Season 19/20 Stagsnet Match Report
|
|
|
||
|
Mansfield Town
|
|
Stevenage
|
||
|
|
|
|||
|
Attendance: 3982 (97 from Stevenage)
|
||||
|
Date: 24 August 2019
|
||||
|
STAGS FRUSTRATED IN 0-0 DRAW WITH STEVENAGE
Martin Shaw and Simon Chamberlain at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town drew 0-0 with Stevenage at the One Call Stadium this afternoon. The Stags were down to the bare bones of the squad with only ten available experienced players, though the visitors Stevenage also had injury problems. Stevenage had not scored a goal in League Two this season and had only a point before today, so this was a case of two points dropped for Mansfield. The first half was quite even. The Stags could have had an early lead after 6 minutes when Mal Benning slid the ball forward for CJ Hamilton who pulled a good low cross back for Alex MacDonald who had a clear sight of goal but miscued his shot which went well wide, in fact out for a throw-in. Stevenage then could have gone in front after 12 minutes when Conrad Logan saved brilliantly from Paul Taylor who looked certain to score. The Stags had a goal disallowed after 36 minutes as Benning crossed from the left, Hamilton knocked it on and Ryan Sweeney turned it past the keeper into the net from 4 yards, but Sweeney was half a yard offside. The second half saw Mansfield with all the chances as Stevenage created nothing. And after 77 minutes, the Stags were so close to breaking the deadlock, as Benning made a great run forward, and curled a super ball into the area, which was missed by defender Kelland Watts and hit Danny Rose in the chest and was heading for the bottom corner of the net before keeper Paul Farman clawed it off the line low to his left with a brilliant save. Rose appealed that it had crossed the line but it didn’t. The ball was recycled by sub Omari Sterling-James to MacDonald who scuffed a shot into the ground and it bounced up in to the keeper’s arms. The Stags thought they might have had a penalty on 85 minutes for a foul on Sterling-James who went down under a challenge from Chris Stokes on the edge of the area on the right. The officials awarded the foul but gave it outside the area. With the naked eye we thought it was inside the area, however our pitchside footage, with a perfect angle, shows that it was actually just outside the area. The Stags went even closer after 88 minutes, as Sterling-James shot from a tight angle on the right, the keeper parried it to MacDonald who smashed a powerful shot from 12 yards that had goal written over it as it beat the keeper but somehow was blocked on the line by defender Luther Wildin. The ball was recycled, Rose did well to head down to Sterling-James whose shot was again blocked by the keeper. So Mansfield’s frustration continues, no wins from 3 home league games. With so many key players out, it will surely be a young Stags side which takes on Everton U21 in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday, before the Stags return to the league at top of the table Exeter next Saturday. The Stags were without: Neal Bishop (out for 2 weeks with a swollen Achilles), Andy Cook (for 3 weeks with a knee injury), Nicky Maynard (2 weeks with a grade one hamstring tear), Hayden White (took a whack on Tuesday where he broke his leg though no long term damage), Kellan Gordon (back spasm and failed a fitness test just before kick off), Krystian Pearce (ankle injury picked up in training on Friday and failed a fitness test just before kick off), Bobby Olejnik, Craig Davies and Jordan Graham (long term injuries), and Dion Donohue (suspended for off-field reasons). The Stags therefore had only 10 experienced players available, with young James Clarke coming in at right back for his first league start. Matt Preston returned from suspension after his sending off against Morecambe. Jacob Mellis returned having been fined and having apologised for breaking club regulations. CJ Hamilton also returned to the starting XI, in a side that showed 4 changes from Tuesday. Mal Benning was captain in the absence of Pearce. It was a 4-4-2 formation with Otis Khan joining Danny Rose up front. All seven substitutes had fewer than a handful of first team games between them. Stevenage also had injuries, including new signing Paul Digby, formerly of Mansfield. Joel Byrom, another former Stags player was in midfield. It was a hot and sunny day in Mansfield, 80 degrees. After 6 minutes, Paul Taylor crossed from the left and Watts headed well wide. Straight to the other end and the Stags could have had an early lead when Benning slid the ball forward for Hamilton who pulled a good low cross back for MacDonald who had a clear sight of goal but miscued his shot which went well wide, in fact out for a throw-in. After 9 minutes, Benning was fouled. Khan took the resulting free kick from the left and Rose flicked a header straight at the keeper. A minute later, MacDonald tried a shot from 35 yards, which was straight at the keeper who parried it away. Stevenage could have gone in front after 12 minutes when Conrad Logan saved brilliantly from Paul Taylor who looked certain to score. Taylor had only Logan to beat, but the Stags keeper made himself big and saved. After 14 minutes, good football from the Stags as Rose brilliantly won a header to Hamilton who got away down the left, and the ball eventually came out to Tomlinson, whose low shot was just wide of the left post from 23 yards. More great play from Rose after 17 minutes as he won the ball off Tom Soares and then won a free kick. Khan’s free kick from 33 yards was headed away. Benning gave the ball away, then won it back. Then Preston showed great strength to ease Danny Newton off the ball and shepherd out for a goal kick. Then Clarke lost the ball, and immediately won it back. A chance for the Stags after 24 minutes as Mellis played a short corner to Khan, and back to Benning, whose powerful shot was pushed away. Moments later, Mellis chipped a clever ball forward into the area which MacDonald tried to attack with a high boot, but he missed it and the keeper claimed it. A mistake by Preston after 26 minutes as he left a backpass short, but Sweeney got him out of jail. Sweeney then did well against Newton after 35 minutes. The Stags had a goal disallowed after 36 minutes as Benning crossed from the left, Hamilton knocked it on and Ryan Sweeney turned it past the keeper into the net from 4 yards, but Sweeney was half a yard offside. Sweeney was already wheeling away to celebrate before he saw the flag. Charlie Carter got away from 2 Stags players on the byline on the right after 39 minutes, but his low cross was cleared. Tomlinson did well to win the ball after 44 minutes. Then on 45+1 minutes, the Stags had a couple of shots from distance that were blocked, the first by MacDonald. A minute later, Tomlinson did well to win the ball again. 