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An independent supporters' website dedicated to Mansfield Town FC
Season 19/20 Stagsnet Match Report
English Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Mansfield Town  
1 - 0
 Newport County
Rose 29
 
 
Attendance: 3653 (111 from Newport)
 
Date: 15 February 2020

BATTLING STAGS BEAT NEWPORT IN DREADFUL CONDITIONS

Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill

Mansfield Town picked up a much-needed win this afternoon with a battling performance played out in the wind and rain of Storm Dennis as Danny Rose’s goal was enough to beat Newport County. Mansfield’s already fragile confidence had been hugely dented by late equalisers conceded against Carlisle and Morecambe in the last two weeks and further dented in putting in very disappointing performance to lose at Leyton Orient on Tuesday night.
The Stags were just desperate for a win in any circumstances to lift the mood.
It was wet, it was very windy, it was horrible, but Mansfield’s players worked hard to grind the victory which was thoroughly deserved.
The only goal of the game came after 29 minutes. Mickey Demetriou made a mess of a pass in the muddy conditions half way inside the Stags half, Will Tomlinson collected the loose ball and fed Nicky Maynard who charged forward from inside his own half to the edge of the area where his shot was blocked and rebounded to Danny Rose 25 yards from goal. Rose took a few touches to cut inside Dale Gorman and fire a hard low shot into the bottom left corner of the net from 17 yards. It was a great shot from Rose that fizzed past the keeper.
Rose, who had a fine game, had chances to increase the lead. After 40 minutes, his powerful shot from 30 yards was caught by the keeper in front of his face, three minutes later he swept a first time shot straight at the keeper from 12 yards, and then after 61 minutes his superb header from 14 yards was very well tipped around the post by the keeper after a great run and cross from CJ Hamilton. Nicky Maynard also drew a good save from the keeper after a turn and shot from 25 yards at the end of the first half.
Newport had very few efforts on goal but went close to equalising after 62 minutes when Gorman side-footed just wide from 16 yards after the Stags failed to clear their lines.
Poor defending there, but overall this was a dominant performance from the Stags back line of Ryan Sweeney, Krystian Pearce and the impressive Kelland Watts who were determined to keep Newport out. Behind them, goalkeeper Aidan Stone made his Football League debut, replacing the out of form Bobby Olejnik, and although he didn’t have any saves to make, Stone gave an assured display with good handling and was able to celebrate a clean sheet at the end of the game.
Only Mansfield’s 4th home win of the season, and one that makes the gap to bottom club Stevenage 13 points with 12 games to go.
I think a word should go to the excellent Stags fans who stuck with their side throughout despite the horrible conditions and a game that was never pretty, and roared their side to victory in the nervy closing stages as Newport pumped long throws and corners into the Stags box in stoppage time. The victory was for them, and everyone of a Mansfield persuasion will have a much better weekend after a result like this. Let’s have plenty more before the end of the season!

Mansfield made three changes to the side that lost at Leyton Orient. Bobby Olejnik, who should have done better for the first goal at Orient and the goal at Morecambe, was replaced by Aidan Stone. Stone played in the Leasing.com Trophy game against Everton U21, but this was his first league game. Joe Riley, who went off injured at half time at Orient, was replaced by Hayden White at right wing-back. White is of course a big player for the club and it was great to see him back from injury. Finally Graham Coughlan brought Harry Charsley into the side in midfield. Coughlan explained pre-match that he expected a battle in midfield given the muddy conditions and given the opposition, and he wanted more legs in there. Out went Mal Benning. CJ Hamilton moved back to left wing-back, in a 3-5-2 formation. Still no place for Jack Evans who’s on loan from Swansea, and we’ll have to wait a little longer to see his Stags debut.
Newport had an injury crisis and were missing among others right back Leadbitter, regular central defender O’Brien, and midfielder Sheehan. In addition, Otis Khan, who joined Newport on deadline day on loan from Mansfield, was not allowed to play as a condition of the loan.


Storm Dennis brought strong winds. It was swirling around but blowing mainly towards the North Stand. Mansfield had it behind them in the first half.

After 3 minutes, Demetriou fired a speculative shot from 25 yards that was deflected wide.

Mansfield had calls for a penalty after 6 minutes. Rose headed the ball from inside the area on the left, and a Newport boot caught him in the face as he did it. Rose’s head was low down so it wasn’t a foul for high kicking but it looked like it was still a foul nonetheless as Rose got to the ball first. The referee waved away the appeals.

Jordan Green shot wide from 22 yards at the other end after 10 minutes.

Decisive keeping from Stone as he was out quickly to clear, though the offside flag was up anyway.

After 19 minutes, a long throw from Demetriou came out to Gorman who half-volleyed well over the bar.

A minute later at the other end, Tomlinson shifted the ball onto his left foot and shot off target from 18 yards.

