Season 21/22 Stagsnet Match Report
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Exeter City
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Mansfield Town
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Dieng 61, Jay 83.
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Hawkins 50
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Attendance: 4,329 (191 from Mansfield)
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Date: 23 October 2021
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STAGS BEATEN AT EXETER AFTER TAKING THE LEAD
Martin Shaw at St James Park Mansfield Town were beaten 2-1 by Exeter City at St James Park this afternoon after taking the lead early in the second half. The Stags only had themselves to blame. The game turned in a minute on the hour mark. With the Stags leading 1-0, they had a good opportunity to make it 2-0 but completely fluffed it and didn’t even get a shot away. Within 60 seconds, Exeter had equalised and the game was turned around. Exeter then won it with a goal seven minutes from time. The defeat sees the Stags drop into the relegation zone, a point behind each of Oldham and Carlisle who drew today. Exeter meanwhile move up to 4th. It is not a comfortable position to be in, and the Stags are 12 games without a win in the league. The Stags have a difficult game against 8th placed Tranmere next week, and then a run of games against what I would call some of the weaker sides in Stevenage, Scunthorpe, Sutton, Crawley, and Carlisle, where the Stags need to go on a run of better results and start to pull away from the relegation zone. Just when you thought Mansfield’s injury and suspension woes were easing, they got worse again as both full backs from Tuesday night’s game against Port Vale were ruled out through injury for this game, Elliott Hewitt and Stephen McLaughlin. That was particularly frustrating as McLaughlin had re-established his impressive link-up play with Stephen Quinn down the left hand side on Tuesday following Quinn’s return from 6 games out through suspension, and that had made an enormous difference to the overall performance level. In came James Clarke and Ryan Burke. With James Perch out for the season, Kellan Gordon still out with injury, and Will Forrester still not match fit having recovered from injury and then had a chest infection, manager Nigel Clough moved to bring in John-Joe O’Toole before the game to provide a bit more experience in central defence (or he can also play in midfield). O’Toole had been training with two other League Two clubs and Clough moved to bring him in when he became available. O’Toole was on the bench today, as was Forrester, and Clough is hoping both can play in a midweek U23 game at Wigan. (The date of that game, to be played at Wigan’s training ground, is still not decided, as it is currently scheduled for Thursday night, but Clough wants it played on Wednesday so that players playing would be recovered enough to potentially play next Saturday). The first half was a tight affair, not high on entertainment, but the Stags were solid defensively and 0-0 was the right scoreline. The Stags had the best chance as Harry Charsley crossed left-footed from the right to the far post where Jordan Bowery got up well and headed inches wide of the left post. Nigel Clough put his head in his hands. The keeper wouldn’t have got there if the header had been the other side of the post and Bowery should have scored. Bowery had another chance a minute later as good play from George Lapslie set him away into the area but the ball was taken off his toe before he got a shot in. The other chance for the Stags in the first half fell to Charsley as Stephen Quinn played the ball inside to him and his shot from the edge of the area was straight at the keeper. Exeter had just one chance in the first half as James Clarke and Ollie Clarke lost the ball between them on the halfway line, Archie Collins set Matt Jay away to the edge of the Stags area and his low shot took a little deflection off Farrend Rawson and was saved by Nathan Bishop at full stretch. Into the second half, and Exeter went close after 47 minutes as Sam Nombe played inside to Matt Jay. Jay created a yard of space for himself on the edge of the area and his shot towards the bottom right corner of the net was well saved by Bishop, turning it away. The Stags took the lead after 50 minutes. A free kick 35 yards from goal, left of centre, was floated beautifully by Quinn towards the far post where Hawkins rose highest and headed perfectly into the bottom left corner of the net from 12 yards for his 4th goal of the season. A high quality goal from a set piece, the Stags need more of those! The Stags had a great opportunity to make it 2-0 after 60 minutes but didn’t even get a shot away. Rhys Oates won the ball on the halfway line, burst forward and set Bowery away in space into the area. Bowery