s team could have scored six if it wasn’t for some wayward finishing and some excellent goalkeeping from Joe Day. A 5-0 thumping at the home of English football and a 2-0 defeat at Field Mill would have been disappointing but respectable enough but County made Mansfield look like a Champions League side at times and, but for Day, it would have been an even more embarrassing night. 3. Defensive shake-up needed The County back four have now conceded 10 goals in their last three matches in League Two and it’s surely time to make some changes to shore up the defence. Mark O’Brien steadied the ship a little when he was brought on for the second half last night and he can count himself very unfortunate if he doesn’t regain his starting spot, probably in a back three, on Saturday. He does, after all, have a good record against Notts County. 4. The Exiles don’t look like a play-off team, at the moment Successive trips to Lincoln City, Colchester United and Mansfield Town were always going to be a real examination of the team’s promotion credentials and the FA Cup certainly added to the load for County but they have been found wanting in all three matches. The play-off dream should not be written off just yet - we know from last season what this group of players is capable of when the odds are stacked against them - but for now they must ignore the league table and focus on getting back to winning ways as quickly as possible. 5. The 57 fans deserve a medal, or a refund, or something... A grand total of 7,200 fans travelled to Wembley last week but their number dwindled to a hardy 57 at the One Call Stadium and every one of them will be waking up this morning asking themselves why they bothered. What was their reward for a 320-mile round trip to Nottinghamshire on a freezing cold Tuesday night? The club should consider using a fraction of the estimated £900,000 FA Cup windfall to reimburse the Mansfield 57 the cost of their trip and ticket by way of an apology and a thank-you for their loyalty. ------------------------ |
Latest | February 2018