Season 21/22 Stagsnet Match Report
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Mansfield Town
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Port Vale
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Lapslie 64. Hawkins missed pen 42.
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Conlon 33
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Attendance: 4,203 (733 from Port Vale)
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Date: 19 October 2021
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MUCH-IMPROVED STAGS DRAW 1-1 WITH PORT VALE
Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town put in a super performance, hugely improved on recent displays, to outplay Port Vale at the One Call Stadium last night, yet were held to a 1-1 draw, earning a standing ovation from home fans at full time. The Stags came in to the game third bottom, without a win in 10 league games, while Vale were third in the table having won 5 of their last 6 league games, but it was the Stags who were on top throughout the game. Stags boss Nigel Clough had clearly been feeling the pressure, cutting a very dejected figure after such a poor performance at Northampton on Saturday, saying “The side are at rock bottom, we all are... We just keep battling unless told otherwise” ... and “If we get through to January...” However, after the game last night, Vale manager Darrell Clarke, a former Stags player of course, had plenty of words of encouragement for Clough and a fair assessment of the game saying: “Full credit to Mansfield, I thought they were outstanding on the night. ... we have managed to nick a point. We were a little bit fortunate for the point. But we will take it. Mansfield are in a false position for me. They have got good, talented players and a good, talented manager. Mansfield will finish in the top 10, top seven, mark my words.” In another game played in a superb atmosphere, and a massive credit to the Stags fans for sticking with their side through this awful run, the Stags took the game to Vale from the start. After just 3 minutes, Jordan Bowery turned and played a nice little ball forward for Harry Charsley who took a touch and fired just wide of the left post from 18 yards. The Stags continued to be right on top as Ollie Clarke fired wide via a deflection, Bowery headed wide from a good cross from Charsley, Ollie Clarke fired over the bar, and Rhys Oates forced his way past defender Aaron Martin on a good run before firing just wide of the left post against the stanchion on 27 minutes. Port Vale had barely been in the game but Oli Hawkins, back in central defence, got in a great block on a shot from James Wilson after 30 minutes, and Vale took the lead after 33 minutes. George Lloyd showed a good first touch to chest down a ball forward from Tom Pett and get in between Farrend Rawson and Elliott Hewitt, and was brought down by Rawson, who was booked. The resulting free kick was 20 yards out, in a central position, and Tom Conlon curled a brilliant left footed shot over the wall into the right of the net. A tremendous free kick over the outstretched hand of the diving Nathan Bishop. Bishop should have done better for the first Northampton goal on Saturday, but in my opinion it would be harsh to blame him here. The Stags were nearly level after 38 minutes as Stephen McLaughlin laid a clever ball forward to Stephen Quinn and his shot from the left was tipped over the bar by the keeper. The Stags should have been level after 42 minutes and only had themselves to blame. I have bemoaned penalty decisions going against the Stags this season, but on this occasion the Stags were awarded a penalty which shouldn’t have been given. Rhys Oates set Quinn away down the left, Quinn then played the ball across for Oates to run on to in the area and Oates went down with defender Dan Jones close by, but there was no contact from Jones. Oates immediately got back up to get the ball, not trying con the officials, but the referee had already pointed to the spot. Afterwards, Oates was very honest in his description of the incident saying: "It was good play between me and Quinny, a good one-two. I touched it in front of him (Dan Jones), he’s probably not touched me but the referee gave it. We've had a lot of decisions not go our way this season so to get the penalty I think it's just what we deserved really." With Danny Johnson on the sub’s bench, Oli Hawkins stepped up, and sent his penalty to the left but keeper Lucas Covolan made a great save. The penalty was at a nice height for a keeper and needed to be lower or higher. Into the second half, and the Stags remained completely on top. After 46 minutes, Oates sent a snapshot from 20 yards straight at the keeper after good play by George Lapslie to win the ball. Then Hewitt sent a piledriver from 35 yards not far wide after 54 minutes. Then on 58 minutes a double chance as Charsley laid off to the overlapping Hewitt whose cross from the right was pushed away by the keeper as Oates tried to turn it home, the ball ran clear to Ollie Clarke and his goalbound shot from 18 yards was blocked on the edge of the six yard box by Pett. The Stags finally equalised after 64 minutes and a finely worked goal down the left it was. Very good interplay between McLaughlin and Bowery, McLaughlin then lobbed the ball forward, Quinn headed it on, Bowery continued forward towards the byline and squared the ball across into the area for Lapslie to run on to and sidefoot into the net from 9 yards. A lovely goal. Lapslie’s second goal of the season, his first in the league, and the roof was lifted off the One Call Stadium. A huge relief. The Stags should have had a penalty after 67 minutes. More super play on the