{ match reports }
 
An independent supporters' website dedicated to Mansfield Town FC
Season 20/21 Stagsnet Match Report
English Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Stevenage  
0 - 1
 Mansfield Town
 
 Sweeney 24
Attendance: behind closed doors
 
Date: 17 April 2021

STAGS WIN AT STEVENAGE AND ARE ALL BUT SAFE

Martin Shaw at the Lamex Stadium, Broadhall Way

Mansfield Town picked up their first away victory since January with a 1-0 win at Stevenage this afternoon that sees the Stags all but safe from relegation.

Mansfield are 12 points above Grimsby and 11 points above Southend. Grimsby would need to win 4 and draw the other of their remaining 5 games, while Southend would need to win all 4 of their remaining 4 games, to have a chance of overtaking Mansfield. The Stags may well be mathematically safe after Tuesday’s games, when the Stags are at home to Scunthorpe (7pm kick-off).

Stevenage had had a very good run to pull themselves well away from the relegation zone so were likely to be difficult opponents. Prior to last weekend’s defeat at Salford, they were unbeaten for 12 games with 6 wins and 6 draws. At home, they had won 4 and drawn 1 of their last 5 games, and only lost one of their last 14 home league games.

The only goal of the game came after 24 minutes. Tyrese Sinclair’s corner from the right came off the head of Stevenage defender Luke Prosser, who was trying to clear amongst a melee of bodies on the edge of the six yard box. The ball landed at the feet of Ryan Sweeney, three yards out and unmarked. Sweeney took one touch to get the ball out from under his feet and then stabbed it right-footed past keeper Jamie Cumming into the net. Clinical finishing! It was Sweeney’s 3rd goal in the league this season and 4th in all competitions.

Mansfield were very good value for the lead at half time and should have been further ahead.

The Stags had a glorious opportunity to take the lead inside the opening 45 seconds as Elliot Osborne gifted a clearance to Stephen McLaughlin 45 yards from goal. McLaughlin advanced forward and his low cross was towards Jamie Reid just inside the area. Reid got to the ball first and as he played it across to Jordan Bowery, Reid was brought down by Joe Martin. Bowery was unmarked 12 yards out but shanked his shot up in the air and the keeper caught it comfortably. From the video, it should have been a penalty for the Stags for the foul on Reid. After the game, Nigel Clough said he thought it was a clear penalty. Regardless of that, Bowery should have got a shot on target.

After 27 minutes, McLaughlin’s cross to the right side of the box was headed back across by Sweeney, and as Elliot Osborne was about to clear, George Lapslie nipped in to get the ball further across to Bowery, 16 yards out with his back to goal. Bowery did excellently to hold off his marker and bring the ball down for Tyrese Sinclair who had time to steady himself and fire a low shot goalwards from the edge of the area, but it was too close to the keeper when a yard or two either side and it would have been in the back of the net.

After 38 minutes, McLaughlin fed Stephen Quinn on the left. Quinn side-footed a fine low cross in to Reid with his back to goal 9 yards out. Reid turned well and his goalbound shot was blocked by Prosser. A minute later, a good move from the Stags involving Lapslie, Reid, and Bowery, to Sinclair who teed up George Maris for a shot from 25 yards but Maris shot wide. Then after 45+1 minutes, Sinclair tried his luck from 35 yards but despite a powerful shot, it was easily saved by the keeper.

Stevenage only went close once in that first half as a free kick from Chris Lines to the far post was headed down by Joe Martin and Aidan Stone got down well at his near post to push it away to safety.

So the Stags much the better side in the first half, but the second half saw Stevenage putting the Stags under pressure at times, while the Stags created precious little in the way of chances. After 50 minutes, Luther Wildin’s low cross from the right found Jack Aitchison unmarked 8 yards out but with the goal gaping he fired inches over the bar. A huge let-off for the Stags. And three minutes later, the home side went close again as Chris Lines’ cross from the right was met by Luke Norris who got away from his marker Bowery and headed goalwards from 6 yards, but Stone reacted brilliantly and saved on his line. Then on 58 minutes, Aitchison found the overlapping Elliott List on his left. List powered into the area, took one touch, but then his second touch just took the ball away from him, and Stone was out quickly to block his shot from point blank range. More fine keeping from Stone, though if List’s second touch had been better Stone might not have stood a chance.

However after that the Stags defended resolutely with Farrend Rawson and Sweeney in great form. There was one moment of controversy after 88 minutes as Rawson headed safely back to Stone from 25 yards out but after he did so he put his arm into the face of List to hold him off. Stevenage manager Alex Revell was convinced it should have been a red card for an elbow in the face, and indeed from the video it probably should have been. But the Stags have been on the wrong end of some decisions like this this season, for example when Reid was smacked in the face by Will Boyle in the FA Cup at Cheltenham and Boyle went on to the score the winner.

