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Season 19/20 Stagsnet Match Report
The Emirates FA Cup - Round Two
Shrewsbury Town  
2 - 0
 Mansfield Town
Laurent 88, Walker 90+5. Norburn sent off 60
 
 
Attendance: 3678 (465 from Mansfield)
 
Date: 30 November 2019

STAGS KNOCKED OUT OF FA CUP BY 10 MAN SHREWSBURY

Martin Shaw at the New Meadow (now also known as Montgomery Waters Meadow)

Mansfield Town’s disappointing season went from bad to worse this afternoon, knocked out of the FA Cup at League One Shrewsbury Town. The Stags had done well to hold their own for 60 minutes in an even game against their higher league opponents, and had come close to taking the lead after 57 minutes when Nicky Maynard turned superbly and put a low ball across for Andy Cook whose close range effort was blocked on the line.
Then Shrewsbury had midfielder Ollie Norburn sent off for kicking the ball into Jacob Mellis’s face as Mellis lay on the ground after a whistle had gone for a free kick.
This presented the Stags with a glorious opportunity to push for a winner against ten men for more than half an hour. But instead of going for the jugular, the Stags failed to create a single shot on goal in that thirty minute period. Indeed it took 20 of those 30 minutes before boss John Dempster made an attacking substitution to react to the one man advantage. It was Shrewsbury who looked the better side in that period, creating a few chances as Josh Laurent headed over the bar, Donald Love sidefooted wide from a great position, and Laurent headed another one wide.
Then on 88 minutes, the Stags had a free kick 30 yards out. Conor Shaughnessy’s delivery was straight to Shrewsbury keeper Max O’Leary. Shrewsbury broke straight to the other end, sub Dan Udoh’s shot from the edge of the box looped up off Matt Preston and Laurent turned the loose ball into the net.
Finally Mansfield created a chance as sub Omari Sterling-James put in a high hanging cross and Cook attacked it and headed over the bar. But then in the final minute of stoppage time, as Mansfield piled bodies forward, Shrewsbury broke through Udoh again from well inside his own half and he laid off to another sub Brad Walker who rounded Conrad Logan and fired into the net to make it 2-0. The second goal was a product of Mansfield desperately searching for a late goal and that can happen.
But following on from this season’s league form which has the Stags just two points above third bottom place approaching the halfway point in the season, the FA Cup provided a chance for some much needed respite and perhaps a plum third round tie, and that opportunity was certainly there for the taking in the final thirty minutes against ten men. But Mansfield failed to take it with a really poor showing, and it was a huge opportunity missed.
Mansfield’s last visit to Shrewsbury five years ago resulted in a defeat in the league, following by failing to beat Concord Rangers in an FA Cup tie, and that signalled the departure of manager Paul Cox. No-one could be surprised if manager John Dempster goes the same way after his side has picked up just 21 points from 19 games in the league and now been knocked out of the FA Cup despite the great opportunity they had today. Dempster is a thoroughly decent bloke, who had done a tremendous job in the Academy. But any first team manager needs good results, and Dempster simply hasn’t had enough of them.


Mansfield named an unchanged side from the side that lost at Swindon. Conor Shaughnessy, not allowed by his parent club Leeds to play in round one, was allowed to play here in round two. Neal Bishop returned from injury to the bench to replace Will Tomlinson. Mal Benning returned from suspension to the bench to replace James Clarke.

This was the Stags' third visit to the New Meadow ground, the first being in the season we were relegated, and the second being five years ago in what turned out to be the final league game under manager Paul Cox. The Stags had not beaten a team from a higher league in the FA Cup for 12 years, since winning at Withdean Stadium Brighton in January 2008. That run continues.

Shrewsbury are mid-table in League One. The weather in Salop was dry but cold.

Shrewsbury created the first chance of the game after 5 minutes. Love put in a good ball from the right, Edwards attacked it at the near post and flicked just wide.

Two minutes later, a good break from Mansfield, a great ball forward from Smith for Hamilton to run on to, Hamilton put in a low cross towards Maynard but it was just cleared. Good play from Smith and Hamilton. After 9 minutes, Maynard shot straight at the keeper from 25 yards.

A good block by Pearce on a cross from Laurent after 10 minutes.

Conrad Logan made a good save after 11 minutes. A corner from the right from Norburn, Edwards headed back across goal and Pierre headed it over Logan but just as it looked as though it would go in, Logan did well to claw it off the line.

After 14 minutes, Maynard got past his defender and was brought down for a free kick, 27 yards from goal. Mellis took it but fired well over the bar. It continued Mansfield’s atrocious record of not scoring with efforts from outside the box this season.

Sloppy play by Pearce on the edge of his own area after 19 minutes put Shaughnessy in trouble and Shaughnessy tripped Edwards. Shaughnessy was booked and wouldn’t have thanked Pearce for that. Jason Cummings took the resulting free kick which was easily pouched by Logan.

Smith made a clumsy challenge on Laurent in the area after 21 minutes but the referee decided it wasn’t a penalty. A bit of inexperience from Smith to do that in the area.

A dreadful challenge from Golbourne on Gordon on the touchline after 24 minutes. It could have been a red card but the referee elected to give a yellow.

Cummings sent a pea-roller from 25 yards wide of the post after 26 minutes.

A chance for the Stags after 29 minutes. A deep cross from Mellis found Cook beyond the left post, he headed down but it was saved on the line by the keeper.

Preston was booked after 33 minutes for deliberately pulling back Laurent after losing the ball in the Shrewsbury half. Silly yellow card really in a position that was not dangerous.

Lane fired a poor effort closer to the corner flag than the goal after 35 minutes.

