Season 20/21 Stagsnet Match Report
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Mansfield Town
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Southend United
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Bowery 79.
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Olayinka 27
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Attendance: behind closed doors
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Date: 19 December 2020
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STAGS COME FROM BEHIND TO DRAW WITH BOTTOM CLUB SOUTHEND
Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town came from behind to rescue a point at home to bottom club Southend United in a 1-1 draw on Saturday afternoon. Southend led 1-0 at half time after a terrible, lacklustre first half from the Stags who did nowhere near enough. The Stags were better in the second half and had gone close on several occasions before Jordan Bowery finally equalised with 11 minutes to go. Southend started the better side and after Simeon Akinola headed wide, the visitors wanted a penalty on 8 minutes when Akinola went down in the box as he ran in to Ryan Sweeney. From my position in the West Stand it did not look like a foul by Sweeney. Southend manager Mark Molesley said “It’s the biggest stonewall penalty you will ever see.” It certainly wasn’t “stonewall” in my opinion, but perhaps could have gone either way. The referee gave the free kick to Mansfield and didn’t book Akinola for diving, and so I think he must have concluded it was a foul by Akinola running in to Sweeney. A close call anyway. The Stags had a let-off after 20 minutes when James Olayinka had a free shot in the penalty area but he didn’t get any power on it and it was easily blocked by Sweeney. But Olayinka made no mistake after 27 minutes, as he played a one-two with Terrell Egbri on the right, cut inside and fired a wonderful shot from an angle into the top left corner of the net, giving Marek Stech no chance. It was a great goal. Mansfield’s best chance of the first half came on 30 minutes when George Maris teed up George Lapslie for a powerful shot from the edge of the D which was well-saved, and came out to Harry Charsley who tamely fired it straight back at the keeper. Charsley missed a similar opportunity on the rebound at Grimsby. Such a disappointing first half for the Stags. The Stags were unlucky not to equalise after 56 minutes. Stephen McLaughlin, just on as a substitute, did well to get to the byline on the left and crossed perfectly for Bowery whose header seemed destined for the net until defender Shaun Hobson sliced a goalline clearance against the underside of his own bar. The ball came out to Mal Benning whose goalbound shot was blocked by his own man Charsley. Another golden chance to equalise for the Stags on 73 minutes as half time substitute Andy Cook headed down to Bowery who got to the edge of the box and elected not to shoot, instead teeing up Lapslie who only had the keeper to beat but fired wide of the right post. Then 3 minutes later, McLaughlin’s corner came out to Charsley, whose shot was blocked on the line. The equaliser finally came with 11 minutes to go. Stech’s long free kick into the Southend half, was controlled by Bowery to Charsley who found Bowery again as Charsley was brought down. The referee waved play on, Bowery took a couple of touches to get into the area and fired low and hard into the net from 16 yards. A good goal from Bowery. Bowery could have elected to tee up Lapslie for a shot as Lapslie was unmarked, but it was good to see him take the shot himself, something he could have done more this season. The Stags pushed for a winner as McLaughlin’s free kick was wide of the left post hitting the back stanchion, Ollie Clarke fired just wide of the right post from 25 yards, and Charsley’s header was saved on the line by the keeper, but it didn’t come. So, just a draw and the Stags are still without a home win this season in the league. 10 games without a win at home. This is just one short of the club’s record in the league, which was 11, set in 1959, (see the club records page). Thanks to Paul Taylor for that. The next game is on Boxing Day, and it’s a another big game at the bottom of the table as the Stags go to Scunthorpe (1pm kick off). In the meantime, have a merry Christmas everyone. DETAILED REPORT: Mansfield were unchanged from the side that lost at Carlisle. Nicky Maynard was still out injured. He had recovered from the dead leg which kept him out at Carlisle, but Nigel Clough explained after the game that “he started to train yesterday, and he slipped at the end of the warm-up and felt his hamstring a little bit. It sort of cramped up, but hopefully it won’t be too bad. He might be available for next week (Boxing