Season 21/22 Stagsnet Match Report
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Stevenage
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Mansfield Town
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Cuthbert 55.
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O’Toole 19, Stirk 65
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Attendance: 2,946 (535 from Mansfield)
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Date: 13 November 2021
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FIRST AWAY WIN OF THE SEASON FOR THE STAGS
Martin Shaw at the Lamex Stadium, Broadhall Way Mansfield Town picked up their first away win in the league this season with a hard fought 2-1 victory at Stevenage this afternoon. It was a crucial victory to lift the Stags 5 points outside the relegation zone and 3 points above today’s opponents. When you’ve been on such a run of results as the Stags were, 14 league and cup games without a win, when the wins finally come they are all the more sweet. And now, after 4 wins on the trot in all competitions, this was the sweetest of the lot I thought. The Stags led 1-0 at half time, with John-Joe O’Toole heading home Stephen McLaughlin’s free kick from the left halfway inside the Stevenage half after 19 minutes. A good header from O’Toole and his second goal in successive games. But Mansfield had two large slices of luck in the first half as Jamie Reid, who was at Mansfield last season of course, hit the inside of the left post TWICE. Firstly after 14 minutes, Elliott List got away from Oli Hawkins down the right and his low cross was met on the volley by a brilliant flick by Reid. The ball hit the inside of the left post and rolled more or less along the goalline straight into Nathan Bishop’s arms. Then on 45+4 minutes, McLaughlin headed away a long ball forward from the halfway line, Reid chested the ball forward, and on the half-volley from 16 yards fired against the inside of the left post again, the ball running almost along the goalline again and away. Two excellent efforts from Reid who was so unlucky. The Stags had other chances in the first half as Hawkins volleyed over the bar from 12 yards following a corner after 17 minutes, George Maris brought a great save from the keeper with a shot from 15 yards after 44 minutes. And Rhys Oates really should have scored after 37 minutes. McLaughlin lifted a long ball over the top, Terence Vancooten missed it, Oates got into the area 1-on-1 with the keeper and fired a yard wide of the left post from 15 yards. Oates was challenged by Vancooten a split second after he shot and I don’t think it affected his shot. It was great play from Oates to get into that position, but having got there, he should have scored. Stevenage equalised after 55 minutes. A corner from the right from Arthur Read was beyond the far post, and Scott Cuthbert was completely unmarked to head into the left corner of the net. It was poor marking and Hawkins was the player at fault losing Cuthbert. The Stags regained the lead after 65 minutes with a terrific goal. Stephen Quinn crossed from the left. It was deep and over Charsley. Charsley retrieved it and did well to play inside to Ryan Stirk. Stirk’s first touch was brilliant to get past Jake Taylor on the right inside the area. He then took a touch on his left foot to create an angle to curl the ball wide of defender Cuthbert and past the keeper into the left corner of the net from 12 yards. It was a superb finish, with great skill and wonderful composure, for Stirk’s first goal for Mansfield. Stirk had only been on as substitute for 12 minutes. He slid on his knees to celebrate in front of the 535 travelling Stags fans. It was a wonderful moment. Stevenage went close to equalising with three shots from long range. After 67 minutes, Nathan Bishop parried away Arthur Read’s shot from 30 yards. After 77 minutes, Arthur Read curled a shot just wide of the left post from 25 yards. And finally after 81 minutes Bishop made a brilliant save tipping a shot from Jake Reeves from 22 yards over the bar. The Stags wound the clock down mostly very well with substitute Tyrese Sinclair winning three free kicks on the break and good game management. The Stags have generally not had the rub of the green this season in my opinion, but the luck turned today with those two shots from Jamie Reid against the inside of the post. Great celebrations at the end, as the players were able to celebrate with the fans. A word on the Stags fans. They provided superb support for their side yet again and were rewarded with this important win. An update on injuries from Nigel Clough after the game. Danny Johnson was missing from the squad today, Clough explained: "When he got his hat trick on Tuesday night, the goallie just caught him. He's had a scan and he's nicked an ankle ligament. We're hoping he'll only be out for 3-4 weeks, best case scenario." And then on the three players who had to come off at Stevenage, Oates, Lapslie and Maris, Clough said: “Rhys Oates, groin (injury) very similar to last week; George Lapslie, shoulder, don't know yet how serious that is; and George Maris was his ankle in a blocked tackle. I don’t know if those three players will make next week.” No midweek game for the Stags this week. The U23 side play away to Leeds United (at York City’s