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Mansfield Town
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Leyton Orient
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Rose pen 12, pen 29.
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Wilkinson 64, Angol 78, Maguire-Drew 90+6.
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Attendance: 4128 (326 from Leyton Orient)
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Date: 20 August 2019
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STAGS THROW AWAY 2-0 LEAD TO LOSE 3-2 TO ORIENT
Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town threw away a 2-0 half time lead to lose 3-2 at home to Leyton Orient, with Orient’s winner coming with virtually the last kick of the game. It was a devastating blow for the Stags, who were top of the live League Two table in the first half, yet ended the night half way down the table. It was a game of contrasting halves. The Stags were terrific in the first half, roaring into a 2-0 lead with two penalties from Danny Rose. The first came after a foul on Rose from behind by Marvin Ekpiteta after a lovely ball forward from Otis Khan into Rose’s path, and the second after a needless foul on Kellan Gordon as he was going away from goal by Joe Widdowson. Rose converted both kicks confidently, to go to 5 goals for the season, and equal his tally for last season already. The Stags were unlucky not to go 3-0 ahead when Otis Khan hit the angle of bar and post from a 25 yard free kick after 40 minutes. That would surely have sealed the win for Mansfield, but what happened in the second half was a terrible capitulation. Leyton Orient got themselves back in the game after 64 minutes when Conor Wilkinson headed in from close range after an overhead kick from sub Louis Dennis. Wilkinson was unmarked for his header. Orient had the momentum, the Stags just couldn’t get any sort of foothold in the game, and it came as no surprise when Orient equalised after 78 minutes. Lee Angol, the former Stags striker, burst into the area on the left and fired in a low shot from a tight angle which went through Conrad Logan’s legs into the net. A bad mistake from Logan and one which was very costly. The visitors had taken the game to Mansfield and were deservedly level. If anyone was going to win it, it looked like Orient and with almost the last kick of the game, they did win it. Angol again powered into the area on the left, and his cross-shot was bundled in at the far post by a combination of subs Louis Dennis and Jordan Maguire-Drew, with Maquire-Drew getting the final touch. Angol the matchwinner really, but the Stags had only themselves to blame with a dreadful second half performance. The defending which was so good at Carlisle on Saturday, evaporated in the last quarter of the game allowing Orient to score three times, Logan’s bad mistake was costly, and the midfield surrendered control. After the game, boss John Dempster said the Stags lacked leadership in the second half. Certainly the absence of so many players is hurting Mansfield: Neal Bishop ruled out for 2-3 weeks with an Achilles problem was a very big miss tonight after he was starting to look up-to-speed for the new season on Saturday. Jacob Mellis and Dion Donohue are suspended for off-field reasons and hence the midfield is looking seriously low on numbers, plus Andy Cook is out for 3-4 weeks with a knee injury, and Matt Preston suspended after his sending-off. Also of course keeper Bobby Olejnik. Add to that Hayden White limping off tonight, though the extent of that injury was not known by the time of the post match interview, and the Stags’ squad is looking too thin. Six of tonight’s seven substitutes had fewer than a handful of first team games between them. John Dempster has to go into the transfer market. Mansfield’s first defeat of the season, and a terrible feeling after the game for everyone involved with the Stags to lose a game in this manner. The Stags need to be better over 90 minutes, and will look to do so at home to Stevenage on Saturday. The Stags made one change to the side that won at Carlisle. Neal Bishop was ruled out with a swollen Achilles that will keep him out for 2-3 weeks. A big blow. After a slow start to the season, there were signs that he was getting up to speed. In came Otis Khan. Lewis Gibbens came into the 18 on the bench. CJ Hamilton was the only experienced player on the bench. Fewer than a handful of first team appearances in the football league between the other 6 subs. James Clarke was to come on near the end, for his Football League debut. Leyton Orient were unchanged from their draw at the weekend. Orient had Lee Angol up front. Angol was very inconsistent for Mansfield but on his day was inspirational. I worried in the pre-amble on commentary that he’d be fired up for this one against his old club, and unfortunately