Season 20/21 Stagsnet Match Report
|
|
|
||
|
Mansfield Town
|
|
Forest Green Rovers
|
||
|
|
|
|||
|
Attendance: behind closed doors
|
||||
|
Date: 23 March 2021
|
||||
|
STAGS DRAW 0-0 WITH FOREST GREEN IN ENTERTAINING GAME
Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town drew 0-0 with high-flying Forest Green Rovers in an entertaining game at the One Call Stadium this evening. The Stags put in a fine performance and created more chances than the visitors but were unable to find the net, while at the other end Aidan Stone pulled off a magnificent save to deny Jamille Matt. It was Mansfield’s 7th consecutive midweek game but there was no sign of fatigue this evening as the Stags more than matched Forest Green and finished the game very strongly. I think this was a good point for the Stags despite a tinge of disappointment at not picking up the victory. Bottom club Grimsby won at Barrow, while 2nd bottom Southend drew at Walsall. So the gap to Southend remains at 11 points with now 9 games left (and a much better goal difference for Mansfield), while the gap to Grimsby is 12 points through Grimsby have a game in hand. The Stags do drop two places to 18th though, with victories for Scunthorpe and Oldham. Forest Green remain in third place. The first half was very even with chances for both sides. The Stags started well and Jamie Reid had two shots at goal in the opening 6 minutes but both were comfortably saved by Lewis Thomas. Reid could have done better. Aaron Collins fired a free kick straight into the wall at the other end after 9 minutes, before Harry Charsley fired into the side netting on 18 minutes following a fine move involving Reid, Charsley himself, George Maris and Jordan Bowery. Forest Green went close after 24 minutes as Odin Bailey, who had an excellent first half, played in Kane Wilson to the byline, Wilson pulled back to Collins who fired wide from 8 yards with plenty of the net to aim at. Then Jamille Matt headed wide from a good Kane Wilson cross after 40 minutes though credit to Maris for doing enough to put Matt off. The Stags were the better side in the second half and had far more chances than Forest Green. After 50 minutes, Maris did well to win a header down to Bowery, Bowery played back to Maris and Maris played a one-two with Reid before firing a super shot from 22 yards towards the right corner of the net but keeper Thomas made a very good save to push it away. I was right behind Maris’s shot and it was perfectly placed towards the bottom corner. Charsley recycled the ball to Reid, who turned very well away from his marker before firing in a good shot from 14 yards towards the right corner of the net and again the keeper got down well to make a good save. Good play from Reid. After 54 minutes, a great ball from Jason Law, who had another very good game, out to Mal Benning on the left, and his low ball in found Stephen Quinn whose effort at the near post was wide. Forest Green had a great chance to take the lead after 58 minutes, as Nicky Cadden curled in a fabulous cross from the left onto the head of Jamille Matt who headed downwards and Aidan Stone made a magnificent save to scoop it away for a corner. It drew comparisons with Gordon Banks in the 1970 World Cup though the ball was not as low as that save by Banks when Stone scooped it away. Outstanding from Stone. After 67 minutes, Law played an excellent one-two with Bowery to get into the box and Law tried to lob over the keeper from 8 yards but the keeper was out very quickly to block at point blank range. That was also very good goalkeeping. A minute later, a great tackle by James Perch, who was fantastic in the heart of defence all night, started another Stags move as Charsley found Bowery and his goalbound shot hit his own teammate Reid. The Stags were inches away from an 89th minute winner as Law played a tremendous crossfield pass from the left to find Bowery in the area on the right. Bowery’s first touch was excellent to get away from Bailly Cargill towards the byline and his shot from a tight angle was saved by the keeper, the ball ballooning up in the air on the goalline, and as Reid jumped to try to head home from less than a foot out, Chris Stokes beat him to the header and headed off the line. Wonderful defending from the Forest Green captain to preserve a point for his side. Lots of excellent performances throughout the Stags side. James Perch was fantastic in central defence, while Farrend Rawson alongside him had a very good game against his old club. Jason Law continued to impress and was excellent in the attacking midfield role. Jordan Bowery had a tremendous game up front. And what about Aidan Stone’s save from Matt, the save of the season for Mansfield probably, which he followed up by catching the resulting corner. But this was just a good performance all round. And it was a very enjoyable goalless draw, as good as you’ll