Season 21/22 Stagsnet Match Report
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Mansfield Town
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Northampton Town
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Hawkins 21.
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Lewis sent off 75
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Attendance: 6,678 (935 from Northampton)
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Date: 2 April 2022
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STAGS BEAT COBBLERS AT THEIR OWN GAME TO BREAK CLUB RECORD
Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town beat Northampton Town 1-0 at the One Call Stadium this afternoon to move into the play-off places in League Two, level on points with Northampton (who dropped to 4th), Bristol Rovers, and Port Vale (who moved into 3rd place). The Stags have a worse goal difference than those 3 clubs, but have a game in hand on Port Vale, and two in hand on Northampton and Bristol Rovers. This was the Stags’ 11th home win on the trot in the league beating the club record in the Football League (set in 1949). It is an astonishing run. Half a season virtually of home games won in succession. It is worth just sitting back and soaking it in. Though we don’t have much time to do that with games coming thick and fast and the Stags in such a tight promotion race. It was a big game today, and the Stags were certainly the deserved winners, playing plenty of good football, and once again creating a stack of chances, 17, to Northampton’s 8. The only goal of the game came after 21 minutes. Matty Longstaff’s fine corner from the left picked out Oli Hawkins who rose high above his marker Aaron McGowan to head over the keeper into the roof of the net. The keeper got fingertips on it but couldn’t keep it out. A towering header from Hawkins. His 8th goal of the season. It was ironic that Mansfield beat Northampton at their own game. An extraordinary 22 of Northampton’s 47 goals this season had come from set pieces, with both their centre halves prolific goalscorers. The Stags finished the first half very strongly with Longstaff bringing a world-class save from keeper Liam Roberts, Longstaff turning and firing in a brilliant shot from 20 yards, arrowing towards the top right corner, and the keeper somehow tipping it wide. A minute later, the keeper was at it again after a typically brilliant run from Rhys Oates into the area on the left and his low shot towards the near post again brought a great save, pushing it around the post. From the resulting corner, Quinn back-flicked to Longstaff whose shot was deflected into the side netting. Then from the corner after that, O’Toole teed up Oates for a hard, low shot from 12 yards which hit the keeper on the line, hit a defender on the line and then hit the post. An extraordinary let-off for the Cobblers. (Update: footage from a different angle shows it hit the keeper on the line, then hit a defender on the line, and then went inches wide but did not hit the post.) Earlier in the half, Northampton had gone close when Mitch Pinnock escaped from the Stags defence and smashed a shot from 14 yards against the bar. While centre half Jon Guthrie had headed straight at Nathan Bishop inside the opening minute from a fine cross from Pinnock. Into the second half, and the Stags created a glut of chances. A shot from Lucas Akins from 18 yards was deflected just over the bar. Then Quinn and Longstaff both had goalbound shots blocked in quick succession. Then following a corner, Stephen McLaughlin tried an outrageous shot from almost on the byline which keeper Roberts again saved spectacularly at his near post. Almost an incredible goal from McLaughlin. The ball came out to John-Joe O’Toole whose goalbound shot was blocked, and he tamely sent the rebound wide. Midway through the half, Longstaff squared to Quinn and his low shot was deflected agonisingly inches wide. And from the corner after that, Quinn’s shot was wide again. Northampton hadn’t got in a single shot in the second half when they were reduced to ten men after 76 minutes in bizarre fashion. George Lapslie was caught by a terrible foul by Paul Lewis on the touchline in front of the Northampton dugout. It was a clear yellow card. As both players started to get up, Lapslie pulled Lewis’ shirt and Lewis threw Lapslie to the ground. Madness from Lewis as that was an obvious yellow card offence as well. The referee showed one yellow card followed by another yellow card followed by a red to Lewis. Lapslie possibly could have been booked too, but wasn’t. With a man advantage, the chances kept coming for Mansfield. Quinn volleyed inches over the bar. Then Lapslie played forward to Akins who turned and sent in a great shot towards the bottom left corner of the net which brought yet another brilliant save from keeper Roberts. Northampton’s first chance of the second half came when former Stag Danny Rose, on as a sub, headed straight at Bishop from a free kick. The chances kept on coming for Mansfield to seal the game. Ryan Stirk played a great ball for Quinn to get away down the left, Quinn pulled the ball back to Akins whose shot was blocked. Then brilliant football from the Stags who went