Season 21/22 Stagsnet Match Report
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Mansfield Town
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Walsall
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Charsley 59, 90
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Attendance: 5,728 (884 from Walsall)
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Date: 15 January 2022
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CHARSLEY DOUBLE KEEPS STAGS RUN GOING
Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town beat Walsall 2-0 at the One Call Stadium this afternoon with two goals from substitute Harry Charsley in the second half. Charsley was the unlikely goal hero, having not scored for just over a year, and he took his goals well, the first knocked in from 12 yards, and the second rifled in from a tight angle on the right to secure the victory. It was a deserved victory. The Stags should have been ahead by the break with Jordan Bowery going close twice, a Stephen McLaughlin header cleared off the line, Oli Hawkins heading wide with Rhys Oates just unable to turn it into the net, and Ollie Clarke volleying inches wide. Walsall finished the first half well after the Stags had dominated for 35 minutes, and George Miller, who scored twice against the Stags earlier in the season, but hadn’t scored for 13 games coming into this game, fired in a powerful shot from a tight angle which Nathan Bishop did well to save with a strong hand. Then Tyrese Shade sent a free kick just wide. Into the second half, and Miller went close again as he cut inside from the right and fired in a shot which George Maris blocked on the line after 56 minutes. Maris in the right place at the right time. The Stags went in front after 59 minutes as Charsley fired in from 12 yards. Bowery brought another save from the keeper at his near post, and Oates sent a brilliant effort inches wide of the right post with his left foot. The Stags should have made it 2-0 as Stephen Quinn won the ball and his cross was pushed out to Hawkins whose shot was somehow saved by the keeper, and Charsley’s follow-up shot was also blocked. Miller fired in a great effort after 78 minutes, which Bishop did very well to tip over the bar. The Stags sealed victory after 90 minutes when Charsley fired in from a tight angle after great interplay with Bowery down the right. Quite clearly a deserved victory for the Stags who had 17 shots to Walsall’s 10, and 6 shots on target to Walsall’s 3. Yet Walsall manager Matt Taylor rather absurdly claimed afterwards that his side should have got something from the game and that the scoreline flattered Mansfield. It is true however that the game turned on Maris’s block on the line and 3 minutes later the Stags taking the lead. Mansfield now have 9 wins from the last 10 league games, including 6 wins in a row (*), and 7 in a row at home. The Stags are up into the play-off places, and only three points behind the top 3. However, of course the Stags have played 15 of their 24 league games this season at home, and only 9 away so far. (*) Mansfield’s club record wins in a row in the Football League is 7, set in 1991 and 1962 (though we won 12 in a row in the Conference in 2013). 6 wins in a row is the best run in the Football League since 1991. Incidentally, because of away postponements and an FA Cup home draw, this was Mansfield’s sixth consecutive home game, following the FA Cup tie away at Doncaster, and the last away game at Crawley which was back in November. It’s only the second time Mansfield have played six consecutive home games, the first time being when the Stags finished the 1978/79 season with six consecutive home games due to a string of earlier postponements, a run I remember for Bob Curtis converting some penalties and Mick Saxby scoring a few goals including in a win against Chesterfield. (The Stags did start the following season, 1979/80, with a home cup game in the League Cup too.) The Stags now have 6 of the next 8 games away from home by the end of February. That starts with a visit to leaders Forest Green on Tuesday. A very tough task for the Stags against the team that is 12 points clear of 4th place and will surely get automatic promotion. But the Stags are in incredible form and it’s a game to look forward to. If you can’t travel to the game, you can watch it with us on iFollow Stags. The game went ahead thanks to frost covers on the pitch overnight, protecting against a very cold night. It was also a foggy day, albeit not as foggy as the Hartlepool game, but visibility was a little reduced by the end of the game. Then half an hour after the game had finished, I could no longer see the goal at the North Stand end from the Quarry Lane stand. Mansfield made one change from the side that beat Swindon. Ryan Stirk missed out, having tested positive for Covid after the game on Tuesday, the second time he has tested positive this season. With