Season 21/22 Stagsnet Match Report
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Mansfield Town
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Stevenage
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Lapslie 51, Longstaff 90+3.
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Attendance: 5,086 (73 from Stevenage)
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Date: 26 April 2022
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STAGS BEAT STEVE EVANS’ STEVENAGE
Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town beat Stevenage 2-0 last night at the One Call Stadium to keep the hopes of automatic promotion alive, and strengthen the chances of at least being in the play-offs. It’s extraordinary, and shows how the tight the league is, that with two games to go, the Stags could be automatically promoted, or in the play-offs, or finish outside the top 7. The win was Mansfield’s 13th win in 14 home games, a remarkable run. Steve Evans brought his Stevenage side to Mansfield having just secured their league status on Saturday with a win over Tranmere, their 3rd win (plus a draw) in 4 games. Evans had done a great job keeping them up. It was the first time Evans had come up against the Stags since walking out on the club 4 years ago. As you would expect, he received a hostile reception from the Stags fans. Mansfield were without Stephen Quinn who got a whack on his hip against Crawley. The Stags had only won one game this season without Quinn in the side previously, at home to Hartlepool on Boxing Day. He had missed 8 previous league games, 6 of them due to suspension following the Harrogate game. So it was good to win a second game without him in the side. The first half was a disappointing one for Mansfield creating very little going forward. Stevenage were the better side and had the best chance of the half when Luke Norris got the better of Stephen McLaughlin and fired towards the bottom left corner of the net from a tight angle, but Nathan Bishop got down well to tip it wide. A crucial save and a really good save. The second half was completely different. The Stags started well, and dominated throughout. Nathan Bishop hardly touched the ball in the second half. In the opening minute, George Maris curled a shot just wide of the left post. The Stags took the lead after 51 minutes. Lucas Akins back-flicked to Matty Longstaff on the halfway line. Longstaff set Jamie Murphy away down the left. Murphy surged into the area and his low cross was turned behind for a corner. Longstaff took the corner quickly, along the byline to Murphy. Murphy turned and dinked a cross into the middle. Akins and Scott Cuthbert challenged for the header. The ball looped up in the air off Cuthbert’s head. As it came down, Lapslie controlled it with his right leg, before firing quickly with his left foot into the left corner of the net from 9 yards before any defender could react. Lapslie described the goal after the game: “The ball fell to me. Lukey (Lucas Akins) did unreal, he held off the man for me, to give me that time to switch it onto my left and make a clear path to the goal.” It was Lapslie’s 7th goal of the season. The Stags were on top for the whole of the second half, with several chances to extend the lead, including two for Akins, one for Rhys Oates, two for Murphy. Mansfield were helped by Stevenage going down to ten men after 81 minutes when Terence Vancooten limped off with a bad back after Stevenage had used all three substitutes. And the Stags sealed the game after 90+3 minutes. An exhibition of keeping the ball, with 13 passes ending with sub Jordan Bowery squaring to Longstaff 12 yards from goal, on the left. Longstaff fired into the bottom left corner of the net, through Cuthbert’s legs, with the keeper motionless. A pass into the net from Longstaff to finish off the passing move! Longstaff’s 5th goal of the season. Bowery’s 6th assist of the season. The final whistle brought more celebrations, as we have become accustomed to with those 13 wins from 14 home games. The next game is on Monday lunchtime, a 12.30pm kick-off at Salford City. The game is live on Sky Sports, which means that it will not be available to watch on iFollow Stags, either in the UK or overseas. We will of course have commentary as always. Salford will need to win to have a chance of making the play-offs. The Stags need a win to keep realistic hopes of automatic promotion alive. Mansfield made one enforced change from the side that beat Crawley on Saturday. Stephen Quinn missed out having got a whack on the hip against Crawley. On whether Quinn might be fit for the Salford game, Clough said: "Tom (the physio) is not sure. But we'll do everything we can to try to get him out on the pitch." Quinn was replaced by Lapslie. Oli