had a chance to shoot on his left foot from 16 yards, but chose to try and get the ball on to his right foot and was dispossessed by Josh Key. That was dreadful from Bowery and he was replaced a few minutes later. Within 60 seconds, Exeter were level. Matt Jay crossed from the left, Hawkins and Rawson both rose to try to head the ball away against Nombe, Timothy Dieng and Padraig Amond. Hawkins won the header, but as the ball squirted away to the byline, both Hawkins and Rawson fell to the deck. Amond retrieved the ball from the byline and crossed into the six yard box over Bishop where Dieng was now unmarked to head into the empty net. Nigel Clough said after the game: "I thought we were a bit unlucky with the first goal. Oli Hawkins has headed it on to Faz Rawson and they've both ended up on the floor momentarily. We thought it was going to go out for a corner, and the lad's just chipped it back in and he's headed it in to an empty net. A bit unfortunate that ball could have rebounded anywhere, we won the first header." The Stags had a chance to regain the lead after 74 minutes, as Quinn won the ball, and a brilliant piece of footwork from Oates got him away from Collins and in to the area on the left, but he fired wide from 10 yards, into the Stags fans behind the goal rather than into the net. Instead it was Exeter who took the lead after 83 minutes. Archie Collins did very well on the right to get away from Burke and put in a fine cross from the byline beyond the far post, the ball sailed over James Clarke and Matt Jay headed unmarked into the bottom left corner of the net. James Clarke otherwise had a good game and is a highly promising player in my opinion, but this was a big and important mistake, poorly positioned allowing the cross to go over him and leave Jay unmarked, and it is a big area for improvement for him as we have seen him do this before. Burke could have also done better to stop the cross coming in. The Stags brought on Danny Johnson and Tyrese Sinclair, and put Oli Hawkins up front and had one chance to equalise with a free kick from Quinn in an identical position to the one that led to the goal. But this time it was headed away. With the Stags leaving big gaps at the back looking for the equaliser, Sam Nombe had chances to get a third goal, after 90+3 and 90+5 minutes but couldn’t take either of them as Exeter saw the game out to take the three points. The Stags had only themselves to blame. The next game is against Tranmere next Saturday. Mansfield will be without George Lapslie, who will be suspended for one game after picking up his 5th booking of the season today. George Maris will be fit though, having returned from being out with concussion and come on as substitute here. Meanwhile, the Stags need to be able to free Oli Hawkins from central defensive duties as he is badly needed up front in my opinion. To do that, two of Forrester, O’Toole, Hewitt and Gordon need to be available I think. We’ll see if they will be. Hopefully McLaughlin will also be back from injury to continue his link-up with Quinn down the left. DETAILED REPORT : Mansfield were forced into two changes from the side that drew with Port Vale on Tuesday: both full backs were ruled out through injury for this game, Elliott Hewitt (problem with his glute) and Stephen McLaughlin (ankle). Both should hopefully be fit for next week. In came James Clarke and Ryan Burke. George Maris was back from being out with concussion, on the bench. Keaton Ward dropped off the bench (with Maris back on the bench covering that defensive midfield role). Will Forrester was back on the bench after a chest infection. Also new signing John-Joe O’Toole (see above) was on the bench. O’Toole by the way looks very different now, with short hair, to the long haired player who was sent off for Northampton at Mansfield in 2015. (From my match report in 2015, I had written: “The away fans had called this “John-Joe O’Toole day” and a lot had turned up with headbands and long-haired wigs in his honour. But the day was to turn sour for O’Toole.”) Exeter included Colin (Junior) Daniel at left back. The former Stags player is most-remembered for playing a part in our return to the Football League and for some stunning free kicks for the Stags. Exeter were unbeaten in 13 league and cup games, a club record (which they were to extend on the day). Mansfield of course had not won in 13 league and cup games. Exeter were unbeaten at home for 14 games (now 15), the longest unbeaten home run of any team in the top 4 leagues in England. By the way, Mansfield’s run of 12 league games without a win (after the Exeter game) is now just two short of the club record (14, set in 2000). That’s one record we definitely don’t want to be beating. It was a pleasant day in Devon. The pitch looked fantastic as just about all have done this season in League Two. After 3 minutes, a corner for the Stags