Season 20/21 Stagsnet Match Report
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Cheltenham Town
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Mansfield Town
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May 73, Boyle 110.
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After extra-time. McLaughlin 3
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Attendance: behind closed doors
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Date: 10 January 2021
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STAGS KNOCKED OUT OF THE FA CUP AT CHELTENHAM
Martin Shaw at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium, Whaddon Road Mansfield Town were knocked out of the FA Cup in Round 3 this afternoon, losing 2-1 to Cheltenham Town after extra-time. The Stags had not reached Round 4 for 13 years since a tie against Middlesbrough in 2007/08, while Cheltenham had not reached Round 4 for 15 years. So there was a big carrot for both sides. Over the 120 minutes, Cheltenham were worthy winners, having put the Stags under considerable pressure, mainly from set pieces especially long throws and corners for long spells, and the Stags only stayed in the game thanks to resolute defending and a bit of luck. The Stags took the lead as early as the 3rd minute. Stephen McLaughlin, in as a replacement for the injured Ollie Clarke, fed Jordan Bowery in the area on the left, Bowery cut back on to his right foot and played the ball back to McLaughlin to tee him up for a shot from 22 yards. McLaughlin struck his shot crisply and low, and it should have been an easy save for Cheltenham keeper Josh Griffiths, but the keeper made a mess of it allowing it to go through his left hand. The rest of the first half saw Cheltenham have several near misses from set pieces. Harry Charsley cleared off the line from George Lloyd after a Ben Tozer long throw-in, moments later Alfie May’s shot was blocked on the line by Marek Stech, Lloyd turned a free kick against the bar, and May fired just over the bar from 9 yards. The Stags were pinned back and created almost nothing going forward. The second half continued in similar fashion, as McLaughlin cleared off the line from Charlie Raglan following a scramble from a corner, Stech saved from May, then May fired wide from the right. Cheltenham finally equalised after 73 minutes. It came after a mistake by Charsley as he trod on the ball in the centre circle and slipped over. Within 10 seconds it was on the back of the net, as Ellis Chapman fed Alfie May on the left on the edge of the area. May cut inside along the edge of the area and fired a great shot into the right of the net. A great goal from May, but a costly error from Charsley who lay face down on the edge of the area in disappointment as May wheeled away. The Stags had the ball in the net after 83 minutes as Farrend Rawson teed the ball up for Ryan Sweeney in the area and Sweeney hammered it into the roof of the net but the ball had just gone out of play on the byline. And so to extra-time, and finally the Stags started to create problems for the home side with their best passage of play of the game, as Jamie Reid brought a good save from Josh Griffiths with a good left footed shot across the keeper from the left after a good pass from Jordan Bowery, then Reid fired over the bar from 18 yards, and finally George Lapslie was so close as his deflected shot from 22 yards looped over the keeper and agonisingly wide of the left post. But it was Cheltenham who found a winner with 10 minutes remaining in the second period of extra-time and it was fitting that it came from a long throw-in from Ben Tozer, his 10th of the game, which was headed into the net by Will Boyle from 5 yards. It’s hard to tell from the video who should have been picking up Boyle, but it looks like it was substitute Aaron O’Driscoll. The Stags were unable to create any chances to equalise and Cheltenham could have had a third on the break in the last minute of extra-time as Stech made a great save with his feet from Alex Addai who was clean through on goal. Cheltenham were deserved winners then. I thought the Stags generally defended well against a barrage of set pieces including long throw after long throw, but didn't do anywhere near enough going forward for 87 minutes during normal time after taking that early lead, and I thought that was a little disappointing. Whether that was because Cheltenham were fresher (see details below), I don’t know. If the Stags had played in normal time as they did in extra time, they might have had more chance to go through. Then again, without the slip from Charsley, the Stags could have held on for victory in normal time against the run of play. The Stags badly missed Ollie Clarke in midfield to drive the side forward. He’s become a key player this season. Clarke has a knee injury as a result of a challenge against Salford. The good news is that he’s had a scan on the knee and it’s fine, so he may be ok for the Oldham game on Wednesday (50:50 according to Nigel Clough). The Stags are out of the FA Cup then, but the run has been enjoyable and the club has made £113,500 on the way (broadcast money: Rd1 £18,000; Rd2 £12,500; Rd 3 £20,000; prize money: Rd1 £16,972; Rd2 £25,500; Rd 3 £20,500). Back to the league, and Mansfield will look to extend the good run and continue pushing up the table, with a