Season 22/23 Stagsnet Match Report
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Mansfield Town
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AFC Wimbledon
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Oates pen 32, Lapslie 40, Maris 56, Harbottle 70, Swan 87.
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Davison 4, 16. Gunter sent off 45
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Attendance: 5,709 (294 from Wimbledon) (see Tranmere report for explanation of how attendance is calculated)
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Date: 16 August 2022
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STAGS PUT FIVE PAST AFC WIMBLEDON
Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town came from 2-0 down to beat AFC Wimbledon 5-2 at the One Call Stadium last night. It was the first time Mansfield had come from two goals down to win since the Hartlepool game on Boxing Day last year, and the first time Mansfield had scored five in a league game since the 6-1 win over Oldham in October 2019. On a wet night in Mansfield, it was a fantastic performance after a poor opening 20 minutes. The Stags went 2-0 down inside the opening 16 minutes. After 4 minutes, James Perch, on his first start of the season after injury, missed a header 10 yards inside his own half. That allowed Nathan Young-Coombes, on loan from Brentford, to set Josh Davison away into the Stags box on the right and he unleashed a powerful shot from 14 yards straight through Christy Pym’s legs. Whilst it was a powerful shot, Pym, who has been excellent since coming in this season, would be disappointed to concede through his legs. Mansfield had a goal disallowed after 8 minutes. Great play from George Lapslie bursting forward and finding Rhys Oates who fired past the keeper, but the offside flag was correctly up against Oates before he took the shot. Wimbledon doubled their lead after 16 minutes. Young-Coombes crossed in from the right, and Davison got in front of his marker John-Joe O’Toole to head into the net from 6 yards. It was a poor start from the Stags, with plenty of mistakes all over the pitch from the likes of O’Toole and Bowery. Mansfield pulled a goal back after 32 minutes. Oates found Ollie Clarke, also on his first start of the season, with a great pass. Clarke, 30 yards from goal, then slid a delightful ball forward into the area for Lapslie to run on to. Wimbledon claimed for offside against Lapslie but Lapslie had timed his run perfectly and was played onside by the right sided-defender Chris Gunter. Lapslie got his toe to the ball first inside the area and was brought down by Jack Currie for a clear penalty. Currie was booked for the foul, and noticeably did not protest. After Stephen McLaughlin’s penalty on Saturday was saved, Rhys Oates stepped up this time and rolled his penalty into the left of the net as the keeper dived the wrong way. Oates’ first goal of the season. A bit of relief for Oates after his missed chances on Saturday. The Stags never looked back after that, and were now playing some sublime football. After 34 minutes, a terrific move down the right and a great cross from Jordan Bowery, playing at right wing-back, into Oates who knocked over the bar. Then two minutes later, good play from Lapslie to Clarke, who sent a left footed shot wide from 30 yards. The rain was now torrential. The pitch stood up to it perfectly. The Stags were level on 40 minutes. O’Toole set Bowery away down the right, Bowery played a one-two with Clarke, before curling a brilliant cross into the middle headed into the net by the diving Lapslie. A great assist from Bowery, and this was Lapslie at his best with the diving header, slightly reminiscent of his header at Sunderland in the FA Cup. A minute later, great control from Oates and his turn and shot was blocked. The Stags were rampant. Then AFC Wimbledon were reduced to ten men after 45 minutes. Stephen Quinn and Chris Gunter, two full internationals for Republic of Ireland and Wales respectively, battled for the ball on the Stags left. A free kick was given against Quinn for a slight push on Gunter. As Gunter hit the ground, Quinn kicked the ball a split second after the whistle went. The ball hit Gunter on the ground. Gunter got up and wrestled Quinn to the ground with his right arm around Quinn’s neck. The referee had no choice but to send Gunter off. Quinn got a yellow card for kicking the ball at Gunter. Both decisions right in my opinion. The managers saw it differently to each other. Nigel Clough said: “For the sending-off, Quinny has got involved. He kicked the ball when the free kick was given, it hit their lad, who was angry and grabbed him round the throat. The rules say that's a sending-off.” Meanwhile AFC Wimbledon boss Johnnie Jackson said: “My player is on the floor having made a good tackle and then he gets the ball kicked in his face. It’s a natural instinct to react. I don’t think there was anything too malicious in that reaction. Their guy went down as if he had been shot. That’s football, but I don’t like that element of it.” A breathless first half. In the second half, the Stags gave a masterclass in how to play against ten men, stretching them from side to side. It was 3-2 after 56 minutes. O’Toole slid the ball out to Bowery on the right