Season 20/21 Stagsnet Match Report
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Tranmere Rovers
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Mansfield Town
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Woolery 45+3.
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Quinn 76
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Attendance: behind closed doors
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Date: 27 March 2021
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STAGS DRAW AT TRANMERE THANKS TO QUINN VOLLEY
Martin Shaw at Prenton Park Mansfield Town ended a four game losing run away from home with a creditable 1-1 draw at Tranmere Rovers this afternoon. The point was enough to lift Tranmere into the automatic promotion places, while the Stags dropped a place to 19th. Tranmere took the lead in stoppage time at the end of an even first half. But Mansfield deservedly equalised after 76 minutes when Stephen Quinn sent a sweetly struck volley into the right corner of the net from the edge of the box for his first goal for the club. In the past week, three Stags midfielders have scored their first goals for the club. In the end, the draw was certainly a fair result though both sides will reflect that they could have won it. The Stags played some good football in the first half without troubling the Tranmere keeper. After 6 minutes Mal Benning got into a great position along the byline but didn’t make the most of it. After 16 minutes good play from Jamie Reid to get into the area but he shot wide. A minute later, controversy as Reid was barged over in the area by George Ray who made no attempt to play the ball. It definitely came into the category of 'seen them given' though I could also understand why the referee might not do, arguing it was a shoulder charge. Nigel Clough told me after the game he thought it should have been a penalty and that anywhere else on the pitch the referee would have given a free-kick. Tranmere went close after 20 minutes when Peter Clarke got way above Farrend Rawson to head just wide from a Liam Feeney corner. Harry Charsley and Jordan Bowery both had shots blocked while at the other end Woolery turned and shot straight wide of the right post. Benning again got into a great position on the byline after 33 minutes after very good play by Bowery but his low cross was straight to the keeper. Jason Law had a shot blocked by Peter Clarke after 35 minutes, before Peter Clarke again headed just wide at the other end from another excellent Feeney delivery, this time from a free kick. After 41 minutes Ali Crawford lifted a shot onto the roof of the net from 12 yards after Benning headed out another Feeney cross. Then after 44 minutes, Stephen Quinn started a good move but it ended with his soft shot straight to the keeper. Tranmere took the lead 3 minutes into stoppage time at the end of the first half. Former Stag Otis Khan, playing at right back, lifted a high ball into the Stags area from 40 yards out, Kellan Gordon stooped to head it away. His header away went only as far as Keiron Morris 30 yards from goal. With Gordon still on the ground, Morris immediately played the ball forward to Woolery, who Gordon had been marking and who was now unmarked. Woolery took one touch before smashing a powerful low shot past Stone from 15 yards. Whilst Woolery was left of centre, it certainly was not a tight angle and hence I don’t blame Stone for the goal. After the game Nigel Clough pointed the finger at Gordon who Clough said “decided to head it when it was about a foot off the floor instead of kicking it”. Mansfield made a double change at half time taking off Jordan Bowery and George Maris both of whom looked tired according to Clough, and bringing on George Lapslie and Stephen McLaughlin. It was great to see Lapslie back. Lapslie was straight into the action playing a great diagonal ball to Charsley in the area but Charsley stumbled at the crucial moment and as he went down he got a bang to the head. He would later have to go off. After 49 minutes, a poor kick out from Stone was straight to Feeney who sent a shot straight back but just wide of the left post. After 54 minutes, Quinn tried to lob the keeper but was well wide. He was just getting a sighter! A good chance for the home side a minute later as Woolery found Crawford who fired over the bar from 14 yards. Charsley had to go off after 57 minutes and he was replaced by Ollie Clarke. Jay Spearing, who should have already been booked twice by the referee, was finally booked after 59 minutes. The referee really had a poor game. The Stags had a golden chance to equaliser after 62 minutes. Great play by Ollie Clarke, receiving a throw-in from Gordon, turning away from his marker Crawford and firing a shot goalwards. It was blocked but fell perfectly into the path of Reid who fired inches wide from 6 yards. Reid really should have scored from there. And it was the sort of luck in the box Nigel Clough has been craving