Season 21/22 Stagsnet Match Report
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Crawley Town
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Mansfield Town
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Tilley 47.
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Hawkins 24, Oates 72.
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Attendance: 1,824 (232 from Mansfield)
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Date: 27 November 2021
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STAGS BACK TO WINNING WAYS WITH 2-1 SUCCESS AT CRAWLEY
Martin Shaw at the Broadfield Stadium (People’s Pension Stadium) Mansfield Town got back to winning ways in West Sussex this afternoon with a 2-1 win at Crawley Town. The Stags thoroughly deserved the victory and should have won by a greater margin but in the end were grateful that the crossbar denied Crawley an equaliser 3 minutes into stoppage time. The first half was as one-sided as you will see. The Stags were 1-0 ahead at the break but should have been further ahead. The goal came after 24 minutes as Ryan Stirk chipped a super ball from about 32 yards out, into the area and Oli Hawkins, restored to the Stags’ forward line, nipped in behind the static defence to get his right boot on the ball and divert it past the keeper on the volley from 8 yards. A lovely goal. The Stags had had chances before the goal with Stirk’s on target shot blocked on the edge of the six-yard box, Elliott Hewitt’s shot blocked for a corner, and Stephen McLaughlin’s flick from a corner hitting Rhys Oates and trickling wide. Then after the goal, the Stags had a glut of chances as McLaughlin got behind the defence to the byline but with Oates in space in the middle, his cross was just too close to the keeper, then a shot from Oates from 25 yards was deflected into the path of George Lapslie, who turned in the area and fired straight at the keeper from 12 yards. Moments later Oates looked to be through on goal but lost control and the ball was knocked behind for a corner. Oates was back from injury and looking dangerous. By half time, Crawley had not had a single attempt at goal, on or off target. The Stags had had the wind behind them in the first half, but it had not been that strong early on before strengthening significantly as we approached half time. The wind was much stronger in the second half and Crawley had it behind them. Having not registered a shot in the first half Crawley equalised out of the blue after 47 minutes as James Tilley fired a blistering shot from 25 yards into the right corner of the net giving Nathan Bishop no chance. Tilley scored Crawley’s 92nd minute winner against the Stags here last season with another fine goal, but was sent out on loan to Conference South Dorking Wanderers earlier this season, so perhaps he only plays well against the Stags! The goal rocked the Stags for a moment, but they soon got right back on top. After 53 minutes, Hawkins played a great ball out to Hewitt on the right and his low cross into the middle just evaded Lapslie. Then from a Lapslie corner, McLaughlin’s glancing header was deflected over the bar. From the resulting corner, the ball came out to Farrend Rawson who fired well wide from 25 yards. Out of the blue, Crawley hit the woodwork on 62 minutes. Jake Hessenthaler’s cross-shot from level with the edge of the six yard box, just in from the right touchline, caught the wind and flew over Bishop and hit the right post. I’m not sure whether he intended to shoot. Regardless, the Stags were very relieved that it didn’t fly in to the net. Great play from the Stags on 65 minutes as Hawkins played the ball forward for Oates, he showed wonderful skill on the left, played it inside to Lapslie, who in turn teed up Hewitt, but Hewitt’s shot was awful, high and wide. However the Stags were deservedly back in front after 72 minutes. From 15 yards inside the Crawley half, just in from the left touchline, Hawkins played a sublime ball forward with the outside of his right boot for Oates to run on to in the area. Oates steadied himself to get his body sharp right and slid a side-footed shot past the keeper and just inside the right post from 14 yards. What a goal, what a pass and what a clinical finish. Oates celebrated right in front of the joyous Stags fans. Crawley pumped long balls forward with the wind but the Stags were resisting everything, with a three man central defence of Rawson, O’Toole and Forrester winning most in the air. The Stags should have sealed the game on 90+1 minutes. A long kick forward from Crawley keeper Glenn Morris was headed back into the Crawley half by McLaughlin, and this set sub Tyrese Sinclair through 1-on-1 with the keeper. But from 15 yards, with no defender on him, and just the keeper to beat, Sinclair hit the outside of the left post with his shot. Sinclair looked to the heavens in frustration. And on 90+3 