Day), but certainly sometime over the Christmas period.” James Perch was back in the 18 after injury, but on the bench, in place of Aaron O’Driscoll. Southend, who had picked up only six points from their first 15 games, had suddenly picked up six more points from their last two games, and were now just four points behind Mansfield with a game in hand. They had had a transfer embargo recently lifted so were now able to play players who had been signed earlier such as former Barnet striker Simeon Akinola. A word on the pitch. Both managers commented on it after the game. Nigel Clough said: “The pitch isn't conducive to knocking the ball about.” Southend manager Mark Molesley said “It was soggy and muddy and like a cabbage patch really. It was a really tough pitch and if it had rained it was going to be called off straight away.” The pitch has been in great condition up until this season for several seasons, indeed groundsman Michael Mez Merriman went 4 years without a game being called off for bad weather between 2014 and November 2018. But it is plain to see it is not in good condition now. Lockdown 1.0 may have played a part in this when Mez was on furlough and not able to prepare the pitch. Southend started the better side and after Simeon Akinola headed wide on 6 minutes from Clifford’s cross from the left, the visitors wanted a penalty on 8 minutes when Akinola went down in the box as he ran in to Ryan Sweeney. From my position in the West Stand it did not look like a foul by Sweeney. Southend manager Mark Molesley said “It’s the biggest stonewall penalty you will ever see.” It certainly wasn’t “stonewall” in my opinion, but perhaps could have gone either way. The referee gave the free kick to Mansfield and didn’t book Akinola for diving, and so I think he must have concluded it was a foul by Akinola running in to Sweeney. A close call anyway. Maris fired high and wide from 28 yards after 13 minutes. Good play by Charsley two minutes later as he gpt to the byline on the right and crossed for Bowery who headed goalwards but it was cleared off the line by Dieng. Moments later Benning crossed back in and Reid’s header was blocked by Hobson. Sweeney was caught out after 19 minutes trying to shepherd the ball out, but the surface was boggy and Hobson kept it in play, and eventually McCormack got in a shot which rolled harmlessly wide to the relief of Sweeney. The Stags had a let-off after 20 minutes when James Olayinka had a free shot in the penalty area but he didn’t get any power on it and it was easily blocked by Sweeney. That came after McCormack cut inside to the area on the right. A couple of minutes later, Emile Acquah nipped in to get away from Rawson and fired powerfully straight at Stech from 18 yards. After 23 minutes, a good ball down the line by Benning, Bowery ran on to it, got into the area, but from a very tight angle fired into the side netting. Olayinka, on loan from Arsenal, put Southend ahead after 27 minutes, as he played a one-two with Terrell Egbri on the right, cut inside and fired a wonderful shot from an angle into the top left corner of the net, giving Marek Stech no chance. It was a great goal. Mansfield’s best chance of the first half came on 30 minutes when George Maris teed up George Lapslie for a powerful shot from the edge of the D which was well-saved, and came out to Harry Charsley who tamely fired it straight back at the keeper. Charsley missed a similar opportunity on the rebound at Grimsby. After 43 minutes, Alan McCormack fired well over the bar from 30 yards. Southend led 1-0 at half time after a terrible, lacklustre first half from the Stags who did nowhere near enough. Nigel Clough said afterwards: “That was by far the worst half we’ve had since we’ve been here and we were unbelievably disappointed.” Half time 0-1 The Stags made a change at the start of the second half with Andy Cook replacing Maris. The change was to give the Stags more of a presence up front, whilst sacrificing a body in midfield. As Nigel Clough explained afterwards, “I think Cooky made a difference again when he came on. He won us a few headers, got us up the pitch, and we were camped in their half because of it.” Reid had a chance to set Cook away after 51 minutes, but left his pass short. Stephen McLaughlin replaced Reid after 53 minutes. McLaughlin on against his former club. Reid hadn’t done enough. The Stags were unlucky not to equalise after 56 minutes. McLaughlin did well to get to the byline on the left and crossed perfectly for Bowery whose header seemed destined for the net until defender Shaun Hobson sliced a goalline clearance against the underside of his own bar. The ball came out to Benning whose goalbound shot was blocked by his own man Charsley. Five minutes later, Gordon played a one-two with Charsley on the