Six minutes of stoppage time were added on and Sweeney conceded a free kick 29 yards out in the final of those minutes after Jason Law failed to clear when he could have done. But Ben Coker’s free kick to the far post was over everyone and the Stags had their win, which was much-needed.

Nigel Clough summed it up after the game: "Two things today, that little break in the box (falling for Sweeney). Then we made no silly errors.”

Whilst safety is not quite mathematically assured , the Stags are pretty much all but safe.

Man of the match today would have to come from one of Sweeney, Rawson and Stone, all of whom were excellent. Sweeney edges it for me with his priceless winning goal. Sweeney also made a brilliant tackle on Luke Norris after just 1 minute and 20 seconds of the game as Tom Pett slid a fine ball forward for Norris to run on to and as Norris was setting himself to shoot, Sweeney made a clean tackle just inside the area. He had to get it right otherwise it would have been a penalty.

Meanwhile, I apologise about the coverage today on iFollow today, with the commentary a second ahead of the video. Extremely annoying, and very annoying that it was not fixed.

DETAILED REPORT:

The game was moved from 3pm to a 12.30pm kick-off on Saturday lunchtime due to the funeral of Prince Philip. There was also a minute’s silence before the game. RIP Prince Philip.

Nigel Clough told me after the game that both managers wanted to play the game on Friday night, which would have given extra recovery time before Tuesday night’s games, but that the Stevenage safety officer wouldn’t allow it. You couldn’t make it up with no fans in the ground.

Mansfield made one change from the side that drew with Newport. Jamie Reid returned to the side in place of Ollie Clarke, who was off the pace against Newport dallying on the ball three times in the first half and losing it. Clarke dropped to the bench in an unchanged 18. Clough kept faith with Aidan Stone and George Maris who both were at fault in conceding the goal to Newport. It was a 4-3-3 formation with Reid (right) and Sinclair (left) either side of Bowery up front. Nigel Clough explained after the game: “We wanted to put the three up [front] and be positive right from the start. With the players we had out [on the pitch], it [formation] is pretty flexible. You can go to a diamond, but we wanted three centrally and it caused them a lot of problems today.”

It was a beautiful sunny day. And the pitch was the best we’ve seen for a while.

The Stags had a glorious opportunity to take the lead inside the opening 45 seconds as Elliot Osborne gifted a clearance to Stephen McLaughlin 45 yards from goal. McLaughlin advanced forward and his low cross was towards Jamie Reid just inside the area. Reid got to the ball first and as he played it across to Jordan Bowery, Reid was brought down by Joe Martin. Bowery was unmarked 12 yards out but shanked his shot up in the air and the keeper caught it comfortably. From the video, it should have been a penalty for the Stags for the foul on Reid. After the game, Nigel Clough said he thought it was a clear penalty. Regardless of that, Bowery should have got a shot on target.

Straight to the other end and Ryan Sweeney made a brilliant tackle on Luke Norris after just 1 minute and 20 seconds as Tom Pett slid a fine ball forward for Norris to run on to and as Norris was setting himself to shoot, Sweeney made a clean tackle just inside the area. He had to get it right otherwise it would have been a penalty.

After 11 minutes, Stevenage went close as a free kick from Chris Lines to the far post was headed down by Joe Martin and Aidan Stone got down well at his near post to push it away to safety.

Lapslie was booked for a late challenge on Aitchison after 14 minutes.

The only goal of the game came after 24 minutes. Tyrese Sinclair’s corner from the right came off the head of Stevenage defender Luke Prosser, who was trying to clear amongst a melee of bodies on the edge of the six yard box. The ball landed at the feet of Ryan Sweeney, three yards out and unmarked. Sweeney took one touch to get the ball out from under his feet and then stabbed it right-footed past keeper Jamie Cumming into the net. Clinical finishing! It was Sweeney’s 3rd goal in the league this season and 4th in all competitions.

A minute after the goal, Bowery received the ball on the right and his attempted cross turned into a shot just over the bar.

After 27 minutes, McLaughlin’s cross to the right side of the box was headed back across by Sweeney, and as Elliot Osborne was about to clear, George Lapslie nipped in to get the ball further across to Bowery, 16 yards out with his back to goal. Bowery did excellently to hold off his marker and bring the ball down for Tyrese Sinclair who had time to steady himself and fire a low shot goalwards from the edge of the area, but it was too close to the keeper when a yard or two either side and it would have been in the back of the net.

Stevenage centre back Vancooten sent a shot from 38 yards over the stand after 30 minutes. It wasn’t a small stand. The ball would have landed on the A602.

After 38 minutes, McLaughlin fed Stephen Quinn on the left. Quinn side-footed a fine low cross in to Reid with his back to goal 9 yards out. Reid turned well and his goalbound shot was blocked by Prosser. A minute later, a good move from the Stags involving Lapslie, Reid, and Bowery, to Sinclair who teed up George Maris for a shot from 25 yards but Maris shot wide. Then after 45+1 minutes, Sinclair tried his luck from 35 yards but despite a powerful shot, it was easily saved by the keeper.

