Season 20/21 Stagsnet Match Report
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Mansfield Town
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Stevenage
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Attendance: behind closed doors
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Date: 10 October 2020
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STAGS STILL WINLESS AFTER DRAW WITH STEVENAGE
Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town’s winless start to the season continued as they drew 0-0 with Stevenage at the One Call Stadium. Against the team who were only reprieved from relegation last season due to the demise of Macclesfield Town, the Stags didn’t do enough to deserve the victory, creating precious few chances, though came so close to winning it in the 4th minute of stoppage time as George Maris crashed a shot against the underside of the bar from 16 yards. Harry Charsley also hit the woodwork for the Stags in the first half, firing a great effort on the volley against the left post from about 14 yards. Stevenage hit the woodwork themselves as Luther Wildin’s cross from the right was turned against the bar from 6 yards by Elliott List after 73 minutes. Stevenage also went close to scoring in the first half, moments after Charsley’s effort against the post, when Stags keeper Marek Stech completely miscued an attempted clearance which looked like it would present Innih Effiong with a free shot at an open goal but Stech recovered quickly to block his shot for a corner and spare his own blushes. Stevenage keeper Jamie Cumming only had one significant save to make in the entire match when he pushed away James Perch’s excellent shot from 25 yards. Other than that, Mansfield created nowhere near enough chances in a very disappointing performance as Stevenage were full value for their point. For much of the game, Mansfield seemed almost devoid of ideas as to how to break down a resolute Stevenage side. The Stags continue to look low on confidence due to a lack of any wins, and it seems clear that those late goals conceded at Orient and Newport have been very demoralising for the team. One win still might change a lot, and it needs to come sooner rather than later, with the Stags languishing in 21st position, the same position as they finished last season. The Stags made two changes from the last league game, the defeat at Newport: Marek Stech returned in goal in place of Aidan Stone. Stone was certainly unlucky to lose his place in my opinion having done well. Stech however was brought in by Coughlan to be the number one keeper. The other change saw Harry Charsley replace Ollie Clarke. Clarke had gone off with what manager Coughlan described as cramp at Newport, but it turned out to be a calf injury and Coughlan did not know how long he would be out but hoped it would only be one game. The Stags started with Reid and Maynard up front, the intention presumably being to attack Stevenage with pace given that their centre halves Scott Cuthbert, the former Luton defender, and Luke Prosser formerly of Colchester, were not the fastest. That plan did not work at all as Reid and Maynard were never given an opportunity to get in behind the defence. Stevenage have brought in 14 summer signings to revitalise the side that was so poor last season. The latest signing was Jack Aitchison on loan, he played well against the Stags last season for Forest Green. There was heavy rain in the hour or so before kick off leaving the pitch very wet. Stevenage started the better of the sides. After 2 minutes, Jack Smith slid a shot well wide of the right post. Then Jack Aitchison sent a low shot straight to Stech. And after 8 minutes, Aitchison shot straight at Stech again. The Stags barely had the ball in the Stevenage half in the opening minutes. The Stags created their first chance after 9 minutes as Charsley crossed low from the right and Reid met it in the six yard box but his close range shot was blocked. Moments later, McLaughlin found Maynard on the edge of the box. Maynard turned well and his shot was deflected for a corner. Following the resulting corner, Rawson headed up in the air and Charsley fired a great effort on the volley from an angle on the right against the left post from about 14 yards. Moments after Charsley’s effort against the post, Stech completely miscued an attempted clearance which looked like it would present Innih Effiong with a free shot at an open goal but Stech recovered quickly to block his shot for a corner and spare his own blushes. After 18 minutes, List fired just over the bar from the edge of the area. After 23 minutes, the Stags appealed for a penalty as the ball hit Prosser when he was on the ground. It was rightly not given as