Season 19/20 Stagsnet Match Report
|
|
|
||
|
Exeter City
|
|
Mansfield Town
|
||
|
Bowman 5
|
Sweeney sent off 86
|
|||
|
Attendance: 4316 (262 from Mansfield)
|
||||
|
Date: 31 August 2019
|
||||
|
STAGS OUTPLAYED AND BEATEN AT EXETER
Martin Shaw at St James Park Mansfield Town put in a dreadful performance to be beaten 1-0 at Exeter City yesterday. The goal typified Mansfield’s unexpectedly error-ridden defensive start to the season. Last season, the Stags had the best defensive record in League Two. This season, with mainly the same players, the Stags have conceded sloppy goal after sloppy goal. Here at Exeter, after just 5 minutes, Mansfield conceded a throw-in halfway inside their own half on the Exeter left when the ball came off Alex MacDonald. Dean Moxey took the throw-in quickly and Krystian Pearce was asleep for a split-second allowing Ryan Bowman to get away from him, goalside and into what would have been an offside position except you can’t be offside from a throw-in, and Bowman thrashed a powerful shot into the net from 8 yards giving keeper Conrad Logan no chance. It was that split-second mistake that has dogged the defence all season, including in pre-season, and is hard to explain given that we know these same defenders played so well last season. The margin of victory should have been greater for Exeter. After 38 minutes, from a corner from the right, none of the defenders tracked the run of Bowman who was allowed a free header from 3 yards which smacked against the inside of the post. The ball rebounded against Will Tomlinson’s knee and was heading into the net before the alert Danny Rose did very well to clear it off the line. Exeter hit the woodwork again after 82 minutes when Jake Taylor sent a shot from 22 yards against the bar. Logan made a good save after 15 minutes when Lee Martin cut inside from the right and Logan did well to parry away his shot. The Stags were so sloppy in possession, regularly giving the ball away, showing poor control and general lacking quality on the ball. Manager John Dempster described the performance as “inept”. Exeter goalkeeper Lewis Ward only had one save to make in the entire game, and that came when a clearance from an Exeter defender hit another defender and went goalwards. Nicky Maynard went closest for Mansfield in the first half, doing well to create a chance for himself just inside the box and firing wide of the left post. Jacob Mellis also shot just wide from 24 yards. But it wasn’t until Omari Sterling-James came on as substitute after 70 minutes that the Stags looked lively going forward, and he was unlucky not to start the game or come on much earlier in my opinion after his stand-out performances in the EFL Trophy and the EFL Cup. Sterling-James immediately whistled a great shot just wide of the left post. CJ Hamilton came on after 78 minutes and the Stags looked livelier still, but it was too little too late. Hamilton in my opinion, should also have been on much earlier, or started the game. Exeter fans, and probably the manager and defenders too, were quaking in their boots about him after he ripped them to shreds here on 30th March. To compound matters for Mansfield after such a poor performance, they lost Ryan Sweeney sent off after 86 minutes. I did not see the incident in real time, as I was watching MacDonald who was waiting to take a long throw-in. But with Bowman on the floor in the six-yard box, the referee brandished the red card at Sweeney. From the pitchside video footage, Sweeney simply barges Bowman away and Bowman goes down as if poleaxed. Play-acting from Bowman. I would expect the Stags to use the footage to get the red card over-turned. And I’d also expect Bowman to be charged for play-acting. Not good enough from Mansfield, who drop to 19th after 6 games. We had texts into commentary calling for manager Dempster to be sacked. That is premature in my opinion after just 6 games as all new managers need to be given time and a chance and this was only the second defeat. Improvement is needed though and is needed fast. Exeter remain top, they were efficient and steady, but far from outstanding. They were however much better than Mansfield. The Stags arrived at St James Park with a wonderful record since returning to the Football League of 5 wins in 6 games, including that stunning CJ Hamilton-inspired 4-1 win last season. Mansfield were able to welcome back four players from injury: Nicky Maynard (after a grade one hamstring tear), Kellan Gordon (after a back spasm), Krystian Pearce (after an ankle injury picked up in training), and Hayden White (who had taken a whack where he broke his leg though with no long term damage). Maynard, Gordon and Pearce started, replacing CJ Hamilton, Otis Khan and James Clarke from the last league game, against Stevenage. White returned to the bench. New signing Dapo Afolayan, signed on loan from West Ham for the first half of the season, was also on the bench. With Gordon and White back in the 18, there was no room on the bench for Clarke. It was a 3-4-1-2 formation with Mellis playing behind Maynard and Rose. Exeter had 3 former Stags on the bench, Nicky Ajose, Alex Fisher and Craig Woodman. Only Woodman was to come on. The Stags created the first chance of the game after 3 minutes. A good move, and Maynard made a good touch down to Mellis who fired a left footed shot just wide of the right post from 24 yards. Exeter took the lead after just 5 minutes. Mansfield conceded a throw-in halfway inside their own half on the Exeter left when the ball came off Alex MacDonald. Dean Moxey took the throw-in quickly and Krystian Pearce was asleep for a split-second allowing Ryan Bowman to get away from him, goalside and into what would have been an offside position except you can’t be offside from a throw-in, and Bowman thrashed a powerful shot into the net from 8 yards giving keeper Conrad Logan no chance. It was that split-second mistake that has dogged