for when he has spoken recently that ricochets just don’t fall kindly in the box for the Stags. Jason Law sent a powerful 25 yard shot straight at the keeper after 70 minutes. After 73 minutes, the Stags had another shout for a penalty as Quinn smashed a shot goalwards from 14 yards, it struck Khan on the arm, but the referee waved away the appeals. Quinn was furious. Once again, it could have been given. At the other end a minute later, another great free kick from Liam Feeney, and David Nugent, the experienced striker just on as substitute, headed just over the bar. The Stags were level on 76 minutes. Good play from Gordon, cutting inside two players on the right, his cross came out to Quinn who headed it forward. Spearing headed the ball away but only as far as Quinn again and he volleyed it sweetly left footed into the right corner of the net from the edge of the area. What a way to score your first goal for the club! Another poor kick from Stone after 79 minutes, Woolery pushed forward but McLaughlin blocked his shot. Stone has had a tendency for several poor kicks recently and this is an area of his game that needs improving. After 82 minutes, Khan crossed in from the right to Paul Lewis who hooked a shot straight at Stone from 8 yards. A minute into stoppage time, McLaughlin blocked a shot from Nugent on the edge of the box and that was the last chance for either side. 1-1 the final score then and certainly a fair result in my opinion. The Stags looked good for long parts of this game. Stephen Quinn was very good in midfield and scored a cracking goal. It was great see Lapslie and Ollie Clarke back in the second half and both looked good, Clarke really taking the game to the home defence. The midfield really looks strong for Mansfield, with Maris too, and with Jason Law who has been so good since coming into the side 11 games ago. This was yet another game though that highlighted what we already knew, that the Stags need to bring in a couple of quality strikers in the summer. The draw was Mansfield’s 4th on the trot. And remarkably one more would equal the club record which is 5 consecutive draws, set in 1986 (thanks to Paul Taylor for pointing that out to me). (Also, the club record most draws in a season is 20. So far, Mansfield are on 17 draws this season with 8 games left). With Southend winning and Grimsby drawing, the gap to 2nd bottom Southend is down to 9 points with 8 games left (Mansfield have a much better goal difference though), while the gap to bottom club Grimsby is 12 points though Grimsby have a game in hand. There is still work for Mansfield to do. At last Mansfield have a midweek off after 7 consecutive midweek games in a gruelling schedule. Leyton Orient are the visitors to the One Call Stadium on Friday afternoon (3pm kick-off). DETAILED REPORT: Mansfield were unchanged from the side that played well in that draw with Forest Green on Tuesday. There was very good news with George Lapslie returning from injury to the bench, in place of Jake Wright. Congratulations to Mal Benning who made his 250th appearance for the Stags in all competitions, and his 200th league start! Tranmere started the day 4th in the table, having had a consistently good run since sacking manager Mike Jackson 10 games into the season, picking up 54 points in 27 games since that time, initially under caretaker manager Ian Dawes and then under Keith Hill. They welcomed back striker Kaiyne Woolery from injury. Striker James Vaughan is out through injury but they had experienced striker David Nugent, on loan from Preston, on the bench. Otis Khan, formerly of Mansfield started the game, having been converted to a right back by Keith Hill. It was a pleasant, mostly sunny day. Before the game, Tranmere players took the knee. Mansfield players didn’t. Inside the opening minute, Keiron Morris got in a shot from outside the area which was blocked by Perch. After 6 minutes Mal Benning got into a great position along the byline but didn’t make the most of it. After 10 minutes, Tranmere keeper Scott Davies caught a free kick from George Maris. It looked innocuous but he had injured himself in doing so, and after a 3 minute stoppage he was replaced by sub keeper Joe Murphy. Stone saved comfortably from Woolery’s shot after 15 minutes and moments later Paul Lewis headed wide. After 16 minutes good play from Jamie Reid to get into the area but he shot wide from 9 yards. He should have hit the target at least and forced the keeper to make a save. A minute later, controversy as Reid was barged over in the area by George Ray who made no attempt to play the ball. It definitely came into the category of 'seen them given' though I could also understand why the referee might not do, arguing it was a shoulder charge. Nigel Clough told me after the game he thought it should have been a penalty and that anywhere else on the pitch the referee would have given a free-kick. Tranmere went close after 20 minutes when Peter Clarke got way above Farrend Rawson