see for a 0-0 game. This was Mansfield’s 5th game unbeaten at home. They go to 4th placed Tranmere Rovers on Saturday hoping to end a run of 4 consecutive defeats away. DETAILED REPORT: The Stags wore the special-edition charity shirt this evening, exactly one year after the country entered the first lockdown. The club raised £3,800 from the sale of the shirt which was donated to King’s Mill Hospital last year. And the club will now hope to raise more for the NHS as they will auction off tonight’s match-worn shirts, with details on the club website and club social media in due course. Mansfield made one change from the side that drew with Grimsby. Quinn returned from being rested, in place of McLaughlin who was rested and was on the bench. Ollie Clarke was back on the bench, in place of Oli Sarkic who is out for 3-4 weeks with a hamstring injury. Lapslie remained out, but he is back in training, and there is a hope he might be back on the bench on Saturday. It was the same 4-4-2 formation with a diamond in midfield, with Maris in the defensive midfield position and Law in the attacking midfield position. There was an early kick-off of 6pm at Forest Green’s request (so they would get home a bit earlier). The pitch was much the same as the recent home games. It played pretty well. A couple of people asked me why the pitch is watered before the game when it is already muddy in places. As far as I understand, it is to make the ball run better, and not be bobbly like the Crawley pitch for example. I think the ball does run better even though it is a little muddy and certainly it is better for playing football than the Crawley pitch. The Stags started well and Reid had two shots at goal in the opening 6 minutes but both were comfortably saved by Lewis Thomas. The first, after 3 minutes came after a good turned by Reid on the edge of the area, and the second, after 6 minutes, after Reid had won the ball and fired in a low shot. Reid could have done better with both attempts. Aaron Collins fired a free kick from just inside the D straight into the wall at the other end after 9 minutes, after Benning gave away the free kick bringing down Odin Bailey. Two minutes later, Kane Wilson was brought down just outside the area on the right hand side. Cadden’s free kick was blocked by Benning. Quinn found Bowery who got to the byline after 14 minutes but his pull-back was too close to the keeper. Charsley fired into the side netting on 18 minutes following a fine move involving Reid, Charsley himself, Maris and Bowery. A minute later at the other end a great cross from Cadden sailed over Gordon and Cadden missed it beyond the far post. Forest Green went close after 24 minutes as Odin Bailey, who had an excellent first half, played in Kane Wilson to the byline, Wilson pulled back to Collins who fired wide from 8 yards with plenty of the net to aim at. A Cadden corner was hooked goalwards by Chris Stokes after 27 minutes, but Stone saved easily. Reid charged down keeper Lewis Thomas after 29 minutes, 10 yards outside the area, the ball ran loose to Bowery who immediately played it forward for Reid to run on to but Reid went down under a challenge from the keeper who was on the ground. From the video, it was a definite foul on Reid in my opinion, and he should have got a free kick. The referee would have had a decision what card to give the keeper, and it probably should have been a yellow, but the referee decided to give nothing. Reid would have been offside when he got the ball from Bowery, but that would have come after the foul, so the foul would have taken precedence and the offside should have been irrelevant. Great play by Odin Bailey on the right after 32 minutes, and his cross was put behind by Perch. From Cadden’s resulting corner, Stokes headed high and wide. Good defending by Benning two minutes later and he followed it up with a good run forward, A great tackle by Perch after 38 minutes, on Collins as he surged forward into the D. Jamille Matt headed wide from a good Kane Wilson cross after 40 minutes though credit to Maris for doing enough to put Matt off. A minute later, Rawson was dispossessed on the halfway line, Forest Green broke forward and Whitehouse sent a 25 yards shot over the bar. The first half was very even with chances for both sides, and a fair scoreline at the break. Half time 0-0 After 50 minutes, Maris did well to win a header down to Bowery, Bowery played back to Maris and Maris played a one-two with Reid before firing a super shot from 22 yards towards the right corner of the net but keeper Thomas made a very good save to push it away. I was right behind Maris’s shot and it was perfectly placed towards the bottom corner. Charsley recycled the ball to Reid, who turned very well away from his marker before firing in a good shot from 14 yards towards the right corner of the net and again the keeper got down well to make a