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An independent supporters' website dedicated to Mansfield Town FC
Season 20/21 Stagsnet Match Report
English Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Cambridge United  
0 - 1
 Mansfield Town
 
 Reid 64
Attendance: 1917 (home supporters only, capacity set at 2000 according to COVID-19 guidelines)
 
Date: 2 December 2020

STAGS WIN AT HIGH-FLYING CAMBRIDGE

Martin Shaw at the Abbey Stadium

Mansfield Town won 1-0 at high-flying Cambridge United last night to jump out of the bottom two in League Two.
The only goal of the game came after 64 minutes when Jamie Reid, who started the game in preference to Nicky Maynard and Andy Cook, received the ball with his back to goal on the edge of the six-yard box from a Harry Charsley header forward, took one touch and on the turn took his shot quickly to fire past the keeper into the net. A very tidy finish with quick feet. It was Reid’s first league goal for Mansfield.
Reid had other chances too: early in the game, he showed great control to collect a Kellan Gordon cross from the right, and on the turn he fired over the bar from 12 yards. Then early in the second half, Reid received the ball 15 yards from goal in 5 yards of space after a great pull-back from Ollie Clarke who had made a fine run down the right. Reid took a touch to steady himself and fired a low shot wide of the left post when he should have done better. Harry Charsley also had two good chances to score. After 62 minutes, Reid did well again to control on the edge of the area, he fed a great ball forward and Charsley’s stab goalwards with just the keeper to beat from 8 yards was well-blocked by the keeper. Then after 81 minutes, Charsley shot over the bar with a wasteful finish after great play by Reid and George Lapslie.
At the other end, keeper Marek Stech made two outstanding saves. After 34 minutes, he tipped Robbie Cundy’s volley from 12 yards over the bar when it was heading for the roof of the net. And an even better save after 80 minutes, when Paul Mullin, who already has 14 goals this season, fired in a brilliant shot from 25 yards that was heading for the top left corner of the net until Stech tipped it over the bar one-handed in sensational style. It truly was a match-winning save.
That was the last chance for Cambridge as the Stags defence, with Rollin Menayese, in his first league game since Graham Coughlan was sacked, and Ryan Sweeney, both strong in central defence despite both picking up bookings in the first half.

The Stags’ fine record in recent seasons at Cambridge continues, that’s three wins and three draws in the last six visits. And this victory was deserved, with the Stags having the better chances in the game. It was Cambridge’s first home defeat of the season.

Plenty of national attention on the Abbey Stadium as Cambridge was one of just six grounds to let the fans in for the first time since pilots at the very start of the season were stopped before they really got going. Just under 2000 fans were allowed in, each wearing a face mask at all times, with one way systems to get into their seats. In the seats, each fan, or group of fans in the same household, had two empty seats and one empty row behind and in front to enable social distancing. In the seating areas, the systems seemed to work very well as far as I could see. Whether it worked so well on the terraces is another matter. Cambridge is in Tier 2 of restrictions, Mansfield is in Tier 3. Hopefully Mansfield will move into Tier 2 sometime soon and the Stags’ season ticket holders can at long last get back in to the ground to see their side.

So, just the second league win of the season for Mansfield and another big confidence boost. But in all competitions since Nigel Clough was appointed, the Stags have played 7, won 5, drawn 1, lost 1 (including the Sunderland game which was under Richard Cooper’s impressive stewardship, and including the Dagenham game as a victory, albeit in extra time). Attention now turns to Saturday and the visit of Crawley Town to the One Call Stadium as the Stags again go in search of that first home league win of the season.