visit to Oldham Athletic on Wednesday night (kick off 7.45pm). Oldham have got the best away record in League Two but have struggled at home with just two wins, one draw and eight defeats in the league at home. Join us on iFollow Stags from 7.35pm. DETAILED REPORT: The Stags were without Ollie Clarke and James Perch. Clarke has a knee injury (details above). Perch was feeling unwell this morning (details unknown). In came Stephen McLaughlin into midfield, and Corey O’Keeffe at right back. It was the now familiar formation with Charsley on the right and Bowery on the left, with Reid in the middle. As Mansfield were also without Gordon and Maynard (both hamstring, both possibly available for the Oldham game on Wednesday), and Sinclair (tested positive for Covid-19), and with Josh Scott and Jason Law cup tied and therefore unavailable for the bench, the Stags could only name 5 substitutes, when 9 are now allowed in the FA Cup. Cheltenham included former Stag Matty Blair at right wing-back, recovered from injury, while another former Stag, Chris Clements was on the bench and came on in extra-time. The Stags came in to the game on the back of three straight league wins. Cheltenham, flying high in 5th place in League Two, however were five league games without a win, all the way back to December 5th. Cheltenham had not played for 12 days, while the Stags played twice on the heavy pitch at the One Call Stadium in the last week which inevitably gave Cheltenham an advantage of freshness. The pitch was in perfect condition despite some poor weather in recent weeks. But there had been no game on it since Boxing Day. It is one of the best in League Two these days, a far cry from the pitch which I described in 2017 as “not up to Football League standard and alongside the pitch at Newport last season in being the worst the Stags have played on in the last 30 years in my opinion”. The Stags took the lead as early as the 3rd minute. McLaughlin fed Bowery in the area on the left, Bowery cut back on to his right foot and played the ball back to McLaughlin to tee him up for a shot from 22 yards. McLaughlin struck his shot crisply and low, and it should have been an easy save for Cheltenham keeper Josh Griffiths, but the keeper made a mess of it allowing it to go through his left hand. After 9 minutes, Charsley cleared off the line from George Lloyd after a Tozer long throw-in. Moments later Alfie May’s shot was blocked on the line by Stech. There were 4 corners in quick succession for the home side. After 16 minutes, Lloyd turned a free kick from Hussey from the left against the bar. It was a barrage of set pieces. From another corner, after 24 minutes, May was unmarked on the edge of the area but slipped as he was about to shoot. Two minutes later, a low shot from May from the edge of the area was straight at Stech. At the other end after 27 minutes, a rare chance for the Stags as Charsley’s shot from the right side of the area was blocked. We were right behind it and it was on target. After 28 minutes, another long throw from Tozer came to May who turned and shot. It hit Maris, who was less than a yard from Tozer, on the arm with his arm away from his body. Games in the FA Cup at Premier League grounds have VAR and this would probably have been given as a penalty under VAR. I’m not a fan of VAR, just a personal opinion, especially when penalties are given for a ball striking an arm when a player could do little about it, and in my opinion the referee’s decision to give nothing was the correct one. Seconds later, May fired the loose ball just over the bar from 9 yards. Moments after that, O’Keeffe lost the ball to Lloyd who cut inside and Sweeney did well to block the cross-shot to get O’Keeffe out of jail. The ball went out for a throw-in. Tozer’s long throw was dropped by Stech, but Maris was able to quickly clear. The Stags were under immense pressure from set pieces from a Cheltenham side that are absolute masters at them, especially the long throw hurled in which is an incredibly potent weapon. For nearly 15 minutes, the game quietened down. On 43 minutes, Benning made a good block on the line from Hussey’s cross-shot. The Stags ahead at the break then, but had been pinned back and created almost nothing going forward after that early goal. Half time 0-1 The second half continued in similar fashion, as McLaughlin cleared off the line from Charlie Raglan following a scramble from a Conor Thomas corner on 55 minutes. Reid did well to buy a free kick after 62 minutes after the Stags had been under pressure albeit Cheltenham hadn’t created further chances. The Stags hadn’t been able to hang on to the ball. After 66 minutes, Stech saved from May’s shot from 22 yards, a comfortable save low down. A minute later, Andy Williams ran straight into O’Keeffe in the box. It was clearly never a penalty, but Michael Duff fumed at the 4th official. On 70 minutes, Williams found May who fired wide from an angle the right. Controversy after 71 minutes as Boyle smacked Reid in the face with his right arm. From the video replay it is completely clear and even if the referee missed it, his assistant should have seen it clearly. That should have been a straight red card. The referee gave nothing at all. It became significant later as Boyle was to net the winning goal. Cheltenham finally equalised after 73 minutes. It came after a