good save. Good play from Reid. After 53 minutes, a good run forward by Wilson but he just overran the ball through to Stone. After 54 minutes, a great ball from Law out to Benning on the left, and his low ball in found Quinn whose effort at the near post was wide. A minute later, great play from Bowery down the left, he slid a pass inside for Reid but Reid couldn’t get his shot away. Forest Green had a great chance to take the lead after 58 minutes, as Nicky Cadden curled in a fabulous cross from the left onto the head of Jamille Matt who headed downwards and Aidan Stone made a magnificent save to scoop it away for a corner. It drew comparisons with Gordon Banks in the 1970 World Cup though the ball was not as low as that save by Banks when Stone scooped it away. Outstanding from Stone. Law was booked for a deliberate foul after losing the ball after 65 minutes. After 67 minutes, Law played an excellent one-two with Bowery to get into the box and Law tried to lob over the keeper from 8 yards but the keeper was out very quickly to block at point blank range. That was also very good goalkeeping. A minute later, a great tackle by Perch, who was fantastic in the heart of defence all night, started another Stags move as Charsley found Bowery and his goalbound shot hit his own teammate Reid. Odin Bailey shot straight at Stone from the edge of the area after 70 minutes. A brilliant move from the Stags after 73 minutes. Quinn slid in to win the ball, then he found Law to Reid to Quinn to Maris to Charsley to Gordon and Gordon curled a cross into the middle, but straight to the keeper. Mansfield made a change after 74 minutes as McLaughlin replaced Quinn. McLaughlin was harshly booked after 81 minutes for blocking Whitehouse. Wonderful play by Law after 82 minutes, winning the ball off Cadden then sliding a great ball forward for Reid to run on to. The keeper was out quickly to clear though and he was caught by Reid as he did so, earning Reid a yellow card. Maris won the ball back after losing it on 83 minutes. After 87 minutes, Law did really well just outside his own area to win the ball, and he found McLaughlin. McLaughlin surged forward 50 yards, found Bowery on the left touchline, Bowery played back inside to McLaughlin whose shot from the edge of the area was deflected over the bar. The Stags were inches away from an 89th minute winner as Law played a tremendous crossfield pass from the left to find Bowery in the area on the right. Bowery’s first touch was excellent to get away from Bailly Cargill towards the byline and his shot from a tight angle was saved by the keeper, the ball ballooning up in the air on the goalline, and as Reid jumped to try to head home from less than a foot out, Chris Stokes beat him to the header and headed off the line. Wonderful defending from the Forest Green captain to preserve a point for his side, and good goalkeeping too. After 90+1 minutes, a good left-footed cross from Gordon from the right, Bowery did well to head it down, but Reid fouled his man trying to get to it. The Stags won a corner after 90+3 minutes, and following it Maris fired over the bar from 25 yards. That was the last of the chances. The Stags were the better side in the second half and had far more chances than Forest Green but just couldn’t convert any of them. An enjoyable game though. On to Tranmere on Saturday. Man of the match: Jason Law |
||||
|
Report by: Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill
|
||||
|
Line Up:
|
(4-4-2, diamond in midfield)
Stone 8 Magnificent save, scooping away the header from Matt, the save of the season for Mansfield probably, which he followed up by catching the resulting corner. Gordon 7 Good cross in stoppage time. Rawson 8 Very good game against his old club. Perch 8.5 Fantastic in central defence, apart from losing Matt for the header which was magnificently saved by Stone. Benning 7.5 Good game. Maris 8 Very good game. One good shot very well saved. Charsley 7 Worked hard. Fired one shot into the side netting. Quinn 7.5 Worked very hard with plenty of good touches. Law 9 continued to impress and was excellent in the attacking midfield role. Tremendous crossfield pass which nearly set up Bowery for an 89th minute winner. Several other excellent pieces of play. Reid 7 Two shots at goal in the opening 6 minutes when he could have done better. Plenty of good movement around the edge of the box. Bowery 8.5 Had a tremendous game up front. |
|
Sub Line Up:
|
McLaughlin (for Quinn, 74 mins) -
Subs not used: Stech, Sweeney, Wright, O.Clarke, Ward, Sinclair. |
|
Opposition Line Up:
|
(3-5-2): Thomas; Bernard, Stokes, Cargill; Wilson, Allen, Whitehouse, Bailey (Davison 77), Cadden (Young 88), Collins, Matt. Subs not used: McGee, Evans, Wagstaff, Godwin-Malife, Richardson.
|
|
Referee:
|
David Webb 5.5 I think he got it wrong when Reid was fouled by the keeper. Harshly booked McLaughlin.
|
|
|