minutes, the Stags were nearly made to pay for not only that miss, but for earlier ones too. Crawley sub Joel Lynch launched a long ball from the halfway line straight into the Stags box, it flew over O’Toole and Kwesi Appiah got up just high enough to glance his header over Bishop and against the bar. As the ball rebounded out, Reece Grego-Cox volleyed it goalwards and O’Toole blocked the shot with his chest. That was the last action of the game. It would have been a travesty of justice if Crawley had equalised. Nonetheless it was a crucial bit of luck for the Stags that we weren’t getting during the run of 14 league and cup games without a win, that preceded this latest run of 6 wins in 7 league and cup games. Joy for the Stags players and the 232 delighted Stags fans at the end of the game. It was a richly deserved victory. After the game Crawley manager John Yems gave an interview to the Crawley club website which lasted less than 45 seconds and ended with him saying he would get himself arrested if he talked about the two goals his side conceded! He did go on to give a rather longer interview to BBC Sussex in which he conceded that his side deserved nothing from the game. I had removed my Stags woolly hat before approaching to listen to his interviews for fear of attracting attention to myself and eliciting some sort of comment from him! He is an unpredictably feisty character. Oli Hawkins, who had a superb game, with a well taken goal, and a sublime assist for the winner was booked today, his fifth booking of the season, and he will miss the next league game, against Carlisle a week on Tuesday. The Stags move up to 15th place, 7 points behind the play-offs, and a point behind the top half of the table. Only Forest Green and Mansfield have won as many as 4 of their last 5 league games. Incidentally, for anyone interested, I had an article in the Crawley programme, mostly about the season so far: 
DETAILED REPORT : Stags boss Nigel Clough had freshened up the side after the defeat at Sutton United on Tuesday night, and not getting back to Mansfield until 2.30am on Wednesday, before the long journey back to West Sussex on Friday, by making four changes to the side, with midfielders Maris, Ollie Clarke, Charsley and striker Bowery dropping to the bench, and bringing in Rawson, Forrester, Lapslie, and Oates (happily back from injury). It was Forrester’s first start in the league. After the game, Nigel Clough explained that Maris and Ollie Clarke did not start because they were both on four yellow cards. He didn’t clarify further but basically one more booking in yesterday’s game would see a suspension. The cut off point is 19 games (ie after yesterday’s game). So they will not now be suspended if they are booked in the 20th game (which is the next league game, against Carlisle). See also comment on Hawkins in the report (at 20 minutes). Rawson, O’Toole and Forrester formed a three man central defence, with Hewitt and McLaughlin at wing back. Stirk was in front of the back three, with Lapslie and Quinn in front of him. Hawkins was restored to the forward line, with Oates. I said in my report of the Sutton game that I would put Hawkins back up front, and with central defenders now returning to fitness, I’m sure it was the right thing to do. The bench was looking strong, with only Kellan Gordon and Danny Johnson unavailable due to injury, plus Richard Nartey. By the way, a Welsh FA rep was there watching Stirk. He was quizzing me before the game about how Stirk has been playing. Stirk last played for Wales U21 in June against Moldova. Crawley were unchanged from their draw with Newport on Tuesday. They started the day a point ahead of the Stags with a game in hand, having won 1 and drawn 1 of their last two games, following a run a 6 defeats on the trot in all competitions. It was a bitterly cold day in Crawley. The wind was light initially, behind Mansfield in the first half. After 8 minutes, Quinn won a corner on the left. The corner came out to Stirk whose on target shot was blocked on the edge of the six-yard box. Three minutes later, Oates made a good run from inside his own half, and won a throw-in on the right. On 12 minutes, Hewitt’s shot from a tight angle on the right was blocked for a corner. From the resulting corner taken by Stirk, O’Toole went down in the area but the referee wasn’t interested. Nothing had been seen of Crawley in attack, but they did have a free kick from the right 35 yards out. Powell curled a good delivery in into the box but no-one got on the end of it and it rolled out for a goal kick. The wind was still light enough to have little effect on the game. After 18 minutes, Oates won a corner on the left. From Lapslie’s corner, McLaughlin’s flick-on hit Oates and trickled wide. Hawkins was booked after 20 minutes. He seemed to take a good first touch to take the ball down, but the ball ran away from him and he fouled his man