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Season 19/20 Stagsnet Match Report
English Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Morecambe  
1 - 1
 Mansfield Town
Kenyon 86.
 
 Riley 60
Attendance: 1965 (337 from Mansfield)
 
Date: 8 February 2020

STAGS DRAW AT MORECAMBE

Martin Shaw at the Globe Arena

Mansfield Town drew 1-1 at Morecambe this afternoon in the game between 21st and 23rd in League Two. The draw was a fair result in my opinion but it was frustrating as the Stags again conceded a late equaliser to drop two points.
Mansfield took the lead after 60 minutes when Mal Benning’s excellent free kick from deep found Krystian Pearce who lost his marker Steven Old, headed goalwards, and Morecambe keeper Christoffer Mafoumbi parried it into the path of Joe Riley who knocked into the net from close range.
Morecambe equalised after 86 minutes when a corner from the right from Jordan Cranston was knocked into the net from close range by substitute Alex Kenyon, who got away from his marker James Clarke. A shame for Clarke, who was only just on as substitute for Riley who had to go off with what looked like some kind of groin strain or similar.
Morecambe could have won it in stoppage time when another Morecambe sub Jordan Slew was in space in the box on the left, took a touch and his shot was superbly saved at point blank range by Bobby Olejnik.
It was disappointing for the Stags to be pegged back because the defence, which has so often been poor this season, was excellent, with all three central defenders Ryan Sweeney, Krystian Pearce and Kelland Watts in terrific form, and Joe Riley and Mal Benning having really good games at wing back. The midfield was much less impressive though as Harry Charsley and Will Tomlinson didn't have good games, while alongside them Neal Bishop did at least get quite a few good tackles in in the second half. Up front, there was very little service for Nicky Maynard and Danny Rose, save for one fantastic cross from Joe Riley which Maynard headed wide. The Stags need to be better than this going forward. But I enjoyed seeing the defence with such a good display after what has been such a horror show this season.
The point is important as it keeps Morecambe 5 points behind Mansfield, while Stevenage’s defeat at Exeter means that the Stags are 10 points above the single relegation place with 14 games to go.
On to another crucial game on Tuesday night as Mansfield visit Leyton Orient, who are three points ahead of the Stags.


Mansfield made one change to the side that drew with Carlisle. Will Tomlinson came in for the injured Alex MacDonald, who missed out with a low grade hamstring strain. It was a 3-5-2 formation as last week, with Ryan Sweeney, Krystian Pearce and Kelland Watts in central defence, and Harry Charsley, Neal Bishop and Tomlinson in central midfield. With MacDonald missing, Jack Evans came into the squad for the first time, on the bench. Evans signed from Swansea on loan for the rest of the season on transfer deadline day, but too late to be involved last Saturday. I’d hazard a guess that Evans will make his debut on Tuesday at Leyton Orient, with Neal Bishop rested. Under 18 centre forward Josh Scott travelled with the squad and warmed up with them before the game, but was not in the matchday 18 today. Scott impressed me in the FA Youth cup games this season.

Mansfield had won on the last four visits to Morecambe. If they could have won here, they would have equalled a club record five successive away wins against the same opponent (set away to Crewe, from 1974 to 1984) (stats by Paul Taylor, Martin Shaw and Svante Bernhard).

Morecambe’s recent home record was good. Before today, they had won 4 and drawn 3 of their last 8 home games. It was strange to be playing a Morecambe side not managed by Jim Bentley, who was their manager for so long, but who has now been replaced by former Plymouth manager Derek Adams.


It was forecast to be windy in Morecambe. But I would say it was marginally less windy than for the game against Carlisle a week ago, and had little impact on the game here.

The first 20 minutes of the game was low quality. Passes were going astray from both sides and no-one from either side had a sight of goal.

After 21 minutes, Adam Phillips had the first shot of the game when his free kick from 33 yards was well over the bar. A minute later, Phillips flicked the ball past a defender in the box but Olejnik was out quickly to smother his shot. Good keeping from Olejnik. Cries from the home fans for a penalty after 25 minutes as the ball hit Tomlinson in the area, but the referee rightly ignored them.

At last Mansfield had a shot after 29 minutes as Bishop’s shot from the edge of the box was blocked. At the other end after 33 minutes, Phillips couldn’t get in a header for Morecambe as a cross came in from the left.

After 34 minutes, a good tackle by Bishop as Cole Stockton tried to turn and shoot. Moments later, Benning did well to win the ball.

A great run down the left by Maynard after 38 minutes and he won a free kick. Following the free kick, Riley lobbed the ball forward and Watts found himself goalside of the defence, but he could only head the ball straight at the keeper. A real opportunity with just the keeper to beat.

After 42 minutes, good play again by Benning in the Morecambe half but he was unlucky as the ball went out for a goal kick.

0-0 at half time and a half that was almost completely devoid of quality with so many misplaced passes. No shortage of commitment, but it was very poor entertainment, probably one of worst 45 minutes all season.

Half time 0-0

Two minutes after the break, John O’Sullivan shot well over the bar for Morecambe. A minute later, he pulled the ball back for Aaron Wildig who also fired well over the bar.

Maynard did well to tee up Riley for a shot after 49 minutes, but Riley’s cross-shot was wide.

Kelland Watts was booked after 49 minutes for bringing down Phillips.

Stockton got himself into a shooting position after 53 minutes but his shot was well-blocked by Pearce and Stockton fired the rebound well over the bar.

Charsley pushed forward after 54 minutes and sent a shot from 30 yards very well wide, with Riley in space on his right. However, given Mansfield’s lack of shots all game, I’m not going to criticise him for having a pop.

