Season 21/22 Stagsnet Match Report
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Mansfield Town
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Forest Green Rovers
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Longstaff 17, Bowery 78.
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Adams 64, March 80
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Attendance: 7,374 (473 from Forest Green)
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Date: 7 May 2022
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STAGS GET THE POINT NEEDED TO MAKE PLAY-OFFS ON DRAMATIC DAY
Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town grabbed the point they needed to make sure of a place in the play-offs, on a dramatic final day in League Two. The Stags started the day with a chance of automatic promotion, but that would require Bristol Rovers to fail to beat Scunthorpe, and Northampton to fail to beat Barrow, coupled with a win for the Stags against Forest Green. That never looked much of a possibility with Scunthorpe fielding a side with an average age of 19, including a 17 year old keeper while a decent experienced keeper was left on the bench, and they were to lose 7-0 at Bristol Rovers, a result that meant Rovers pipped Northampton for automatic promotion on goals scored, despite Northampton winning 3-1 at Barrow, with points and goal difference the same. In my opinion, it was extremely poor from Scunthorpe, who in going out of the EFL clearly felt they didn’t have to uphold the integrity of the League either by fielding their strongest side, and it was Northampton who suffered as a result. In order for the Stags to ensure a play-off place, the Stags needed a point against Forest Green. But if the Stags were to lose, then any one of three other games going the Stags’ way would be enough for them to still reach the play-offs; in particular Sutton to draw or lose at Harrogate or Swindon to draw or lose at Walsall or Port Vale to lose at Exeter. But with just 20 minutes gone this afternoon, it was apparent that the Stags would probably have to do it themselves with Sutton winning at Harrogate, Swindon winning at Walsall and Port Vale level at Exeter, not to mention Northampton and Bristol Rovers also winning. By then the Stags were also in front. After 17 minutes, Jamie Murphy cut in from the left wing, and from about 25 yards out, he slid a low pass forward. It flicked off the boot of Jordan Bowery on the edge of the area and fell nicely into the path of Matty Longstaff who just had the keeper to beat from 8 yards. Longstaff’s initial shot was well-saved by the keeper but he was able to volley the rebound into the net from 5 yards. A touch of fortune with the goal. Longstaff described it after the game: “Murph’s got the ball and he’s got great vision, he runs with it well, once he cut inside I just tried to run off the blind shoulder. I think it bumped into Bowery but it fell to me and then with a bit of luck after the keeper saved it, it came back to me.” Forest Green had chances to equalise. On 18 minutes, Ebou Adams got to the byline and pulled a great ball back into the middle for Jamille Matt who fired straight at Nathan Bishop who saved well with his legs. Then the excellent Kane Wilson got to the byline on the right and crossed in for Matt again, who this time headed straight at Bishop. The Stags could have increased the lead after 45+2 minutes as Rhys Oates got to the byline on the left and his low ball in was flicked wide by Stephen McLaughlin. Forest Green were level after 64 minutes. Matt put Adams through on goal, in behind Hawkins and O’Toole. Adams got to just outside the area, Bishop came out to meet him, but was left in no-man’s land, as Adams curled the ball past him into the empty net. A misjudgement, in my opinion, from Bishop who had to get the ball in coming right to the edge of his area, and didn’t. It was squeaky bum time for Mansfield now, who could not afford for Forest Green to take the lead, with all the other results not going the Stags’ way. Forest Green went close as Maris brilliantly blocked a Nicky Cadden shot, and from the resulting Cadden corner, Matt headed just over the bar. Then Wilson played inside to Jack Aitchison who toe-poked a shot goalwards and Bishop saved it by sitting on it! Forest Green were playing very well with the Stags needing last ditch defending, such as a brilliant tackle by Perch on Cadden, a good header away by Hawkins and good defending by Bowery, before Wilson crossed from the right and with a sight of goal Cadden completely missed his kick. The Stags desperately needed a second goal and Jordan Bowery raised the roof, providing it after 78 minutes. McLaughlin did well on the left, getting forward to level with the edge of the area, and crossing into the box. Oates tried to head it goalwards but couldn’t and the ball reached Bowery beyond the far post. Bowery hit it first time from a tight angle past the keeper into the net. What a moment! But within 2 minutes, Forest Green were level again. Udo Godwin-Malife slid a lovely pass forward from 40 yards out into the path of Josh March, on as a substitute for less than a minute. Bishop came out again and got his angles wrong as March lifted the ball past him into the net. Poor goalkeeping from Bishop in my