agonisingly close again after 89 minutes, a brilliant move started by Stirk who won the ball on the half way line, played out to Quinn, inside to Bowery, to Longstaff then Quinn again, inside to Longstaff again, to Bowery, Bowery teed up Stirk for a low shot from the edge of the area again wonderfully tipped just wide by the keeper. That was the last chance of the game for either side as the Stags saw out 5 minutes of stoppage time which became more than 6. Some of the Stags’ game management in the final minutes could have been better but Northampton couldn’t capitalise. A crucial win for the Stags. One that would have been much more emphatic but for an amazing goalkeeping display from Liam Roberts, who I heard from the BBC Radio Northampton guys is out of contract at the end of the season. At the back, the Stags defence were immense. Everyone knows that Northampton are a massive threat from set pieces but the Stags headed everything, or almost everything, away, with Hawkins in brilliant form making 11 clearances, also Hewitt making 5 clearances, and O’Toole 4. With McLaughlin too, the back four were superb, such that Bishop didn’t have a difficult save to make. Quinn was excellent in midfield, and also made two good clearances. Lapslie had a great game, as did Longstaff too. Rhys Oates limped off in the second half as his thigh tightened up. He will be a huge doubt for Tuesday at Forest Green, and if out as expected, will be a huge miss. Incidentally Forest Green leading scorer Matty Stevens also limped off in their game today and will also probably be out. If you’re not travelling to Forest Green, you will be able to watch the game with us on iFollow Stags. If you bought a match pass for the game which was abandoned, then you should not need to purchase another match pass, it should carry over. DETAILED REPORT : Mansfield made 3 changes from the side that drew at Hartlepool. Perch missed out through illness. Nigel Clough said after the game Perch “was ill yesterday and didn’t come into training. Hopefully if he’s okay, Perchy will be back involved on Tuesday.” Murphy was out with a hamstring injury. Nigel Clough said he would be a doubt for Tuesday as well. Bowery dropped to the bench. McLaughlin, Longstaff and Oates returned to the starting XI having all been on the bench at Hartlepool due to “half injuries” (see my Hartlepool report for more). Maris was back from injury on the bench. Rawson was back from illness (food poisoning) on the bench. Ollie Clarke remained out. The Northampton threat was clear: 22 goals from set plays this season, out of 47 goals in total. Much down to their central defenders Horsfall and Guthrie, who would also take much credit for their 18 clean sheets in the league. Their failing was also obvious: not enough goals from their strikers. Northampton made one change from the side that beat Hartlepool a week earlier: Zimba coming in for Appere up front. Danny Rose was on the bench. This was Mansfield’s second biggest attendance in the league this season at home: 6,678 (24 down on the Exeter game). It was also the second biggest attendance in the home stands of 5,743 (but that was 567 down on the Exeter game). Northampton brought 935 fans, surprisingly low in my opinion given their position of third in the league. It was Mansfield’s first home game for a month, after a run of 5 away games on the trot, and 8 away games out of 9. Quite remarkable. An enormous change in temperature from the game a week earlier at Oldham. Near summer had changed back to near winter again! Inside the opening minute, centre half Jon Guthrie headed straight at Nathan Bishop from a fine cross from Pinnock, following a throw-in. McLaughlin was booked after 5 minutes for a challenge on McGowan. Poor decision from the referee in my opinion. After 11 minutes, Zimba outpaced Hawkins and sent a low shot straight at Bishop from a tight angle. Another poor decision from the referee after 14 minutes. An offside flag against Northampton in the Stags half, but the Stags had started a break by the time the referee blew the whistle. Nigel Clough told me after the game the referee did apologise to him for this. A good tackle by Hewitt on Bez Lubala after 18 minutes as Lubala tried to cross. The only goal of the game came after 21 minutes. Matty Longstaff’s fine corner from the left picked out Oli Hawkins who rose high above his marker Aaron McGowan to head over the keeper into the roof of the net. The keeper got fingertips on it but couldn’t keep it out. A towering header from Hawkins. His 8th goal of the season. Mansfield beating Northampton at their own game scoring from a set piece. Another mistake from the referee after 27 minutes as he gave a free kick against Quinn after an accidental clash of heads. Quinn did well to head away a Pinnock free kick after 29 minutes. A chance for the Cobblers after 30 minutes as another Pinnock free kick was cleared to Jack Sowerby who screwed a free shot from 12 yards well wide. Clough was going ballistic on the touchline after 31 minutes when an obvious foul on Lapslie was not given by the referee who was having a stinker of a game. Northampton went close after 33 minutes when Mitch Pinnock escaped from the Stags defence and smashed a shot from 