Season 21/22 Stagsnet Match Report
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Harrogate Town
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Mansfield Town
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Attendance: 1800 (570 from Mansfield)
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Date: 1 February 2022
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STAGS DRAW AT HARROGATE AS WINNING RUN ENDS
Martin Shaw at Wetherby Road (EnviroVent Stadium) Mansfield Town drew 0-0 at Harrogate Town last night as the club record 8 wins in a row in the Football League came to an end. However it was the first time that Mansfield had avoided defeat against Harrogate Town with the Yorkshire side having won all of the previous 4 games between the sides. Remarkably it was the Stags’ first drawn game in any competition for three and a half months, since a 1-1 draw with Port Vale in mid October. It was also only the second time the Stags had failed to score since mid October. It was a windy night which made playing good football difficult, for the second game running. The first half, when the wind was at its strongest, was almost devoid of any entertainment and there were hardly any chances for either side. George Maris lifted a shot over the bar from 9 yards after a well-worked move down the right by Jordan Bowery, Rhys Oates and Elliott Hewitt. Rory McArdle lifted a shot over the bar from 8 yards at the other end following a corner. And Stephen McLaughlin’s free kick from 29 yards was held by the keeper. But that was about it in a disappointing 45 minutes. The second half was better and both sides could have won it. Nathan Bishop saved superbly making himself big and narrowing the angle as Cal Kavanagh ran through 1-on-1 after 52 minutes. At the other end John-Joe O’Toole headed over the bar from a George Maris corner. Then from a Hewitt long throw-in, Ryan Stirk had a shot blocked and sub Kieran Wallace fired the rebound wide. A golden chance fell for the Stags after 70 minutes. McLaughlin crossed him from the left, the ball dropped for sub Lucas Akins to shoot from 10 yards. He miscued his shot but it ran kindly for Bowery who was unmarked 3 yards from goal, with the goalkeeper out of position, and just one defender on the line. But Bowery could only turn the ball straight at defender Leon Legge who cleared it off the line. Bowery appealed that the ball had crossed the line. From the main camera shot, and from the analyst's camera shot which I saw after the game with Nigel Clough, I don't think it was over the line (and Clough and analyst Matt didn't either). I haven't yet seen the pitchside footage which will give a better angle. It was a terrible miss from Bowery though, who has been in superb form lately and had scored in 4 of the previous 5 games. A frustrated Nigel Clough said after the game: “When you’re three or four yards out, you have to score. You win the game if that goes in, I think. Whether you’re a forward or not you just have to score those sorts of chances.” Harrogate broke straight to the other end and Jack Diamond fired straight at Bishop from the edge of the box with Luke Armstrong sending the rebound wide. Ryan Stirk did well to create space for a shot from the edge of the box which was superbly tipped over the bar by the keeper after 77 minutes. Harrogate came close to winning it on the stroke of 90 minutes. Lewis Page crossed from the left, sub Jack Muldoon headed it down, Bishop went to claim it but spilled it, and Armstrong lifted the ball over Bishop and against the bar from 3 yards. As the ball came back down off the bar, Wallace and Hawkins were able to clear. A bit of luck there for the Stags and for Bishop. And then 5 minutes into stoppage time, Bishop saved a shot from 16 yards from Alex Pattison. A draw was a fair result in my opinion. There was a tinge of disappointment for the Stags that the winning run was over, but at other stages of the season, we would have been very satisfied to come away from Harrogate with a point. The Stags were not at their best and hope to be better next time. And hope it’s not windy again. Mansfield have a rare Saturday off with Hartlepool still involved in the FA Cup. The next game is next Tuesday at the One Call Stadium as Colchester are the visitors. It’s sure to be another big crowd with the Stags in wonderful form at home, having won 8 on the trot at home in the league, and just 2 short of the club record in the Football League of 10 home wins on the trot (set in 1949). The last time the Stags won 9 on the trot at home was 1973 (stats from Paul Taylor). If you can’t get to the game, you can watch it with us on iFollow Stags. DETAILED REPORT : The Stags were unchanged at Harrogate from the win over Leyton Orient. Exciting new signings Matty Longstaff on loan from Newcastle, and Jamie Murphy on loan from Hibs, were not signed in time to be eligible for the game. There was one change on the bench as Ryan Burke replaced Richard Nartey. Nartey remains on loan with the Stags until the end of the season. He's going to play a few U23 games for Burnley though to get his match fitness levels up. Burke meanwhile “needs to go out on loan” according to Nigel Clough, adding “which we’re working on”. Jason Law was also on the bench and Clough said after the game: “We had an enquiry for Jason Law to go on loan today, and with Matty Longstaff coming in, that could do him good.” Both loans of course would be to the National League or