opinion for both goals. The Stags appealed for offside in vain, as March was onside when the ball was played to him. Squeaky bum again for Mansfield. On 83 minutes, Cadden crossed and Adams headed wide. At the other end, a chance for the Stags to go in front again on 86 minutes as Longstaff put in a great cross and Oates’s flying header was saved low on his line by the keeper. As the game approached 90 minutes I spotted Nigel Clough in conversation with Forest Green boss Rob Edwards on the touchline. I speculated in commentary on iFollow Stags that they might have said to each other that this result suits both of us. The Stags had the point they needed to make the play-offs, Forest Green had the point they needed to win the title providing Exeter didn’t score a very late equaliser against Port Vale. I was right, and for the four minutes of stoppage time, Forest Green allowed the Stags to keep the ball in their own half and play out time. I asked Nigel Clough about it after the game. He told me that Forest Green suggested it to him. He went over and discussed it with Rob Edwards and they agreed that Forest Green would let Mansfield keep the ball. He also told me the two managers asked the referee to play just two minutes of stoppage time rather than four, but the referee went ahead with four anyway. (There have been two occasions in the last 16 months where the referee has played less stoppage time than he might have done at the request of Clough and the opposition manager, see my reports of Walsall away last season and Scunthorpe away this season). So a rather surreal end to the game. The Stags were safe in the play-offs, and within seconds of the final whistle, Forest Green were celebrating the title in front of their 450 or so travelling fans. Congratulations to them, they deserved it having been top for almost the entire season. The Stags did well to earn a draw today. Forest Green played some great football and looked the best side in the league, and the Stags could easily have fallen to defeat which would have been a crushing blow. The defence did enough to prevent more than two goals, while Longstaff and Bowery came up with the crucial goals at the other end. We won’t have to play anyone as good as Forest Green in the play-offs. The Stags will play Northampton Town in the play-off semi-final, after the Cobblers were pipped by Bristol Rovers to third place. The first leg is next Saturday night at the One Call Stadium (7.45pm), with the second leg the following Wednesday night at Sixfields. Tickets for both legs will be on sale to season ticket holders from Monday morning. As both legs are live on Sky Sports, the games will not be streamed live on iFollow, though of course we will have full match commentary as always. The excitement of a roller coaster season continues. The Stags finish the regular league season with the second most home wins in League (15), after Tranmere (16), who failed to make the play-offs on the final day. Of course, 13 of those Stags home wins came in the final 15 home games of the season, quite incredible really. Mansfield will hope to put that home form to good use in the first leg against Northampton. The Stags ended the season in 7th place with 77 points, the best points tally in the Football League for 20 years since 2001/2002, when 79 points earned automatic promotion. It was 1 point more than the 76 points in 2018/2019 under David Flitcroft when the Stags were to lose in the play-offs to Newport, and 2 points more than the 75 points in 2003/2004 under Keith Curle when the Stags beat Northampton in the play-offs but lost to Huddersfield at the Millenium Stadium. The Stags finished 3 points behind promoted Bristol Rovers, but were effectively 4 points short of automatic promotion given the inferior goal difference. A word on the attendance of 7,374 with 473 from Forest Green. It was the biggest attendance at home this season. In fact it was the biggest attendance at home since November 2017, 7,525 against Chesterfield. And it was the biggest attendance in the home stands since we were promoted back from the Conference. The attendance will be beaten I’m sure next Saturday when I’d expect an attendance of about 8,500 (about 6,900 Stags fans plus about 1,600 Cobblers fans). DETAILED REPORT : The Stags made two changes from the side that drew at Salford. Lucas Akins was dropped after he was subbed at Salford. In came Jordan Bowery. And Stephen Quinn returned from injury. He was always going to play if near fit. Out went George Lapslie. Rawson, Johnson and Law missed out from the 18. Nigel Clough said after the game: "It was hugely important (to get Stephen Quinn back). It was a bit of a gamble because he wasn't 100% but just to get him out there and his influence and for the other players to see him out there was the most important thing." Clough added: "We had to leave Faz Rawson out of the 18 today. Elliott Hewitt's missed the last couple. It will be the same squad (for the play-offs) plus Faz and Danny Johnson who just missed out." "Kell Gordon will miss out (from the play-offs). His knee was sore when a he did a few days training, but he's the only one providing everybody is ok after today." It was a beautiful day, and a great atmosphere, with home seats sold out. Inside 3 minutes, the Stags had two shots