from Charsley, and Rawson managed to get his head on it but well wide. Rawson is well over 50 appearances for the Stags and still without a goal. At the other end Rawson was involved again, this time with a good clearance on 6 minutes. Burke put in a good block on a Kyle Taylor cross after 15 minutes. It was pretty even, with no goalmouth action. The first proper chance for either side wasn’t until 31 minutes. Rawson put in a superb block, Ollie Clarke made a good break, Quinn played the ball inside to Charsley and his shot from the edge of the area was straight at the keeper. Exeter’s first and only chance in the first half came on 35 minutes as James Clarke and Ollie Clarke lost the ball between them on the halfway line, Archie Collins set Matt Jay away to the edge of the Stags area and his low shot took a little deflection off Rawson and was saved by Nathan Bishop at full stretch. The Stags had the best chance of the half after 36 minutes as Charsley crossed left-footed from the right to the far post where Bowery got up well and headed inches wide of the left post. Nigel Clough put his head in his hands. The keeper wouldn’t have got there if the header had been the other side of the post and Bowery should have scored. Bowery had another chance a minute later as good play from George Lapslie set him away into the area but the ball was taken off his toe before he got a shot in. James Clarke did well to clear after 40 minutes with Matt Jay lurking, from a cross after 40 minutes. Two minutes later, good defending on Burke to tackle Taylor. Then a good tackle by James Clarke on Owura Edwards, and then a good header back to Bishop under pressure. No score at the break and little goalmouth action. One save for Bishop from Jay’s shot. The Stags going close through Bowery who should have scored, and Charsley shooting straight at the keeper. The Stags had done well defensively. Half time 0-0 Exeter went close after 47 minutes as Sam Nombe played inside to Matt Jay. Jay created a yard of space for himself on the edge of the area and his shot towards the bottom right corner of the net was well saved by Bishop, turning it away. The Stags took the lead after 50 minutes. A free kick 35 yards from goal, left of centre, was floated beautifully by Quinn towards the far post where Hawkins rose highest and headed perfectly into the bottom left corner of the net from 12 yards for his 4th goal of the season. A high quality goal from a set piece. After 57 minutes, a great challenge by Oates on Josh Key as he tried to set up a shooting chance. The Stags had a great opportunity to make it 2-0 after 60 minutes but didn’t even get a shot away. Oates won the ball on the halfway line, burst forward and set Bowery away in space into the area. Bowery had a chance to shoot on his left foot from 16 yards, but chose to try and get the ball on to his right foot and was dispossessed by Josh Key. That was dreadful from Bowery and he was replaced a few minutes later. Within 60 seconds, Exeter were level. Matt Jay crossed from the left, Hawkins and Rawson both rose to try to head the ball away against Nombe, Timothy Dieng and Padraig Amond. Hawkins won the header, but as the ball squirted away to the byline, both Hawkins and Rawson fell to the deck. Amond retrieved the ball from the byline and crossed into the six yard box over Bishop where Dieng was now unmarked to head into the empty net. Nigel Clough said after the game: "I thought we were a bit unlucky with the first goal. Oli Hawkins has headed it on to Faz Rawson and they've both ended up on the floor momentarily. We thought it was going to go out for a corner, and the lad's just chipped it back in and he's headed it in to an empty net. A bit unfortunate that ball could have rebounded anywhere, we won the first header." From reviewing the video of the goal, Bowery could have reacted quicker when Hawkins and Rawson both went down, and got back to mark Dieng. That change came as Maris replaced Bowery (63 minutes). Timothy Dieng headed over the bar from a Jevani Brown corner after 66 minutes. Lapslie was booked after 71 minutes for not retreating from a free kick. He will be suspended for one game next Saturday as that was his 5th booking of the season. The Stags had a chance to regain the lead after 74 minutes, as Quinn won the ball, and a brilliant piece of footwork from Oates got him away from Collins and in to the area on the left, but he fired wide from 10 yards, into the Stags fans behind the goal rather than into the net. Hawkins headed away twice in succession. Exeter took the lead after 83 minutes. Archie Collins did very well on the right to get away from Burke and put in a fine cross from the byline beyond the far post, the ball sailed over James Clarke and Matt Jay headed unmarked into the bottom left corner of the net. James Clarke otherwise had a good game and is a highly promising player in my opinion, but