he proved to be the matchwinner. It was a pleasant evening in Mansfield. Mild with no wind. After 8 minutes, Rose won a throw-in. He took it himself quickly, forward to Khan who got to the byline and pulled back but it didn’t quite reach Gordon. The Stags took the lead after 12 minutes from the penalty spot after a foul on Rose from behind by Marvin Ekpiteta after a lovely ball forward from Otis Khan into Rose’s path. It was a clear foul, signalled by both the referee and his assistant. Rose, who scored in the penalty shootout against Morecambe, took over from Maynard as the penalty taker, with Maynard having missed at Newport. Rose sent it more or less down the middle, just to the right of centre, as the keeper dived the other way. Rose was in the action at the other end after 13 minutes, heading away a long throw-in from Sam Ling. After 16 minutes, an Orient cross from the left, Pearce made a mess of clearing it, and Wilkinson had a free shot from a tight angle on the right, which Logan saved at his near post. After 19 minutes, Wright’s free kick from the right for Orient was headed goalwards by Ekpiteta and Logan made a great point blank range save to keep it out. A good chance for the Stags after 23 minutes following a very good move. Rose headed back to Maynard, who flicked to Benning. Benning seemed to have an open goal inside the area but couldn’t get his shot away cleanly and went down under pressure, however there was no foul. Orient wanted a penalty at the other end after 24 minutes as Ling went down under pressure from Benning. From the video, I don’t think it was a penalty, and the referee had a perfect view. After 27 minutes, Ling crossed and Logan caught it well, above his head. The Stags made it 2-0 after 29 minutes from another penalty after a needless foul on Kellan Gordon as he was going away from goal by Joe Widdowson. Rose took the penalty again and this time smashed it emphatically into the left corner of the net giving the keeper no chance. Rose goes to 5 goals for the season, and equals his tally for last season already. White put in a great cross from the right after 31 minutes, Rose attacked the ball and headed over the bar. Rose had no right to win the header really as he was second favourite and it showed his confidence that he did. Good defending from MacDonald in his own area after 37 minutes. At the other end 2 minutes later, good play on the right between Gordon and White, and a dangerous cross from Gordon just evaded everyone. The Stags were unlucky not to go 3-0 ahead when Otis Khan hit the angle of bar and post from a 25 yard free kick after 40 minutes. The free kick came for a foul on Rose. Incidentally, a poster on Stagsnet noticed that the ball rebounded to Khan off the woodwork and play continued, whereas it should have been a free kick to Orient once Khan touched it again! MacDonald did well to win the ball after 41 minutes and had a shot blocked. At the other end a minute later, Gordon put in a great block on a cross from Widdowson. The Stags 2-0 ahead at the break and in complete control, and would have been 3-0 ahead but for Khan’s free kick coming back off the woodwork. Rose was the first Stags player to score two penalties in a game since Tyler Walker converted two against Accrington in the league cup last season. Half time 2-0 Leyton Orient regrouped at half time and switched from 3 at the back to 4 at the back, and bringing on a 3rd striker, Louis Dennis, in a 4-3-3 formation. After 48 minutes, Khan laid off to Benning on the edge of the area. Benning had a clear sight of goal but sidefooted a weak shot straight at the keeper. Benning normally puts his foot through it from that sort of position. After 50 minutes, Benning put in a low cross, Khan laid off to Gordon, whose shot was blocked. Rose was better positioned than Gordon. Benning miscued another shot after 51 minutes, then straight to the other end and great tracking back by Maynard. A great move by the Stags moments later but Khan’s cross from the byline was blocked. Brilliant defending by Benning after 55 minutes sensing danger on the edge of his own area. A good chance for Orient after 58 minutes. A foul by MacDonald gave Orient a free kick 27 yards from goal. Brophy’s free kick was headed wide by Ekpiteta. Good play from Benning after 61 minutes, he played a fine ball forward with the outside of his left boot to Rose, but Rose couldn’t get his shot right. A good piece of defending by MacDonald after 61 minutes, and two good pieces of play by White. The Stags were coming under increasing pressure. After 63 minutes, Logan made a mess of a cross from Ling, but was lucky to get away with it. Leyton Orient got themselves back in the game after 64 minutes when Conor Wilkinson headed in from close range after an overhead kick from sub Louis Dennis. Wilkinson was unmarked for his header. Wilkinson had a shot blocked