Good defending from Hamilton after 24 minutes as Charsley lost the ball to Green who charged forward to the edge of the area. Charsley was again caught in possession moments later.

The Stags took the lead after 29 minutes. Mickey Demetriou made a mess of a pass in the muddy conditions half way inside the Stags half, Will Tomlinson collected the loose ball and fed Nicky Maynard who charged forward from inside his own half to the edge of the area where his shot was blocked and rebounded to Danny Rose 25 yards from goal. Rose took a few touches to cut inside Dale Gorman and fire a hard low shot into the bottom left corner of the net from 17 yards. It was a great shot from Rose that fizzed past the keeper.

Both sides were having crossfield balls intercepted.

Watts played a clever ball forward after 37 minutes for Hamilton to run on to but Hamilton couldn’t control it.

After 40 minutes, Rose’s powerful shot from 30 yards was caught by the keeper in front of his face.

Three minutes later Rose swept a first time shot straight at the keeper from 12 yards, after a good move in which Pearce found White with a good crossfield pass, White laid off to Charsley whose cross was cleared to Bishop who found Rose in space on the left on the area.

Maynard drew a good save from the keeper after a turn and shot from 25 yards at the end of the first half. Great skill from Maynard and a good save from the keeper low to his left.

Mansfield were good value for the lead at the break in difficult conditions. A fine goal from Rose separated the sides.

Half time 1-0

Tomlinson was fouled 27 yards out after 49 minutes. Innis was booked for the challenge, the first player into the book. Tomlinson fired a shot over the bar from the free kick. Mansfield’s record from scoring from these positions is hopeless in recent times. Only Jorge Grant, from memory, has scored from such a position.

Good defending by Hamilton after 53 minutes as he tracked back to foil Green’s break.

Another free kick for Mansfield after 57 minutes. This time it was 33 yards out. Tomlinson dinked it into the area, Charsley’s miscued shot fell to Pearce and his low shot was held on the line by the keeper to his left. A minute later, a great run from Hamilton, he pulled a low ball across for Charsley who miscontrolled in the area and gave the keeper a chance to bravely claim it at his feet.

After 61 minutes, Rose’s superb header from 14 yards was very well tipped around the post by the keeper after a great run and cross from Hamilton.

Newport went close to equalising after 62 minutes when Gorman side-footed just wide from 16 yards after the Stags failed to clear their lines, through Pearce, and moments earlier through Sweeney who only half-cleared.

Charsley was booked for an accumulation of fouls after 72 minutes.

Newport claimed a penalty for handball after 74 minutes, but it looked a weak shout.

Good strong defending from Sweeney after 78 minutes as he cleared away Dolan’s free kick from wide on the right.

A chance for Mansfield to increase the lead after 83 minutes as Tomlinson slid a low free kick into the area, Pearce went down in the area but there was no foul, Maynard’s shot was blocked and then Pearce’s shot from inside the area was also blocked.

Rose was booked after 87 minutes. He had to leave the pitch after receiving attention, then came back onto the pitch after play restarted and won the ball, but the referee insisted he hadn’t been waved back on.

5 minutes of stoppage time were added on. It was nervy as Newport pumped long throws and corners into the Stags box but Mansfield stayed strong and cleared everything that came in, and the Stags fans and players could celebrate a single goal home victory in the league for the first time this season (the other 3 home wins were 2-0, 6-1, 3-0).

Man of the match: Danny Rose


Report by: Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill



Line Up:
(3-5-2)
Stone 7 Made his Football League debut and although he didn’t have any saves to make, he gave an assured display with good handling and was able to celebrate a clean sheet at the end of the game.
Sweeney 7.5 Some good strong defending.
Pearce 7.5 Defended well. Had a shot saved on the line and another blocked.
Watts 7.5 Impressive in a dominant display by the back three.
White 7 Great to see him back from injury. Did well.
Bishop 7 Strong in midfield. Worked hard and showed no signs of playing 3 games in a week.
Tomlinson 7 Good game.
Charsley 6 Did ok. Caught in possession a couple of times in the first half.
Hamilton 8 Very good game at left wing-back. Great run and cross for Rose’s header. Also set up a chance for Charsley. Some good defending, tracking back.
Rose 8.5 Great shot for his goal and went close with other fine efforts.
Maynard 7 Good run and shot which was blocked leading to the goal. Great skill for his turn and shot which was well-saved.
Sub Line Up:
Subs not used: Olejnik, Clarke, Benning, Preston, Evans, Knowles, Davies.
Opposition Line Up:
(4-4-2): King; Willmott, Inniss, Bennett, Demetriou; Green, Gorman (Dolan, 78), Labadie, Abrahams (Collins, 46); Amond, Waters (Matt, 58). Subs not used: Howkins, Woodiwiss.
Referee:
Dean Whitestone 6 Did ok. Though I think he should have awarded Mansfield a penalty for the kick in Rose’s face.


Season 19/20 Reports