Season 22/23 Stagsnet Match Report
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Mansfield Town
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Northampton Town
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Swan 84.
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Hoskins 88
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Attendance: 7,301 (589 from Northampton) (note this it is essentially tickets sold, including season tickets)
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Date: 26 December 2022
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STAGS AND NORTHAMPTON DRAW 1-1
Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town drew 1-1 with Northampton Town at the One Call Stadium this afternoon. The Stags took the lead after 84 minutes when Will Swan turned in the rebound from close range after Northampton keeper Lee Burge made a great save on his line from Rhys Oates’ stab goalwards (*) following a corner. But Northampton equalised after 88 minutes. Stephen McLaughlin gave the ball away inside his own half and within 15 seconds the ball was in the Stags net, as Mitch Pinnock put in a great cross from the left and Sam Hoskins met it beyond the far post six yards out to volley into the net whilst off the ground. It was a magnificent goal from Hoskins, but a sickener for the Stags. However there was no doubt that Northampton deserved their equaliser. The Stags had not played well, and it would have been a steal had the Stags claimed the win, which would have been the quadruple over Northampton in 2022. (*) update: the “stab goalwards” by Oates was actually a rebound off Oates from an attempted clearance from a defender. I had not realised this until seeing it from a different angle. Mansfield never got going. Perhaps partially due to not having played for 16 days, whereas Northampton had played 6 days ago. Perhaps partly due to some players having had a bit of illness. Whatever the reason, Mansfield need to improve, including in just 3 days time away to Hartlepool on Thursday night (7.45pm kick-off). You can watch the game with us on iFollow Stags if you are not travelling to Hartlepool. Northampton had the better of the first half and had the better chances. Hoskins sent a free kick from 25 yards into the side netting, and Shaun McWilliams put in a fine cross from the left to Ben Fox for a great chance but he miscued his shot horribly wide from a good position. The Stags created nothing at all in the first half, and had to rely on some good defending, including tackles and blocks from Elliott Hewitt, who had another very good game, and Oli Hawkins. While Riley Harbottle was forced to limp off as his knee opened up, which was a blow with Mansfield short on pacey central defenders. Northampton continued to create the better chances at the start of the second half, as Louis Appere sent in a shot which Hawkins deflected over the bar, and Hoskins sent in a powerful shot after a good turn which Christy Pym pushed away. At the other end, Swan headed across goal and wide of the far post from a good cross from Stephen Quinn, and Kellan Gordon put in a fabulous cross from the right but no-one got on the end of it. Into the final 10 minutes. Josh Eppiah went close for Northampton, firing inches wide from the edge of the area after getting past Hawkins, who didn’t dare foul him, already on a yellow card. Then came those two goals, one at either end, in quick succession. Northampton had the final chance to win it after a mistimed tackle from James Perch gave Northampton a free kick in stoppage time but Pinnock fired well wide. Not a very good performance from Mansfield in an attacking sense in front of a big Boxing Day crowd. The game was made all-ticket for home fans and that proved to be a good decision with 6,712 tickets sold for home fans, the biggest home attendance of the season, and less than 200 short of a sell-out (the 6,901 home fans against Forest Green last season was a sell-out of home fans). Remember this does include all tickets sold including season ticket holders who didn’t attend, but the home stands seemed very full today. Only 589 travelling fans from Northampton, another poor following, Northampton’s third poor following to Mansfield in 2022, which included astonishingly not even getting close to selling their allocation for the play-off semi-final. There’s no doubt that Northampton are a good side. They remain 8 points ahead of Mansfield in 3rd place and it is going to take something quite special from Mansfield in the second half of the season to catch them or Leyton Orient or Stevenage in the top 2. As it is, Mansfield remain the play-off places, and only two points ahead of Walsall and Bradford, both outside the play-off places and with a game in hand. DETAILED REPORT : Mansfield made two changes to the side that started at Stevenage 16 days ago. Gordon and Boateng came in for Akins and Clarke, who were on the bench. It was 4 at the back, with Hewitt at right back, Harbottle and Hawkins in central defence, and McLaughlin at left back. Gordon started the game in right midfield, the first time he has played in right midfield at Mansfield, in 3.5 years at the club, and under 3 managers. He was later to switch to right back, when Harbottle went off injured, and then right wing-back at half time. Also in midfield were Boateng, Maris, Quinn and Lapslie. Oates was up front. The bench included Swan, Clarke and Akins. Not in the 18 were Bowery (“just come back from illness” said Clough) and O’Toole (“ill, he’s got a nasty bug so he’s been off for about a week or so with it so he’s not trained”). Also Law and Gale. Northampton