Archived News from March 2018
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FLITCROFT, HEMMINGS, KEVIN NOLAN REACTION
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Stags rescue point after stand-out second half
mansfieldtown.net, Saturday 17 March 2018 Stags’ boss David Flitcroft believes his side deserved their late equaliser after a significant increase in performance during the second half of today’s 1-1 draw away to Notts County. On an afternoon of testing conditions at Meadow Lane, the Magpies went ahead in the 33rd minute when winger Terry Hawkridge converted from close range after a goalmouth scramble. The home side led for over an hour but after a spell of incessant pressure from the Stags, they were handed an opportunity to equalise deep into stoppage time when Lewis Alessandra handled the ball just inside the box and referee Andy Woolmer pointed to the spot. Frontman Kane Hemmings stepped up and expertly fired home the penalty to send the travelling Stags’ fans into raptures. And manager David Flitcroft says his side were worthy of their late penalty after a ‘front foot’ second half display. “Second half, it came alive and we came alive," said the manager. "I think there was more energy about our performance, we asked more questions, it was more front foot and I thought we thoroughly deserved a reward of a penalty. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2018/march/flitcroft-notts/ “The courage and the character that Hemmo’s (Kane Hemmings) shown to step up to that with the ferocity of the crowd and that emotion. I spoke about it during the week; you can’t let that affect you and he didn’t. “He came up and blasted it in the bottom corner. The courage that takes, I don’t think people realise sometimes and I’m delighted, certainly with the second half performance. “I think in the last 20 minutes, I think we asked more questions and they did start to drop deep and that detached [Shola] Ameobi and Jon Stead from the rest of the team and they were quite isolated. “It was just more of a commanding front foot performance and we definitely deserved to get something there. “We deserved it, a million percent we deserved it.” Stags took 4,164 fans to Meadow Lane for this afternoon’s local derby and the boss, although disappointed not to reward their fervent support with three points, was delighted to send the faithful home with something to cheer about. “That’s why I left another promotion-chasing squad for days like this. To take over 4,000 fans to your local rivals, it’s unique. “To have the home support we’ve got and to take 4,000 and to watch them, they deserve that. I know why I’m here, I’m desperate to do well and I’ve got a group of players who never gave up today and got their just reward. “I’m delighted that they’ve sent the fans home with something to cheer about, because they’ve fought today. Hopefully that will get appreciated.” Stand-in skipper Krystian Pearce required lengthy on-field treatment in the second half and the boss has revealed that the former Birmingham City man was complaining of pain around his heart. “The Krystian Pearce one was a little bit of a worry; he felt something in his heart. We got the doc on quick because Conrad’s come over and said he felt something in his heart. “He said he felt quite disorientated so there was a bit of a worry there but he got back on, with Notts County’s club doctor’s blessing.” Supporters can login to iFollow Stags to view the manager’s full news conference. ----------------- Flitcroft praises Hemmings’ courage and coolness in heat of derby battle chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Saturday 17 March 2018 Mansfield Town manager David Flitcroft paid tribute to the courage and coolness of Kane Hemmings whose penalty success in the ninth added minute earned Stags a 1-1 derby day draw at promotion rivals Notts County in today’s early kick-off. In a game blighted by blizzards, ex-Stags loanee Terry Hawkridge had put Notts into an interval lead only for Hemmings to steal a point at the death. “Hemmo showed a lot of courage and character to step up to that with the ferocity from the crowd,” said Flitcroft. “You can’t let that affect you and he blasted it into the bottom corner. I don’t think people realise sometimes the unbelievable courage that takes. “There was a lot of time for Kane to have to hold his nerve and show his courage. A million per cent we deserved it.” Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/flitcroft-praises-hemmings-courage-and-coolness-in-heat-of-derby-battle-1-9069056 On the game, he said: “It was testament to both sets of players in those tough conditions. It was a real slug-out at times. “First half there wasn’t a lot between the two teams. It was very scrappy. “We allowed Shola Ameobi to get goalside and Conrad (Logan) pulled off a fantastic save. But we haven’t backed that save up and we conceded a bad set piece goal. “Second half it came alive. I was delighted with the last 35 minutes. There was more energy about our performance. “We asked more questions and it was more front foot. So we thoroughly deserved the reward of the penalty. I am delighted with that second half performance. “We started to ask more questions and