Hawkins came back into the 18 on the bench having been absent for the Crawley game due to the birth of his second child. Congratulations to him and his partner. The Stags started with a 4-4-2 formation, with Maris in front of the back four, Lapslie on the right, Longstaff on the left, Murphy behind the front two of Akins and Oates. Akins moved out to the right during the first half. The Stags wore teal socks to show support for Down’s Syndrome Awareness. Stevenage were unchanged from the side that beat Tranmere and secured their EFL status. Jamie Reid was up front on the right of a front three. Reid had been so unlucky earlier in the season in the game at Broadhall Way when he hit the post twice as the Stags won 2-1. The Stevenage away following of 73 was the third away following less than 100 this season: 73 from Stevenage and Salford, 93 from Crawley. There were 5,013 home fans in the crowd of 5,085. That was the fifth highest number of home fans this season (stats for league games). Average attendance figures at the bottom of this report. After 2 minutes, a Stevenage corner was cleared out to Cuthbert on the right, he crossed back in and Arthur Read headed well wide. After 5 minutes, Hewitt crossed in and Akins headed well over the bar. Maris was well over the bar from 35 yards after 14 minutes. Perch was booked after 15 minutes. He gave the ball away then fouled Taylor to prevent him getting away on the break. Steve Evans was getting booed every time he appeared from the dugout. The boos were a distraction to the Stags players I think. Maris was booked for a late challenge on Arthur Read after 20 minutes. Great defending from McLaughlin after 23 minutes, heading away an Arthur Read cross with Jamie Reid lurking ready to knock the ball into the net. From the resulting corner, Norris miscued an effort straight to Bishop. Great defending from Hewitt after 27 minutes, after O’Toole missed the ball. Stevenage were playing well and were on top. Good play from Oates to win a corner after 31 minutes. Stevenage had the best chance of the half on 37 minutes when Norris got the better of McLaughlin and fired towards the bottom left corner of the net from a tight angle, but Bishop got down well to tip it wide. A crucial save and a really good save. From the resulting corner, taken by Taylor from the left, Stevenage had two shouts for a penalty. The ball was beyond the far post, it was headed down by Cuthbert, Bostwick controlled it on his knee, it flicked up and hit O’Toole’s hand. O’Toole couldn’t have done anything about it. Then the loose ball was hit goalwards by Cuthbert again, it struck O’Toole’s hand again but his arms were by his side (in a natural position) and he was only three yards away. The referee correctly waved away both appeals as neither was a penalty. Steve Evans claimed after the game that Stevenage “had two clear penalties for handball not given”, but really that was nonsense. After 38 minutes, Jamie Reid got into the area and his shot was blocked at source by O’Toole. After 40 minutes, Oates was fouled 24 yards from goal. The wall was never 10 yards back, more like 8 yards. Longstaff sent the free kick into the wall. The first half was a disappointing one for Mansfield creating very little going forward. Stevenage were the better side and had the best chance of the half when Luke Norris. Nigel Clough said after the game: “I told them (the players) well done at half-time for coming in 0-0 and told them to relax and start playing how we can play.” Half time 0-0 The second half was completely different. The Stags started well, and dominated throughout. Nathan Bishop hardly touched the ball in the second half. In the opening minute, George Maris curled a shot just wide of the left post. The Stags took the lead after 51 minutes. Lucas Akins back-flicked to Matty Longstaff on the halfway line. Longstaff set Jamie Murphy away down the left. Murphy surged into the area and his low cross was turned behind for a corner. Longstaff took the corner quickly, along the byline to Murphy. Murphy turned and dinked a cross into the middle. Akins and Scott Cuthbert challenged for the header. The ball looped up in the air off Cuthbert’s head. As it came down, Lapslie controlled it with his right leg, before firing quickly with his left foot into the left corner of the net from 9 yards before any defender could react. Lapslie described the goal after the game: “The ball fell to me. Lukey (Lucas Akins) did unreal, he held off the man for me, to give me that time to switch it onto my left and make a clear path to the goal.” It was Lapslie’s 7th goal of the season. The Stags were on top for the whole of the second half, with several chances to extend the lead. After 54 minutes, good play from Lapslie to win the ball just