right, cut inside and his shot was deflected for a corner. Then on 65 minutes, Charsley crossed from the right, Cook headed up and it fell for McLaughlin beyond the far post but with a chance to shoot from a tight angle, McLaughlin completely missed his kick. From the video, it looked like McLaughlin lost his footing as he was about to volley it. Another golden chance to equalise for the Stags on 73 minutes Cook headed down to Bowery who got to the edge of the box and elected not to shoot, instead teeing up Lapslie who only had the keeper to beat but fired wide of the right post. Then 3 minutes later, McLaughlin’s corner came out to Charsley, whose shot was blocked on the line. The equaliser finally came with 11 minutes to go. Stech’s long free kick into the Southend half, was controlled by Bowery to Charsley who found Bowery again as Charsley was brought down. The referee waved play on, Bowery took a couple of touches to get into the area and fired low and hard into the net from 16 yards. A good goal from Bowery. Bowery could have elected to tee up Lapslie for a shot as Lapslie was unmarked, but it was good to see him take the shot himself, something he could have done more this season. Lapslie did well to get along the byline after 81 minutes, but his cross was headed away. After 84 minutes, McLaughlin’s free kick from 26 yards was wide of the left post hitting the back stanchion. A minute later, Ollie Clarke fired just wide of the right post from 25 yards after he was set up by Bowery. At the other end on 89 minutes, Kyle Taylor fired wildly over the bar from the edge of the area after a long throw-in from substitute Greg Halford. A third and final change for the Stags after 89 minutes as Corey O’Keeffe replaced Gordon. After 90+2 minutes, Charsley’s header was saved on the line by the keeper after some pinball in the box. At the other end a minute later, Rawson blocked a 25 yard shot from Michael Klass. Straight back to the other end and Benning fired well wide from 20 yards. Benning had got married recently, and that was perhaps his chance to celebrate in style, but goals have been in short supply for him in recent times. A couple of O'Keeffe long throw-ins during stoppage time, but they were 10 yards short of the middle of the goal, so a completely different prospect to, for example, Tozer of Cheltenham and Demetriou of Newport. The first though did lead to the Charsley header on 90+2 minutes. There was nearly calamity in the 5th minute of stoppage time as O’Keeffe lost the ball to Egbri, but fortunately Egbri fired wide from 16 yards. A draw, and at least the Stags didn’t lose having been a goal behind for a long time. But that first home win is so long overdue, and failure to beat Salford on December 29 will equal that club record. Man of the match: Jordan Bowery |
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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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Stech 6 No chance with the goal. Little else to do in terms of saves.
Gordon 6 Did ok. Some good play going forward. Rawson 6.5 Acquah got away from him on one occasion to get a shot in. Otherwise did ok. Sweeney 6.5 Caught out when trying to shepherd the ball out on one occasion. Otherwise did ok. Benning 7 One goalbound shot blocked. Involved in plenty of play down the left. Charsley 7 Involved in the build-up to the goal. Tamely fired a rebound straight back at the keeper. A couple of efforts blocked on the line. O.Clarke 6.5 Decent game. Fired just wide late on. Lapslie 6 Powerful shot was saved. Missed a good chance when put through by Bowery. One great run to the byline. Maris 6 Not involved in enough. Removed at half time. Bowery 8 Fine equaliser. Unlucky when his header was sliced against the underside of the bar. Reid 5 Didn’t do done enough. Replaced just after half time. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Cook (for Maris, 46 mins) 7 As Nigel Clough said: “I think Cooky made a difference again when he came on. He won us a few headers, got us up the pitch, and we were camped in their half because of it.”
McLaughlin (for Reid, 53 mins) 6.5 Great cross for Bowery’s header sliced against the bar. Free kick just wide. O’Keeffe (for Gordon, 89 mins) - Subs not used: Stone, Perch, Menayese, Sinclair. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(4-2-3-1): Oxley; Bwomono, Dieng, Hobson, Clifford (Hart 36’); McCormack (R Taylor 68’), K Taylor; Olayinka (Klass 58’), Akinola (Halford 68’), Egbri; Acquah (Howard 68’). Subs Not Used: Seaden, Nathaniel-George.
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Referee:
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Brett Huxtable 6 Did ok. The penalty decision was a close call.
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