were unchanged from their win six days ago against Carlisle. That meant Mitch Pinnock, so prolific with his long throws last season, was on the bench, coming back from injury. The Cobblers had the ball in the Stags area inside the opening 15 seconds as Guthrie chipped into the area from the centre circle. Kieron Bowie, on loan from Fulham, initially controlled it, but as he tried to get in a shot, Hawkins nicked the ball away. Then the ball fell for Hoskins, whose shot was blocked by Hewitt for a corner. The Stags created their own problems after 6 minutes. Hawkins tried to square to Harbottle. A terrible pass. Harbottle slipped, but might not have got to the ball anyway. Hoskins got to the ball and tried to take it past Harbottle who brought him down. The referee played advantage as Appere picked up the loose ball, Appere played inside to Fox, whose shot from the edge of the area was blocked by Maris, deflecting it over the bar. The referee went back and booked Harbottle for the foul. No argument with the booking. And a good advantage from the referee. However there was argument over the next booking after 9 minutes. Bowie ran into Hawkins. The referee gave a free kick. Arguable in my opinion. But the referee also booked Hawkins for the foul. A poor decision in my opinion. From the resulting free kick, 25 yards out, right of centre, Hoskins bent the free kick just wide of the right post, into the side netting. After 11 minutes, Hoskins lifted the ball over the Stags defence. Appere ran in behind Hawkins to the edge of the area, but Hawkins put in a great tackle as Appere was about to shoot. Harbottle had to limp off after 15 minutes. After the game, Clough said he had “opened his knee up so we’ll see how he is in the next few days. I think he’ll be struggling for Hartlepool and maybe Walsall.” He was replaced by Hartigan. Hewitt moved from right back to centre half. Gordon moved from right midfield to right back. After 20 minutes, Guthrie played a back-pass to his keeper. It was a terrible pass, bouncing awkwardly. Rather than try to head it, or leave it, the keeper decided to catch it. Absurdly, the referee allowed play to continue. From my initial view of it, and from the video replay, it was a stonewall back-pass and should have been a free kick for the keeper catching it. Outrageous refereeing. Another free kick for the Cobblers in shooting range after 23 minutes. This time 30 yards out, left of centre. Hoskins took it again and the wall did its job, blocking the shot. Two minutes later, a corner from Hoskins, a header from Guthrie and an easy save for Pym. A minute later, a great run from the dangerous Hoskins, into the area, cutting inside past Hawkins, who daren’t bring him down, and Hewitt got in a great block from Hoskins’ shot. The ball came for Hoskins again, and Hewitt blocked his shot again. Gordon was late on a tackle on Hoskins after 27 minutes, after Hewitt left a pass short to him. Gordon should have been booked, considering earlier yellow cards, but Gordon got away with it. Hewitt would have been to blame for the yellow card. Gordon crossed from the right after 30 minutes, and Maris sent a looping header straight to the keeper who caught it under his bar. It was though Mansfield’s first effort on target. Gordon gave the ball away after 33 minutes. Appere got in a shot, going well wide but a deflection took it for a corner. Mansfield making their own problems again. Northampton could have been in front after 36 minutes. Good play from McWilliams on the left and a good ball in for Fox who miscued a shot horribly wide. A couple of good clearances by Hawkins in the closing stages of the half. Goalless at the break. Northampton had been the better side with a few good chances including a Hoskins free kick just wide and a bad miss from Fox. Some good defending including tackles and blocks from Hewitt, and from Hawkins too apart from an early error. Incidentally the Stags have still led only once at half time this season in the league, remarkably. Half time 0-0 A double change for Mansfield at the break: Swan replaced Lapslie, Perch replaced Boateng. Neither Lapslie not Boateng had got into the game, though they weren’t alone. It was now 3 at the back: Hewitt (right), Hawkins, Perch (left). Gordon and McLaughlin wing-backs. Maris and Hartigan in front of the back three. Quinn behind Oates and Swan. Northampton continued to create the better chances at the start of the second half. After 47 minutes, Appere cut inside from the right and sent in a shot which Hawkins deflected over the bar. Two minutes later, Hoskins sent in a powerful shot after a good turn which Christy Pym pushed away. At the other end a minute later, Maris crossed from the right, Oates flicked a header on, it hit Swan and went just wide. As Maris crossed, he was fouled by Hoskins. It was a bad foul by Hoskins. The referee did nothing. Andy Garner complained on the touchline. The referee came over to speak to Garner a minute later to tell him to calm down. Then the referee came back to book Garner shortly afterwards. Borne out of frustration from Garner at an inept refereeing display. Perch put in a good tackle after 58 minutes. After 59 minutes, Swan headed across goal and wide of the far post from a good cross from Quinn. Maris had a chance to shoot from 25 yards after 63 minutes, but didn’t take it. Quinn gave the ball away with a loose pass after 64 minutes. Hoskins sent Appere into the box on the left, but Hewitt did enough to stop him as Appere lost control of the ball. A minute later, Appere played inside to Hoskins who shot straight at Pym from an angle on the left. Ollie Clarke replaced