trying to retrieve it. It’s his fifth booking of the season and he will miss the next league game. Nigel Clough was frustrated after the game, saying that by moving Hawkins up front, he thought he was less likely to get a booking (that crucial 5th) than leaving him at centre half. Had Hawkins not been booked, but been booked in the next league game for example, he would have escaped a ban, as the cut-off is 19 league games (which have now been played). The Stags took the lead after 24 minutes as Stirk chipped a super ball from about 32 yards out, into the area and Hawkins nipped in behind the static defence to get his right boot on the ball and divert it past the keeper on the volley from 8 yards. A lovely goal. Then the Stags had a glut of good moments in quick succession. On 26 minutes, McLaughlin got behind the defence to the byline but with Oates in space in the middle, his cross was just too close to the keeper. A minute later, a shot from Oates from 25 yards was deflected into the path of Lapslie, who turned in the area and fired straight at the keeper from 12 yards. Moments later Oates looked to be through on goal but lost control and the ball was knocked behind for a corner. After 29 minutes, Quinn was frustrated not to be awarded a free kick. It was a clear foul, but nothing was given. He moaned at the referee and then went in a late on Hessenthaler and was lucky to escape without a yellow card or even a free kick. The wind was now noticeably stronger. Not good news for the Stags who would have to face it in the second half. After 40 minutes, a great run forward by Oates down the left with tremendous pace, but he couldn’t get in a good cross. The Stags were 1-0 ahead at the break but should have been further ahead. Indeed the first half was as one-sided as you will see. By half time, Crawley had not had a single attempt at goal, on or off target. Half time 0-1 Crawley responded by bring on Tom Nichols, their best player last season, but who has apparently been out of form this season. He was to do nothing in the second half. The wind was now much stronger and Crawley had it behind them. Having not registered a shot in the first half Crawley equalised out of the blue after 47 minutes as James Tilley fired a blistering shot from 25 yards into the right corner of the net giving Nathan Bishop no chance. Tilley scored Crawley’s 92nd minute winner against the Stags here last season with another fine goal, but was sent out on loan to Conference South Dorking Wanderers earlier this season, so perhaps he only plays well against the Stags! McLaughlin was booked after 51 minutes. He lost the ball and then deliberately brought down his man. The goal rocked the Stags for a moment, but they soon got right back on top. After 53 minutes, Hawkins played a great ball out to Hewitt on the right and his low cross into the middle just evaded Lapslie. Then on 56 minutes, from a Lapslie corner, McLaughlin’s glancing header was deflected over the bar. From the resulting corner, the ball came out to Rawson who fired well wide from 25 yards. Out of the blue, Crawley hit the woodwork on 62 minutes. Hessenthaler’s cross-shot from level with the edge of the six yard box, just in from the right touchline, caught the wind and flew over Bishop and hit the right post. I’m not sure whether he intended to shoot. Regardless, the Stags were very relieved that it didn’t fly in to the net. Great play from the Stags on 65 minutes as Hawkins played the ball forward for Oates, he showed wonderful skill on the left, played it inside to Lapslie, who in turn teed up Hewitt, but Hewitt’s shot was awful, high and wide. Maris replaced Quinn after 70 minutes. Quinn has had a muscle niggle, so it seems his game time is being managed carefully not to be overdo it. Maris has been on 4 bookings for a while, but he was not booked in the final 20 minutes here, so he will not face a suspension if he now picks up a further booking (see above). The Stags were deservedly back in front after 72 minutes. From 15 yards inside the Crawley half, just in from the left touchline, Hawkins played a sublime ball forward with the outside of his right boot for Oates to run on to in the area. Oates steadied himself to get his body sharp right and slid a side-footed shot past the keeper and just inside the right post from 14 yards. What a goal, what a pass and what a clinical finish. Oates celebrated right in front of the joyous Stags fans. After 78 minutes, a huge free kick forward from Crawley, Nadeson stuck out a boot to try to deflect it over Bishop but just missed it. Sinclair replaced Oates after 79 minutes. Crawley continued to pump long balls forward with the wind but the Stags were resisting everything, with a three man central defence of Rawson, O’Toole and Forrester winning most in the air. Ollie Clarke replaced Lapslie after 90 minutes. The Stags should have sealed the game on 90+1 minutes. A