Season 20/21 Stagsnet Match Report
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Mansfield Town
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Salford City
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Lapslie 15, Bowery 30.
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Bernard 90+1
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Attendance: behind closed doors
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Date: 5 January 2021
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SUPER STAGS BEAT SALFORD FOR THIRD WIN ON TROT
Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town put in a great performance to beat Salford City in a re-arranged game at the One Call Stadium last night. It was very enjoyable to watch as the Stags looked transformed from earlier in the season under new manager Nigel Clough who is working wonders with the squad he inherited. The final margin of victory was 2-1 yet that doesn’t tell the story of the game as the Stags completely outclassed a Salford side who would have moved into 4th place if they had won last night. On a cold evening, the Stags started brightly and took the lead after 15 minutes as George Lapslie fired a low shot from 25 yards just inside the left post and out of reach of keeper Vaz Hladky for his 6th goal of the season. The Stags went close after 20 minutes with a lovely move as George Maris found Jamie Reid who in turn found Ollie Clarke. Clarke made a lovely pass to the overlapping James Perch who slid the ball perfectly inside to Harry Charsley who had space in a 1-on-1 with the keeper from 9 yards, but the keeper was out very well to block. Moments later, a terrific backheel from Lapslie sent Reid away to the byline but his powerful cross was across the face of goal and away. The Stags made it 2-0 after 30 minutes as Reid headed down Perch’s cross to Jordan Bowery. Bowery’s initial shot from 8 yards was blocked and eventually ricocheted into his path to fire into the net from two yards. Bowery is really getting the rewards now for an excellent run of form since Richard Cooper took temporary charge and then Nigel Clough came in, and it was Bowery’s 6th goal in 4 games, and his 7th of the season. It was a good move for the goal which started with a great crossfield pass from Reid. The Stags had a penalty appeal which looked innocuous from the West Stand but I need to look at again from the Bishop Street camera angle. The Stags led 2-0 at the break and it had been a fantastic performance, playing some great football on a tricky surface. Salford co-owner Gary Neville was watching the game from the Directors’ box and sent a classy video message to Stags owners John and Carolyn Radford (who were watching the game on iFollow Stags as usual from Portugal) at half time telling them that the Stags had “absolutely battered” his team during that first half. Salford switched to the 3 at the back for the second half and brought on big battering ram striker Tom Elliott for a change of approach. The visitors had a couple of chances early in the second half as Elliott fired over the bar from 16 yards and Ibou Touray sent a powerful shot just over the bar from the corner of the penalty area on the left. But it was Mansfield who were so close to scoring again on 59 minutes as Farrend Rawson headed a corner from Maris towards the top right corner of the net and keeper Hladky made a fantastic save turning it onto the bar. Rawson so close to his first Stags goal. Mal Benning had a great chance after 72 minute after a good move but fired wide. The Stags looked very comfortable but things suddenly became uncomfortable in 3 minutes of stoppage time when after the first of those minutes a corner from the left by Ash Hunter was missed by Marek Stech and Di’Shon Bernard had a tap-in at the far post. Out of nowhere, Salford had the chance for an unlikely draw. With 15 seconds remaining, a very rare mistake by Bowery as he miscontrolled a long ball forward, Salford immediately got the ball upfield to Hunter on the right, and his high cross to the far post found Toure stealing in unmarked and thankfully for the Stags he volleyed high and wide. A let-off with virtually the last kick of the game, but it would have been daylight robbery if Salford had equalised. Nigel Clough told me afterwards that his players came off disappointed that they had given Salford a sniff in stoppage time, and it shows how far they have come to feel like that after a performance that was full of so much high quality football. The Stags are up to 15th place and looking towards the top half of the table, just 3 points behind Colchester who are in 12th place. Attention turns to the FA Cup and a trip to Cheltenham Town in the third round on Sunday (1.30pm kick-off). It’s 13 years since the Stags were in the 4th round and it’s an opportunity to earn a glamour tie, not to mention prize money in these difficult times. Nigel Clough has a proud record