wing. Bowery played inside to Clarke, Clarke pulled back to Maris 16 yards from goal. A first time shot from Maris was slightly scuffed but deflected off a defender into the left corner of the net. Fortunate finish from Maris but a well-worked goal. Maris described the goal afterwards: “It was a bit of scuff from me at the end but it was good build-up play.” Maris went on to add: “I think my goal killed them mentally as when they had a point to hold onto they were going to defend for their lives. You saw their heads drop after my goal and then we scored another soon after.” On 58 minutes, following a corner, Clarke fired in a rasping shot that was on target but blocked. Mansfield extended the lead to 4-2 after 70 minutes. Lovely movement from the Stags stretching Wimbledon all over the place to win a corner. Maris took the corner from the left, Riley Harbottle attacked it and headed home from 5 yards. A thumping header. If there was doubt over who should have claimed the goal credited to him against Tranmere, there was no doubt over this one. Nigel Clough joked with BBC Radio Nottingham after the game: "It doesn't look too good from our strikers' point of view with Riley Harbottle as our leading scorer, but never mind!" A big worry for Mansfield as Oates had to go off after 77 minutes with a shoulder injury. Nigel Clough told iFollow Stags: "He's got a shoulder/chest problem. We'll see how that settles down over the next day or two. With having Lucas Akins out already, and Boateng and Hawkins, if we lose him as well it's a little bit of a problem. Will Swan didn't start tonight, he felt him hamstring in training so he only had 15 minutes tonight." The Stags were completely dominating the entire second half. And it was 5-2 after 87 minutes. Following a Stags corner, O’Toole did well to win a header 30 yards out. The header set Lapslie away into the area on the right, Lapslie pulled the ball across the edge of the six yard to Will Swan, on as sub for Oates, and he swept the ball into the net from 5 yards. Swan might have been a fraction offside as the cross came in, it was just a case of whether he was in line with the ball as it was played or slightly ahead of it. It’s hard to tell from the angle of the main camera video, and the pitchside video does not given any further clarity. However after Swan was denied a goal by a debatable offside against Derby (see my report for discussion of whether that should have been offside), it was good that he got the benefit of the doubt here for his first Stags goal. That was the end of the scoring. A thumping win for the Stags. So many good performances throughout the side. For me, the pick were George Lapslie, George Maris and Ollie Clarke in midfield. Great energy and quality. Jordan Bowery was also excellent after a dodgy first 20 minutes. Lapslie is my pick for man of the match. Two wins out of two in the league at home and Mansfield’s wonderful home form from last season continues. Stockport County are the visitors on Saturday. DETAILED REPORT : This was AFC Wimbledon’s first visit to Mansfield for seven years. Mansfield made five changes from the side that lost at Leyton Orient. Boateng was out of the squad with a tight hamstring. Swan was also out of the starting line-up, moving to the bench with Clough explaining: “Will Swan didn't start tonight, he felt him hamstring in training so he only had 15 minutes tonight." Hewitt, Gordon and Hartigan also dropped to the bench. In came Perch (his first start of the season), Bowery (back from suspension), Clarke (his first start of the season), Maris, Lapslie. Akins (groin) and Hawkins (hamstring) remained out through injury. When Hartigan came on, he was playing against the club he left at the end of last season. It was a 3-5-1-1 formation with Bowery at right wing-back, O’Toole (right), Perch (middle) and Harbottle (left) in central defence, McLaughlin at left wing-back. Clarke, Maris and Quinn in central midfield. Then Lapslie just behind Oates. The Stags went 2-0 down inside the opening 16 minutes. After 4 minutes, James Perch, on his first start of the season after injury, missed a header 10 yards inside his own half. That allowed Nathan Young-Coombes, on loan from Brentford, to set Josh Davison away into the Stags box on the right and he unleashed a powerful shot from 14 yards straight through Christy Pym’s legs. Whilst it was a powerful shot, Pym, who has been excellent since coming in this season, would be disappointed to concede through his legs. After 6 minutes, a corner for the Dons, Alex Pearce headed over the bar. Mansfield had a goal disallowed after 8 minutes. Great play from George Lapslie bursting forward and finding Rhys Oates who fired past the keeper, but the offside flag was correctly up against Oates before he took the shot. Two minutes later, Ollie Clarke with a shot from 30 yards, just wide of the right post. Then on 12 minutes, a good run from Oates to win a corner. From Quinn’s corner, McLaughlin’s looping header was caught by the keeper under his bar. A couple of crosses from Bowery straight to the keeper, as the Stags were also making misplaced passes. Wimbledon doubled their lead after 16 minutes. Young-Coombes crossed in from the right, and Davison got in front of his marker John-Joe O’Toole to head into the net