Notts dropped deep. That detached Ameobi and Stead from the rest of the team and they were quite isolated. “We definitely deserved a goal. Kane Hemmings should have scored in the first half. The ball flashed across and he needed a better connection. “But the boys competed for almost 100 minutes today, just one lapse of concentrating letting them in.” The late goal saw huge celebrations with Stags’ army of over 4,000 fans. “I am delighted we have sent the fans home with something to cheer about,” said Flitcroft. “The boys have really fought today and hopefully that will be appreciated. “To take over 4,000 fans to your local rivals is unique. They deserved that. “I know why I am here and I am desperate to do well. “I have a group of players that have dug in and fought for the fans and for the town tonight and that is really important to me.” There was a scare for Stags when skipper Krystian Pearce went down feeling unwell and Flitcroft said: “The Krystian Pearce one was a bit of a worry as he felt something in his heart. “Conrad came over and said he thought there was something wrong with his heart and we got the doctor on quick. He felt disorientated. “There was a really worry. But we got him back on with Notts County’s doctor’s blessing.” ---------------- Hot-shot Hemmings thrilled with late equaliser mansfieldtown.net, Saturday 17 March 2018 After scoring a dramatic 99th minute equaliser from the penalty spot, frontman Kane Hemmings has expressed his delight at rescuing a point for Mansfield Town against Notts County this afternoon. The Stags fell behind in the 33rd minute when Terry Hawkridge headed in from close range but after a hefty amount of time was added on at the end of the game, Mansfield were awarded a last minute penalty after County’s Lewis Alessandra handled inside the area. Under huge pressure, Hemmings stepped up to dispatch the ball past ‘keeper Adam Collin to spark scenes of jubilation from the Mansfield players, management and supporters. Speaking after the game, the on-loan Oxford United forward spoke of his joy at scoring in such dramatic fashion. “I’m delighted to get the equaliser and get something from the game,” said the former Rangers man. “I’m sure [Notts County] will be a bit disappointed with the way the penalty was given but you earn your luck in football. “There’s pressure on it but you put it down, pick your spot and just go for it. If you miss, you miss. If you score, you’ve seen what happens. “It was a big moment, it means a lot. It’s a big game for us all to be playing in. There’s 4,000 Mansfield fans here. “It’s a local derby, they’ve come out in force. It’s nice to give them something to go away with. “It’s two good teams in the league going for promotion. It’s nice to get that kind of atmosphere and score in that way.” After a first half in which neither side could really take a foothold in the game due to the testing wintery conditions, Hemmings believes Stags showed vast improvement in the second period. “I think we threw everything at them in the second half [and] I think we definitely deserved something from the game. “It’s a nice way to finish the game, everyone’s buzzing to get the point but the gaffer (David Flitcroft) reiterated the point that we need to be better in the first half and I think everyone’s very aware of that, which is good. “I think in the second half we dug really deep, everyone really stood up and was counted for. We’re more so disappointed with our first half performance. “We came here to win the game and I think we’ve shown over the season that we don’t get beat very often. “We go into every single game, it doesn’t matter where we go, we want to win so we’re disappointed in that regard.” Supporters can view Kane Hemmings’ full post-match interview on iFollow Stags. --------------------- Delighted Hemmings savours ‘significant’ Stags equaliser chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Saturday 17 March 2018 Mansfield striker Kane Hemmings savoured his late, late penalty spot equaliser in today’s 1-1 draw at snow-bound Notts County, admitting it was probably his most important for the club so far. “Obviously I was delighted to get the equaliser and for us to get something from the game,” he said. “It was probably the most significant goal I have scored for the club. Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/delighted-hemmings-savours-significant-stags-equaliser-1-9069042 “There’s not been many that have probably had that much pressure on and been that vital in the last minute of the game. It was a nice feeling. “There was pressure on it. But it’s one of those. You just put the ball down, pick your spot and go for it and if you miss, you miss. If you score, you score. “It meant a lot as it was a big game to be playing in and there were 4,000 Mansfield fans there.” On the game overall, he said: “I think second half we dug really deep and everyone really stood up to be counted. It was a good second half performance. “We were disappointed with our first half as coming here was a big opportunity to get the three points. “Second half the point was definitely deserved. I am sure they will be a bit disappointed with the way the penalty was given, though - I have heard it was probably