mistake by Charsley as he trod on the ball in the centre circle and slipped over. Within 10 seconds it was on the back of the net, as Ellis Chapman fed Alfie May on the left on the edge of the area. May cut inside along the edge of the area and fired a great shot into the right of the net. A great goal from May, but a costly error from Charsley who lay face down on the edge of the area in disappointment as May wheeled away. After 76 minutes, sub Alex Addai crossed from the right and Stech had to save for a corner at his near post. Mansfield made their first change after 79 minutes as Andy Cook replaced McLaughlin. The Stags had the ball in the net after 83 minutes as Rawson teed the ball up for Sweeney in the area and Sweeney hammered it into the roof of the net but the ball had just gone out of play on the byline. After 88 minutes, Charsley got away down the right and crossed in to Reid who turned and shot but his effort was blocked. At the other end on 90 minutes, Rawson blocked a shot from Azaz. Good chasing down by Cook after 90+3 minutes, as the keeper came out quickly and Cook was unlucky as the clearance struck him and could have gone anywhere, but it didn’t fall kindly for Cook. The teams level at full time. Full-time (90 minutes) 1-1 And so to extra-time, and finally the Stags started to create problems for the home side with their best passage of play of the game. On 94 minutes, Reid brought a good save from Josh Griffiths with a good left footed shot across the keeper from the left after a good pass from Bowery. After 97 minutes, Williams shot well wide across the face of goal after a good break from May. After 98 minutes, Reid fired over the bar from 18 yards after he latched on to a ricochet. That was a real chance. And after 100 minutes, Lapslie was so close as his deflected shot from 22 yards looped over the keeper and agonisingly wide of the left post. Sweeney was booked for dissent after 101 minutes. Half time in extra time 1-1 In the opening minute of the second period of extra time, Azaz, on loan from West Brom, fed a fine ball through for May in the area, but as May was about to shoot, Sweeney got in a good block. Aaron O’Driscoll replaced Maris after 108 minutes. It was Cheltenham who found a winner with 10 minutes remaining in the second period of extra-time and it was fitting that it came from a long throw-in from Tozer, his 10th of the game, which was headed into the net by Boyle from 5 yards. It’s hard to tell from the video who should have been picking up Boyle, but it looks like it was substitute Aaron O’Driscoll, on for less than 2 minutes. Jamie Clarke replaced Benning after 115 minutes. O’Keeffe moved to left back. The Stags were unable to create any chances to equalise and Cheltenham could have had a third on the break in the last minute of extra-time as Stech made a great save with his feet from Alex Addai who was clean through on goal. Very disappointing, but Cheltenham deserved their win. On to Oldham on Wednesday. Man of the match: Ryan Sweeney and Farrend Rawson |
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Report by: Martin Shaw at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium, Whaddon Road
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Line Up:
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(4-5-1)
Stech 7 Good save from May and great save from Addai. Not at fault for the goals in the my opinion. O’Keeffe 6.5 Got out of jail by Sweeney when he lost the ball to Lloyd. Did ok in his first game for some while. Rawson 8 Good game under a barrage of pressure from the Cheltenham long throw-ins and other set pieces. Sweeney 8 Some good blocks. Like Rawson, good game under a barrage of pressure from the Cheltenham long throw-ins and other set pieces. Benning 6 One good block on the line. Maris 6.5 Did ok in front of the back four. Charsley 5 Costly error led to the equaliser. One good clearance off the line. Lapslie 5.5 Didn’t really get into the game as he normally does. McLaughlin 6.5 Scored the early goal. One clearance off the line. But otherwise didn’t do enough. Bowery 5.5 Teed up McLaughlin for the goal, and one other good pass to set up Reid. But otherwise made little impact. Reid 5.5 Brought one good save from the keeper in extra-time. Missed another great chance in extra-time. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Cook (for McLaughlin, 79 mins) 6 Some good chasing down in injury time, as the keeper came out quickly and he was unlucky as the clearance struck him and could have gone anywhere, but it didn’t fall kindly.
O’Driscoll (for Maris, 108 mins) - Had only been on 2 minutes when he lost his man Boyle for the winning goal. J.Clarke (for Benning, 116 mins) - Subs not used: Stone, Menayese. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(3-5-2): Griffiths; Raglan (Addai, 71), Tozer, Boyle; Blair, Thomas, Chapman (Clements, 106), May, Hussey (Freestone, 46); Williams (Campbell, 111), Lloyd (Azaz, 56). Subs not used: Harris, Long, Bowry.
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Referee:
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Tom Nield 5 Incensed Nigel Clough by not showing Will Boyle a red card for smacking Reid in the face with his right arm. Boyle went on to score the winner. Correctly turned down a Cheltenham penalty in my opinion.
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