new ground) on Monday night. It looks as though Leeds live stream all their U23 games, though it may be behind a subscription wall. Then the Stags are at home to Scunthorpe next Saturday. DETAILED REPORT : The Stags were unchanged from the side that won at Sunderland. It was a 4-5-1 formation as last Saturday. No Danny Johnson in the squad (see injury news above). A reminder that Kellan Gordon is also out injured (see last week’s report on the Sunderland game for more details). Stevenage had lost 3 league games on the trot, but had put in a good performance in drawing 2-2 at MK Dons in the FA Cup and then in an effort to get a good result to boost confidence played their first team in a 1-0 win over Cambridge’s second string in the Papa John’s Trophy on Tuesday. They included Jamie Reid up front, and former Stags loanee Adam Smith in goal. The Stags had a good recent record at Stevenage, winning 4 and drawing 1 of the previous 5 visits. That is extended to 5 wins out of 6 after today. Stevenage had the better of the opening 15 minutes. On 4 minutes, a foul by Hawkins gave away a free kick 30 yards out on the right. But the Stags cleared the free kick. Then a mistake by McLaughlin, Wildin got into the box on the right but O’Toole cleared. Hawkins was booked after 11 minutes for cynically blocking Arthur Read in the Stevenage half. Stevenage was so close to taking the lead after 14 minutes. List got away from Hawkins down the right and his low cross was met on the volley by a brilliant flick by Jamie Reid from 7 yards out. The ball hit the inside of the left post and rolled more or less along the goalline straight into Nathan Bishop’s arms. Reid escaped from O’Toole in the middle to get his flick in. After 17 minutes, Quinn’s corner from the left was headed on at the near post by McLaughlin. It was cleared as far as Hawkins who volleyed over the bar from 12 yards. The Stags took the lead after 19 minutes. Quinn was fouled out on the left, halfway inside the Stevenage half. McLaughlin’s free kick was high to the far post where O’Toole heading down and into the bottom right corner of the net from 8 yards. A good header from O’Toole and his second goal in successive games. Hawkins headed away a Stevenage corner after 26 minutes. Brad Barry went down just inside the area after 33 minutes, but from the video Ollie Clarke got the ball, and the referee waved away appeals for a penalty. A minute later O’Toole headed away List’s chipped cross from the right. Oates really should have scored a second for the Stags after 37 minutes. McLaughlin lifted a long ball over the top, Terence Vancooten missed it, Oates got into the area 1-on-1 with the keeper and fired a yard wide of the left post from 15 yards. Oates was challenged by Vancooten a split second after he shot and I don’t think it affected his shot. It was great play from Oates to get into that position, but having got there, he should have scored. Maris brought a great save from the keeper with a shot from 15 yards after 44 minutes. Quinn crossed in from the left, Lapslie tried an overhead kick but there were too many bodies around him, Lapslie who was on the ground by now, laid the ball off to Maris and Maris’s shot was heading for the left corner of the net before former Stags keeper Adam Smith pushed it around the post. Then on 45+4 minutes, Jamie Reid hit the post again. McLaughlin headed away a long ball forward from the halfway line, Reid chested the ball forward, and on the half-volley from 16 yards fired against the inside of the left post again, the ball running almost along the goalline again and away. A second excellent effort from Reid who was so unlucky. The Stags ahead at the break. Stevenage had had just two efforts but they both hit the post. The Stags had gone close through Hawkins, Oates and Maris, in addition to the goal from O’Toole. Half time 0-1 A superb tackle by Maris on Melbourne after 52 minutes as he got away down the left. Lapslie had to go off with a shoulder injury after 53 minutes. He was replaced by Stirk. Stevenage equalised after 55 minutes. A corner from the right from Arthur Read was beyond the far post, and Cuthbert was completely unmarked to head into the left corner of the net. It was poor marking and Hawkins was the player at fault losing Cuthbert. After 57 minutes, Stirk’s corner from the right found Hawkins who headed down and wide of the left post. Oates had to go off after 62 minutes. He had been struggling for several minutes with a groin injury. He was replaced by Sinclair who went up front. After 64 minutes, McLaughlin got to the byline on the left, he crossed and Charsley’s headed goalwards but it was deflected for a corner. The Stags regained the lead after 65 minutes with a terrific goal. Quinn crossed from the left. It was deep and over Charsley. Charsley retrieved it and did well to play inside to Ryan Stirk. Stirk’s first touch was brilliant to get past Jake Taylor on the right inside the area. He then took a touch on his left foot to create an angle to curl the ball wide of defender Cuthbert and past the keeper into the left corner of the net from 12 yards. It was a superb finish, with great skill and wonderful composure, for Stirk’s first goal for Mansfield. Stirk had only been on as substitute for 12 minutes. He slid on his knees to celebrate in front of the 535 