Mansfield made three changes from the side that started against Dagenham in the FA Cup.
Rollin Menayese started in place of Farrend Rawson, for his first league game since Graham Coughlan was sacked. Nigel Clough said after the game: "Considering we were missing Rawson and Perch who've been our two first choice centre halves ...” and he added "Rollin hasn't been making the squad of late. But when you lose two centre-halves as we did then he's in contention. It was a toss-up between him and Aaron O'Driscoll, we just wanted a bit more height and pace and of course Rollin's got a bit more experience.” Rawson was named on the bench but clearly wasn’t available to start as per Clough’s explanation, though the injury or other reason wasn’t stated.
Stephen McLaughlin was out injured due to the whack he suffered against Dagenham. In came George Maris against his former club.
Finally Jamie Reid replaced Andy Cook.
Nigel Clough described the formation as 4-3-3, with Charsley (right) and Bowery (left) either side of Reid. You could alternatively describe it as 4-5-1 though it makes little difference. Clough said after the game: "We wanted to have a look at the 4-3-3 system. We played it for the second half and extra-time against Dagenham. We thought it worked quite well. It gives us that balance and defensive solidity with three in midfield. We think George Maris, Ollie Clarke and George Lapslie are a good three in there. With Jordan Bowery out on the left and Harry on the right. And we fancied Jamie Reid with his pace and movement to get us a goal tonight."

Cambridge had had a fine start to the season. They included former Stags Greg Taylor and Paul Digby in their side.

Results elsewhere the night before meant that Mansfield had dropped into the relegation zone.

After just 2 minutes, Reid showed great control to collect a Kellan Gordon cross from the right, and on the turn he fired over the bar from 12 yards. A minute later at the other end, Mullin teed up Hannant who fired wide from 20 yards. Benning then had a shot blocked from the edge of the area.

After 17 minutes, a great challenge from Maris as Hannant was about to shoot after Clarke had lost the ball to Boateng. From the resulting corner, Dunk shot miles wide from 30 yards. Then, Hannant had a shot blocked by Sweeney.

Boateng had been causing the Stags problems, and had twice robbed the ball off Clarke, and run at the Stags. But he had to go off injured following a challenge by Menayese after 23 minutes, as Menayese gave the ball away then tried to win the ball back off Boateng. It looked a good challenge from Menayese actually but Boateng landed awkwardly on his shoulder. Menayese was harshly booked. And after 6 minutes of treatment, Boateng had to go off holding his shoulder. The resulting free kick, 24 yards out, left of centre, was over the bar from Mullin.

Sweeney was also booked, after 33 minutes, for a foul on Mullin. That looked harsh as well.

After 34 minutes, Stech tipped Robbie Cundy’s volley from 12 yards over the bar when it was heading for the roof of the net. Good save.

After 36 minutes, Bowery cut inside and his shot from 28 yards was straight at the keeper.

Bowery did well to win a free kick on the left after 41 minutes. Benning’s free kick was headed over the bar by Reid though the referee gave a corner indicating that it came off Knoyle. Maris wasted the corner, over everyone.

Six minutes were added on at the end of the half, for the injury to Boateng. In the first of those, Hoolahan crossed from the left, Ironside headed down and it was a comfortable save for Stech. Four minutes into stoppage time, Clarke fed Charsley on the right who cut inside beautifully and found room for a shot from the edge of the area which was blocked by Taylor, it came back to Clarke, whose shot from the edge of the area was also blocked.

A fair scoreline at the break with no goals for either side.

Half time 0-0

After 47 minutes, Reid received the ball 15 yards from goal in 5 yards of space after a great pull-back from Ollie Clarke. Reid took a touch to steady himself and fired a low shot wide of the left post when he should have done better. It was superb play from Clarke who had won the ball in his own half off Hoolahan, then run down the right to the byline.

On 51 minutes, a long high ball forward from Knoyle sailed over Sweeney and Mullin, Mullin got onto it first, and his shot from a tight angle was blocked by Sweeney into the side netting. Three minutes later, Hannant’s cross-shot was put behind for a corner by Sweeney.

After 57 minutes, Lapslie lifted a ball forward into the area for Reid to run on to, Reid got there and lobbed the ball over the bar from 12 yards. Good defending from Clarke from Mullin’s low ball into the box two minutes later. Then on the hour, Ironside cut inside along the edge of the area from the left and fired just over the bar.