below. Farrend Rawson was serving the second game of his two game suspension. George Lapslie was also out injured and had been expected to be fit for the Colchester game next week, but Nigel Clough said after the game: “George Lapslie is going to be a little bit longer out injured than we thought.” He then clarified that Lapslie is "going to be out for 2 or 3 weeks we think." Kellan Gordon remains out injured long term with Nigel Clough reiterating on Monday: "There is no timescale on that in terms of his return from injury." Harrogate had won 1 and lost 5 of their previous 6 league games. The defeats had come against 4 of the top 5 in League Two, plus in-form Stevenage. However they were a real bogey side for the Stags having won all 4 of the previous meetings between the clubs. Former Stags youngster Warren Burrell was dropped to the bench, but was to come on as an early sub for the injured Lewis Richards at centre half. It was a windy night which made playing good football difficult, for the second game running. I have yet to see a good game of football played in a strong wind! The wind was behind Harrogate in the first half. It dropped a little in the second half. After 8 minutes, a good block by Hewitt from a shot by Kavanagh. A minute later at the other end, Maris lifted a shot over the bar from 9 yards after a well-worked move down the right by Bowery, Oates and then a cross from Hewitt. A shot from Diamond was deflected for a corner after 13 minutes. From the resulting corner, McArdle lifted a shot over the bar from 8 yards. After 27 minutes, a free kick for Harrogate 27 yards out. Thomson’s shot was blocked in the wall by Hawkins. McLaughlin then broke forward with a surging 50 yard run and tried to slip Oates into the box, but his pass was intercepted. A great run from Oates after 30 minutes before he was fouled by sub Warren Burrell. The free kick was 29 yards out, right of centre. McLaughlin went for goal, it was on target, but saved by the keeper, who held it too with Oates and Bowery poised for any slip up. O’Toole was booked for pulling Kavanagh’s shirt after 37 minutes. Harrogate had 4 corners in quick succession but the Stags dealt with them well. Another good run by Oates after 41 minutes, he found Stirk who found Quinn, and Quinn was fouled by McArdle, who went in on him with a dreadful challenge that was out of control in my opinion. McArdle was booked, and could have been sent off by some referees. A brilliant tackle by Stirk after 43 minutes. 0-0 at the break was the right scoreline for a half almost devoid of any entertainment and there were hardly any chances for either side. The wind was very strong. Plenty of Harrogate balls forward ran away to Bishop or out for goal kicks or throw-ins. Half time 0-0 15 seconds into the second half Ollie Clarke was booked for bringing down Pattison. The free kick from 32 yards out was dinked into the area by Thomson and Hawkins headed it away. After 47 minutes, a great block by Hawkins on a shot by Falkingham. Bishop saved superbly making himself big and narrowing the angle as Kavanagh ran through 1-on-1 after 52 minutes, having been slipped in by a great pass from Diamond. Kieran Wallace replaced Ollie Clarke after 55 minutes. Wallace’s second appearance after his brief appearance on Saturday. After 56 minutes, a long throw-in from Hewitt, Burrell headed it out only as far as Wallace who stabbed it goalwards and it was deflected for a corner. That corner was cleared for another corner. And from that corner, taken by Maris, O’Toole headed over the bar. The wind, now behind the Stags in the second half, had noticeably dropped a little by now. After 60 minutes, Oates robbed McArdle as Harrogate tried to knock the ball around in their own half, but as he surged forward, he left the ball for Maris alongside him, but Maris would have been offside so couldn’t go for it which allowed Burrell time to clear. Then from a Hewitt long throw-in on 63 minutes which was cleared out to Stirk on the edge of the area, Stirk had a shot blocked and Wallace fired the rebound wide from 16 yards. Lucas Akins replaced Maris after 67 minutes. Maris had been clattered on his knee a little earlier. A golden chance fell for the Stags after 70 minutes. McLaughlin crossed him from the left, the ball dropped for sub Akins to shoot from 10 yards. He miscued his shot but it ran kindly for Bowery who was unmarked 3 yards from goal, with the goalkeeper out of position, and just one defender on the line. But Bowery could only turn the ball straight at defender Leon Legge who cleared it off the line. Bowery appealed that the ball had crossed the line. From the main camera shot, and from the analyst's camera shot which I saw after the game with Nigel Clough, I don't think it was over the line (and Clough and analyst Matt didn't either). I haven't yet seen the pitchside footage which will give a better angle. It was a terrible miss from Bowery though, who has been in superb form lately and had scored in 4 of the previous 5 games. A frustrated Nigel Clough said after the game: “When you’re three or four yards out, you have to score. You win the game if that goes in, I think. Whether you’re a forward or not you just have to score those sorts of chances.” Harrogate broke straight to the other end and Diamond fired straight at Bishop from the edge of the box with Armstrong sending the rebound wide. From another Hewitt long throw-on a minute later, Wallace hooked the ball goalwards but