travelling Stags fans. It was a wonderful moment. After 67 minutes, Nathan Bishop parried away Arthur Read’s shot from 30 yards. Two minutes later a free kick from 32 yards from Jake Reeves was beautifully caught by Bishop. He did well to save it and hold on to it. Ollie Clarke was surprisingly not booked for a deliberate foul. Jamie Reid was subbed by the home side after 70 minutes. Jake Taylor fired wide of the left post from 22 yards after 73 minutes with Bishop watching it all the way. On 75 minutes Ollie Clarke fired off target and it was blocked by his own man Sinclair. After 77 minutes, Arthur Read curled a shot just wide of the left post from 25 yards. Great play from Sinclair to win a free kick in the centre circle after 79 minutes. Maris had to go off after 79 minutes. He had been injured earlier with a blocked tackle. He was replaced by Rawson. Rawson went straight into defence as the Stags increased the numbers in the back line. After 81 minutes Bishop made a brilliant save tipping a shot from Jake Reeves from 22 yards over the bar. Sinclair won a free kick again after 85 minutes. Stirk found Sinclair who chipped a shot just over the bar after 86 minutes. After 87 minutes, Charsley squared to Ollie Clarke whose shot was well blocked and looked to be on target. Seconds later Quinn forced his way into the area on the left and was barged over by Wildin. The referee waved away appeals. Seconds after that, Quinn got into the area again on the left, playing a 1-2 with Charsley. Quinn went down again, with the slightest of touches from Wildin again. The referee again wasn’t interested. Looking at the video again, in my opinion, the referee got both right and neither was a penalty. Seven minutes was added on. After 90+1 minutes, a terrible foul on Hewitt by sub Luke Norris. Only a yellow for Norris, probably the right decision though. Sinclair wasted the resulting free kick, over everyone. Sinclair won yet another free kick after 90+3 minutes. This was tremendous from Sinclair. Each free kick generally uses up at least 30 seconds. Stirk was booked after 90+4 minutes. He kicked the ball away just as the referee blew for a foul. Harsh. O’Toole was booked for chopping down List by the corner flag on the right after 90+7 minutes. It was an unnecessary foul. Andy Garner and Nigel Clough threw their arms in the air and turned away in disgust at the challenge. Stevenage sent keeper Adam Smith up for the free kick. It was headed away by McLaughlin. Quinn took the ball into the Stevenage half and the referee blew the final whistle to the joy of the Stags fans. The Stags have generally not had the rub of the green this season in my opinion, but the luck turned today with those two shots from Jamie Reid against the inside of the post. Some good saves from Nathan Bishop too in the second half kept Stevenage at bay. While the goal from Ryan Stirk deserved to win any game. Man of the match: Nathan Bishop Here’s a running tally of various stats this season: Goals: Johnson 7, Hawkins 4, Oates 3, Lapslie, O’Toole 2, Caine, O.Clarke, Hewitt, Maris, Quinn, Sinclair, Stirk 1 Assists: Johnson, McLaughlin, Oates, Quinn, Sinclair 3, Charsley, O.Clarke 2, Bowery, J.Clarke, Gale, Hawkins, Rawson 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.) Footnote: Stevenage manager Alex Revell was sacked the day after the game. |
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Report by: Martin Shaw at the Lamex Stadium, Broadhall Way
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Line Up:
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(4-5-1)
Bishop 8.5 Three fine saves in the last 25 minutes. Hewitt 7 Solid game at right back. O’Toole 8 His second goal in successive games. Very good performance, winning plenty of headers. Unnecessary foul in the last minute of stoppage time. Hawkins 6 At fault for the goal. Could have done better for Reid’s first effort against the post. McLaughlin 7 Excellent free kick for O’Toole’s goal. Poor start to the game against List. Good after that. Charsley 7.5 Good play in his assist for Stirk’s goal. Lapslie 7 Solid game until he was forced off with injury. O.Clarke 6.5 Did ok. Maris 7.5 Brought a great save from the keeper. One superb tackle. Quinn 7 Good game on the left. Oates 7 Great play to get into the position for his 1-on-1, but having got there, he should have scored. Had to go off injured. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Stirk (for Lapslie, 53 mins) 8 His first professional goal, and a brilliant one it was which deserved to win any game.
Sinclair (for Oates, 62 mins) 7 Won three free kicks late on, tremendous work which used up valuable time. Rawson (for Maris, 79 mins) - Subs not used: Shelvey, Forrester, Bowery, Gale. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(4-2-3-1): Smith; Wildin, Vancooten, Cuthbert, Melbourne; Barry (Lines, 63), Read, Taylor, Reeves; List, Reid (Norris, 70). Subs not used: Anang, Coker, Prosser, Daly, Osborne.
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Referee:
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Chris Sarginson 7 Seven wins, 3 draws and no defeats with him in charge now (thanks to Paul Taylor for the stats). Missed an obvious advantage to play for the home side. Got most things right I think.
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