to head just wide from a Liam Feeney corner. The corner came after Perch did well, stretching, to block a good cross from Feeney. Harry Charsley had a shot on target blocked after 21 minutes after he was found by Reid, then 3 minutes later, Jordan Bowery also had a shot blocked which was also on target. Gordon lost the ball moments later but did very well to win it back. A poor decision from the referee though to award a free kick against Gordon. After 28 minutes, Woolery turned and shot straight wide of the right post. Moments later a cynical foul by Jay Spearing on Charsley. It was a clear yellow card but the referee decided against it. Poor refereeing. Benning again got into a great position on the byline after 33 minutes after very good play by Bowery but his low cross was straight to the keeper. Jason Law had a shot well-blocked by Peter Clarke after 35 minutes. It was a good move from the Stags, involving Gordon, Law himself, and Quinn. Peter Clarke again headed just wide from another excellent Feeney delivery, this time from a free kick, after 39 minutes. After 41 minutes Ali Crawford lifted a shot onto the roof of the net from 12 yards after Benning headed out another Feeney cross. Then after 44 minutes, at the other end, Stephen Quinn started a good move but it ended with his soft shot straight to the keeper. Tranmere took the lead 3 minutes into stoppage time at the end of the first half. Otis Khan lifted a high ball into the Stags area from 40 yards out, Kellan Gordon stooped to head it away. His header away went only as far as Keiron Morris 30 yards from goal. With Gordon still on the ground, Morris immediately played the ball forward to Woolery, who Gordon had been marking and who was now unmarked. Woolery took one touch before smashing a powerful low shot past Stone from 15 yards. Whilst Woolery was left of centre, it certainly was not a tight angle and hence I don’t blame Stone for the goal. After the game Nigel Clough pointed the finger at Gordon who Clough said “decided to head it when it was about a foot off the floor instead of kicking it”. It could have been even worse after 45+4 minutes as Feeney got into the area but he scuffed a cross-shot straight to Stone. An even first half, and the Stags so disappointed to be behind so late in the half. Half time 1-0 Mansfield made a double change at half time taking off Jordan Bowery and George Maris both of whom looked tired according to Clough, and bringing on George Lapslie and Stephen McLaughlin. It was great to see Lapslie back. He went into an attacking midfield position. McLaughlin slotted into the defensive midfield position. Lapslie was straight into the action on 48 minutes playing a great diagonal ball to Charsley in the area but Charsley stumbled at the crucial moment and as he went down he got a bang to the head. He would later have to go off. After 49 minutes, a poor kick out from Stone was straight to Feeney who sent a shot from fully 38 yards out straight back but just wide of the left post. Reid teed up Gordon for a shot after 51 minutes but he sent his effort high and wide. After 54 minutes, Quinn tried to lob the keeper but was well wide, after receiving a throw-in from Benning. He was just getting a sighter! A good chance for the home side a minute later as Woolery found Crawford who fired over the bar from 14 yards. Charsley had to go off after 57 minutes following that earlier incident, and he was replaced by Ollie Clarke. After the game Clough said: “Charsley got a whack in the head when in their penalty area and had a bit of blurred vision. They’re just checking him out now and making sure he’s okay.” Jay Spearing, who should have already been booked twice by the referee, was finally booked after 59 minutes. The referee really had a poor game. The Stags had a golden chance to equaliser after 62 minutes. Great play by Ollie Clarke, receiving a throw-in from Gordon, turning away from his marker Crawford and firing a shot goalwards. It was blocked but fell perfectly into the path of Reid who fired inches wide from 6 yards. Reid really should have scored from there. And it was the sort of luck in the box Nigel Clough has been craving for when he has spoken recently that ricochets just don’t fall kindly in the box for the Stags. After the game Clough said “Reidy has to hit the target with a couple of situations. He's working hard but that's what he's there for to finish one of those chances that he had.” Jason Law was booked for a late challenge after 67 minutes. Jason Law sent a powerful 25 yard right-footed shot straight at the keeper after 70 minutes. After 73 minutes, the Stags had another shout for a penalty as Quinn smashed a shot goalwards from 14 yards, it struck Khan on the arm, but the referee waved away the appeals. Quinn was furious. Once again, it could have been given. At the other end a minute later, another great free kick from Liam Feeney, and David Nugent, the experienced striker just on as substitute, headed just over