14 yards against the bar. Moments later from a Cobblers corner, Guthrie headed over the bar. Good defending again by Quinn in his own area after 35 minutes. McLaughlin fired just over the bar from 25 yards after 40 minutes. At the other end, Bishop did well to gather a low cross in, and was clattered in the process. The Stags finished the first half very strongly. After 44 minutes, Quinn played the ball inside to Longstaff who brought a world-class save from keeper Liam Roberts, Longstaff turning and firing in a brilliant shot from 20 yards, arrowing towards the top right corner, and the keeper somehow tipping it wide. A minute later, the keeper was at it again after a typically brilliant run from Rhys Oates into the area on the left and his low shot towards the near post again brought a great save, pushing it around the post. From the resulting corner, Quinn back-flicked to Longstaff whose shot was deflected into the side netting. Then from the corner after that, O’Toole teed up Oates for a hard, low shot from 12 yards which hit the keeper on the line, hit a defender on the line and then hit the post. An extraordinary let-off for the Cobblers. (Update: footage from a different angle shows it hit the keeper on the line, then hit a defender on the line, and then went inches wide but did not hit the post.) The Stags ahead at the break and finishing the half with some close calls. Northampton had hit the bar and had a couple of other chances. Half time 1-0 Into the second half, and the Stags created a glut of chances. After 49 minutes, a shot from Lucas Akins from 18 yards was deflected just over the bar, after Akins had initially played to the overlapping Hewitt, who had crossed in and the ball came out to Akins again. Two minutes later, Quinn and Longstaff both had goalbound shots blocked in quick succession after a McLaughlin free kick was half-cleared. Then following a corner on 52 minutes, Stephen McLaughlin tried an outrageous shot from almost on the byline which keeper Roberts again saved spectacularly at his near post. Almost an incredible goal from McLaughlin. The ball came out to John-Joe O’Toole whose goalbound shot was blocked, and he tamely sent the rebound wide. Hawkins headed away a Pinnock free kick after 54 minutes. McLaughlin headed away a corner after 63 minutes. Hewitt was booked after 64 minutes for a late tackle on pacey sub Josh Eppiah. After 66 minutes, Hewitt found Longstaff who squared to Quinn and his low shot was deflected agonisingly inches wide. And from the corner after that, Quinn’s shot was wide again. Hawkins headed away another long throw after 69 minutes. Oates pulled up after 72 minutes and had to be replaced by Bowery. Oates had also pulled up after around 38 minutes but was ok to play on. Bowery went into right midfield, Akins went up front. Akins had been playing in right midfield for the second half. Northampton hadn’t got in a single shot in the second half when they were reduced to ten men after 76 minutes in bizarre fashion. George Lapslie was caught by a terrible foul by Paul Lewis on the touchline in front of the Northampton dugout. It was a clear yellow card. As both players started to get up, Lapslie pulled Lewis’ shirt and Lewis threw Lapslie to the ground. Madness from Lewis as that was an obvious yellow card offence as well. The referee showed one yellow card followed by another yellow card followed by a red to Lewis. Lapslie possibly could have been booked too, but wasn’t. With a man advantage, the chances kept coming for Mansfield. From the resulting free kick, the ball came out to Quinn who volleyed inches over the bar. Then after 81 minutes, Lapslie played forward to Akins who turned and sent in a great shot towards the bottom left corner of the net which brought yet another brilliant save from keeper Roberts. Danny Rose came on for Northampton after 81 minutes. Great defending by Lapslie after 82 minutes as the Cobblers broke into the Stags area. Northampton’s first chance of the second half came when Danny Rose headed straight at Bishop from a free kick 32 yards out from Pinnock after 83 minutes. The chances kept on coming for Mansfield to seal the game. After 85 minutes, Stirk played a great ball for Quinn to get away down the left, Quinn pulled the ball back to Akins whose shot was blocked. Stirk was booked for a foul after 85 minutes. After 87 minutes, Northampton sub Josh Eppiah, looking pacey, broke forward and Hewitt got an important touch to get the ball away. From the resulting corner, Horsfall went down wanting a penalty but the referee rightly wasn’t interested as there was no semblance of a foul from Hawkins. Then brilliant football from the Stags who went agonisingly close again after 89 minutes, a brilliant move started by Stirk who won the ball on the half way line, played out to Quinn, inside to Bowery, to Longstaff then Quinn again, inside to Longstaff again, to Bowery, Bowery teed up Stirk for a low shot from the edge of the area again wonderfully tipped just wide by the keeper. From the resulting corner, Mansfield only had one player in the box and Longstaff’s corner was caught by the keeper. Very poor tactics from the Stags and poor game management. A brilliant tackle by Hawkins on Hoskins after 