0-0 at the break and an even first half. Stevenage had gone closest with Logan pulling off a fine save, while the Stags had a goal disallowed and had some shots blocked. Half time 0-0 A minute into the second half, MacDonald found Hamilton with a throw-in, and Hamilton’s right foot shot was deflected wide from the edge of the area. The resulting corner was taken short by Khan, back to him, he got to the byline and his cross was headed behind by the defence. Mellis tried his luck from 30 yards after 51 minutes and caught it cleanly but it was wide of the left post. Then Hamilton did well to get past his man on the left but his cross from the byline was blocked. After 54 minutes, Mellis crossed towards Rose who was blocked off in the area but it was no penalty. Another good run from Hamilton after 59 minutes but his cross from the byline just didn’t fall for a Stags player. After 62 minutes, MacDonald went on a great run and crossed in (check video), Hamilton then chipped back in and Rose headed wide. A minute later, a great 1-2 between Benning and Hamilton, and Benning’s shot was deflected into the side netting. The Stags were now right on top. A rare half-chance for Stevenage after 65 minutes as Ben Kennedy cut inside and sent a low shot straight at Logan. It turned out to be Stevenage’s only shot of the second half. Straight to the other end, MacDonald fed Rose in the area on the right and his low shot across goal was wide of the left post. Mellis was high and wide from 30 yards after 67 minutes. Sterling-James replaced Khan after 68 minutes. Khan was not at his best today, and wanted too much time a couple of times After 70 minutes, a Stags corner reached Preston at the far post but he couldn’t get a clean header on it. MacDonald wasted a free kick from 23 yards out on the left after 71 minutes, firing over the bar. After 77 minutes, the Stags were so close to breaking the deadlock, as Benning made a great run forward, and curled a super ball into the area, which was missed by defender Kelland Watts and hit Danny Rose in the chest and was heading for the bottom corner of the net before keeper Paul Farman clawed it off the line low to his left with a brilliant save. Rose appealed that it had crossed the line but it didn’t. The ball was recycled by Sterling-James to MacDonald who scuffed a shot into the ground and it bounced up in to the keeper’s arms. The Stags thought they might have had a penalty on 85 minutes for a foul on Sterling-James who went down under a challenge from Chris Stokes on the edge of the area on the right. The officials awarded the foul but gave it outside the area. With the naked eye we thought it was inside the area, however our pitchside footage, with a perfect angle, shows that it was actually just outside the area. The Stags went even closer after 88 minutes, as Sterling-James shot from a tight angle on the right, the keeper parried it to MacDonald who smashed a powerful shot from 12 yards that had goal written over it as it beat the keeper but somehow was blocked on the line by defender Luther Wildin. The ball was recycled, Rose did well to head down to Sterling-James whose shot was again blocked by the keeper. Young striker Jimmy Knowles came on for his league debut after 89 minutes, replacing MacDonald. Frustrating. The Stags need their big players back from injury, but also need to strengthen, something which John Dempster said should happen in the next few days. Man of the match: Will Tomlinson |
||||
|
Report by: Martin Shaw and Simon Chamberlain at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill
|
||||
|
Line Up:
|
(4-4-2)
Logan 7 Had very little to do but when called up made on excellent save from Taylor. Clarke 7 Competent first start in the football league. Lost the ball once and won it back. Preston 6.5 Good strength against Newton. One mistake which was rescued by Sweeney. Sweeney 7 Defended well, including rescuing Preston on one occasion. Goal disallowed when he was just offside. Benning 7 Captain in the absence of Pearce. A few good runs forward, and two good crosses, one leading to the disallowed goal and another to a save on the line. MacDonald 6 Missed a good chance early on. Scuffed a chance at the keeper in the second half. Unlucky with his powerful shot that was blocked on the line. Tomlinson 7 Worked tirelessly and put in a great shift in the Bishop role. Won the ball several times. Mellis 6 Clever ball forward for MacDonald. Good to see him back in the team. Hamilton 6 Good cross for MacDonald’s early chance. A few good runs in the second half with variable degrees of success. Khan 5.5 Not at his best today, and wanted too much time a couple of times. Rose 6 Some good headers down. |
|
Sub Line Up:
|
Sterling-James (for Khan, 68 mins) - Made an impression, close to winning a penalty, a couple of shots blocked, and set up a chance for MacDonald.
Knowles (for MacDonald, 89 mins) - On for his league debut. Subs not used: Stone, Gibbens, Law, Smith, Sinclair. |
|
Opposition Line Up:
|
(3-4-1-2): Farman; Carter (Fielding 77), Soares, Watts; Wildin, Byrom, Husin (Iontton 55), Stokes; Lakin; Newton, Taylor (Kennedy 46). Subs not used: Bastien, Cowley, Fielding, Smith.
|
|
Referee:
|
Marc Edwards 7 Got the penalty decision right: it was outside the area. Handled the game well.
|
|
|