the defence all season, including in pre-season, and is hard to explain given that we know these same defenders played so well last season. Nicky Maynard went close for Mansfield after 10 minutes, doing well to create a chance for himself just inside the box and firing wide of the left post. On 14 minutes, Williams fired a 30 yard free kick straight at Logan. Logan made a good save after 15 minutes when Lee Martin cut inside from the right and Logan did well to parry away his shot. After 18 minutes, Maynard shot from the edge of the area and it was deflected for a corner. Four minutes later at the other end, an Exeter free from the left from Matt Jay was flicked on by Lee Martin straight at Logan. Tomlinson was booked after 28 minutes. He left a pass for MacDonald short and fouled his man trying to make up for it. Lee Martin curled in a great cross from the left after 34 minutes towards the far post and Williams was a whisker away from turning it in. After 38 minutes, from an Exeter corner from the right, none of the defenders tracked the run of Bowman who was allowed a free header from 3 yards which smacked against the inside of the post. The ball rebounded against Will Tomlinson’s knee and was heading into the net before the alert Danny Rose did very well to clear it off the line. Benning and Sweeney nearly gave the ball away between them in the area after 41 minutes, and just got away with it. Sloppy. Benning apologised. Half time and just 1-0 to Exeter but it should have been 2-0. Not good enough from Mansfield. Exeter looked too comfortable at the back and it looked clear to me that the Stags needed to make a change with Sterling-James and Hamilton to come on, but it wasn’t to happen for some time. Half time 1-0 Inside the first minute of the second half, Maynard fired in a volley which was blocked. I think it was off target anyway. At the other end a minute later, Williams cut inside and his shot was blocked by Sweeney. After 50 minutes, a Mellis corner was headed away. Far too many times, Stags crosses didn’t beat the first man. After 64 minutes, an Exeter ball forward, Sweeney went to clear it but missed it, but luckily Bowman didn’t anticipate that. Mansfield were so sloppy. Typified by Benning who let the ball run under his feet after 67 minutes. What was going on?? After 68 minutes, brilliant play from Maynard to win a corner bringing the Stags fans to their feet. But MacDonald’s corner didn’t beat the 1st man. Moments later yet another sloppy piece of play as Mellis’s pass to Benning was poor. Finally the Stags made the long-overdue change after 70 minutes. Sterling-James replaced Tomlinson. Sterling-James went on behind the front two, Mellis dropped back. After 76 minutes, Preston put the ball into the area and Rose headed down but it came to nothing. Sterling-James then whistled a great shot just wide of the left post. Hamilton came on for Preston after 78 minutes. The Stags switched to 4-4-2 with Sterling-James on the right wing and Hamilton on the left. Exeter goalkeeper Lewis Ward only had one save to make in the entire game, and that came on 79 minutes when a clearance from Pierce Sweeney hit Aaron Martin and went goalwards. Exeter hit the woodwork again after 82 minutes when Jake Taylor sent a shot from 22 yards against the bar. A good move from Mansfield after 83 minutes culminating in MacDonald’s shot from 30 yards over the bar. Great play from Sterling-James a minute later winning a free kick and eliciting a yellow card. Benning’s free kick didn’t beat the 1st man. To compound matters for Mansfield after such a poor performance, they lost Ryan Sweeney sent off after 86 minutes. I did not see the incident in real time, as I was watching MacDonald who was waiting to take a long throw-in. But with Bowman on the floor in the six-yard box, the referee brandished the red card at Sweeney. From the pitchside video footage, Sweeney simply barges Bowman away and Bowman goes down as if poleaxed. Play-acting from Bowman. I would expect the Stags to use the footage to get the red card over-turned. And I’d also expect Bowman to be charged for play-acting. A great cross from Hamilton after 90+2 minutes into the corridor of uncertainty, but no-one was on the end of it. On 90+4 minutes, a corner for the Stags, and Logan went up for it. Rose put it over the bar, but the linesman’s flag was up anyway. Full time and a defeat for the Stags. A performance that just wasn’t good enough. The Stags must be so much better than this. Man of the match: Nicky Maynard |
||||
|
Report by: Martin Shaw at St James Park
|
||||
|
Line Up:
|
(3-4-1-2)
Logan 6 No chance with the goal. Good save from Lee Martin’s shot. Preston 5.5 The defence as a collective unit was very poor. Pearce 4.5 Asleep for a split-second allowing Ryan Bowman to get away from him for the goal. Sweeney 5 Unfortunate to be sent off. Missed one attempted clearance. Poor. Gordon 6 Ok. MacDonald 6 Worked industriously and was probably the pick of midfield. Tomlinson 5.5 Worked hard but without quality. Benning 5 Several mistakes, giving the ball away, set pieces not beating the 1st man. Mellis 5 Some sloppy play and misplaced passes. Maynard 6.5 Did well to create a chance for himself early but fired wide. Good lay-off for Mellis who fired wide. Rose 6 Good clearance off the line. Got little service. |
|
Sub Line Up:
|
Sterling-James (for Tomlinson, 70 mins) - Looked lively going forward.
Hamilton (for Preston, 78 mins) - One great cross. Subs not used: Stone, White, Khan, Smith, Afolayan. |
|
Opposition Line Up:
|
(3-4-1-2): Lewis Ward; Pierce Sweeney, Aaron Martin, Dean Moxey; Randell Williams, Archie Collins, Jake Taylor, Matt Jay (Craig Woodman, 87), Jack Sparkes; Lee Martin, Ryan Bowman. Subs not used: Johnny Maxted, Jordan Tillson, Nicky Ajose, Tom Parkes, Alex Fisher, Jayden Richardson.
|
|
Referee:
|
Nick Kinseley 5 Outrageous decision to send off Sweeney, when he plainly didn’t see it.
|
|
|