a penalty. Effiong showed brute strength to get into the area after 30 minutes, he smashed a shot goalwards and Stech made a good save turning it into the side netting. Three minutes later, Jack Smith screwed a shot well wide from 20 yards. On 39 minutes, Aitchison did well to find space for a shot, but shot well wide from 30 yards. After 43 minutes, Charsley sent a shot which was always rising, over the bar from the edge of the box. 0-0 was a fair scoreline at the break. Most of the action came in a two minute spell where the Stags hit the post and had a couple of other chances, and Stech nearly gifted Stevenage a goal. The Stags were regularly playing the ball from side to side in their own half between the centre halves and Perch, and then knocking long balls up to Reid and Maynard. That plan was not working, with Cuthbert and Prosser dominant. Half time 0-0 The Stags were forced into a change after 50 minutes. McLaughlin had got a knee in the ribs at the end of the first half and Coughlan explained after the game that “we wanted to give him another chance in the second-half so he went out, but didn’t last too long. We don’t know how serious it is.” McLaughlin was replaced by Benning. After 58 minutes, Maris curled a good ball into the middle, O’Keeffe attacked it and sent an effort straight at the keeper, but the offside flag was already up. Maynard was booked for a foul after 60 minutes. Two minutes later, Maynard received a throw-in, turned really well and shot from a tight angle, but his effort was blocked by the keeper for a corner. Charsley won a free kick 26 yards out after 64 minutes when he was fouled. Benning tapped the free kick short to O’Keeffe whose low shot was wide of the right post. At the other end on 67 minutes, Cuthbert headed straight at Stech from an Aitchison corner. On 69 minutes, O’Keeffe tried to put Maynard through on goal, but the keeper was out quickly to clear. Stevenage keeper Jamie Cumming’s only significant save of the entire match came on 70 minutes when he pushed away James Perch’s excellent shot from 25 yards. Stevenage hit the woodwork as Luther Wildin’s cross from the right was turned against the bar from 6 yards by Elliott List after 73 minutes. Cook replaced Maynard after 74 minutes. After 76 minutes, a great tackle by Benning in the nick of time on the edge of the area. No further chances for either side until stoppage time. The Stags came so close to winning it in the 4th minute of stoppage time as George Maris crashed a shot against the underside of the bar from 16 yards. It came after Benning’s free kick from the left was punched out by the keeper as far as Charsley who laid off perfectly into the path of Maris. A very disappointing result, and frustration levels rising with five league games gone and no win on the board. Man of the match: Rawson/Sweeney |
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Report by: Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill
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Line Up:
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(3-5-2)
Stech 6 Completely miscued an attempted clearance which looked like it would present an open goal but recovered quickly to block the shot and spare his own blushes. One other good save. Menayese 6 Did ok though gave the ball away on a couple of occasions. Rawson 6.5 Solid. Sweeney 6.5 Solid. O'Keeffe 5.5 Not getting forward as effectively down the wing as he did in earlier games. Didn’t get into the game. Perch 6 One excellent shot from 25 yards. Played very deep. Charsley 6.5 Great effort on the volley against the left post. Good lay off to Maris for his shot against the bar. Maris 6 Unlucky not to be in the injury time hero when his shot hit the underside of the bar. Couldn’t get the side moving forward. McLaughlin 6 Went off injured just after half time. Maynard 6 Really fed of mere scraps. Two good turns around the edge of the box. Reid 6 One close range shot blocked. Otherwise had nothing to work with. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Benning (for McLaughlin, 50 mins) - Did well, getting forward down the wing and pushing the team forward. One great tackle.
Cook (for Maynard, 74 mins) - Subs not used: Stone, O'Driscoll, Gordon, Smith, Bowery. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(3-6-1): Cumming; Marshall, Cuthbert, Prosser; Wildin, Aitchison, Read, J.Smith (Vincelot 84), List (Newton 81), Hutton; Effiong. Subs (not used): Johnson, Coker, Marsh, Vancooten, Akinwande.
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Referee:
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Sebastian Stockbridge 7 Handled the game well. No difficult decisions to make.
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