90+1 minutes after Longstaff gave the ball away. Straight to the other end, Bowery broke forward into the area, he could have shot, but tried to tee up Stirk who was tackled. More wasteful play from the Stags not even getting a shot in. As Northampton then pushed forward, Hawkins won yet another tackle. Wallace replaced Longstaff after 90+2 minutes. Rawson replaced Quinn after 90+3 minutes. After 90+5 minutes Rose went down on the edge of the area with no foul from Akins who was near him. There was no chance of a penalty and to be fair to Rose he did not appeal for a penalty either. The Stags saw out 5 minutes of stoppage time which became more than 6. Some of the Stags’ game management in the final minutes could have been better but Northampton couldn’t capitalise. Celebrations at the final whistle as we have become accustomed to at home games for 11 games on the trot. Some feeble post match comments from Cobblers boss Jon Brady, who bizarrely claimed “The corner from which they score, Fraser (Horsfall) gets rugby tackled by (Lucas) Akins and it should be a foul for us.” Review of the video shows that to be nonsense. And then: "Fraser is then manhandled at the end in their box and I feel that should have been a penalty. It's disappointing because it's another difficult decision to take and helps them get the result. Hawkins grabbed him with two hands on the shirt, it's blatant for everyone to see." Again, review of the video shows it was never a penalty. At least he didn’t claim that when Rose went down that should have been a penalty too! The Stags move on to Forest Green on Tuesday. Man of the match: Oli Hawkins Here’s a running tally of various stats this season: Goals (league and cup): Oates 11, Hawkins 8, Bowery, Johnson 7, Lapslie 6, O.Clarke, McLaughlin 4, Longstaff, Maris, O’Toole 3, Charsley 2, Caine, Forrester, Hewitt, Perch, Quinn, Rawson, Sinclair, Stirk 1. 1 OG Assists (league and cup): McLaughlin 10, Oates 8, Bowery, Quinn 5, Charsley, O.Clarke, Johnson, Longstaff, Sinclair 3, Hawkins, Lapslie, Maris, Murphy, Rawson, Stirk 2, J.Clarke, Gale, Hewitt, Law, Wallace 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 at home, 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. In the case of an own goal, the player who caused the own goal gets an assist, for example McLaughlin against Newport away where his shot was deflected in for an own goal.) Average home league attendance: 4992 (average away fans: 548, average home fans 4444) |
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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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Bishop 7 Did well to gather one cross. Didn’t have a difficult save to make.
Hewitt 8 Some good tackles plus 5 clearances. O’Toole 8 Part of a superb back four, he made 4 clearances. Hawkins 9 Scored with a towering header for his 8th goal of the season. Was in brilliant form making 11 clearances, heading everything, or almost everything, away. McLaughlin 8 Defended very well after an early booking which looked a poor decision from the referee. Stirk 7.5 Very good game, particularly in the second half. Longstaff 8 Had a great game. An assist for the goal with a very good corner. Brought a world-class save from the keeper with a brilliant shot. Quinn 8.5 Excellent in midfield, and also made two good clearances. Clough said after the game: "He belied his age today. He was a little bit tired on Tuesday which was why he didn't complete the game. He got his energy back today. He was bombing down that left wing at times. I thought he and Matty Longstaff and Stephen McLaughlin linked up brilliantly." Lapslie 8 Had a great game in midfield. Involved in the sending off and slightly fortunate not to pick up a yellow card. Akins 6 Went close to his first Stags goal three times, once denied by a brilliant save. Hold up play was good as usual but he gave the ball away too often. Clough said after the game: "Nothing dropped for him and a couple bobbled off him and he gave them away, but his all round game was good.” Oates 8 A typically brilliant run and low shot towards the near post again brought a great save. Had another low shot unbelievably blocked on the line by the keeper onto a defender and then wide! Forced off with a thigh injury and will be a massive loss if he misses a game or two. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Bowery (for Oates, 72 mins) - Did well in the final 20 minutes.
Wallace (for Longstaff, 90+2 mins) - Rawson (for Quinn, 90+3 mins) - Subs not used: Stech, Maris, Law, Johnson. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(4-2-3-1) Roberts; McGowan, Horsfall, Guthrie, Mills; (Rose 81), Sowerby, Lewis; Pinnock, Hoskins, Lubala (Eppiah 60); Zimba (Appere 71). Subs not used: Maxted, Harriman, Dyche, Pollock.
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Referee:
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Anthony Backhouse 6 Had a stinker of a game with a series of howlers until he suddenly got the double yellow/red card right, and then rightly turned down a late appeal for a penalty for the Cobblers as Horsfall went down, which were the most critical decisions of the game.
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