A good run from Hamilton after 38 minutes and he was brought down in full flow by Pierre, who was booked. Mansfield took the free kick quickly and Hamilton would have been through on goal in the area but the referee pulled it back. Inconsistent refereeing two minutes later as Shrewsbury took a quick free kick to Love who crossed across the face of goal but it was ahead of Cummings and out for a goal kick.

A good from the Stags after 45 minutes, and Maynard chipped to the far post, but it was just ahead of Cook and out for a goal kick. A minute later at the other end Logan was out quickly to claim at the feet of Edwards.

An even first half, with few chances for either side.

Half time 0-0

Smith gave the ball away after 52 minutes, and Okenabirhie sent a powerful shot straight at Logan. Smith held his hand up to apologise.

After 55 minutes, Mellis played inside to Hamilton who turned well and his shot was blocked for a corner.

The Stags came close to taking the lead after 57 minutes when Maynard turned superbly and put a low ball across for Cook whose close range effort was blocked on the line. Great play from Maynard and it turned out to be the Stags’ best chance of the game.

Then on 60 minutes Shrewsbury had midfielder Ollie Norburn sent off for kicking the ball into Jacob Mellis’s face as Mellis lay on the ground after a whistle had gone for a free kick. There had been plenty of niggle between the two players and the referee must have decided it was deliberate as well as dangerous. Mellis said afterwards that Norburn had been frustrated by Mellis. I imagine Shrewsbury will appeal that and without the context of what had gone before, the disciplinary panel may well overturn it.

On 61 minutes, Edwards headed wide but was offside anyway.

Shaughnessy put in a good tackle on Laurent in the area after 64 minutes. Two minutes later, Laurent played forward to Okenabirhie who was offside but knocked the ball into the net anyway.

The Stags were not looking like the team with a man advantage. A substitution to give more attacking oomph was needed but didn’t come.

After 73 minutes, Pearce gave the ball away, Shrewsbury broke forward, sub Goss crossed and Laurent headed over. Then on 77 minutes, a low ball in from the left from Pierre, Love ran on to it and sidefooted wide from a great position.

Finally, 20 minutes after gaining a man advantage, and with just 10 minutes left, on 80 minutes, Benning came on for Pearce and Sterling-James came on for Smith, as Mansfield switched to 4-4-2, with Hamilton on the left wing and Sterling-James on the right wing. Neither Pearce nor Smith had had the best of games.

After 85 minutes, Love crossed from deep and Laurent headed wide.

Then on 88 minutes, the Stags had a free kick 30 yards out. Shaughnessy’s delivery was straight to Shrewsbury keeper O’Leary. Shrewsbury broke straight to the other end, sub Udoh’s shot from the edge of the box looped up off Preston and Laurent turned the loose ball into the net.

Khan replaced Maynard after 89 minutes.

Finally Mansfield created a chance against 10 men as Sterling-James put in a high hanging cross and Cook attacked it and headed over the bar after 90+2 minutes.

Then in the final minute of stoppage time (90+5), as Mansfield piled bodies forward, Shrewsbury broke through Udoh again from well inside his own half and he laid off to another sub Brad Walker who rounded Logan and fired into the net to make it 2-0. The second goal was a product of Mansfield desperately searching for a late goal and that can happen.

A very disappointing final 30 minutes and the Stags are out of the FA Cup.

The next game is in the Leasing.com Trophy, on Tuesday night, away to Port Vale in Round Two. Much needed game time probably for Olejnik, Clarke, Sterling-James, Afolayan, Khan, Knowles and others.

Man of the match: No-one played particularly well. Hamilton and Maynard were probably the best of the bunch.


Report by: Martin Shaw at the New Meadow (now also known as Montgomery Waters Meadow)



Line Up:
(3-5-2)
Logan 6.5 Good save early on, clawing off the line. Not at fault for either goal in my opinion.
Preston 5.5 Silly yellow card.
Pearce 5 Sloppy play on the edge of his own area in the first half cost Shaughnessy a booking. Gave the ball away again just before he was subbed.
Sweeney 6 Did ok.
Gordon 5.5 Golbourne got the better of him after Golbourne could have been sent off for chopping him down.
Shaughnessy 6 One good tackle. His free kick straight to the keeper inadvertently led to the first goal.
Smith 5.5 Did not have the best of games. Gave the ball away and gifted a shot to Okenabirhie. An early great ball forward for Hamilton to run on to.
Mellis 5 Not at his best creatively.
Hamilton 6.5 A few good runs. One good turn and shot.
Maynard 6.5 Superb play to set up the second half chance for Cook. Good play to win a free kick.
Cook 5 Complained to the ref several times that he had been fouled when it did not look like he had. Should have scored from close range from great play by Maynard. Poor game.
Sub Line Up:
Benning (for Pearce, 80 mins) - Sleepy work allowing Laurent a free shot for the first goal.
Sterling-James (for Smith, 80 mins) - Brought on far too late by the manager.
Khan (for Maynard, 89 mins) -
Subs not used: Olejnik, Bishop, MacDonald, Knowles.
Opposition Line Up:
(3-4-3): O’Leary; Williams, Ebanks-Landell, Pierre; Love, Norburn, Laurent, Golbourne; Edwards (Walker, 86), Cummings (Goss, 62), Okenabirhie (Udoh, 86). Subs not used: Murphy, Beckles, Giles, John-Lewis.
Referee:
Andy Haines 6 Inconsistent refereeing when he prevented Mansfield taking a free kick quickly then allowed Shrewsbury to do a couple of minutes later. Could have sent off Golbourne for really bad challenge on Gordon.


Season 19/20 Reports