in cup competitions and told me after the game last night that he was very keen to win the game which might give him a bigger budget for signing players. Clough has had some incredible runs in cups and it would be a huge boost if he can have another here. The game is available to view free on the FA Player. You have to sign up for a free account here. You can then watch on the website, or you can download the app from google play or the App store to watch on your tablet or smartphone. The live stream is only available to UK viewers. We will as always have audio commentary on iFollow Stags for UK and overseas listeners. Note that the FA Player and iFollow are completely separate services. DETAILED REPORT The Stags were unchanged from the side that beat Port Vale. No changes on the bench either. Gordon and Maynard remained out. Salford made one change from the side that lost at Leyton Orient, with for Fleetwood midfielder Ash Hunter returning from suspension. In goal was Vaz Hladky, a Czech Republic U20 international. So Czech Republic international goalkeepers on both sides! The two teams had met for the first time ever last season, and only Ibou Touray in the Salford side started in the game last season. Salford were 8th, 5 points behind 3rd placed Forest Green with 2 games in hand. Prior to that defeat at Orient, then had won 3 and draw 2 of the previous 5 games. It was a bitterly cold evening. The pitch was in similar condition to the first half of the game against Port Vale before the snow came down. Early amusement as the referee fell over after 3 minutes. After 4 minutes, a good move as Clarke slipped Lapslie into space in the penalty area. Lapslie shifted the ball to Bowery who took a step inside and his shot was blocked. Seconds later a nasty collision between Benning and the referee. Both were ok thankfully. Remarkable to see the referee hit the deck twice in such quick succession. After 11 minutes, Thomas-Asante shot goalwards but didn’t get hold of it and it was an easy save for Stech. After 13 minutes, Reid played inside to Charsley who took a touch to create some space and fired left footed well over the bar from 22 yards. The Stags took the lead after 15 minutes as Lapslie fired a low shot from 25 yards just inside the left post and out of reach of keeper Vaz Hladky for his 6th goal of the season. After 18 minutes, a free kick from the left from Hunter was headed inside by Bernard, it hit Sweeney’s head and looped into Stech’s arms. The Stags went close after 20 minutes with a lovely move as Maris found Reid who in turn found Clarke. Clarke made a lovely pass to the overlapping Perch who slid the ball perfectly inside to Charsley who had space in a 1-on-1 with the keeper from 9 yards, but the keeper was out very well to block. Moments later, a terrific backheel from Lapslie sent Reid away to the byline but his powerful cross was across the face of goal and away. The Stags made it 2-0 after 30 minutes as Reid headed down Perch’s cross to Jordan Bowery. Bowery’s initial shot from 8 yards was blocked and eventually ricocheted into his path to fire into the net from two yards. Bowery is really getting the rewards now for an excellent run of form since Richard Cooper took temporary charge and then Nigel Clough came in, and it was Bowery’s 6th goal in 4 games, and his 7th of the season. It was a good move for the goal which started with a great crossfield pass from Reid. A minute later, James Wilson, who scored 3 goals earlier in his career for the Manchester United first team, broke into the Stags area on the right and his low left-footed shot was well saved by Stech, getting down to his right. After 32 minutes, a wonderful ball crossfield ball from Lapslie to Charsley on the right, Charsley played inside to Reid but Reid was just caught on his heels and the attack broke down. A minute later at the other end, Hunter’s cross from the left drifted wide of the right post as Stech watched it all the way. The Stags appealed for a penalty after 34 minutes. Benning lofted the ball very high, from his own half, it bounced into the Salford area and as Reid and Eastham challenged for the ball, the ball bounced up and hit Eastham’s arm. At the time I didn’t think it was a penalty. Having studied the video, I think it just hits Eastham’s arm, there is no intent and it’s not ball to hand in as much as his arm comes down towards the ball but it is a natural movement to return to his side. So in my opinion, the referee was correct in waving away the appeals. A minute later, Reid sent a tame effort from 25 yards wide of the left post. After 41 minutes, great pace from Bowery on the left but he wasted his cross. After 43 minutes, Ollie Clarke, shot from 25 yards was on target and blocked by Bernard. Two minutes later, a turn and shot from Bowery following a throw-in from the right, but his effort was well wide. An excellent first half from the Stags, pressing Salford back, forcing mistakes