the Government change to reduce the isolation period from Monday 17 January, it is possible he will still be available to face Forest Green on Tuesday. In came Farrend Rawson, himself back after a positive Covid test. Rawson went in a centre half, John-Joe O’Toole moved up into midfield. Hawkins remained at centre half. Tyrese Sinclair was back on the bench after a positive Covid test, replacing Ryan Burke on the bench. George Lapslie remained out with injury but was described as “not too far away” after the game by Nigel Clough. Ollie Clarke had to go off at half time as his hamstring tightened up and Nigel Clough described him as a doubt for Forest Green. O’Toole is approaching the end of his short term contract (next Saturday). After the game Nigel Clough said “We’ve got a deadline of Monday. One way or another we’ll get an announcement out on Monday.” Walsall included former Stag Hayden White at right back and Rollin Menayese at centre half. Both were to have reasonable games, with White heavily involved in the first half taking well over a dozen throw-ins. Otis Khan who played in Walsall’s last game, was not in the squad due to illness. George Miller, who scored twice against the Stags earlier in the season, but hadn’t scored for 13 games coming into this game, was up front on his own. I mentioned to Nigel Clough after the game that Miller hadn’t scored for 13 games before today. Clough laughed that he had spoken to some other League Two managers asking if Miller had given them problems, like he gave us problems, and they all said “no”! The Stags created the first chance after 7 minutes. Ollie Clarke headed the ball up, Bowery controlled it with his chest, to get away from Hayden White, and lifted the ball over the advancing keeper from 8 yards, but defender Tom Leak cleared it away before Oates could turn it into the net. On 10 minutes, McLaughlin chipped a free kick forward, Hawkins headed down, but it went through Bowery’s legs and he wasn’t able to turn it goalwards. Hewitt gave the ball away to George Miller on the halfway line after 12 minutes, Miller attempted to shoot but his shot barely reached Bishop in the Stags goal. A minute later, White played inside to Tyrese Shade who turned and shot weakly wide. A chance for the Stags after 21 minutes. Left back Ward slipped allowing Bowery to advance into the area on the right and his shot from a tight angle was saved at the near post for a corner by keeper Rushworth. From the resulting corner from the right, taken by Quinn, McLaughlin glanced a header which was cleared off the line by White. Moments later, great play from Bowery to Maris, and his cross-shot was deflected for a corner. From the resulting corner, taken by Maris from the left, keeper Rushworth pushed it against his own bar, but the referee blew for a foul on the keeper by Oates. After 27 minutes, a free kick from Maris from 35 yards out was headed across goal by Hawkins and Oates was inches away from turning it goalwards as it went just wide of the right post. Then on 35 minutes, the Stags were just inches away again. A great break down the left by Oates, set away by Ollie Clarke, Oates played to the overlapping Quinn, Quinn crossed in and Ollie Clarke volleyed inches wide of the right post. Great football and so close. It had been all Mansfield. But Walsall had their first shot on target after 36 minutes. George Miller got away from Hawkins on the right and fired in a powerful shot from a tight angle which Nathan Bishop did well to save with a strong hand. From the resulting corner, Bishop caught the ball in commanding fashion. After 45 minutes, Oates got into the area, he fed Hewitt and his cross reached Maris who headed down but off target. On 45+2 minutes, Miller got past O’Toole, then past Hawkins who brought him down. The free kick was 19 yards out, just right of centre. Tyrese Shade sent a low shot a yard wide of the left post. Goalless at the break. The Stags had several chances to go ahead in a dominant opening 35 minutes, but Walsall had hit back with two chances of their own in the final 10 minutes of the half. Half time 0-0 The Stags were forced into a change at the break. Ollie Clarke had to go off as his hamstring had tightened up and Nigel Clough described him as a doubt for the Forest Green game on Tuesday. On came Harry Charsley. O’Toole dropped back from midfield into central defence. Hawkins went up front, with Bowery on his right and Oates on his left, both just behind him, in a 4-3-3 formation. Maris was in front of the back four, with Charsley on his right, and Quinn on his left, both just in front of him. Walsall created the first chance of the second half. Earing’s free kick from the left was headed away by O’Toole, and Brendan Kiernan volleyed a shot very high and wide. Miller went close again after 56 minutes as he cut inside from the right, past O’Toole and then Rawson, and fired in a shot which Maris