long kick forward from Crawley keeper Glenn Morris was headed back into the Crawley half by McLaughlin, and this set sub Sinclair through 1-on-1 with the keeper. But from 15 yards, with no defender on him, and just the keeper to beat, Sinclair hit the outside of the left post with his shot. Sinclair looked to the heavens in frustration. A minute later at the other end, a low cross from the left by Francomb was straight to Bishop. And on 90+3 minutes, the Stags were nearly made to pay for not only that miss, but for earlier ones too. Crawley sub Joel Lynch launched a long ball from the halfway line straight into the Stags box, it flew over O’Toole and Kwesi Appiah got up just high enough to glance his header over Bishop and against the bar. As the ball rebounded out, Reece Grego-Cox volleyed it goalwards and O’Toole blocked the shot with his chest. That was the last action of the game. It would have been a travesty of justice if Crawley had equalised. Nonetheless it was a crucial bit of luck for the Stags that we weren’t getting during the run of 14 league and cup games without a win, that preceded this latest run of 6 wins in 7 league and cup games. Joy for the Stags players and the 232 delighted Stags fans at the end of the game. It was a richly deserved victory. The next game is the FA Cup 2nd round clash at Doncaster next Saturday. The Stags will have an incredible 3,300 fans at the game and it should be a great occasion. For those not travelling to the game, we will have audio commentary on iFollow Stags as always, but there will be no live video streaming of the game on any platform in any country. Man of the match: Oli Hawkins Here’s a running tally of various stats this season: Goals: Johnson 7, Hawkins 5, Oates 4, O.Clarke 3, Lapslie, O’Toole 2, Bowery, Caine, Hewitt, Maris, Quinn, Sinclair, Stirk 1 Assists: Charsley, Johnson, McLaughlin, Oates, Quinn, Sinclair 3, O.Clarke, Hawkins, Stirk 2, Bowery, J.Clarke, Gale, 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. In the case of the scorer scoring from the rebound after a shot is saved, the player who had the shot saved gets an assist.) |
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Report by: Martin Shaw at the Broadfield Stadium (People’s Pension Stadium)
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Line Up:
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(3-5-2)
Bishop 7 No chance with the goal or the efforts that hit the woodwork. Had no other saves to make. Rawson 7.5 Good game. Solid in the three man defence and under aerial pressure in the second half. Had one shot from distance well wide. Still waiting for his first Stags goal. O’Toole 8 Very good in the middle of the defensive three. One block late on. Forrester 8 Won the most aerial duels (10), and had the most interceptions (5). Very good on his first start in the league. Hewitt 7 Did well in the right wing-back role. Got in a couple of shots, one on target, one well off target. Lapslie 7 One shot straight at the keeper. A couple of good corners and teed up a shot for Hewitt. Stirk 8 Super assist for the first goal. Fine performance, in front of the back three. Was being watched by a rep from the Welsh FA who was quizzing me before the game about how he has been playing (Stirk last played for Wales U21 in June against Moldova). Quinn 7 Good game. Lost his cool for a minute in the first half and was lucky to escape without a yellow card. McLaughlin 7 Well-suited to the wing-back role. A couple of headers from corners were on target but blocked. Hawkins 9 Superb game back up front, with a well taken goal, and a sublime assist for the winner. Will be suspended for the next league game, against Carlisle. Oates 8.5 Happily back from injury, his real pace caused Crawley enormous problems. Terrific finish for his goal. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Maris (for Quinn, 70 mins) - Did not start because he was on four yellow cards, and one more booking in this game would see a suspension. The cut off point was 19 games so he won’t face a suspension if he is booked in forthcoming games.
Sinclair (for Oates, 79 mins) - Continued to be lively and get himself into great positions. Should have scored when through 1-on-1 but hit the post and looked to the heavens in frustration. O.Clarke (for Lapslie, 90 mins) - Didn’t start for the same reason as for Maris (he was also on four yellow cards). Subs not used: Shelvey, Burke, Charsley, Bowery. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(4-4-2): Morris; Davies, Francilette, Craig, Francomb; Frost (Nichols, 46), Hessenthaler, Powell, Tilley (Lynch, 90); Appiah, Nadesan (Grego-Cox, 79). Subs not used: Noukeu, Kowalczyk, Bansal-McNulty, Marshall.
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Referee:
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Andy Davies 7 Got most things right.
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