Season 22/23 Stagsnet Match Report
|
|
|
||
|
Mansfield Town
|
|
Stockport County
|
||
|
Swan 55, Clarke 56.
|
Sarcevic 53
|
|||
|
Attendance: 6,924 (968 from Stockport) (note this it is essentially tickets sold, including season tickets)
|
||||
|
Date: 20 August 2022
|
||||
|
STAGS COME FROM BEHIND TO BEAT STOCKPORT IN CRAZY 3 MINUTE SPELL
Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town came from behind to win for the second time in four days, as Stockport were beaten 2-1 at the One Call Stadium yesterday. All the goals came in a crazy 3 minute spell as Stockport took the lead after 53 minutes, but the Stags showed great character to score after 55 and 56 minutes to turn the game around. It was Mansfield’s third home league win in 3 games this season, and if you include last season and the play-off semi-final, it was Mansfield’s 17th win in 19 home games. Quite an incredible run of home form. Indeed in all competitions at home, Mansfield have now scored in 23 consecutive home games. If you haven’t been to a home game recently, I can tell you the atmosphere is absolutely rocking. The first half was goalless, but Mansfield shaded it in terms of quality and in terms of chances. Stockport had one good chance as Ryan Croasdale was through 1-on-1 with Christy Pym. Pym stood firm and made a good save. At the other end, Anthony Hartigan threaded a superb ball forward for Will Swan who did very well to get away from defender Fraser Horsfall to get himself 1-on-1 with keeper Viteslav Jaros, but Swan fired into the side netting. Then George Lapslie laid off to Stephen McLaughlin in the area on the left, McLaughlin cut inside and fired a shot straight at the keeper. Then in stoppage time at the end of the half, the Stags were so nearly in front. Hartigan curled a ball forward to the left, Swan controlled it with a magnificent first touch to propel himself into the area. Swan slid the ball forward for Lapslie who got to the ball just in front of the keeper on the edge of the six yard box. Lapslie turned and teed up Ollie Clarke for a shot from 12 yards with the keeper now out of position, but Clarke’s shot was brilliantly blocked by defender Mark Kitching. A great move which would have been a wonderful goal. Into the second half and Stockport started it the better with their best 10 minutes of the game. After 50 minutes, a let-off for the Stags. Paddy Madden crossed from the left and Kyle Wootton headed against the inside of the right post. Stockport were in front after 53 minutes. Antoni Sarcevic received the ball 25 yards from goal, he took a touch and fired a fantastic shot into the top right corner of the net giving Pym no chance. It was a wonderful goal, though he wasn’t closed down. Within 30 seconds of the restart, Mansfield were level. Lapslie played forward to Hartigan. Hartigan turned and pushed forward to 30 yards from goal. He tried a shot, and as he did so he was tackled and the ball skewed off and fell kindly for Swan just inside the area. Swan took one touch and then volleyed left footed past the keeper from 14 yards. A fine finish from Swan. His second goal in 4 days. The set up from Hartigan was fortunate. A minute later, Mansfield were in front. Hartigan slid a super ball forward for Swan. Swan cut inside along the edge of the area and teed up Lapslie for a shot. Lapslie’s shot was pushed away by the keeper low down to his left, into the path of Clarke, who fired a low shot from a tight angle into the net. A great finish from Clarke because it was a very tight angle. Really good play from Hartigan, who played numerous excellent balls all afternoon for Swan to run on to, and overall had a terrific game. And in my scoring system for assists (which is different to some others and is explained below), Lapslie gets an assist for the shot which was saved leading to the goal. What an incredible three minutes. Hartigan fired just wide from 30 yards after 64 minutes. And at the other end on 73 minutes, Callum Camps volleyed 3 yards wide from 20 yards following a corner. That was really the only chance Stockport had to equalise. Lapslie headed forward to set Swan away again after 77 minutes, Swan had two defenders on him, knocked the ball forward into the area and got to the ball fractionally before the onrushing keeper, but Swan’s flick goalwards was straight into the keeper’s midriff. Then on 83 minutes, great play from Swan to win the ball on the byline, he cut in and his shot from a tight angle was saved by the keeper for a corner. The Stags made five substitutions and saw the game out very competently. This was a very good win. Much deserved as well. Will Swan was superb up front on his own in the absence of Rhys Oates (see below for more on Oates). George Lapslie, who played just behind Swan, was also very good indeed, as he was on Tuesday. These two are going to be very important in the absence of Oates. And Anthony Hartigan was