Season 22/23 Stagsnet Match Report
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Hartlepool United
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Mansfield Town
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Hamilton 19.
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Oates 47, Hawkins 60.
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Attendance: 4,599 (504 from Mansfield)
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Date: 29 December 2022
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STAGS WIN AT HARTLEPOOL
Martin Shaw at Victoria Park (the Suit Direct stadium) Mansfield Town came from behind to win 2-1 at Hartlepool last night. It was a big result and a much-needed win for the Stags, coming after the 88th minute equaliser for Northampton on Boxing Day, and also considering the two points tossed away against Hartlepool earlier in the season. The Stags end the month of December with 2 wins and 2 draws (against the 2nd and 3rd placed teams) from 4 games. Half way through the season, and Mansfield have 38 points. Just about half way to last season’s tally of 77 points. Of course Mansfield would like to better that this season. Hartlepool took the lead after 19 minutes with their only effort on target of the game. George Maris conceded an unnecessary corner, a rare mistake from him, and from the corner, taken from the right by Callum Cooke, Jack Hamilton was left unmarked to rise and head into the net off the left post. It was a perfectly placed header, had it been about a foot inside the post, Christy Pym would probably have saved it. It’s unclear who should have been marking Hamilton, all the other Hartlepool players in the box were picked up by a Stags player, but not Hamilton. Mansfield were the better side in the first half, but despite creating several half chances, including Ollie Clarke shooting just wide, Lucas Akins having an on-target shot blocked, and Will Swan bringing a save at full stretch from the keeper, the Stags were unable to break Hartlepool down. The Stags made changes at half time, moving Oli Hawkins up front, and it paid off massively. After 47 minutes, the Stags were level. George Lapslie, on as a first half substitute for the injured Clarke, played a one-two with Hawkins, just inside the Hartlepool half, surged forward and laid a lovely pass into the path of Rhys Oates, who took one touch before slamming a thunderbolt into the roof of the net from 15 yards. Oates described his goal after the game: “I had a good first touch and just thought I would hit it as hard as I could and there was a good chance it would go in.” A cracking finish from Oates, his first goal since returning from 3 months out injured. A good assist from Lapslie. And it was 2-1 after 60 minutes. Hawkins headed on to Oates, just inside the Hartlepool half. Oates shielded the ball before finding Lapslie, who chipped forward for Swan to run on to it. Swan was half-tackled, and the ball ran free for Lapslie to get into the area on the right. Lapslie got past the diving tackle of Reghan Tumilty to the byline and chipped it back into the middle where Hawkins met it on the volley into the bottom left corner of the net from 9 yards. A great finish from Hawkins, and another super assist from Lapslie. Lapslie now has 8 assists this season (see my stats below), double the next best which is both Hewitt and Maris with 4 each. Hartlepool never looked like equalising apart from one effort after 86 minutes when Christopher Missilou’s volley from 16 yards was deflected wide. Christy Pym didn’t have a shot to save in the game. Will Swan was close to making it 3-1 in stoppage time. He made a run to the byline on the right, then cut along the byline past Rollin Menayese and Missilou, moved the ball from his right foot to his left with quick feet and tried to beat the keeper at his near post, but the keeper blocked for a corner. Great play from Swan. From the resulting corner, Swan shot at goal with the outside of his right foot, it was blocked by Menayese. Swan wanted a penalty for handball but the referee wasn’t interested. Celebrations at full time between the players and the 504 travelling Stags fans. Brilliant support from the fans, making the journey to Hartlepool on a Thursday night. A much-deserved win, against a fairly poor Hartlepool side, who had though been buoyed by winning their previous two games. The win came at a cost, with four injuries picked up in the game: Ollie Clarke (calf strain, definitely out for Walsall game), George Maris (ankle/foot problem), Kieran Wallace (cut on his ankle), Lucas Akins (twisted ankle), to add to Riley Harbottle (out for 3 weeks with knee ligaments opened up), Jason Law (ill), James Gale (out for 4-6 weeks with shin splint problems). Less than 72 hours to recover and get a team out to play at Walsall on New Year’s Day (3pm kick off). You can watch the game with us on iFollow Stags if you are not travelling to Walsall. Mansfield cut the gap to 3rd placed Northampton to 5 points, and remain in 6th place. Meanwhile there are 8 teams within 5 points below Mansfield. One of them is Walsall, 5 points behind with a game in hand. Striker Danny Johnson, on loan at Walsall from Mansfield until January 15th, of course will not be allowed to play in that game. DETAILED REPORT : Mansfield made 5 changes from the side that started against Northampton. Harbottle