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Archived News from August 2018

STAGS FINISH PRESEASON FRIENDLIES WITH ANOTHER WIN
2nd August 2018 11:01


Pre-Season Friendly
Mansfield Town 2 - 1 Rotherham United
Davies pen 9, Walker 41. Raggett 12.
Attendance: 2083 (466 from Rotherham)

Date: 28 July 2018

Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill

Mansfield Town finished the pre-season programme with another win against a Championship club at the One Call Stadium, beating Rotherham United 2-1 this afternoon. Results on their own are unimportant in pre-season but the level of performance against four Championship club in winning three games and drawing the other gives optimism for the coming season in League Two. Whilst Derby, Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday had been content to knock the ball around and keep possession in a style we’re unlikely to see in League Two, Rotherham were much more direct, looking to get the ball forward and playing more in the style of a League Two club. In that respect, this was a hugely useful workout. Mansfield won the game with first half goals from Craig Davies, a penalty after Mal Benning had been bundled over, and strike partner Tyler Walker who scored with a great left footed finish. It was the first goal in pre-season for both Davies and Walker. In between those goals, Rotherham scored with a free header from Sean Raggett from a corner, as he headed home unmarked. Disappointing defending that from Mansfield, but the Stags tightened up the defence after that with Matt Preston, especially, in fantastic form. However there was worrying news about Preston’s defensive partner Krystian Pearce after the game. Pearce was substituted on 39 minutes after he had been tended to by the physio. After the game boss David Flitcroft explained that Pearce was not “mentally in-tune with the game”, “not totally focussed” and didn’t “commit to the game” in the after-spill of the game against Sheffield Wednesday which ended in that brawl on Tuesday night. Flitcroft later said he would not be signing trialist central defender Nathan Cameron as his injury is not short term but added that he would be looking to sign a loan central defender in addition as “we now have a potential issue with Pearcey”. This suggests that the issue with Pearce may not be short term. We’ll see I suppose. One thing I’m sure of is that the club will do the right thing by Pearce, whatever that is. I’m expecting that we will hear more about this issue on Tuesday. So that’s it for an enjoyable pre-season that started in Portugal and ends with another encouraging performance today. The real stuff starts next Saturday, with the visit of Newport County to Mansfield.

FULL REPORT IN THE MATCH CENTRE

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REPORT: Mansfield Town 2-1 Rotherham United
chad.co.uk, by MARK DUFFY, Saturday 28 July 2018

Mansfield Town completed an impressive pre-season campaign with another win against Championship opposition on Saturday as Rotherham United were beaten at the One Call Stadium. With the Stags also having beaten Derby and Sheffield Wednesday and drawn with Sheffield United, they will go into the new campaign full of confidence, although Newport County will provide a very different kind of test when they visit for the opening fixture next Saturday. But momentum can mean so much and with some encouraging displays and results behind them, Stags boss David Flitcroft will have plenty to be cheerful about from his side's summer. After a quiet opening it was Stags who took the lead on nine minutes. Mal Benning tried to collect a cross from CJ Hamilton but was clattered by Anthony Forde in the process and the referee pointed to the spot. Craig Davies duly rolled the penalty home to open the scoring. However, the lead lasted just three minutes as from a left-wing corner delivered by Forde, Sean Raggett was unmarked 12 yards out and he headed powerfully home to level the scores. Kyle Vassell then headed over the top from Billy Jones' deep cross, before Will Vaulks' low 20-yarder was striagt at Logan in the Stags goal on 28 minutes, things having gone decidedly quiet in the intervening spell. Mansfield nearly went back in front on 32 minutes when Davies nodded the ball back to the incoming Benning who volleyed on his weaker right foot but the ball flew just over the crossbar. Forde then curled an effort over the bar four minutes later having cut in on his left foot, before Stags lost skipper Krystian Pearce soon afterwards after he went down apparently unchallenged and couldn't continue. But Stags were unfazed and soon went back in front, as good interplay in the penalty area saw Hayden White control and feed Tyler Walker who took the ball on and finished well with his left foot on 41 minutes. The first chance of the second-half came Rotherham's way as Vassell volleyed over following a Forde cross, Forde then forcing Logan to punch away an in-swinging free-kick a few minutes later. Logan then saved low down from Ben Purrington's header on the hour mark, the Stags keeper doing similar to deny Ryan Williams with 12 minutes to go after another lull in goalmouth action, punctured by several substitutions. Jamie Proctor chipped just wide after turning his man on 83 minutes as the Millers continued to threaten an equaliser, Michael Ihiekwe then unable to direct a header goalwards following a corner with three minutes to go. And that would be their last chance they'd get, as the Stags held on to secure another morale-boosting victory ahead of the new season.

Mansfield: Logan, White, Benning, Preston, Pearce (c) (Gibbens 38), Bishop (Sterling-James 62), MacDonald, Davies (Graham 78), Butcher (Mellis 46), Walker (Angol 62), Hamilton. Subs not used: Olejnik, Digby, Graham, Atkinson

Rotherham: Rodak (Price 62), Vaulks (Vyner 46), Forde (Taylor 62), Palmer (Mattock 62), Robertson (Ball 62), Purrington (Wood 62), Vassell (Proctor 70), Newell (Wiles 62), Smith (Mattock 62), Raggett (Ajayi 46), Jones (Ihiekwe 70)

Ref: Darren England Att: 2,083 (466 away)

Read more at: https://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/sport/football/report-mansfield-town-2-1-rotherham-united-1-9274247

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REPORT - Mansfield 2 v 1 Rotherham
themillers.co.uk, by Chris Jackson

Millers taste defeat......