Benning pushed forward after 55 minutes and cracked a great shot goalwards, and the keeper could only parry it for a corner.

Moments later, a great tackle by Bishop in the Morecambe half, he found Sweeney who did well on the right in the area to get himself into a shooting position and his left footed shot was brilliantly headed off the line by Ryan Cooney. The ball came out to Maynard whose scissors kick was well over the bar.

Mansfield took the lead after 60 minutes. Benning’s excellent free kick from deep found Pearce who lost his marker Steven Old, headed goalwards, and Morecambe keeper Mafoumbi got down low to his left and could only parry it into the path of Joe Riley who knocked into the net from close range. Riley’s first goal for the Stags.

Morecambe sub Alex Kenyon shot straight at Olejnik from 25 yards after 62 minutes. Four minutes later, Stockton shot well over the bar again after Wildig’s low ball in.

A real chance for Mansfield after 67 minutes. Watts played a super crossfield ball from the left out to Riley on the right. Riley then curled in a brilliant cross to Maynard who headed wide.

Great defending from Sweeney after 68 minutes as he threw his body at Stockton as Stockton was about to shoot.

The home side made a double change after 71 minutes bringing on Mbulu and Slew. Manager Derek Adams said after the game that his intention was to go long and pump balls into the Stags box and put the Stags under more pressure.

Danny Rose went down in the Morecambe area after 75 minutes but it was no penalty.

Mansfield made their first change after 75 minutes as Hamilton replaced Maynard. Maynard had received precious little service all afternoon, save for one that one brilliant cross from Riley. The idea was to have Hamilton run at the tiring defence and get in behind them and that was a reasonable tactic I think. Unfortunately it didn't really work as the Stags didn’t play any quality balls for Hamilton to run on to.

Bishop did well to win the ball and clear after 80 minutes.

James Clarke replaced Riley after 82 minutes. Riley came off with what looked like some kind of groin strain or similar.

Morecambe players and fans wanted a penalty after 85 minutes as a cross from close range hit Tomlinson in the area. The referee and linesman correctly ignored the appeals.

But from the resulting corner, Morecambe equalised (86 minutes). The corner from the right from Cranston was knocked into the net from close range by substitute Alex Kenyon, who got away from his marker James Clarke. Such a shame for Clarke, who was only just on as substitute for Riley. According to the goalscorer Kenyon post match: “I ran across the goal, it’s held up in the wind, the keeper (Bobby Olejnik) hasn’t quite realised it’s not coming to him and, thankfully, I’ve got the outside of my left foot to it.”

Morecambe could have won it after 90+2 minutes. Cooney’s wayward shot from outside the box reached Jordan Slew who was in space in the box on the left. Slew took a touch and his shot was superbly saved at point blank range by Bobby Olejnik.

Craig Davies replaced Danny Rose after 90+2 minutes. With Andy Cook having been allowed to leave, unwisely in my opinion as I said last week, Davies is likely to get more game time and hopefully will take his opportunity in the coming weeks.

After 90+3 minutes, a low cross from the right by Phillips was pushed away by Olejnik. Slew then recycled the ball to Phillips again and his low cross was brilliantly cleared by Sweeney in the six-yard box with Steven Old looking to ounce. After 90+4 minutes, Kenyon fired over the bar from the edge of the area.

Morecambe had finished the game strongly. But a draw was undoubtedly a fair result in my opinion.

Man of the match: Ryan Sweeney


Report by: Martin Shaw at the Globe Arena



Line Up:
(3-5-2)
Olejnik 6.5 Superb save in stoppage time to preserve the point. Also made a good save earlier. Could have done better with the goal as the corner came into the six yard box.
Sweeney 8 Excellent game. Several pieces of great defending. Also had a shot which was headed off the line.
Pearce 7.5 Good header which led to the goal. Defended well.
Watts 7.5 Defended well. Had a great chance to score but headed straight at the keeper.
Riley 8 Really good game at wing back. Scored his first goal for the club. Fantastic cross for Maynard’s header. Had to come off with what looked like some kind of groin strain or similar.
Charsley 5.5 Didn’t get a grip of midfield and didn’t provide any creativity.
Bishop 6 Got in some very good tackles. Unwisely swore via a gesture at a section of fans in the first half after he was booed, and apologised on twitter after the game.
Tomlinson 5.5 Didn’t have a good game and didn’t provide any creativity.
Benning 8 The Stags’ best player in the first half. Excellent free kick for the goal in the second half.
Maynard 6 Received precious little service all afternoon, save for one brilliant cross from Riley which he headed wide. Great run in the first half to win a free kick. Did well to tee up Riley for a shot.
Rose 6 Received no service.
Sub Line Up:
Hamilton (for Maynard, 75 mins) - Brought on to run at the tiring defence and get in behind them but the tactic didn't work as the Stags didn’t play any quality balls for him to run on to.
Clarke (for Riley, 82 mins) - Replaced the injury Riley late on. Allowed his man Kenyon to get away from him for the goal.
Davies (for Rose, 90+2 mins) -
Subs not used: Stone, Preston, Evans, Knowles.
Opposition Line Up:
(4-3-3): Mafoumbi; Cooney, Old, Lavelle, Cranston; O’Sullivan (Kenyon 61), Diagouraga, Wildig (Slew 71); Phillips, Stockton, Mendes-Gomes (Mbulu 71). Subs not used: Halstead, Conlan, Bradbury.
Referee:
Scott Oldham 7 Handled the game well.


Season 19/20 Reports