blocked on the line. Maris in the right place at the right time with a crucial block. The Stags went in front after 59 minutes. A long throw-in from Hewitt from the right was headed on by Hawkins. Oates battled for the ball with White and managed to hook in a shot which was blocked at source by Menayese. The ball rebounded out to Charsley who fired left footed into the left corner of the net from 12 yards. A great moment for Charsley and for the Stags. His first goal for over a year. For the purposes of my stats below, I am giving Oates an assist according to the rules I laid out, albeit it is generous to him. A good move from Mansfield after 62 minutes, and Bowery shot wide from the right. Two minutes later Bowery got a good contact on another shot but it was over the bar from 25 yards. Then on 67 minutes, McLaughlin crossed, Menayese tried to clear and miscued just past his own post. On 74 minutes, Hawkins was fouled, 24 yards out, right of centre. McLaughlin’s free kick was cleared back to him, he had another shot blocked straight to Bowery who brought a save from the keeper at his near post. A minute later, McLaughlin played forward to Oates who sent a brilliant effort from 25 yards inches wide of the right post with his left foot. The Stags should have made it 2-0 after 78 minutes as Quinn nipped it to win the ball on the edge of the area on the left and his cross was pushed out by the keeper to Hawkins whose shot was somehow saved by the keeper, and Charsley’s follow-up shot was also blocked. Miller fired in a great effort from 18 yards after 78 minutes, which Bishop did very well to tip over the bar. After 80 minutes, McLaughlin crossed and Hawkins headed well wide. The Stags sealed victory after 90 minutes. Hawkins set Bowery away down the right. Bowery played it inside to Charsley, who fed it forward for Bowery again. Bowery then flicked a fabulous ball into the path Charsley who made a run towards the byline and Charsley fired into the net from a tight angle. Great interplay between Bowery and Charsley, a terrific assist for Bowery, and a great finish from Charsley. Danny Johnson immediately replaced Hawkins who had been hobbling. And James Gale replaced Oates. Relief for the Stags with that late goal sealing the victory, and it was victory by more than one goal for just the third time in the league this season. Plenty of good performances in the Stags side. It was Harry Charsley’s day with the two goals and I have to give him my man of the match. But there were plenty of other good performances, including Nathan Bishop with two fine saves from Miller, George Maris who was very good throughout and blocked Miller’s shot on the line, Rhys Oates, and Jordan Bowery who was involved in such a lot. Man of the Match: Harry Charsley Here’s a running tally of various stats this season: Goals (league and cup): Johnson 7, Hawkins, Oates 6, Lapslie 4, Bowery, O.Clarke, Maris, McLaughlin, O’Toole 3, Charsley 2, Caine, Forrester, Hewitt, Quinn, Sinclair, Stirk 1 Assists (league and cup): Oates 5, Bowery, McLaughlin, Quinn 4, Charsley, Johnson, Sinclair 3, O.Clarke, Hawkins, Maris, Stirk 2, J.Clarke, Gale, Hewitt, Lapslie, Law, 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 or blocked, the player who had the shot saved gets an assist.) Average home league attendance: 4720 (average away fans: 573, average home fans 4147) |
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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 8 Two fine saves from Miller, and a great catch from a corner. Hewitt 7 His long throw-in lefd to the opening goal. Good game. Rawson 7 Mostly solid. Hawkins 7 Effective up front in the second half. Miller got past him twice in the first half when playing at centre half. McLaughlin 7 Some good crosses. Defended well. O’Toole 7 Generally a solid game, though Miller got past him on a couple of occasions. O.Clarke 7 Volleyed inches wide in the first half. Had to go off at half time as his hamstring tightened up. Quinn 7 Some good crosses to set up chances. Maris 8 Very good throughout and blocked Miller’s shot on the line. Oates 8 Very good game. One brilliant effort just wide. Bowery 8 Involved in such a lot. Great assist for the second goal. Went close several times. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Charsley (for O.Clarke, 46 mins) 9 Two goal hero.
Johnson (for Hawkins, 90 mins) - Gale (for Oates, 90 mins) - Subs not used: Stech, Nartey, Law, Sinclair. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(4-2-3-1): Rushworth; White, Menayese, Leak, Ward; Labadie (Willock, 86), Earing; Shade (Phillips, 69), Osadebe, Kiernan (Wilkinson, 73); Miller. Subs not used: Rose (gk), Mills, Perry, Kinsella
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Referee:
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Ross Joyce 6.5 Some minor mistakes but no major howlers.
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