ROTHERHAM United tasted defeat for the first time in their pre-season campaign as Mansfield Town ran out 2-1 winners at the One Call Stadium

Sean Raggett’s first goal in Millers colours proved in vain as first-half goals from Craig Davies and Tyler Walker gave the hosts the victory.

For the short hop to Nottinghamshire, the Millers travelling contingent got another glimpse of summer recruits Clark Robertson and Kyle Vassell. Marek Rodak and Raggett were handed their first pre-season starts following their cameo substitute appearances in the midweek win over Cardiff City, after putting pen to paper on season long-loans, earlier that day.

https://www.themillers.co.uk/news/2018/july/match-report-for-mansfield-town-vs-rotherham-united-on-28-jul-18/

The Millers had the first sight of goal when Vassell and in-form Michael Smith combined smartly to present Joe Newell with the opportunity to cross but Matt Preston snuffed out the danger with a smart header.

Moments later, Matt Palmer’s threaded pass paved the way for Anthony Forde to drill a dangerous centre which former Millers ‘keeper Conrad Logan was forced to parry to safety before Mansfield were given the chance to open the scoring with their first foray of note on nine minutes when Hayden White’s diagonal ball saw Mal Benning sneak on the blind side of Anthony Forde, who felled the home full-back in the box, and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

From the resultant penalty, Craig Davies kept his nerve to wrongfoot Rodak and slide the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

However, Mansfield’s joy was short lived as Rotherham got themselves back on level terms within three minutes when Newell won a corner, following a purposeful run and cross.

In the next phase of play, Forde curled a hanging centre and Raggett timed his run to perfection, by emerging from the ruck of bodies in the box before planting a powerful header into the heart of the home goal.

The Millers were lifted by the strike and Forde skipped to the by-line to give Billy Jones the chance to whip a deep cross to the far post and Vassell, who had ghosted away from his marker, was unable to control his point-blank header under pressure from Logan before Smith made something out of nothing - with a clever piece of skill, to drill a cross across the face of the Mansfield goal but White was on his toes to clear the danger.

Just before the half hour mark, Will Vaulks latched onto a loose ball before trying his luck from distance but Logan got his body behind his stringing drive before Palmer blazed an effort over, from a promising position on the edge of the box, in the Millers next attack.

Minutes later, Calum Butcher’s cushioned knock down fell kindly for Benning, who struck a fierce volley which had the Millers faithful ducking for cover behind the goal before Forde showed fleet of foot to work a shooting position, on the edge of the box, but his left-footed effort failed to trouble Logan in the home goal.

With half-time approaching, Mansfield regained the lead when White injected pace into a home move with a darting run from the flank and Walker took advantage of his good work to take a touch to ghost into the box before firing past a flat-footed Rodak with a crisp finish.

Moments later, the Millers had their hearts in their mouths when Alex MacDonald beat the offside trap to bare down on goal but he failed to get the ball under his spell and Rodak was able to smother the danger.

Half-time:- Mansfield Town 2 Rotherham United 1

The Millers had the first opportunity of note in the second half when Mansfield failed to clear their lines decisively but Vassell failed to capitalise when he skied his volley over the bar before the visitors had faint appeals for a spot kick when Smith appeared to be felled by the trailing leg of Lewis Gibbens in the box but the referee waved away Rotherham protests.

Moments later, Forde’s free-kick was punched clear by Logan before Newell cut inside on his weaker right foot, before ballooning an effort harmlessly over the bar.

Following a period of Rotherham pressure, Smith kept the ball alive to deliver a delicious centre which saw Jones head goalwards but Logan correctly guessed his intentions to keep the ball out.

Just past the hour mark, Warne made a flurry of substitutions with home grown youngster Ben Wiles being one of those to enter the fray while long-term injury victim Jamie Proctor received a generous hand from the Rotherham travelling contingent.

The Millers were looking to most likely and Michael Ihiekwe came within inches of meeting a visitors’ corner - with the goal at his mercy before Taylor was almost the grateful recipient of David Ball’s slide-rule through ball but the ball skipped off the surface, evading his attentions.

Minutes later, Ball’s clever pass was latched upon by Ryan Williams, who waltzed into the box to drill a low effort which was smothered by Logan before Ball’s superbly disguised pass gave Proctor, a glimpse of goal, and the Millers frontman almost enjoyed a fairytale return to the first-team fold, with a delicate chip which left Logan in no man’s land, but unfortunately, for the visitors, it flew narrowly wide of the target.

Full-time:- Mansfield Town 2 Rotherham United 1

Mansfield Town 2
Rotherham United 1

Teams:- Mansfield- Logan, White, Benning, Preston, Pearce (Gibbens 39), Bishop (Sterling-James 63), MacDonald, Davies (Graham 79), Butcher (Mellis 46), Walker (Angol 63), Hamilton. Unused- Olejnik, Atkinson, Digby.

Rotherham- Rodak (Price 62), Vaulks (Ajayi 46), Forde (Taylor 62), Palmer (Wiles 62), Robertson (Wood 62), Purrington (Mattock 62), Vassell (Proctor 70), Newell (Williams 62), Smith (Ball 62), Raggett (Vyner 46), Jones (Ihiekwe 70).

Referee- D England

Attendance- 2083 (466)

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