the bar. The Stags were level on 76 minutes. Good play from Gordon, cutting inside two players on the right, his cross came out to Quinn who headed it forward. Spearing headed the ball away but only as far as Quinn again and he volleyed it sweetly left footed into the right corner of the net from the edge of the area. What a way to score your first goal for the club! Another poor kick from Stone after 79 minutes, Woolery pushed forward but McLaughlin blocked his shot. Stone has had a tendency for several poor kicks recently and this is an area of his game that needs improving. After 82 minutes, Khan crossed in from the right to Paul Lewis who hooked a shot straight at Stone from 8 yards. Good play by Ollie Clarke and Law a minute later stopping the dangerous Feeney getting a cross in. Sweeney replaced Quinn after 85 minutes. Sweeney went up front, once again highlighting the Stags lack of options in this area. Mansfield have been unlucky with the injury to Oli Sarkic and also to under 18 striker Nathan Caine, but they left themselves short in the striker department in January letting Cook and Maynard go out on loan, as well as letting Knowles stay at Notts County, and it has been costly in my opinion on the field, whilst saving money off it. Sinclair replaced Law after 88 minutes. Law had had another pretty good game. Almost immediately, Otis Khan was booked for deliberately taking a throw-in into the back of Sinclair. Considering some of the things the referee did not book Tranmere players for in the first half, this was less deserving of a card. On 90 minutes, Sinclair did well to win the ball off Lewis, he set Sweeney away down the left and Sweeney put in a decent ball into the corridor of uncertainty, to use a cricketing phrase, across the box, but Reid couldn’t get there. Credit to Sweeney it was a good cross. A minute into stoppage time, McLaughlin blocked a shot from Nugent on the edge of the box and that was the last chance for either side. Two minutes later, really good play by Sinclair in his own area winning the ball off Feeney and then drawing a free-kick. 1-1 the final score then and certainly a fair result in my opinion. Man of the match: Stephen Quinn |
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Report by: Martin Shaw at Prenton Park
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Line Up:
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(4-4-2, diamond in midfield)
Stone 6 Some poor kicking. I don’t blame him for the goal, it was a powerful low shot from 15 yards, and whilst Woolery was left of centre, it certainly was not a tight angle. Gordon 6 His good play on the right started the move that led to Quinn’s great goal. Nigel Clough pointed the finger at him for the Tranmere goal though, Clough saying he “decided to head it when it was about a foot off the floor instead of kicking it”. Rawson 7 Mostly solid though Peter Clarke got above him to head just wide from a set piece. Perch 7 Good game with some good defending. Benning 7 Some good defending. Twice got into great positions on the byline but then wasted them. Maris 6 Taken off at half time looking tired according to Clough. Charsley 6 Had to go off after a whack on the head. Had one shot blocked. Otherwise not really in the game. Quinn 8.5 Very good in midfield and scored a cracking goal. Showed a lot of quality. Could have also won a penalty when his shot hit Khan on the arm. Law 7.5 A couple of decent shots. Good game. Reid 5 Had one golden chance and one good chance and didn’t take either. After the game Clough said “Reidy has to hit the target with a couple of situations. He's working hard but that's what he's there for to finish one of those chances that he had.” Had a good penalty shout. Bowery 6 Also taken off at half time looking tired. Some good work down the left. After the game, Clough said: "Jordan has played just about every game. If we'd had more strikers available, Jordan would have had a breather today." |
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Sub Line Up:
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Lapslie (for Bowery, 46 mins) 7.5 Great to see him back and straight into the action playing a great diagonal ball.
McLaughlin (for Maris, 46 mins) 8 Very good defensively, including blocking two shots. O.Clarke (for Charsley, 57 mins) 8 Looked very good, really taking the game to the home defence. Sweeney (for Quinn, 85 mins) - On as a striker and put in a good cross. Sinclair (for Law, 88 mins) - Two good bits of defending in stoppage time. Subs not used: Stech, Ward. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(4-5-1): Davies (Murphy, 14); Khan, P.Clarke, Ray, MacDonald; Crawford (Kirby (74), Spearing, Morris (Nugent 74), Lewis, Feeney; Woolery. Subs not used: Ridehalgh, Nelson, Burton, Lloyd.
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Referee:
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Will Finnie 4 Had a stinker.
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