from the visitors, and with great movement throughout the side. The Stags were well-worth the 2-0 lead. Half time 2-0 Salford switched to the 3 at the back for the second half and brought on big battering ram striker Tom Elliott for a change of approach. The visitors had a couple of chances early in the second half as Elliott fired over the bar from 16 yards on 51 minutes, and two minutes later, Ibou Touray sent a powerful shot just over the bar from the corner of the penalty area on the left. But it was Mansfield who were so close to scoring again on 59 minutes. Reid won a corner when his snap shot from 22 yards was deflected over the bar. Rawson headed the corner from Maris towards the top right corner of the net and keeper Hladky made a fantastic save turning it onto the bar. Rawson so close to his first Stags goal. Benning had a great chance after 72 minute after a good move but fired wide. It followed a really good advantage from the referee and a good move from the Stags, with Bowery feeding Benning. After 82 minutes, Hunter’s free kick from 32 yards was saved by Stech at the left post. Straight to the other end and Ollie Clarke made a fine run to the byline on the right and his chipped cross evaded everyone and just missed the far post. Four minutes later, good pressing from Reid on the keeper and Reid was unlucky it didn’t come to anything as the keeper’s clearance hit Reid but the keeper was able to clear the rebound. Great interplay on the left between Benning and Bowery on the left as Benning broke into the area, but Benning’s low cross was cleared. The Stags were keeping the pressure on Salford keeping them mostly in their own half, and on 89 minutes, Reid cut along the byline on the left and created an angle for a shot which was blocked, the ball rebounded to Bowery whose shot was also blocked. It was good play from the Stags. The Stags had looked very comfortable but things suddenly became uncomfortable in 3 minutes of stoppage time. After the first of those minutes a corner from the left by Hunter was missed by Stech and Di’Shon Bernard had a tap-in at the far post. Out of nowhere, Salford had the chance for an unlikely draw. With 15 seconds remaining, a very rare mistake by Bowery as he miscontrolled a long ball forward, Salford immediately got the ball upfield to Hunter on the right, and his high cross to the far post found Toure stealing in unmarked and thankfully for the Stags he volleyed high and wide. A let-off with virtually the last kick of the game, but it would have been daylight robbery if Salford had equalised. What a performance from the Stags and a really enjoyable night. How good was it seeing the Stags outclass a highly fancied side! Great work ethic, hard work, continually pressing Salford, real quality, and great movement throughout the side. On to the FA Cup. Another performance like this would give the Stags a real chance of progressing. Man of the match: A really fabulous team performance, and as Nigel Clough said afterwards you couldn’t pick up a man of the match. |
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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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(4-5-1)
Stech 5.5 Missed the corner in stoppage time and left a tap-in at the far post. Otherwise had a solid game. Perch 8 Involved in plenty of good play day the right with some good overlapping and crossing. Rawson 8 Won plenty of headers and so close to his first Stags goal when his header was tipped onto the bar. Sweeney 8 Won lots of headers, plus good interceptions and clearances. Benning 8 Some good interplay with Bowery on the left. Had one good chance but fired wide. Maris 9 Great corner for Rawson’s header. Involved in plenty of good moves. Charsley 8.5 Very good game. O.Clarke 9 Lots of great passes and runs forward. Incredible energy. Lapslie 9 Great goal. Some great passing and movement. Bowery 8 Scored his 6th goal in 4 games. Reid 8 Great crossfield pass and then header down in the build-up to the 2nd goal. Great pressing. Held the ball up well. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Subs:
- Subs not used: Stone, Menayese, O'Keeffe, O'Driscoll, McLaughlin, Sinclair, Cook. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(4-2-3-1): Hladky; Clarke (Turnbull 46), Eastham, Bernard, I.Touray; Lowe, Threlkeld; Thomas-Asante (Elliott 46), Wilson (Andrade 61), Hunter; Henderson. Subs not used: Evans, Burgess, Denny, M.Touray.
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Referee:
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Will Finnie 8 Remarkable to see the referee hit the deck twice in the opening 4 minutes, the second time after a nasty collision with Benning when thankfully both were ok. One very good advantage. Correctly waved away the penalty appeals in my opinion as discussed in the main report. Overall a very good game.
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