from 6 yards. After 18 minutes, Lee Brown fired wide from 25 yards for Wimbledon. It was a poor start from the Stags, with plenty of mistakes all over the pitch from the likes of O’Toole and Bowery. Mansfield pulled a goal back after 32 minutes. Oates found Ollie Clarke, also on his first start of the season, with a great pass. Clarke, 30 yards from goal, then slid a delightful ball forward into the area for Lapslie to run on to. Wimbledon claimed for offside against Lapslie but Lapslie had timed his run perfectly and was played onside by the right sided-defender Chris Gunter. Lapslie got his toe to the ball first inside the area and was brought down by Jack Currie for a clear penalty. Currie was booked for the foul, and noticeably did not protest. After Stephen McLaughlin’s penalty on Saturday was saved, Rhys Oates stepped up this time and rolled his penalty into the left of the net as the keeper dived the wrong way. Oates’ first goal of the season. A bit of relief for Oates after his missed chances on Saturday. The Stags never looked back after that, and were now playing some sublime football. After 34 minutes, a terrific move down the right and a great cross from Jordan Bowery, playing at right wing-back, into Oates who knocked over the bar. Then two minutes later, good play from Lapslie to Clarke, who sent a left footed shot wide from 30 yards. The rain was now torrential. The pitch stood up to it perfectly. The Stags were level on 40 minutes. O’Toole set Bowery away down the right, Bowery played a one-two with Clarke, before curling a brilliant cross into the middle headed into the net by the diving Lapslie. A great assist from Bowery, and this was Lapslie at his best with the diving header, slightly reminiscent of his header at Sunderland in the FA Cup. A minute later, great control from Oates and his turn and shot was blocked. The Stags were rampant. Then AFC Wimbledon were reduced to ten men after 45 minutes. Stephen Quinn and Chris Gunter, two full internationals for Republic of Ireland and Wales respectively, battled for the ball on the Stags left. A free kick was given against Quinn for a slight push on Gunter. As Gunter hit the ground, Quinn kicked the ball a split second after the whistle went. The ball hit Gunter on the ground. Gunter got up and wrestled Quinn to the ground with his right arm around Quinn’s neck. The referee had no choice but to send Gunter off. Quinn got a yellow card for kicking the ball at Gunter. Both decisions right in my opinion. The managers saw it differently to each other. Nigel Clough said: “For the sending-off, Quinny has got involved. He kicked the ball when the free kick was given, it hit their lad, who was angry and grabbed him round the throat. The rules say that's a sending-off.” Meanwhile AFC Wimbledon boss Johnnie Jackson said: “My player is on the floor having made a good tackle and then he gets the ball kicked in his face. It’s a natural instinct to react. I don’t think there was anything too malicious in that reaction. Their guy went down as if he had been shot. That’s football, but I don’t like that element of it.” A breathless first half. The Stags level after going 2-0 down, and now with a man advantage. Half time 2-2 In the second half, the Stags gave a masterclass in how to play against ten men, stretching them from side to side. It was 3-2 after 56 minutes. O’Toole slid the ball out to Bowery on the right wing. Bowery played inside to Clarke, Clarke pulled back to Maris 16 yards from goal. A first time shot from Maris was slightly scuffed but deflected off a defender into the left corner of the net. Fortunate finish from Maris but a well-worked goal. Maris described the goal afterwards: “It was a bit of scuff from me at the end but it was good build-up play.” Maris went on to add: “I think my goal killed them mentally as when they had a point to hold onto they were going to defend for their lives. You saw their heads drop after my goal and then we scored another soon after.” On 58 minutes, following a corner, Clarke fired in a rasping shot that was on target but blocked. The first change for the Stags after 63 minutes: Hartigan replaced Quinn. Quinn had been booked. Clarke moved to the left side of the midfield 3. Hartigan was straight into the action with a super ball forward for Lapslie to get to the byline, but Lapslie’s ball was just out for a goal kick. Mansfield extended the lead to 4-2 after 70 minutes. Lovely movement from the Stags stretching Wimbledon all over the place to win a corner. Maris took the corner from the left, Riley Harbottle attacked it and headed home from 5 yards. A thumping header. If there was doubt over who should have claimed the goal credited to him against Tranmere, there was no doubt over this one. Nigel Clough joked with BBC Radio Nottingham after the game: "It doesn't look too good from our strikers' point of view with Riley Harbottle as our leading scorer, but never mind!" A second change for the Stags after 71 minutes: Gordon replaced McLaughlin. Bowery switched to left wing back. A big worry for Mansfield as Oates had to go off after 77 minutes with a shoulder injury. Nigel Clough told iFollow Stags: "He's got a shoulder/chest problem. We'll see how that settles down over the next day or two. With having Lucas Akins out already, and Boateng