this was a big and important mistake, poorly positioned allowing the cross to go over him and leave Jay unmarked, and it is a big area for improvement for him as we have seen him do this before. Burke could have also done better to stop the cross coming in. The Stags brought on Danny Johnson for Lapslie (85 minutes) and Tyrese Sinclair for Oates (87 minutes). Rawson was booked for clumsily bringing down Nombe after 88 minutes. The Stags had one chance to equalise, after 90+1 minutes, with a free kick from Quinn in an identical position to the one that led to the goal. But this time it was headed away. Oli Hawkins now stayed up front. With the Stags leaving big gaps at the back looking for the equaliser, Sam Nombe had chances to get a third goal for Exeter, after 90+3 and 90+5 minutes but couldn’t take either of them as Exeter saw the game out to take the three points. On 90+3, Amond hooked a ball over the top for Nombe to run on to. Nombe was two yards offside as the ball was played, somehow missed by the linesman, he went around Bishop, to the byline, cut back inside but as he was about the put the ball into the empty net Bishop got back to put in a tackle that any defender would be proud of. On 90+5 minutes, Rawson put in a great block as Nombe shot from the right, and from the resulting throw-in, Nombe got away from Burke and Rawson and fired against the outside of the right post. The referee immediately blew for full time. A tight game, with not a lot between the sides, but Exeter came out on top and the Stags only had themselves to blame. Hawkins and Rawson were probably Mansfield’s best players, both very solid at centre half, and unfortunate with that first Exeter goal. Man of the match: Oli Hawkins Here’s a running tally of various stats this season: Goals: Hawkins 4, Johnson 3, Lapslie 2, O.Clarke, Hewitt, Maris, Oates, Quinn 1 Assists: O.Clarke, McLaughlin, Oates, Quinn 2, Bowery, Hawkins, Johnson, Rawson, Sinclair 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.) |
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Report by: Martin Shaw at St James Park
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Line Up:
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(4-4-2)
Bishop 6 One good save at the start of the second half. Could have done better with the second goal when Jay’s header got past him. J.Clarke 6 Cross sailed over him for the second goal. Otherwise had a good game and is a highly promising player in my opinion, but that was a big and important mistake, poorly positioned allowing the cross to go over him and leave Jay unmarked, and it is a big area for improvement for him as we have seen him do this before. Rawson 8 The centre halves were probably Mansfield’s best players, both very solid at centre half, and unfortunate with that first Exeter goal. Hawkins 8 The centre halves were probably Mansfield’s best players, both very solid at centre half, and unfortunate with that first Exeter goal. Scored his 4th goal of the season. Burke 5.5 Could have also done better to stop the cross coming in for the second goal. A few good tackles. Charsley 6.5 Great cross for Bowery’s header. O.Clarke 6.5 Decent first half, quieter in the second half. Lapslie 6 Did ok. Set Bowery away for a chance. Booked and will now be suspended for the next game. Quinn 7 High quality set piece for the goal. Good game. McLaughlin being out injured was particularly frustrating as they had re-established their impressive link-up play down the left hand side on Tuesday following Quinn’s return from 6 games out through suspension, and that had made an enormous difference to the overall performance level. Oates 6.5 Great play to set up Bowery’s chance just before Exeter equalised. Brilliant piece of footwork later on got him away from his marker and in to the area on the left, but he fired wide from 10 yards. Bowery 4 Header wide when he should have scored in the first half. Dreadful play in the second half when he should have got a shot away and didn’t and Exeter equalised within a minute. Could have reacted quicker when Hawkins and Rawson both went down for the first goal, and got back to mark Dieng. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Maris (for Bowery, 63 mins) -
Johnson (for Lapslie, 85 mins) - Sinclair (for Oates, 87 mins) - Subs not used: Shelvey, O’Toole, Forrester, Law. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(4-4-1-1): Cameron Dawson; Josh Key, Pierce Sweeney, Alex Hartridge, Colin Daniel; Kyle Taylor (Padraig Amond, 60), Archie Collins, Timothy Dieng, Owura Edwards (Jevani Brown, 64); Matt Jay (George Ray, 90); Sam Nombe. Subs not used: Scott Brown, Jake Caprice, Nigel Atangana, Josh Coley.
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Referee:
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Sam Purkiss 7 Good game. Hardly noticed.
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