Mansfield were very good value for the lead at half time and should have been further ahead.

Half time 0-1

After 50 minutes, Luther Wildin’s low cross from the right found Jack Aitchison unmarked 8 yards out but with the goal gaping he fired inches over the bar. A huge let-off for the Stags. And three minutes later, the home side went close again as Chris Lines’ cross from the right was met by Luke Norris who got away from his marker Bowery and headed goalwards from 6 yards, but Stone reacted brilliantly and saved on his line.

Ollie Clarke replaced Quinn after 54 minutes. Clough explained after the game that "Quinny was struggling with his ankle. He's keeps going over on his ankle in training, the pitches are so hard at the moment.”

Then on 58 minutes, Aitchison found the overlapping Elliott List on his left. List powered into the area, took one touch, but then his second touch just took the ball away from him, and Stone was out quickly to block his shot from point blank range. More fine keeping from Stone, though if List’s second touch had been better Stone might not have stood a chance.

A minute later, List was tripped by Lapslie 26 yards out, just to the right of centre. The Stags wall did its job, as Lines fired the free kick straight into it.

Jason Law replaced Lapslie after 62 minutes. Clough explained afterwards that “Lapslie only came off because we were thinking that he might get sent off, as he’d been booked and then made three fouls.”

Maris was booked for a cynical foul after 72 minutes.

Law cut inside Jack Smith after 73 minutes and fired a shot goalwards and on target, but was blocked by Vancooten, following a good move from the Stags.

Moments later at the other end a good interception by Sweeney. Two minutes after that, Rawson showed good strength to clear.

Harry Charsley replaced Sinclair after 87 minutes. Clough explained afterwards that “Ty was a little bit tired in the last five minutes.”

The Stags had defended resolutely in the last half an hour, with Rawson and Sweeney in great form. There was one moment of controversy after 88 minutes as Rawson headed safely back to Stone from 25 yards out but after he did so he put his arm into the face of List to hold him off. Stevenage manager Alex Revell was convinced it should have been a red card for an elbow in the face, and indeed from the video it probably should have been. But the Stags have been on the wrong end of some decisions like this this season, for example when Reid was smacked in the face by Will Boyle in the FA Cup at Cheltenham and Boyle went on to the score the winner.

Six minutes of stoppage time were added on and Sweeney conceded a free kick 29 yards out in the final of those minutes after Jason Law failed to clear when he could have done. But Ben Coker’s free kick to the far post was over everyone and the Stags had their win, which was much-needed.

Not an outstanding performance, but the Stags scored from a set piece, with a little bit of luck as the ball fell kindly for Sweeney in the box, and the Stags made no significant mistakes at the back to gift Stevenage anything.

Man of the match: Ryan Sweeney


Report by: Martin Shaw at the Lamex Stadium, Broadhall Way



Line Up:
(4-3-3)
Stone 8 Three fine saves, bouncing back in the best style from the Newport game.
Perch 7 Defended well, no mistakes.
Rawson 8 Very good game. Perhaps fortunate not to receive a late red card.
Sweeney 9 Scored the crucial goal. Made a brilliant tackle after just 1 minute and 20 seconds of the game to set the scene for a fine team defensive performance.
McLaughlin 7.5 Some good attacking play down the left in the first half, linking well with Quinn. Defended well.
Lapslie 6 Involved in one or two good moves but still not back to his best. Was subbed having been on a yellow card and subsequently made three fouls.
Maris 7 Good game in the first half, quieter in the second.
Quinn 7.5 Did well on the left. One fine cross for Reid. Subbed early in the second half struggling with his ankle and will be a doubt for Tuesday.
Reid 6 Should have been given a penalty inside the opening minute. One shot on the turn that was blocked.
Bowery 6.5 Poor effort not to get a shot on target in the opening minute. Good play to set up a chance for Sinclair. Worked hard tracking back in the second half.
Sinclair 7 Good corner into a good area which led to the goal. A couple of shots on target.
Sub Line Up:
O.Clarke (for Quinn, 54 mins) 7 Did well.
Law (for Lapslie, 62 mins) - Failed to clear when he should have done leading to a late Stevenage free kick. One shot on target.
Charsley (for Sinclair, 87 mins) -
Subs not used: Stech, Gordon, Benning, Ward.
Opposition Line Up:
(4-4-2): Cumming; Wildin, Vancooten, Prosser, Martin (Coker 72); Osborne (Smith 46), Pett, Lines, Aitchison; List, Norris. Substitutes not used: Johnson, Vincelot, Cuthbert, Hutton, Stevens.
Referee:
Samuel Barrott 5 Annoyed both managers, not giving the Stags a penalty in the opening minute, and not giving Rawson a red card near the end.


Season 20/21 Reports