excellent, with numerous through balls setting Swan away. Ollie Clarke also had a very good game. There is worrying injury news about Rhys Oates. He went off injured on Tuesday. I spoke to Nigel Clough about the injury after the game yesterday. It is a chest muscle injury and Clough said we wouldn’t know how long Oates will be out for until Oates has seen a specialist on Monday. Clough said that the news doesn't look too good from the scan he has had but it does need the specialist to interpret. Clough told me a story about a foot injury he had as a player, the initial diagnosis wasn’t good but his dad said we’re not having that and sent him to a specialist and it turned out to be nowhere near as bad. I can’t tell the story in full because I wouldn’t do it justice. Anyway, I would guess we will hear the news of the Oates injury at the midweek press conference (which is possibly on Tuesday, though not confirmed). The absence of Oates for any prolonged period would obviously be a huge blow. The Stags would surely need to sign one, perhaps two, quality strikers by the end of August. That is of course very much easier said than done and no club will want to lose a quality striker. We already know that Mansfield have had substantial bids for two strikers turned down in this window. The recruitment team including Nigel Clough, his brother Simon, analyst Matt Ash, David Sharpe, backed of course by John and Carolyn, may need to work some magic. By the way, congratulations to Nigel Clough on his 100th game in charge of Mansfield yesterday: won 45, drawn 23, lost 32. Win-ratio 45%. Thanks to Paul Taylor for the stats. For league games only, Clough’s win-ratio is 44.2%, which is currently the 7th best managerial record in Mansfield Town’s club history (see https://stagsnet.net/vintage/reports/manager_records.htm). DETAILED REPORT : Mansfield were without several players through injury: Boateng (tight hamstring, hopefully available next week), Akins (groin, also hopefully available next week), Quinn (problem with his hip, again hopefully available next week), Oates (see above). And Hawkins returned from a tight hamstring to the bench, but was only fit enough for 5 minutes as a sub. From the side that played AFC Wimbledon, Hartigan came in for Quinn, Swan came in for Oates. It was the same 3-5-1-1 formation, with Bowery at right wing-back, Hartigan in the centre of midfield, Maris on the left, Clarke on the right. And Lapslie just behind Swan. Young James Gale and George Cooper, who are both expected to go out on loan to get regular football, were on the bench. Stockport are a side packed full with quality players. Paddy Madden dropped down from League One to the National League to fire them to promotion back to the Football League, as did Antoni Sarcevic. Fraser Horsfall was a bit of a wow signing from Northampton, one of the best central defenders in both boxes in League Two last season. Kyle Wootton was signed from Notts County for whom he scored 38 goals in the last two seasons. Keeper Viteslav Jaros is on loan from Liverpool and was on loan at Notts County in the second half of last season. Stcokport made two changes from their previous game, bringing in Horsfall and Mark Kitching, for Southam-Hales who was suspended and Myles Hippolyte (who signed from Scunthorpe). Stockport had taken just 3 points from their opening 4 games. It was Stockport’s first visit to Mansfield for 9.5 years. Stockport are a big club. It was a little surprising to me that they brought less than a thousand visiting fans. It was a pleasant sunny afternoon. After just 4 minutes, Ollie Clarke was booked for a foul on Kitching. A mistake by Pym after 6 minutes. He bowled out but straight to Paddy Madden, 35 yards from goal. With Pym well off his line, Madden tried to shoot, but was well off target. Pym apologised to his team mates. After 7 minutes, Swan got to the byline on the right, he pulled back towards Lapslie, but it was put out for a corner. From Hartigan’s corner to the near post, O’Toole header over. Good defending from Harbottle after 9 minutes as he headed out with Wootton looking to get through. Nearly a brilliant ball forward from Maris for McLaughlin on 13 minutes, but the keeper was out to claim. After 25 minutes, Swan did well to win the ball and was then fouled. The free kick from 35 yards out was deflected for a corner. For that corner, the ball came out to Maris who miscued a shot wide. Stockport had their one good chance of the first half on 26 minutes as Ryan Croasdale was through 1-on-1 with Pym. Pym stood firm and made a good save. The chance came as one Stockport player would have been offside but didn’t go for the ball leaving Croasdale to run on to it. Two minutes later, Croasdale sent a snapshot from 20 yards high and wide. At the other end on 29 minutes, Hartigan threaded a superb ball forward for Swan who did very well to get away from defender Fraser Horsfall