Season 22/23 Stagsnet Match Report
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Grimsby Town
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Mansfield Town
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Khan 15, Orsi 39
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Attendance: 912 (144 from Mansfield)
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Date: 20 September 2022
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STAGS BEATEN AT GRIMSBY IN EFL TROPHY
Martin Shaw at Blundell Park Mansfield Town were beaten 2-0 at Grimsby Town in the second match in the group stages of this season’s Papa John’s Trophy. Grimsby were the better side in the opening half and opened up a 2-0 lead with goals from former Stag Otis Khan, on his Grimsby debut, and Danilo Orsi, who scored a hat-trick against the Stags in this competition last season for Harrogate. The Stags had been poor in the first half, and were better in the second half, but despite some good chances, were unable to get back into the game. A big disappointment of the evening was an injury to Anthony Hartigan with a dislocated shoulder. Boss Nigel Clough said after the game: “He’s dislocated his shoulder for the second time. We’ll have to see how it settles down. We’ve lost one of our best players for a few weeks. We'll have to have it scanned and looked at. He said it's less painful than the first time he did it, I'm not sure if that's good news or not.” There is one more game in the group stages as Derby County visit Mansfield in October, for the second time this season. Meanwhile, the next game in the league is at Crewe on Saturday. If you’re not travelling to the game, you can watch it with us on iFollow Stags by buying a match pass, as the game falls on an international weekend. Mansfield made 8 changes to the side that started at Gillingham. Gordon, McLaughlin and Hartigan were the players to start both games. The intention was for McLaughlin and Hartigan to play just 45 minutes, with Hewitt and Maris playing the second 45 minutes. Swan was back up front, back from a chest infection. Jason Law was back on the bench after injury. Nigel Clough said after the game: "Good to have Jason Law back on the pitch, that's a bonus. I think the way the team's playing at the moment, he can certainly fit into that." Academy goalkeeping coach Adam Collin was also on the bench. Clough explained: "Adam only finished playing a year or two ago. We've registered him with Owen Mason out on loan at Farsley. You never know with the goalkeepers ... somebody gets injured in the warm-up or gets ill ... you need another goalkeeper to go on the bench." The Stags retained the 3-5-2 formation with Gale and Swan up front. Bowery was in the centre of defence, with O’Toole and Perch either side. Clough explained: “We’ve played Jordan back there before. We wanted to stick with the formation that played so well on Saturday.” Akins, Clarke and Pym didn’t travel to give them a rest. Grimsby also made 8 changes from their last league game. Former Stag Otis Khan made his debut. After 3 minutes, Flinders made a fine save with his leg from Otis Khan, out to narrow the angle. Harry Clifton threaded an excellent ball forward for Khan to run on to, getting in behind O’Toole. On 13 minutes, Gale won the Stags a free kick, 30 yards out. Hartigan curled it in from the right, O’Toole headed just over the bar. He just couldn’t get over it enough. A good free kick from Hartigan. Grimsby took the lead after 15 minutes through Otis Khan. It was very similar to the earlier chance for Khan. Jordan Maguire-Drew slid an excellent ball forward for Khan to run on to, again getting in behind O’Toole. Khan rounded Flinders who slotted into the empty net. After 17 minutes, Keyandrah Simmonds fired in a shot from 30 yards. Flinders parried the shot. Three minutes later, O’Toole did just enough to clear from Khan. Another free kick from Hartigan, after 23 minutes, this time from 20 yards out on the right, it went off O’Toole and over the bar. Quinn was dispossessed 25 yards from his own goal after 25 minutes, Danilo Orsi fired over the bar from 20 yards. Hartigan was clattered by Simmonds after 29 minutes. A bad challenge, not even given as a free kick by the referee. Hartigan went off with a shoulder injury (see above for full details). On came Maris for Hartigan, 15 minutes earlier than planned. A great chance for the Stags after 31 minutes. Gale set Swan away with a great pass. Swan got into the area on the left but rolled his shot across the keeper and wide of the right post. Rather a soft effort. Two minutes later, Gale set Swan away again, this time on the right. Swan got into the area and sent a low shot heading just inside the near post, but the keeper got down to save. A better effort from Swan. O’Toole was booked after 33 minutes for a foul near the halfway line. Booking in this competition only count in this competition. Great play from Gale again after 36 minutes, but Quinn gave the ball away. Grimsby made it 2-0 after 39 minutes. Simmonds received the ball from inside his own half as Perch stretched to clear, but missed the ball. As the ball span away, Simmonds then got to the ball just before Bowery 40 yards from goal. He slipped a ball forward for Orsi to run on to, Orsi got just inside the box and fired under Flinders into the net. A mistake from Perch trying to win the first ball and not doing so, while Bowery could also have done better. The Stags had a chance to pull one back after 44 minutes. Perch found McLaughlin on the left. McLaughlin exchanged