Season 20/21 Stagsnet Match Report
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Mansfield Town
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Scunthorpe United
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Lapslie 19, Perch 80, Sinclair 83.
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Attendance: behind closed doors
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Date: 20 April 2021
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DOMINANT STAGS BEAT SCUNTHORPE AND ARE FINALLY SAFE
Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town produced a thoroughly dominant performance to beat Scunthorpe United 3-0 at the One Call Stadium last night. The Stags played very well indeed and if it had finished 7-0, Scunthorpe could not have complained. The win finally secured Mansfield’s safety, with three games left, which comes as a relief. Full credit to manager Nigel Clough. Remember that in the 11 leagues games before he came in this season, Mansfield had not won a game and had just 7 points. Since he has come in, Mansfield have played 32 games, won 11, drawn 12, lost 9, points 45, goal difference +4. This is at least mid-table form, and very much better than what went before it, this season or last season. Stags fans can now look forward to seeing who Clough brings in this summer, and look forward to next season with more positivity in my opinion. But before that, there are still three more games to be won. This win over Scunthorpe gave the Stags the first double of the season (in fact a triple, as the Stags also beat Scunthorpe in the EFL Trophy). The final three games give opportunities for more doubles as Mansfield play Salford, Oldham and Port Vale, three teams the Stags have already beaten this season. There will also be an opportunity to give games to one or two younger players, which Nigel Clough has already said he will do. Mansfield were in control of this game from start to finish. They took the lead after 19 minutes from a fine move as George Maris headed down to Ollie Clarke. Clarke pushed forward and found the overlapping James Perch on the right. Perch’s low cross into the six yard box was a great one and went into the net off George Lapslie as he charged down Manny Onariase’s attempted clearance and knocked it into the net from a couple of yards. I would class that as an assist for Perch even though technically the last touch before Lapslie scored came off the defender. The Stags should have been further ahead by half time as Perch found Tyrese Sinclair with another good ball in, Sinclair turned and shot wide of the right post. Then Stephen Quinn threaded a superb ball forward for Ollie Clarke, Clarke pulled the ball back to Lapslie 12 yards from goal, Lapslie took a good first touch before smashing a shot goalwards from 7 yards which Onariase somehow deflected over the bar with a brilliant block. Then George Maris fired a low shot from the right just wide of the far post after a Sinclair free kick from the right after Sinclair won the free kick himself. Meanwhile Scunthorpe offered next to nothing going forward in a one-sided first half. Into the second half and the chances kept on coming for the Stags. Lapslie teed up Quinn for a shot from 18 yards which was heading for the top corner before it was deflected wide. Then Quinn found Lapslie and his low shot was saved by the keeper. Then a great ball from Maris from inside his own half for Jamie Reid who battled to get past former Stag George Taft and get in a shot from 12 yards which the onrushing keeper saved at point blank range. The chances kept on coming. Sinclair’s 35 yard shot was deflected and looped over the keeper and wide of the right post. Sinclair’s low shot from 20 yards by saved by the keeper getting down quickly after a good move from the Stags involving Perch, Maris, Reid and Clarke. Quinn’s shot from 35 yards was over the bar, before he had another shot blocked by Onariase. It had been total domination from the Stags for 70 minutes but it remained just 1-0. After 71 minutes, finally a chance for Scunthorpe as McLaughlin failed to clear and conceded a free kick near the corner flag on the right. Mason O’Malley’s free kick to the far post found Onariase unmarked but he couldn’t turn the ball into the net from 4 yards. The Stags needed a second goal. Sinclair fired over from a tight angle. Then McLaughlin made a great break into the area and tried to square for sub Jordan Bowery who was unmarked but it was blocked for a corner. Finally the Stags got the second goal that was richly deserved after 80 minutes. Maris squared for Perch who took a touch before taking aim from 25 yards and firing into the bottom right corner of the net from 25 yards. A superb strike against his former club. Within 3 minutes it was 3-0. Lapslie found Ollie Clarke who took aim from 25 yards. His shot was blocked up in the air by Taft. Perch attempted to volley the rebound goalwards from 18 yards but miscued his shot