two minutes later. Mansfield made a change after 68 minutes. Khan was replaced by Smith. Smith had played well in the cup last week and came on for his league debut at Carlisle. Khan had had a good game just behind the front two. The Stags had been coming under increasing pressure and the substitution was an attempt to regain a grip on central midfield, but it certainly didn’t work. After 70 minutes, Ekpiteta crossed from the right and Coulson headed wide. At the other end a minute later, Benning’s free kick was met by the head of Sweeney but he could only head down to the keeper. Brophy shot wide of the right post from 25 yards after 72 minutes. Orient were right in the ascendency. Hamilton replaced Maynard after 73 minutes. Hamilton went up front. Hamilton laid off to Benning after 75 minutes and Benning’s shot was deflected over the bar. Orient had the momentum, the Stags just couldn’t get any sort of foothold in the game, and it came as no surprise when Orient equalised after 78 minutes. Lee Angol burst into the area on the left and fired in a low shot from a tight angle which went through Conrad Logan’s legs into the net. A bad mistake from Logan and one which was very costly. The visitors had taken the game to Mansfield and were deservedly level. White was booked for a crunching challenge after 84 minutes. After 85 minutes, a poor cross from Gordon from a good position. A long throw-in from Rose after 88 minutes finally reached Gordon who fired wide from an impossible angle. White limped off after 90+1 minutes. The injury may or may not have come from that crunching challenge after 84 minutes. By the time of the post match interviews, the extent of White’s injury was not known. James Clarke came on for his league debut. Clarke was straight into the action winning a corner on the right. Benning’s corner was over everyone. Sweeney was booked for pushing sub Gorman away after Mansfield had been awarded a free kick for Gorman’s foul on Sweeney. Gorman was also booked. If anyone was going to win it, it looked like Orient and with almost the last kick of the game, they did win it. Angol again powered into the area on the left, and his cross-shot was bundled in at the far post by a combination of subs Louis Dennis and Jordan Maguire-Drew, with Maquire-Drew getting the final touch. Angol the matchwinner really, but the Stags had only themselves to blame with a dreadful second half performance. The defending which was so good at Carlisle on Saturday, evaporated in the last quarter of the game allowing Orient to score three times, Logan’s bad mistake was costly, and the midfield surrendered control. Such a disappointing second half. No consolation to Mansfield, but this is the first time in the Stags history since joining the FL in 1931 that the Stags have scored twice in each of the first four league fixtures (stat from Svante Bernhard aka Sweden Stag). Man of the match: Danny Rose |
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Report by: Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill
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Line Up:
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(3-5-2)
Logan 5 A bad mistake for the equalising goal and one which was very costly. A great point blank range save in the first half. White 6.5 Some good attacking and some good defending. Limped off before the winning goal. Pearce 5.5 The defence wasn’t good enough in the second half. Made a mess of a clearance in the first half. Sweeney 5.5 The defence wasn’t good enough in the second half.. Gordon 6 Did ok. Won the second penalty. MacDonald 6 Good first half. The midfield surrendered control in the second half. Tomlinson 6 The midfield surrendered control in the second half. Khan 7 Had a good game just behind the front two. Great ball for the first penalty. Unlucky to hit the woodwork before half time. Benning 6 Had several chances to score. Surprisingly went for placement rather than belting it as he normally does, from the best chance. Maynard 6 Did ok. Some good tracking back too. Rose 7.5 Converted both penalties (to go to 5 goals for the season, and equal his tally for last season already), and won the first. |
Sub Line Up:
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Smith (for Khan, 68 mins) -
Hamilton (for Maynard, 73 mins) - Clarke (for White, 90+1 mins) - Subs not used: Stone, Gibbens , Law, Sterling-James. |
Opposition Line Up:
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(5-3-2): Brill; Ling, Ekpiteta, Coulson, Happe (Dennis 46), Widdowson (Gorman 84); Brophy, Wright, Clay; Wilkinson (Maguire-Drew 90+2), Angol. Subs not used: Sargeant, Judd, Harrold, Marsh.
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Referee:
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Seb Stocksbridge 7 Got all the penalty incidents right.
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