to get himself 1-on-1 with keeper Viteslav Jaros, but Swan fired into the side netting. Great play from Swan to get into that position, but having got there, he should have hit the target. Great pace from Swan again a minute later. Clarke headed the ball away from on the edge of his own area, Swan controlled the ball beautifully, he steamed forward all the way to the edge of the area on the left, cut back inside and squared to Bowery on the right. Bowery took and touch and fired in a shot but it was blocked. Then on 32 minutes, Lapslie laid off to McLaughlin in the area on the left, McLaughlin cut inside and fired a shot straight at the keeper. Good play from Harbottle on 34 minutes showing good strength to shepherd out from the seasoned pro Sarcevic. Two minutes later, McLaughlin intercepted a pass, made a great run forward and his cross-shot was cleared for a corner. The corner was wasted by Maris. At the other end on 39 minutes, a great challenge by O’Toole to put a cross behind for a corner. Then a high ball forward from the Stags, Swan did well to control, and laid off for Clarke whose shot was blocked. Then in stoppage time at the end of the half, the Stags were so nearly in front (45+2 minutes). Hartigan curled a ball forward to the left, Swan controlled it with a magnificent first touch to propel himself into the area. Swan slid the ball forward for Lapslie who got to the ball just in front of the keeper on the edge of the six yard box. Lapslie turned and teed up Ollie Clarke for a shot from 12 yards with the keeper now out of position, but Clarke’s shot was brilliantly blocked by defender Mark Kitching. A great move which would have been a wonderful goal. The first half was goalless, but Mansfield shaded it in terms of quality and in terms of chances. Half time 0-0 Into the second half and Stockport started it the better with their best 10 minutes of the game. After 50 minutes, a let-off for the Stags. Paddy Madden crossed from the left and Kyle Wootton headed against the inside of the right post. Stockport were in front after 53 minutes. Antoni Sarcevic received the ball 25 yards from goal, he took a touch and fired a fantastic shot into the top right corner of the net giving Pym no chance. It was a wonderful goal, though he wasn’t closed down. Within 30 seconds of the restart, Mansfield were level. Lapslie played forward to Hartigan. Hartigan turned and pushed forward to 30 yards from goal. He tried a shot, and as he did so he was tackled and the ball skewed off and fell kindly for Swan just inside the area. Swan took one touch and then volleyed left footed past the keeper from 14 yards. A fine finish from Swan. His second goal in 4 days. The set up from Hartigan was fortunate. A minute later, Mansfield were in front. Hartigan slid a super ball forward for Swan. Swan cut inside along the edge of the area and teed up Lapslie for a shot. Lapslie’s shot was pushed away by the keeper low down to his left, into the path of Clarke, who fired a low shot from a tight angle into the net. A great finish from Clarke because it was a very tight angle. Really good play from Hartigan, who played numerous excellent balls all afternoon for Swan to run on to, and overall had a terrific game. And in my scoring system for assists (which is different to some others and is explained below), Lapslie gets an assist for the shot which was saved leading to the goal. What an incredible three minutes. On 60 minutes, a great run from McLaughlin down the left, all the way to the byline, he crossed in but it was cleared. Mansfield were forced into a change after 62 minutes. Maris had got a whack and was limping, and was replaced by Wallace. The only update from Nigel Clough after the game was that Maris had taken a whack. Hartigan fired just wide from 30 yards after 64 minutes. On 68 minutes, Swan sent McLaughlin away with a lovely ball forward. McLaughlin moved forward and cut into the area, past Camps, and then was tackled. As he got past Camps, from our angle it looked like he was clipped, but he stayed on his feet. Had he gone down, he might have had a shout for a penalty. From the video replay from the other side of the ground, this is not so clear. A free kick for the Stags from the right, level with the penalty spot, after 72 minutes. McLaughlin curled it towards the near post but his cheeky shot was blocked. And at the other end on 73 minutes, Callum Camps volleyed 3 yards wide from 20 yards following a corner. That was really the only chance Stockport had to equalise. That came after Harbottle had put in a great tackle but then Lapslie conceded a free kick, and from the free kick Wallace headed away for a corner, and from that corner, Sarcevic put the ball back in and it came out to Camps. Lapslie headed forward to set Swan away again after 77 minutes, Swan had two defenders on him, knocked the ball forward into the area and got to the ball fractionally