blocked in quick succession, from Oates and then Maris. At the other end after 4 minutes, Kane Wilson got to the byline and chipped a cross beyond the far post to the other wing-back Nicky Cadden who volleyed over the bar. Four minutes later, Cadden’s free kick flicked off Jamille Matt wide of the right post. After 12 minutes, Oates ran forward and was brought down 24 yards from goal. McLaughlin took the free kick, from a central position, but was just wide of the left post. The keeper never moved. The Stags were in front after 17 minutes. Jamie Murphy cut in from the left wing, and from about 25 yards out, he slid a low pass forward. It flicked off the boot of Jordan Bowery on the edge of the area and fell nicely into the path of Matty Longstaff who just had the keeper to beat from 8 yards. Longstaff’s initial shot was well-saved by the keeper but he was able to volley the rebound into the net from 5 yards. A touch of fortune with the goal. Longstaff described it after the game: “Murph’s got the ball and he’s got great vision, he runs with it well, once he cut inside I just tried to run off the blind shoulder. I think it bumped into Bowery but it fell to me and then with a bit of luck after the keeper saved it, it came back to me.” Forest Green had chances to equalise. On 18 minutes, Ebou Adams got to the byline and pulled a great ball back into the middle for Jamille Matt who fired straight at Nathan Bishop who saved well with his legs. Then on 25 minutes the excellent Kane Wilson got to the byline on the right and crossed in for Matt again, who this time headed straight at Bishop. In between those two chances, a good tackle by Maris, then a good tackle by Perch. With the Stags ahead, it was already apparent that the Stags would probably have to do it themselves with Sutton winning at Harrogate, Swindon winning at Walsall and Port Vale level at Exeter, not to mention Northampton and Bristol Rovers also winning. After 37 minutes, Perch put in a great cross, which was just headed away from Oates in the middle by a defender. On 45 minutes, Regan Hendry’s shot was deflected over the bar for a corner. A good header away by Bowery from the corner. The Stags could have increased the lead after 45+2 minutes as Rhys Oates got to the byline on the left and his low ball in was flicked wide by Stephen McLaughlin. The Stags ahead at the break after an entertaining first half. Kane Wilson providing a huge threat for Forest Green and they looked dangerous going forward. Half time 1-0 After 50 minutes, Quinn’s corner was dropped by the keeper, it came to Bowery then McLaughlin, and McLaughlin’s shot from 14 yards was blocked. Moments later, Oates forced his way into the area and went down but there was no foul and no penalty. Ebou Adams got into the Stags area after 53 minutes and curled a left footed shot just over the angle of bar and post. Great noise from the Stags fans getting behind their side. A good move from the Stags on the hour, and Murphy’s low ball in was just missed by Oates in the middle sliding in. Straight to the other end and Ben Stevenson’s shot was well blocked by Maris, Stevenson sending the rebound miles wide. Forest Green were level after 64 minutes. Matt put Adams through on goal, in behind Hawkins and O’Toole. Adams got to just outside the area, Bishop came out to meet him, but was left in no-man’s land, as Adams curled the ball past him into the empty net. A misjudgement, in my opinion, from Bishop who had to get the ball in coming right to the edge of his area, and didn’t. It was squeaky bum time for Mansfield now, who could not afford for Forest Green to take the lead, with all the other results not going the Stags’ way. Forest Green went close on 66 minutes as Maris brilliantly blocked a Nicky Cadden shot, and from the resulting Cadden corner, Matt headed just over the bar. Great defending by Hawkins on 71 minutes as Wilson got along the byline on the right. Then two minutes later Wilson played inside to Jack Aitchison who toe-poked a shot goalwards and Bishop saved it by sitting on it! Kieran Wallace replaced Maris after 74 minutes. Murphy’s shot from 28 yards was blocked after 74 minutes. Forest Green were playing very well with the Stags needing last ditch defending, such as a brilliant tackle by Perch on Cadden, a good header away by Hawkins and good defending by Bowery, all in quick succession, before Wilson crossed from the right and with a sight of goal Cadden completely missed his kick on 76 minutes. The Stags desperately needed a second goal and Jordan Bowery raised the roof, providing it after 78 minutes. McLaughlin did well on the left, getting forward to level with the edge of the area, and crossing into the box. Oates tried to head it goalwards but couldn’t and the ball reached Bowery beyond the far post. Bowery hit it first time from a tight angle past the keeper into the net. What a moment! But within 2 minutes, Forest Green were level again. Udo Godwin-Malife slid a lovely pass forward from 40 yards out into the path of Josh March, on as a substitute for less than a minute. Bishop came out again and got his angles wrong as March lifted the ball past him into the net. Poor goalkeeping from Bishop in my opinion for both goals. The Stags appealed for offside in vain, as March was onside when the ball was