outside the box.” ---------------- Paul Anderson @P18NDO The lads showed great character today. Well deserved point. I was way below par today and disappointed with my performance. But still in the mix with plenty of games to go and to improve ------------------ Kevin Nolan: Notts County boss says FA must be accountable for referees http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43456285 Notts County boss Kevin Nolan believes the Football Association should be held accountable for refereeing decisions. He was furious after match official Andy Woolmer awarded Mansfield Town a 98th-minute penalty in the 1-1 draw at Meadow Lane on Saturday. "They (the FA) have got to start answering these questions," 35-year-old Nolan told BBC Radio Nottingham. "They will just write back and say 'yeh it was a penalty' when we ask them. There's just too many of them now." The Magpies had led at half-time thanks to Terry Hawkridge's first-half opener, but Kane Hemmings scored from the spot eight minutes into added time after Lewis Alessandra was penalised for handball. "He was outside the box," Nolan added. "I don't understand how he has given a penalty. "They only put seven minutes (of extra time) up, how are we playing eight? "I am flabbergasted and I don't understand how we have come off this pitch drawing the game. "He's robbed us of two points, the referee, with an absolute unbelievably terrible decision." -------------------- Nolan: ‘Referee cost us two points with a terrible decision’ chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Saturday 17 March 2018 Notts County manager Kevin Nolan was livid over the handball decision which saw Mansfield snatch a late 1-1 draw from the penalty spot today, claiming it had been outside the box. “My lads have been robbed of two points,” he said. “We played really well and they got the goal they deserved. They limited Mansfield to very few chances. Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/nolan-referee-cost-us-two-points-with-a-terrible-decision-1-9069040 “The first chance they had in which the keeper had to make a save was in the 97th minute. “I am flabbergasted and I don’t know how we have come off the pitch having drawn the game. “The referee cost us two points with a horrendous, terrible, decision. “It was outside the box and the referee has no excuses. “It’s so bad because my lads had to earn the right to get a goal and to try for a clean sheet. “We did enough to win the game, but the referee has given them a penalty out of nothing. “This is third v fifth. It’s so disappointing and it is happening week in and week out. But I am so proud of my lads.” ------- Notts County boss Kevin Nolan admitted players felt like Mansfield Town draw was a defeat Magpies boss hoping controversial penalty does not come back to haunt them at the end of the season By Leigh Curtis https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/notts-county-boss-kevin-nolan-1356922#ICID=sharebar_twitter Notts County manager Kevin Nolan admitted their controversial draw with Mansfield felt like a defeat to his players. The Magpies had been on course to claim all three points against their arch rivals when they took the lead through Terry Hawkridge. But in the seventh minute of stoppage time, referee Andy Woolmer penalised Lewis Alessandra for handball allowing Kane Hemmings to score from the spot. And Magpies boss Nolan is just hoping that his side are not rueing what he called a “horrendous” decision come the end of the season. “It’s not that it plays on your mind, it’s what it does to you at the end of the season,” he said. “If we miss out on a play-off place by two points what are we going to look back at? “They (referees) can’t keep getting things wrong and my lads deserved more. “They managed everything exceptionally well and they should have come off that pitch looking forward to a couple of days off with their friends and families. “They should have been happy, but they were not because of another poor decision. “It felt like a defeat to them because they were robbed of three points.” ----------------- We shaded it Nolan reacts to Stags draw nottscountyfc.co.uk Notts County manager Kevin Nolan said he was proud of his players' efforts following the 1-1 draw against Mansfield Town. Terry Hawkridge gave the Magpies a first-half lead but County were pegged back in the final minute as Kane Hemmings struck an equaliser from the penalty spot. The game was played amid constant blizzards throughout the afternoon and the manager was pleased with the way his men dealt with the inclement weather. "I don't think I've ever been involved in a game with weather conditions like that," he said. https://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/news/2018/march/nolan-post-mansfield/ "I'm delighted with the lads for the way they went about it in really difficult conditions. "We shaded it, had chances and limited them to very few until the last minute, when they are going to throw everything at you. "The way we handled everything - the occasion, the atmosphere and the conditions - was absolutely spot on. "They deserved to win after the performance they put in." --------------- |
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