which was going wide. Sinclair anticipated it though and stretched to turn it into the net from 3 yards at the far post for a lovely goalpoacher’s finish. It was Sinclair’s second goal in successive home matches and he is in a very fine run of form having been giving his chance in the side. Sinclair nearly had another when his free kick from the left at an angle was blocked on the line by O’Malley. Scunthorpe might have had a consolation in stoppage time but sub Kellan Gordon did well to block a shot from Abu Eisa and preserve the clean sheet. So an excellent performance from Mansfield completely dominating opponents Scunthorpe who it has to be said were very poor. Plenty of super performances throughout the side but my man of the match goes to James Perch for his excellent 25 yard strike and assists for the other two goals albeit the second assist was a mishit shot and the first assist came off a defender before Lapslie scored. DETAILED REPORT : Mansfield made one change from the side that won at Stevenage. Ollie Clarke came in for Bowery who was rested and dropped to the bench. Bowery had played almost every minute under Clough. Jamie Pardington replaced Stech on the bench. Clough said in his press conference on Monday that he wanted to give Pardington a game before the end of the season. It was a diamond formation in midfield with Maris in front of the back four and Lapslie behind the front two of Sinclair and Reid. Scunthorpe started the game two points behind Mansfield with a game in hand. I had watched their game at Morecambe a week ago on iFollow and Scunthorpe weren’t very good, losing 4-1. The Iron had a few injuries. Former Stag George Taft was in central defence. It was a pleasant evening in Mansfield. The pitch wasn’t looking great but played pretty well. I asked Nigel Clough about it afterwards, he told me he had asked the groundsman to “flood it” as there’s “nothing worse than a bobbly pitch.” It was clearly the right decision. Work on the pitch for next season will start on the Monday after the last home game, against Oldham. I’m sure next season it will be back to how it was 2 or 3 years ago with financial investment coupled with hard work from Mez and his team. After 9 minutes, a good ball forward from Reid to Sinclair who won a corner. Sinclair played the corner short to Maris who curled in a cross to the near post where Reid headed wide. After 12 minutes a drone appeared from behind the Bishop Street stand. The referee took the players off the pitch and summoned safety officer Alan Lakin. The game resumed after a 4 minute delay. The drone was apparently later seized and confiscated by police and the person flying it was cautioned for not having a licence or certificate. Mansfield took the lead after 19 minutes from a fine move as George Maris headed down to Ollie Clarke. Clarke pushed forward and found the overlapping James Perch on the right. Perch’s low cross into the six yard box was a great one and went into the net off George Lapslie as he charged down Manny Onariase’s attempted clearance and knocked it into the net from a couple of yards. I would class that as an assist for Perch even though technically the last touch before Lapslie scored came off the defender. After 29 minutes, Perch found Tyrese Sinclair with another good ball in, Sinclair turned and shot wide of the right post. After 33 minutes, a Scunthorpe corner came out for Devarne Green who sent a shot high and wide. After 38 minutes, Stephen Quinn threaded a superb ball forward for Ollie Clarke, Clarke pulled the ball back to Lapslie 12 yards from goal, Lapslie took a good first touch before smashing a shot goalwards from 7 yards which Onariase somehow deflected over the bar with a brilliant block. Then 4 minutes later George Maris fired a low shot from the right just wide of the far post after a Sinclair free kick from the right, after Sinclair himself won the free kick. After 44 minutes good play from Clarke to win the ball on the edge of his own area from Gilliead after Gilliead had initially turned away from him and pushed forward. A dominant first half from the Stags who should have been further ahead than 1-0. Meanwhile Scunthorpe offered next to nothing going forward in a one-sided first half. Half time 1-0 After 48 minutes, Abu Eisa burst forward to the byline on the left and Rawson did well to block his cross for a corner. Stone caught the corner. After 52 minutes, Lapslie won a free kick on the right. It was taken by Sinclair back to Maris who lifted the ball into the box and it was cleared as far as Lapslie. Lapslie then teed up Quinn for a shot from 18 yards which was heading for the top corner before it was deflected wide. A minute later, Quinn found Lapslie and his low shot was saved by the keeper. Then on 55 minutes, a great ball from Maris from inside his own half for Jamie Reid who battled to get past George Taft and get in a shot from 12 yards which the onrushing keeper saved at point blank range. The