played to him. Squeaky bum again for Mansfield. On 83 minutes, Cadden crossed and Adams headed wide. Elliott Hewitt replaced Perch after 84 minutes. A chance for the Stags to go in front again on 86 minutes as Longstaff put in a great cross and Oates’s flying header was saved low on his line by the keeper. Lucas Akins replaced Murphy after 88 minutes. As the game approached 90 minutes I spotted Nigel Clough in conversation with Forest Green boss Rob Edwards on the touchline. I speculated in commentary on iFollow Stags that they might have said to each other that this result suits both of us. The Stags had the point they needed to make the play-offs, Forest Green had the point they needed to win the title providing Exeter didn’t score a very late equaliser against Port Vale. I was right, and for the four minutes of stoppage time, Forest Green allowed the Stags to keep the ball in their own half and play out time. I asked Nigel Clough about it after the game. He told me that Forest Green suggested it to him. He went over and discussed it with Rob Edwards and they agreed that Forest Green would let Mansfield keep the ball. He also told me the two managers asked the referee to play just two minutes of stoppage time rather than four, but the referee went ahead with four anyway. (There have been two occasions in the last 16 months where the referee has played less stoppage time than he might have done at the request of Clough and the opposition manager, see my reports of Walsall away last season and Scunthorpe away this season). So a rather surreal end to the game. The Stags were safe in the play-offs, and within seconds of the final whistle, Forest Green were celebrating the title in front of their 450 or so travelling fans. Congratulations to them, they deserved it having been top for almost the entire season. Meanwhile Mansfield’s players brought their kids back out onto the pitch and soaked up the applause from home fans at the end of the regular season. It’s been a really good season so far, and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. A wonderful turnaround after the 14 game run without a win. The Stags have a chance to make it truly memorable with a shot at the play-offs. Bring them on, after everyone has a week to recover! Man of the match: Jordan Bowery Here’s a running tally of various stats this season: Goals (league and cup): Oates 11, Bowery, Hawkins 8, Johnson, Lapslie, McLaughlin 7, Longstaff 6, 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 14, Oates 8, Bowery 7, 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: 5,151 (average away fans: 488, average home fans 4,663) This was Mansfield's highest average attendance at home since 2003/04 (5,207), and second highest average attendance at home since 1979/80 (5,467). See all the averages, season by season here. The average away following at the One Call Stadium was 488 (highest 1,589 from Bradford, lowest 73 from Salford and Stevenage). Mansfield's average away following at away games was 717 (highest 2,129 at Bradford, lowest 191 at Exeter). Again all the above stats are league games only. All the attendances for the season are here. |
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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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(4-1-4-1)
Bishop 5.5 For the first goal, left in no-man’s land, as Adams curled the ball past him into the empty net. A misjudgement, in my opinion, he had to get the ball in coming right to the edge of his area, and didn’t. For the second goal, came out again and got his angles wrong as March lifted the ball past him into the net. Poor goalkeeping in my opinion for both goals. Made two decent saves, from Matt and Aitchison. Perch 7.5 Some great tackles. One great cross. Did well against the dangerous Cadden. O’Toole 7 Mostly solid game. Allowed March to get away from him, while he was appealing for offside (which it wasn’t) for the second goal. Hawkins 7 Some good headers away and other good defending. Adams got in behind him for the first goal. McLaughlin 7 Great cross for Bowery’s goal. Tricky game against the brilliant Wilson, but did ok. Maris 7 Two good blocks in the second half, and one great tackle. Gave the ball away a few times. Bowery 7.5 Crucial goal from a tight angle. Good game overall. Longstaff 7 Scored. Good cross for Oates’s late header. Otherwise not at his best. Quinn 7 Some good play. Important to have him back in the side. Murphy 6.5 Not as involved as he might have been, but good play in the build-up to the first goal. Oates 7 Good play for McLaughlin’s chance at the end of the first half. Had a flying header saved on the line. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Wallace (for Maris, 74 mins) -
Hewitt (for Perch, 84 mins) - Akins (for Murphy, 88 mins) - Subs not used: Stech, O.Clarke, Stirk, Lapslie. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(3-4-1-2) McGee; Godwin-Malife, Moore-Taylor, Bernard; Wilson, Stevenson, Hendry (March 80), Cadden; Adams; Aitchison, Matt. Subs not used: Thomas, Allen, Cargill, Diallo, Young.
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Referee:
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Bobby Madley 7 Handled the game well.
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