and Hawkins, if we lose him as well it's a little bit of a problem. Will Swan didn't start tonight, he felt him hamstring in training so he only had 15 minutes tonight." It was a triple change to rest as many players as possible. This season you can use 5 subs, but only on 3 occasions (apart from half time). Swan replaced Oates. Wallace came on for his first appearance of the season after injury, for Clarke. Hewitt replaced Bowery and went to left wing back. The Stags were completely dominating the entire second half. On 79 minutes, great movement from the Stags, the ball was out to Gordon on the right and he fired just wide. A minute later, Lapslie fired just over the bar from 25 yards. And it was 5-2 after 87 minutes. Following a Stags corner, O’Toole did well to win a header 30 yards out. The header set Lapslie away into the area on the right, Lapslie pulled the ball across the edge of the six yard to Will Swan, on as sub for Oates, and he swept the ball into the net from 5 yards. Swan might have been a fraction offside as the cross came in, it was just a case of whether he was in line with the ball as it was played or slightly ahead of it. It’s hard to tell from the angle of the main camera video, and the pitchside video does not given any further clarity. However after Swan was denied a goal by a debatable offside against Derby (see my report for discussion of whether that should have been offside), it was good that he got the benefit of the doubt here for his first Stags goal. That was the end of the scoring. A thumping win for the Stags. Man of the match: George Lapslie Here’s a running tally of various stats this season: Goals (league and cup): Harbottle 2, Hawkins, Lapslie, Maris, Oates, Swan 1. Assists (league and cup): Lapslie, Maris 2, Boateng, Bowery, Clarke 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 last season, 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 last season where his shot was deflected in for an own goal.) Average home league attendance: 6419 (average away fans: 458, average home fans 5961) (see Tranmere report for explanation of how attendance is calculated: it is essentially tickets sold, including season tickets) LATER UPDATE, 18 Aug 2022: Chris Gunter's red card was overturned. He was sent off for violent conduct during the match on Tuesday night, but after an appeal by AFC Wimbledon, his suspension has now been removed by an independent Regulatory Commission for 'wrongful dismissal'. Comment by Martin: Quite surprising this, in my opinion. The ref had the best view, looking straight at it from a few yards away, and it appeared to be clear violent conduct. |
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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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(3-5-1-1)
Pym 6 Whilst it was a powerful shot, Pym, who has been excellent since coming in this season, would be disappointed to concede the first goal through his legs. Had little else to do. O’Toole 6.5 Allowed Davison to get in front of him to head in the second goal. Did well to win a header in the build up to Mansfield’s fifth goal. Played well after a poor first 20 minutes. Perch 6.5 Missed a header in the build up to the first Wimbledon goal. Played well after that. Harbottle 8 Thumping header for the fourth goal. Played well, composed. Bowery 8 Excellent after a dodgy first 20 minutes when he made some misplaced passes. Involved in plenty of good attacking moves, including the assist for Lapslie’s goal. Sponsors’ man of the match. Clarke 8.5 Lovely ball for Lapslie to win the penalty. Assist for Maris’ goal. All action display, on his first start of the season. Maris 8.5 An assist for Harbottle’s goal from the corner. His finish for his goal got a bit lucky. Very fine game. Quinn 7 Was on the right side of a player getting sent off for retaliation on this occasion. Did well on the left. McLaughlin 7 Did well on the left. Lapslie 9 Excellent diving header for the second goal, slightly reminiscent of his header at Sunderland. Fine play to win the penalty. Fine assist for Swan’s goal. Also fine play to set up Oates for his disallowed goal. Oates 7 A big relief to get off the mark scoring the penalty. Played well. A big worry, going off with a shoulder/chest problem. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Hartigan (for Quinn, 63 mins) - Playing against his former club. Looked good.
Gordon (for McLaughlin, 71 mins) - Went close with one shot. Swan (for Oates, 77 mins) - Scored his first Stags goal. Wallace (for Clarke, 77 mins) - His first appearance of the season, returning from injury. Hewitt (for Bowery, 77 mins) - Subs not used: Flinders, Gale. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(3-5-2): Nik Tzanev; Will Nightingale, Alex Pearce (Paul Kalambayi 83), Lee Brown; Chris Gunter, Jack Currie (David Fisher 62), George Marsh, Paris Maghoma, Nathan Young-Coombes (Isaac Ogundere 46); Ayoub Assal (Ethan Chislett 90), Josh Davison (Quaine Bartley 83). Subs not used: Broome, Bendle.
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Referee:
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Benjamin Speedie 8 Got the penalty and the red card right. See later update over the red card above.
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