chances kept on coming. After 61 minutes, Sinclair’s 35 yard shot was deflected and looped over the keeper and wide of the right post. Sweeney was booked for a late tackle after 62 minutes. Sinclair’s low shot from 20 yards after 64 minutes by saved by the keeper getting down quickly after a good move from the Stags involving Perch, Maris, Reid and Clarke. A minute later, Quinn’s shot from 35 yards was over the bar, before he had another shot blocked by Onariase on 67 minutes. It had been total domination from the Stags for 70 minutes but it remained just 1-0. After 71 minutes, finally a chance for Scunthorpe as McLaughlin failed to clear and conceded a free kick near the corner flag on the right. Mason O’Malley’s free kick to the far post found Onariase unmarked but he couldn’t turn the ball into the net from 4 yards. The Stags needed a second goal. Sinclair fired over from a tight angle after 74 minutes. In commentary I said that Sinclair should have passed to Lapslie who was in a better position but from the video, that was incorrect as Lapslie was behind play as Sinclair shot. Bowery replaced Reid after 75 minutes. Reid had not had a particularly good game. Then McLaughlin made a great break into the area after 78 minutes and tried to square for sub Bowery who was unmarked but it was blocked for a corner. Finally the Stags got the second goal that was richly deserved after 80 minutes. Maris squared for Perch who took a touch before taking aim from 25 yards and firing into the bottom right corner of the net from 25 yards. A superb strike against his former club. Within 3 minutes it was 3-0. Lapslie found Ollie Clarke who took aim from 25 yards. His shot was blocked up in the air by Taft. Perch attempted to volley the rebound goalwards from 18 yards but miscued his shot which was going wide. Sinclair anticipated it though and stretched to turn it into the net from 3 yards at the far post for a lovely goalpoacher’s finish. It was Sinclair’s second goal in successive home matches and he is in a very fine run of form having been giving his chance in the side. The Stags made 2 more changes after 85 minutes and then another 2 after 86 minutes. Law, Charsley, Gordon and Ward replaced Clarke, Lapslie, Perch and Quinn. The Stags nearly had another goal after 90 minutes. Sinclair was scythed down. Sinclair took the free kick himself from the left at an angle and it was blocked on the line by O’Malley. Scunthorpe might have had a consolation in stoppage time on 90+4 minutes but sub Kellan Gordon did well to block a shot from Abu Eisa and preserve the clean sheet. Mansfield’s most convincing win of the season along with the Port Vale game. On to Salford City on Saturday and Mansfield’s first ever visit to Moor Lane. Salford were the only side in the top four divisions to be unbeaten at home until their last home game so it will clearly be a tough game. Salford are pushing for a play-off position, currently three points outside those positions. Man of the match: James Perch |
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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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(4-4-2, diamond in midfield)
Stone 6.5 One catch from a corner. Had nothing else to do. Perch 9 An excellent goal from 25 yards and two assists against his former club. Rawson 7 Won a few headers and one good block of a cross. Sweeney 7 Several headers away. McLaughlin 7 Good game. One great break forward. One mistake when he failed to clear and conceded a free kick which led to a rare chance for Scunthorpe. Maris 8.5 Very good game indeed, with 90 touches of the ball. Controlled the midfield. O.Clarke 8 Good play in the build-up to the first goal. Shot blocked in the build-up to the third goal. Set up a chance for Lapslie in the first half. Quinn 8 Another good game. Lapslie 8 Back on the scoresheet, and nearly had another in the first half. His best game since returning from injury. Reid 6 Did not have a particularly good game. Sinclair 8 Second goal in successive home matches and he is in a very fine run of form having been giving his chance in the side. Very lively all evening. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Bowery (for Reid, 75 mins) -
Law (for O.Clarke, 85 mins) - Charsley (for Lapslie, 85 mins) - Gordon (for Perch, 86 mins) - Ward (for Quinn, 86 mins) - Subs not used: Pardington, Benning. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(4-4-2): Watson; Rowe (Howe, 58), Onariase (Hippolyte, 79), Taft, O'Malley; Green, Karacan (Spence, 58),.Gilliead, Beestin; Loft (van Veen, 68), Eisa. Subs not used: Collins, McAtee, Dawson.
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Referee:
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Brett Huxtable 6 He should have booked more Scunthorpe players in my opinion, and Onariase should have had a second yellow. Aside from that, on reflection, he did ok.
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