left, McLaughlin to Quinn, and Quinn played a one-two with Bowery before Quinn was bundled over by David Worrall in the area. But the referee waved play on. It was a blatant penalty and a staggeringly bad decision from the referee. However, he had awarded the Stags a penalty which shouldn’t have been in the first half, so they evened themselves out here. The problem for Mansfield is that bad penalty decisions really haven’t evened themselves out over the season so far. Very little had been seen of Port Vale going forward, but they went close to scoring after 79 minutes. Lapslie bundled James Gibbons over 22 yards from goal, right of centre. Conlon stepped up and nearly added to his brilliant strike in the first half by firing against the top of the bar and over. The Stags were unable to force the victory, but received a standing ovation at full time. 19 shots for the Stags, 6 on target, compared to 6 for Vale, just 1 on target. But a performance to lift the spirits. The return of Stephen Quinn after 6 matches out suspended made an enormous difference, and much of the Stags’ best play came down the left, in partnership with Stephen McLaughlin and Jordan Bowery. George Lapslie also had a fine game, deserving his goal. Rhys Oates was lively going forward. In fact the whole side played very well, Ollie Clarke and Harry Charsley also in midfield, and the entire defence. There was a great reception for the returning Mal Benning, who had a quiet game for Vale, and Benning returned the applause to the Stags fans. Meanwhile, David Flitcroft, now the Director of Football at Vale, was not at the game, away because of a family commitment. The Stags are back in action at Exeter on Saturday. A difficult game with Exeter in the play-off places but Mansfield will certainly be looking to continue with a good performance. DETAILED REPORT : Mansfield made two changes from the side that lost at Northampton. Quinn returned from his 6 game ban. Oates also came back into the starting XI having not started on Saturday because he was under the weather. James Clarke and Johnson dropped to the bench. Tyrese Sinclair was also back from suspension, and on the bench. George Maris remained out with concussion. Will Forrester missed out from the bench with a chest infection. Young striker James Gale dropped off the bench. Vale were without leading scorer Jamie Proctor through injury. Mal Benning came into the starting XI having done well as sub in Vale’s win over Barrow on Saturday. Aidan Stone, released by Nigel Clough in the summer, was on the bench for Vale. It was a wet evening in Mansfield. The pitch was in perfect condition. The Stags took the game to Vale from the start. After just 3 minutes, Jordan Bowery turned and played a nice little ball forward for Harry Charsley who took a touch and fired just wide of the left post from 18 yards. Three minutes later, more positive play as Lapslie pushed forward, Charsley got into the area to the byline but he just ran the ball out of play. The Stags continued to be right on top as Ollie Clarke fired wide via a deflection from 28 yards after 14 minutes. From the resulting corner, the ball came out to Charsley on the right and his good cross was headed wide by Bowery. Another good move after 17 minutes, and the ball came out to Ollie Clarke who fired over the bar from 25 yards. After 22 minutes, Lapslie won the ball, made a good break forward, Quinn crossed in Bowery headed the ball up, but the keeper caught it. A rare foray forward from Port Vale after 26 minutes as a free kick from the left, taken by Benning, was headed softly wide by Wilson, with Bishop watching it all the way. Oates forced his way past Aaron Martin on a good run before firing just wide of the left post against the stanchion on 27 minutes. Port Vale had barely been in the game but Oli Hawkins got in a great block on a shot from James Wilson after 30 minutes, after Wilson had got past Hawkins and McLaughlin as the two got in each other’s way. Then Vale took the lead after 33 minutes. George Lloyd showed a good first touch to chest down a ball forward from Tom Pett and get in between Farrend Rawson and Elliott Hewitt, and was brought down by Rawson, who was booked. The resulting free kick was 20 yards out, in a central position, and Tom Conlon curled a brilliant left footed shot over the wall into the right of the net. A tremendous free kick over the outstretched hand of the diving Nathan Bishop. Bishop should have done better for the first Northampton goal on Saturday, but in my opinion it would be harsh to blame him here. The Stags were nearly level after 38 minutes as Stephen McLaughlin laid a clever ball forward to Stephen Quinn and his shot from the left was tipped over the bar by the keeper. The Stags should have been level after 42 minutes and only had themselves to blame. I have bemoaned penalty decisions going against the Stags this season, but on this occasion the Stags were awarded a penalty which shouldn’t have been given. Rhys Oates set Quinn away down the left, Quinn then played the ball across for Oates to run on to in the area and Oates went down with defender Dan Jones close by, but there was no contact from Jones. Oates immediately got back up to get the ball, not trying con the officials, but the referee had already pointed to the spot. Afterwards, Oates was very honest in his description of the incident saying: "It was good play between me and Quinny, a good one-two. I touched it in front of him (Dan Jones), he’s probably not touched me but the referee gave it. We've had a lot of decisions not go our way this season so to get the penalty I think it's just what we deserved really." With Danny Johnson on the sub’s bench, Oli Hawkins stepped up, and sent