passes with Quinn and got to the edge of the area before shooting low with his right foot. The keeper got down well to save. Excellent play from McLaughlin and Quinn and a decent effort. A disappointing first half. Grimsby were the better side and deserved the 2-0 lead. The Stags had been poor defensively in the first half. The injury to Hartigan was a big blow. Half time 2-0 The Stags brought on Hewitt for McLaughlin at half time, a pre-planned change. Hewitt went to left back. Bowery went to the left of a front 3 in a 4-3-3 formation. Gale won a corner after 47 minutes. That was cleared for another corner. That corner came out to Perch, whose shot was deflected twice before being saved on the line by the keeper. On 50 minutes, good football on the right, the ball was squared to Bowery on the edge of the area. He fired in a shot on target blocked for a corner. The corner from Maris, from the left, was glanced by Perch and just evaded Gale at the far post. A minute later, good play on the left between Hewitt and Bowery, and Bowery curled a shot that was heading just inside the far post before the keeper pushed it wide. At the other end, on 58 minutes, Swan gave away a free kick. Maguire-Drew’s free kick was cleared to Clifton who fired over the bar. Then Maguire-Drew got to the byline and put in a good cross which sub Aribim Pepple headed wide via a deflection. The resulting corner from the left was flicked goalwards from 6 yards by Pepple and Flinders made a fantastic reaction save batting it away. A nice sweeping move from the Stags down the left after 64 minutes, a good first touch from Gale, but his cross was straight to the keeper. Law replaced Gordon after 69 minutes. Gordon appeared to have landed awkwardly on his back. But Clough said afterwards it was a planned change and Gordon was ok. On 70 minutes, Quinn tried to set Swan away heading the ball forward, but the ball ran through to the keeper. After 73 minutes, Lapslie and Harbottle replaced Quinn and Wallace. The formation was now (4-1-3-2): Hewitt (right back), O’Toole, Perch, Hewitt (left back); Maris; Lapslie, Law, Bowery; Swan, Gale. Grimsby could have made it 3-0 on the break after 76 minutes. Orsi set Pepple away 1-on-1 with Flinders. Pepple rolled his shot wide of the right post as Flinders narrowed the angle. Harbottle had a glorious chance to pull one back from the corner but headed wide. Then on 82 minutes, Gale headed wide after a cross back in from Perch following a corner. That was the last chance for either side. The Stags were the better side in the second half, but despite some good chances, were unable to get back into the game, and were beaten 2-0. Man of the match: James Gale Here’s a running tally of various stats this season: Goals (league and cup): Akins, Lapslie 3, Clarke, Harbottle, Hawkins, Maris, Swan 2, Gale, Oates 1. Assists (league and cup): Lapslie 5, Maris 3, Hartigan 2, Akins, Boateng, Bowery, Clarke, Gordon, Hewitt, McLaughlin 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.) |
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Report by: Martin Shaw at Blundell Park
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Line Up:
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(3-5-2)
Flinders 7 Two very fine saves, from Khan in the first half and Pepple in the second half. The second goal went under him but I think it would be harsh to blame him. O’Toole 5 Twice let Khan get in behind him, the first time Flinders saved, the second time Khan scored. At the other end, headed a good chance over the bar. Nigel Clough noted that he played well after being booked after 33 minutes: "His defending in the second half was outstanding not to commit a foul. He stood up, got a toe in and defended well." Bowery 5.5 Struggled at centre half and could have done better for the second goal. Played better in the second half when he moved further forward. Perch 5.5 A mistake as Grimsby scored their second goal. Unlucky when his second half effort was deflected twice and saved on the line by the keeper. Gordon 6 Did ok. Wallace 5.5 Didn’t really get a grip of midfield. Hartigan 7 Two good free kicks. A big blow when he went off with a dislocated shoulder. Quinn 5.5 Lost the ball a couple of times. One good piece of play with McLaughlin setting up a McLaughlin shot. McLaughlin 6 One good piece of play and shot. Pre-planned just to play the first half. Swan 5.5 Two chances in the first half, the first was a poor effort. Gale 7 Set up the two Swan chances in the first half. Some other good pieces of play. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Maris (for Hartigan, 29 mins) 6.5 Decent 60 minutes.
Hewitt (for McLaughlin, 46 mins) 7 Good second half on the left. Law (for Gordon, 69 mins) - Great to see him back after injury. Nigel Clough said after the game: "Good to have Jason Law back on the pitch, that's a bonus. I think the way the team's playing at the moment, he can certainly fit into that." Lapslie (for Quinn, 73 mins) - Harbottle (for Wallace, 73 mins) - Subs not used: Adam Collin, Hawkins. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(4-4-2): Crocombe; Efete, Maher, Pearson, Amos; Maguire-Drew (Richardson, 79), Clifton (Holohan, 87), Khouri, Khan (Pepple, 46); Simmonds (Wearne, 45), Orsi (Glendon, 87). Subs not used: Battersby.
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Referee:
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Bobby Madden 5.5 Didn’t even give a free kick for the bad challenge on Hartigan for his injury.
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