outside his own area, Maris set Murphy away for a great 50 yard run, Murphy found Akins who swept a shot just wide from the edge of the area. A great break. Another great move a minute later, Akins to Lapslie to Longstaff, to Lapslie in the area but he was tackled as he was about to shoot. A minute later at the other end, Jamie Reid crossed from the right, O’Toole’s clearance was weak, it hit Wildin in the six yard box and rebounded to Bishop. On 59 minutes, Hewitt found Akins, who cut inside from the right and shot well wide. A brilliant run from Akins after 70 minutes, but his final ball was out for a goal kick. Wallace replaced Maris after 72 minutes. A rare chance for Stevenage after 73 minutes. A free kick from sub Chris Lines was curled into the area, it was headed out to sub Bruno Andrade who fired well wide. Mansfield were helped by Stevenage going down to ten men after 81 minutes when Terence Vancooten limped off with a bad back after Stevenage had used all three substitutes. After 84 minutes, McLaughlin crossed in, Oates looped a header goalwards, and keeper Pym saved on his line. A double chance for Murphy after 86 minutes as he had two shots blocked in quick succession, first blocked by Cuthbert, then saved by the keeper. Hawkins replaced Oates after 87 minutes. Bowery replaced Murphy after 90+1 minutes. The Stags sealed the game after 90+3 minutes. An exhibition of keeping the ball, with 13 passes ending with sub Jordan Bowery squaring to Longstaff 12 yards from goal, on the left. Longstaff fired into the bottom left corner of the net, through Cuthbert’s legs, with the keeper motionless. A pass into the net from Longstaff to finish off the passing move! Longstaff’s 5th goal of the season. Bowery’s 6th assist of the season. The final whistle brought more celebrations, as we have become accustomed to with those 13 wins from 14 home games. Man of the match: Jamie Murphy Here’s a running tally of various stats this season: Goals (league and cup): Oates 11, Hawkins 8, Bowery, Johnson, Lapslie 7, Longstaff, McLaughlin 5, O.Clarke 4, Maris, O’Toole 3, Charsley, Stirk 2, Akins, Caine, Forrester, Hewitt, Murphy, Perch, Quinn, Rawson, Sinclair 1. 3 OG Assists (league and cup): McLaughlin 13, Oates 8, Bowery 6, Quinn 5, Charsley, O.Clarke, Hawkins, Johnson, Longstaff, Maris, Sinclair 3, Hewitt, Lapslie, Murphy, Rawson, Stirk 2, Akins, J.Clarke, Gale, 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: 5,050 (average away fans: 489, average home fans 4,561) |
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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 7 A really good crucial save from Norris in the first half. Hardly touched the ball in the second half. Hewitt 7 Some good defending. O’Toole 7 Some good blocks. One weak clearance. Perch 7 Booked after giving the ball away early on. Very calm and solid after that. McLaughlin 7 Some good defending, apart from allowing Norris to get the better of him and get in a shot which Bishop saved well. Maris 7 Decent game. Lapslie 7 Clinical finish for his goal. Some good play going forward, in a really good second half performance after a quiet first half. Clough said after the game: “George will play better than he did tonight but he scored the all-important goal.” Longstaff 7 Lovely pass into the net for the second goal. Good second half. Murphy 7.5 Set the tone for a much improved second half from Mansfield. Nigel Clough said after the game: “From the kick-off Jamie Murphy got us going down the left hand side which lifted the crowd and set the pattern for the whole of the second half.” Very influential. Had a couple of shots blocked. Akins 7 Had a terrific second half after a poor first half. Good contribution to the first goal: he back-flicked to Longstaff on the halfway line, then as Lapslie described the goal after the game: “The ball fell to me. Lukey (Lucas Akins) did unreal, he held off the man for me, to give me that time to switch it onto my left and make a clear path to the goal.” Oates 6.5 Not his most influential game. One great run to win a corner. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Wallace (for Maris, 72 mins) - Looked very good
Hawkins (for Oates, 87 mins) - Bowery (for Murphy, 90+1 mins) - Subs not used: Stech, Rawson, Stirk, Johnson. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(4-3-3) Pym; Wildin, Vancooten, Cuthbert, Coker; Taylor, Bostwick, Arthur Read (Lines 60); Jamie Reid, Norris (Daly 50), List (Andrade 72). Subs not used: Walker, Prosser, Upson, Barry.
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Referee:
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Christopher Sarginson 7 Correctly turned down two Stevenage penalty appeals. Handled the game well.
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