After 62 minutes, Reid did well again to control on the edge of the area, he fed a great ball forward and Charsley’s stab goalwards with just the keeper to beat from 8 yards was well-blocked by the keeper. Clarke immediately recycled the ball to Gordon on the right, and Gordon’s cross was headed over the bar by Charsley.

The only goal of the game came after 64 minutes when Reid received the ball with his back to goal on the edge of the six-yard box from a Charsley header forward, took one touch and on the turn took his shot quickly to fire past the keeper into the net. A very tidy finish with quick feet. It was Reid’s first league goal for Mansfield.

After 68 minutes, Benning did well to keep the ball in play on the left, cut inside into the area onto his right foot and curled a shot over the bar.

After 70 minutes, a good block by Menayese on Mullin’s shot from 16 yards. Moments later Hoolahan crossed from the right, it hit Benning from about two yards and struck his arm on the edge of the area, but Benning was careful to have his arms down by his side so it was no penalty.

Charsley picked up a loose ball 40 yards from goal and pushed forward to the edge of the area where his shot was blocked by Cundy. Good play from Charsley. Moments later, Bowery cut in from the left and his low shot was also blocked by Cundy.

On 78 minutes, Gordon lost the ball to Knibbs, Mullin squared along the edge of the area to Ironside and Ironside’s low shot was easily saved by Stech getting down to his left.

After 80 minutes, Mullin fired in a brilliant shot from 25 yards that was heading for the top left corner of the net until Stech tipped it over the bar one-handed in sensational style. It truly was a match-winning save.

Then after 81 minutes, Charsley shot over the bar with a wasteful finish after great play by Reid and Lapslie.

Maynard replaced Reid after 82 minutes.

O’Keeffe replaced Maris after 89 minutes.

Cook replaced Charsley after 90+4 minutes.

Following that Stech save after 80 minutes, the Stags kept Cambridge at bay and there were no more chances as the Stags ran the clock down and deservedly held on for the victory.

It was Mansfield’s fourth consecutive away win in all competitions.

Man of the match: Jamie Reid


Report by: Martin Shaw at the Abbey Stadium



Line Up:
(4-3-3)
Stech 8 Two outstanding saves, the second was a match-winning save.
Gordon 7 Good game. Some good crosses.
Menayese 8 Strong in central defence in his first league game since Graham Coughlan was sacked. Headed plenty of ball away and some good blocks.
Sweeney 7.5 Several blocks. Generally defended well.
Benning 7 Solid at left back.
O.Clarke 7.5 Poor first half, including losing the ball a couple of times. Excellent second half including tremendous play to set up Reid’s chance just after half time, and good defensive work.
Lapslie 7 Helped set up chances for Reid and Charsley.
Maris 6.5 Did ok against his former club. One wasteful corner. Some good defensive work.
Charsley 7.5 Assist for Reid’s goal. Had several chances one of which was wasteful. Involved in a lot of the action.
Reid 8.5 A central figure in the game. Showed quick feet for his goal. One wasteful finish from great set up play but some other good efforts.
Bowery 7 Another hard-working performance on the left and at the back.
Sub Line Up:
Maynard (for Reid, 82 mins) -
O’Keeffe (for Maris, 89 mins) -
Cook (for Charsley, 90+4 mins) -
Subs not used: Stone, O’Driscoll, Rawson, Sinclair.
Opposition Line Up:
(4-4-2): Mitov; Knoyle, Taylor, Cundy, Dunk; Hannant, Boateng, Digby, Hoolahan; Mullin, Ironside. Substitutes: May (Boateng, 29), Knibbs (Hannant, 75), Iredale (Dunk, 75). Subs not used: Burton, Darling, Davies, El Mizouni.
Referee:
Robert Lewis 7 Handled the game well. Harsh booking for Menayese and Sweeney though.


Season 20/21 Reports