before the onrushing keeper, but Swan’s flick goalwards was straight into the keeper’s midriff. Super play between McLaughlin and Swan back to McLaughlin to win a corner after 79 minutes. Hewitt replaced Hartigan after 80 minutes. A good reception for Hartigan. Hewitt went to right wing back, Bowery up front, Lapslie dropped back into midfield. Then on 83 minutes, great play from Swan to win the ball on the byline, he cut in and his shot from a tight angle was saved by the keeper for a corner. The Stags made the final three of their five substitutions after 89 minutes: Hawkins replaced Clarke, Gale replaced Swan, Gordon replaced McLaughlin. Hewitt switched to left wing-back. Lapslie was booked for a foul after 90 minutes. The referee indicated an accumulation of fouls. Wallace cleared away the resulting free kick. The Stags broke to the other end, but Gale lost the ball to the frustration of Nigel Clough. Gale made amends after 90+4 winning a corner. Lapslie was slightly fortunate not to pick up a second yellow card in the space of 5 minutes on 90+5 after another foul. Pym then collected a high ball into the box in the final minute. And as he booted upfield the final whistle went. The Stags had seen the game out very competently in 5 minutes of stoppage time. A great win. On to Sutton United next Saturday. The Stags owe them one after last season. When I suggested this to Nigel Clough after the game, he scowled that we owe them more than one! I think the Stags will be determined to get something this time. Man of the match: Will Swan Here’s a running tally of various stats this season: Goals (league and cup): Harbottle, Swan 2, Clarke, Hawkins, Lapslie, Maris, Oates 1. Assists (league and cup): Lapslie 3, Maris 2, Boateng, Bowery, Clarke, Hartigan 1 (notes on assists: in the case of a penalty, the player who earns the penalty gets an assist, such as Lapslie against AFC Wimbledon. 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, such as Lapslie against Stockport. 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.) Yellow cards (league only, alphabetical order): Clarke 1, Hawkins 1, Lapslie 1, McLaughlin 2, O’Toole 1, Quinn 2. Red cards (league and cup): Bowery 1. (note: red cards count across competitions apart from Papa John’s Trophy; yellow cards are competition specific) (note: 5 yellow cards before the end of the 19th league game will result in a one match ban; 10 yellow cards before the end of the 37th league game will result in a two match ban; 15 yellow cards before the end of the 46th league game will result in a three match ban) Average home league attendance: 6587 (average away fans: 628, average home fans 5959) (see Tranmere report for explanation of how attendance is calculated: it is essentially tickets sold, including season tickets) |
||||
|
Report by: Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill
|
||||
|
Line Up:
|
(3-5-1-1)
Pym 7 Good save in a first half 1-on-1. No chance with the goal. Nice catch in stoppage time. O’Toole 8 Won a good header in the build-up to the second goal. Very good game in defence. Perch 7.5 Good game at the heart of the defence. Harbottle 7.5 Some fine defending. Bowery 7.5 Worked hard up and down the right. Then won headers when pushed up front. Clarke 8 Very good game despite an early booking. Great finish for his goal from a very tight angle. Hartigan 9 Excellent. Played numerous excellent balls all afternoon for Swan to run on to. Maris 7 Subbed after taking a whack. Not in his favoured position on the left of midfield. McLaughlin 8 Some good runs down the left, despite the absence of Quinn. Lapslie 8.5 Heavily involved, playing just behind Swan. His shot led to the second goal. Set up chances for Clarke and McLaughlin. Swan 9.5 Outstanding performance. Scored one and involved in the build-up for the other. Plenty of great runs, including continually chased lost causes. Nigel Clough praised his performance: “Will Swan got us going today. He was excellent throughout the game and looked a threat with his all-round play and his intelligence with some of his runs. He was top class today and scored one and made one. He is never going to challenge in the air against big defenders, but he is a nuisance, gets in front of players and wins balls you don't think he's going to get. When he gets in positions, he makes good decisions.” |
|
Sub Line Up:
|
Wallace (for Maris, 62 mins) - Some good clearances.
Hewitt (for Hartigan, 80 mins) - Hawkins (for Clarke, 89 mins) - Gale (for Swan, 89 mins) - Gordon (for McLaughlin, 89 mins) - Subs not used: Flinders, Cooper. |
|
Opposition Line Up:
|
Jaros; Lewis, Horsfall (Rydel 65), Johnson (Crankshaw 65); Brown, Sarcevic (Hippolyte 76), Croasdale, Camps (Lemonheigh-Evans 76), Kitching; Madden, Wootton (Connor Jennings 65). Subs not used: Hinchcliffe, Quigley.
|
|
Referee:
|
Peter Wright 7 Not too many controversial incidents. Handled the game well.
|
|
|