it hit Burrell on the head. A good run from Pattison after 74 minutes and his shot from 22 yards was blocked by Hawkins. Stirk did well to create space for a shot from the edge of the box which was superbly tipped over the bar by the keeper after 77 minutes. From the resulting corner, a shot from Akins was blocked. On 80 minutes, a shot from Hewitt from the edge of the area was deflected over the bar by Pattison after Hewitt was teed up by Stirk. A mistake by Wallace after 81 minutes as he lost the ball to Diarra, Diarra ran to the edge of the Stags box before he was tackled by a combination of Quinn and Hewitt. Harrogate came close to winning it on the stroke of 90 minutes. Page crossed from the left, sub Jack Muldoon headed it down, Bishop went to claim it but spilled it, and Armstrong lifted the ball over Bishop and against the bar from 3 yards. As the ball came back down off the bar, Wallace and Hawkins were able to clear. A bit of luck there for the Stags and for Bishop. Perch replaced Quinn after 90+1 minutes. 5 minutes into stoppage time, Bishop saved a shot from 16 yards from Pattison. A draw was a fair result in my opinion. There was a tinge of disappointment for the Stags that the winning run was over, but at other stages of the season, we would have been very satisfied to come away from Harrogate with a point. The defence played well for the Stags. Hawkins was the pick of the bunch with 4 blocks and 5 clearances. He remains one yellow card away from a two match suspension. Hewitt also played very well and his long throw-ins were a useful threat. He also provided a good cross for a chance for Maris, and made two good blocks at the back. The midfield, which has been so good this season, was a little below those standards, with Nigel Clough noting after the game: “Ollie Clarke was superb on Saturday, playing his first game back. But he gave far too many free kicks away tonight just through being fatigued and not being as sharp as he was. The same goes for George Maris and Ryan Stirk. They were nowhere near as good as they have been and we didn't get control in the game.” Man of the Match: Oli Hawkins Here’s a running tally of various stats this season: Goals (league and cup): Johnson, Oates 7, Hawkins 6, Bowery 5, O.Clarke, Lapslie, McLaughlin 4, Maris, O’Toole 3, Charsley 2, Caine, Forrester, Hewitt, Quinn, Sinclair, Stirk 1 Assists (league and cup): McLaughlin, Oates 6, Quinn 5, Bowery 4, Charsley, Johnson, Sinclair 3, O.Clarke, Hawkins, Maris, Rawson, Stirk 2, J.Clarke, Gale, Hewitt, Lapslie, Law 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.) |
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Report by: Martin Shaw at Wetherby Road (EnviroVent Stadium)
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Line Up:
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Bishop 6.5 Saved superbly making himself big and narrowing the angle as Kavanagh ran through 1-on-1. Also saved shots from Diamond and Pattison straight at him. Spilled a header late on and had a bit of luck as Armstrong lifted the ball over him and against the bar from 3 yards.
Hewitt 8 Played very well and his long throw-ins were a useful threat. He also provided a good cross for a chance for Maris, and made two good blocks at the back. Hawkins 8.5 Played very well in defence, with 4 blocks and 5 clearances. He remains one yellow card away from a two match suspension. O’Toole 7.5 Good solid game. McLaughlin 7.5 One brilliant surging run. One or two good crosses. Stirk 6.5 Did well to create space for a shot from the edge of the box which was superbly tipped over the bar. One brilliant tackle. As Nigel Clough said, “nowhere near as good as (he has) been and we didn't get control in the game”. O.Clarke 6 Far from his best, and Nigel Clough said after the game: “Ollie Clarke was superb on Saturday, playing his first game back. But he gave far too many free kicks away tonight just through being fatigued and not being as sharp as he was.” Maris 6 Lifted a chance over the bar from 9 yards. As Nigel Clough said, “nowhere near as good as (he has) been and we didn't get control in the game”. Quinn 7 Tried to drive the Stags forward. Bowery 6 Missed a glorious chance, a terrible miss. Oates 6 One great run to earn a free kick. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Wallace (for O.Clarke, 55 mins) - Generally did well, but one mistake allowed Harrogate to break.
Akins (for Maris, 67 mins) - Had a chance when he miscued a shot but it set up a glorious chance for Bowery which he missed. Nigel Clough reiterated after the game: “Lucas is not 100 per cent fit yet. He played for Burton two or three weeks ago when he was injured and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thanked him personally after the game as he knew he wasn't right. It's set him back a little bit and he's not fit enough to start a game yet. Hopefully he will be next week.” Perch (for Quinn, 90+1 mins) - Subs not used: Stech, Burke, Law, Johnson. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(4-3-3): Oxley; Thomson, McArdle (Legge, 62), Richards (Burrell, 14), Page; Diarra, Falkingham, Pattison; Kavanagh (Muldoon, 72), Armstrong, Diamond. Subs not used: Cracknell, Beck, Austerfield.
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Referee:
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Chris Pollard 7 Generally handled the game well. Possibly could have sent McArdle off.
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