Quinn after 69 minutes. After 72 minutes, Clarke sent Oates away on a run down the left. Oates outpaced sub Tyler Magloire, Magloire went to ground, Oates went down over him, and the referee decided there was no foul. Oates was hurt and stayed down, but was eventually ok to continue. After 77 minutes, Gordon put in a fabulous cross from the right but no-one got on the end of it. Into the final 10 minutes. After 81 minutes, sub Josh Eppiah went close for Northampton, firing inches wide from the edge of the area after getting past Hawkins, who didn’t dare foul him, already on a yellow card. That was close. The Stags took the lead after 84 minutes. The Stags started to build a bit of momentum with some long throw-ins from the right from Hewitt. Then the Stags won a corner from the right. Maris took it. It was headed high into the air. As it came down, Oates headed goalwards. A defender attempted to clear, it rebounded off Oates and Northampton keeper Lee Burge made a great save on his line, but Swan turned in the rebound from close range. A great moment for Swan and for the Stags. Swan’s 8th goal of the season, to take him one clear of Lapslie as leading scorer. But Northampton equalised after 88 minutes. McLaughlin gave the ball away inside his own half and within 15 seconds the ball was in the Stags net, as Mitch Pinnock put in a great cross from the left and Hoskins met it beyond the far post six yards out to volley into the net whilst off the ground. It was a magnificent goal from Hoskins. Hoskins was unmarked though as McLaughlin at the far post did not pick him up, with Perch marking Hylton. Northampton had the final chance to win it after a mistimed tackle from Perch gave Northampton a free kick in stoppage time (90+4 minutes), just outside the corner of the area on the right, but Pinnock fired well wide after Hoskins played short to him. There was no doubt that Northampton deserved their equaliser. The Stags had not played well, and it would have been a steal had the Stags claimed the win, which would have been the quadruple over Northampton in 2022. On to Hartlepool on Thursday night. Man of the match: Elliott Hewitt Here’s a running tally of various stats this season: Goals (league and cup): Swan 8, Lapslie 7, Akins, Hawkins, Maris 4, Harbottle 3, Bowery, Clarke 2, Gale, Gordon, Oates 1. Assists (league and cup): Lapslie 6, Hewitt, Maris 4, Gordon, McLaughlin 3, Akins, Boateng, Hartigan 2, Bowery, Clarke, Hawkins, Law, Oates, Quinn, Wallace 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. In the case of a cross that is headed away before the goal is scored, such as Clarke’s goal at Doncaster, nobody gets an assist.) Yellow cards (league only, alphabetical order): Boateng 1, Clarke 4, Harbottle 2, Hartigan 1, Hawkins 3, Lapslie 3, Law 1, Maris 3, McLaughlin 2, O’Toole 5, Perch 2, Pym 1, Quinn 6, Swan 2, Wallace 1. Red cards (league and cup): Boateng 1, Bowery 1, Perch 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: 6563 (average away fans: 559, average home fans 6003) (see Tranmere report for explanation of how attendance is calculated: it is essentially tickets sold, including season tickets) |
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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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(4-5-1)
Pym 7 Made three comfortable saves. No chance with the goal. Hewitt 8.5 Very good game with numerous blocks and tackles. Harbottle - Forced to limp off after 15 minutes as his knee opened up. Will miss at least the next game. Hawkins 7.5 Several very good tackles, blocks and clearances. Beaten a couple of times as well. McLaughlin 5 Double-error for the goal: gave the ball away in the build-up, and then left Hoskins unmarked. Gordon 7 Did well going forward including one great cross. Gave the ball away once at the back. Started the game in right midfield, the first time he has played in right midfield at Mansfield, in 3.5 years at the club, and under 3 managers. He was later to switch to right back, and then right wing-back. Lapslie 5.5 Didn’t get into the game and subbed at half time. Maris 7.5 Pick of the midfield. Boateng 5.5 Like Lapslie, didn’t get into the game and subbed at half time. Quinn 6 One good cross but nowhere near his best. Oates 6.5 Got very little service. Was in the right place to be involved in the Stags goal. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Hartigan (for Harbottle, 15 mins) 5.5 Didn’t do enough. We’re not yet seeing the expertise in set pieces that was billed when he signed.
Swan (for Lapslie, 46 mins) 7.5 Scored his 8th goal of the season, to take him one clear of Lapslie as leading scorer. Surprising that he didn’t start the game. Perch (for Boateng, 46 mins) 6.5 Mistimed tackle gave Northampton a free kick in stoppage time. Otherwise did ok. After the game Clough said: "We were a bit worried with Perchy coming on with the pace, certainly in a back four, a little bit better in a three, a bit more comfortable, and he's not played much recently.” Clarke (for Quinn, 69 mins) - Subs not used: Flinders, Wallace, Akins. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(4-1-2-3) Burge; McGowan (Eppiah 79), Sherring, Guthrie, Odimayo; Leonard; McWilliams (Sowerby 79), Fox (Magloire 68); Hoskins, Appere, (Hylton 79), Bowie (Pinnock 68). Subs not used: Maxted, Haynes.
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Referee:
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Benjamin Speedie 4.5 Several very poor decisions, though none that had a major bearing on the game. One good advantage played.
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