his penalty to the left but keeper Lucas Covolan made a great save. The penalty was at a nice height for a keeper and needed to be lower or higher. The Stags 1-0 down at the break, but had played well. Half time 0-1 Into the second half, and the Stags remained completely on top. After 46 minutes, Oates sent a snapshot from 20 yards straight at the keeper after good play by George Lapslie to win the ball. Then Hewitt sent a piledriver from 35 yards not far wide after 54 minutes. Cynical stuff from Vale after 56 minutes as George Lloyd appeared to feign an injury to give Vale time to reorganise. Goalkeeper Covolan was also routinely taking an eternity to take every kick. On 58 minutes a double chance for the Stags as Charsley laid off to the overlapping Hewitt whose cross from the right was pushed away by the keeper as Oates tried to turn it home, the ball ran clear to Ollie Clarke and his goalbound shot from 18 yards was blocked on the edge of the six yard box by Pett. James Clarke replaced the limping Elliott Hewitt after 59 minutes. After the game, Nigel Clough explained “Elliott Hewitt is unfortunately injured. He has a problem with his glute. So we’ll see how (he is) for Saturday. He mentioned it at half-time. He’s had an unbelievable week as his wife had a baby in the early hours of Sunday morning. It’s a special, special week for him and he was very, very good at right-back bombing forward tonight. The Stags finally equalised after 64 minutes and a finely worked goal down the left it was. Very good interplay between McLaughlin and Bowery, McLaughlin then lobbed the ball forward, Quinn headed it on, Bowery continued forward towards the byline and squared the ball across into the area for Lapslie to run on to and sidefoot into the net from 9 yards. A lovely goal. Lapslie’s second goal of the season, his first in the league, and the roof was lifted off the One Call Stadium. A huge relief. The Stags should have had a penalty after 67 minutes. More super play on the left, McLaughlin to Quinn, and Quinn played a one-two with Bowery before Quinn was bundled over by David Worrall in the area. But the referee waved play on. It was a blatant penalty and a staggeringly bad decision from the referee. However, he had awarded the Stags a penalty which shouldn’t have been in the first half, so they evened themselves out here. The problem for Mansfield is that bad penalty decisions really haven’t evened themselves out over the season so far. After 74 minutes, Vale sub Dennis Politic got away from James Clarke, and Charsley did well to block for a corner. Danny Johnson replaced Oates after 77 minutes. Oates had been under weather on Saturday with a chest infection. Mal Benning was replaced at the same time. He got great applause from the Stags fans, and he returned the applause to the Stags fans. Very little had been seen of Port Vale going forward, but they went close to scoring after 79 minutes. Lapslie bundled James Gibbons over 22 yards from goal, right of centre. Conlon stepped up and nearly added to his brilliant strike in the first half by firing against the top of the bar and over. On 85 minutes, Charsley crossed and Lapslie got on the end of it but could not turn it goalwards. Sinclair replaced Quinn after 89 minutes. The Stags were unable to force the victory, which they plainly deserved, but received a standing ovation at full time. Man of the match: Stephen Quinn. Here’s a running tally of various stats this season: Goals: Hawkins, Johnson 3, Lapslie 2, O.Clarke, Hewitt, Maris, Oates, Quinn 1 Assists: O.Clarke, McLaughlin, Oates 2, Bowery, Hawkins, Johnson, Rawson, Sinclair, Quinn 1 (note: in the case of a penalty, the player who earns the penalty gets an assist. In the case of a solo goal, such as Maris against Newport, nobody gets an assist.) Average home league attendance: 4724 (average away fans: 636, average home fans 4088) |
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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)
Bishop 6 Would be harsh to blame him for the goal in my opinion. Otherwise had nothing to do. Hewitt 7 Good game including some good attacking play. Went off injured. Rawson 7 Gave away the free kick which led to the goal. Otherwise had a good game. Hawkins 7 Defended well including one good block. But missed the penalty when his kick was at a good height for a keeper. McLaughlin 8.5 So much good interplay down the left with Quinn and Bowery. Charsley 8 Good attacking play down the right. O.Clarke 8 Good game. Lapslie 8 Had a fine game, deserving his goal. Quinn 9 His return after 6 matches out suspended made an enormous difference, and much of the Stags’ best play came down the left, in partnership with McLaughlin and Bowery. Oates 8 Lively going forward. Honest enough to admit afterwards that he was fortunate to get the penalty. Bowery 8 An assist for the goal. So much good interplay down the left with Quinn and McLaughlin. |
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Sub Line Up:
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J.Clarke (for Hewitt, 59 mins) -
Johnson (for Oates, 77 mins) - Sinclair (for Quinn, 89 mins) - Subs not used: Shelvey, Burke, Ward, Law. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(3-5-2): Covolan; Smith, Martin, Jones; Worrall, Garrity, Pett, Conlon, Benning (Gibbons, 77); Lloyd (Rodney, 57), Wilson (Politic, 57). Subs not used: Stone, Taylor, Amoo, Amos.
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Referee:
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Will Finnie 4 Two very bad decisions, one to give Mansfield a penalty in the first half, and one not to give Mansfield a penalty in the second half!
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