was out with injury (see above). Gordon, Boateng, Quinn and Lapslie dropped to the bench. Boateng and Lapslie had not impressed against Northampton and had been subbed at half time. In came Perch, Akins, Clarke, Wallace and Swan. O’Toole was back from illness on the bench (replacing Harbottle in the 18). Bowery didn’t make the 18, along with Law and Gale (the latter 2 ill/injured, see above). Young full-back Taylor Anderson travelled with the squad and warmed up before the game, as did young keeper Louie Turner. The Stags started with a 3-5-2 formation: Pym; Hewitt, Hawkins, Perch; Akins (right wing-back), Clarke, Maris, Wallace, McLaughlin; Oates, Swan. Hartlepool came into the game on the back of wins against Crawley and Rochdale. Manager Keith Curle has done a good job since coming in earlier this season; his second game being the 2-2 draw at Mansfield, when Josh Umerah came on as sub at 2-0 down, and Hartlepool were gifted two goals by Riley Harbottle mistakes and Umerah scored both. Umerah was in the starting XI here, but was to be anonymous. Former Stag Rollin Menayese had scored in both of those two recent wins for Hartlepool. Hartlepool were short of central defenders with Euan Murray injured, and Alex Lacey too. David Ferguson had to deputise at centre half, normally left wing back, along with Mark Shelton, normally a midfielder, alongside Menayese. It was a cool evening in the North-East. There had been some rain in the late afternoon, and a strong cold wind, but the wind had dropped by kick-off. A quiet opening to the game. The first chance for either side was after 8 minutes as McLaughlin chipped into the box after a corner was cleared, Akins headed it down, it came straight back to him off a defender and he smashed in a shot that was goalbound but blocked almost at source by David Ferguson. Two minutes later at the other end, an important header away by Hawkins as a cross came in from the right from Umerah. Then on 11 minutes, Pym snaffled a low hard cross from Tumilty with no mistakes. After 12 minutes a free kick from McLaughlin curled into the box from 40 yards out was flapped at by the keeper, it came out to Clarke a smashed a shot goalwards from 24 yards. It was goalbound like the earlier Akins shot, but blocked inside the box. Then on 16 minutes, Akins teed up Clarke for another shot, low and hard and just wide of the left post. Hartlepool took the lead after 19 minutes with their only effort on target of the game. George Maris conceded an unnecessary corner, a rare mistake from him, and from the corner, taken from the right by Callum Cooke, Jack Hamilton was left unmarked to rise and head into the net off the left post. It was a perfectly placed header, had it been about a foot inside the post, Christy Pym would probably have saved it. It’s unclear who should have been marking Hamilton, all the other Hartlepool players in the box were picked up by a Stags player, but not Hamilton. After 21 minutes, Hartlepool keeper Killip miscued a clearance straight to Wallace. Wallace fed Swan, and his low shot from 22 yards was saved at full stretch by the keeper, redeeming himself. Clarke was booked for a late challenge after 23 minutes. Oates headed well wide from McLaughlin’s high cross after 25 minutes. The Stags went closer after 29 minutes. McLaughlin curled in a free kick from the left from level with the edge of the area, and Swan got away from his marker at the near post to head wide from 6 yards. A good chance. Ollie Clarke stayed down following the free kick, and then limped off. It is a calf strain, which will definitely keep him out of the Walsall game. He was replaced by Lapslie (30 minutes). Umerah fired wide, into the side netting, from a tight angle after 33 minutes. The Stags lost their way for the last 15 minutes of the half. Some low quality play, with misplaced passes, notably from Hewitt. Good pressing from Oates and Swan though in the first minute of stoppage time at the end of the half to win a corner. Wallace sent a good corner beyond the far post on to Hawkins’ head and Hawkins’ header was on target but clutched on the line by the keeper. Mansfield were the better side in the first half, but despite creating several half chances, the Stags were unable to break Hartlepool down. Hartlepool led by that header from Hamilton. Hartlepool created nothing else, bar a shot wide from a tight angle by Umerah. Half time 1-0 The Stags made changes at half time: Stephen Quinn replaced Wallace. Wallace received a cut on his ankle just before the break. And Oli Hawkins moved up front. This was sensible, as there was an obvious lack of height in the Hartlepool defence. It was now 4 at the back: Akins (right back), Hewitt, Perch, McLaughlin. After 47 minutes, the Stags were level. George Lapslie played a one-two with Hawkins, just inside the Hartlepool half, surged forward and laid a lovely pass into the path of Rhys Oates, who took one touch before slamming a thunderbolt into the roof of the net from 15 yards. Oates described his goal after the game: “I had a good first touch and just thought I would hit it as hard as I could and there was a good chance it would go in.” A cracking finish from Oates, his first goal since returning from 3 months out injured. A good assist from Lapslie. Good defending by Maris after 50 minutes. At the other end on 53 minutes, Swan played a great ball forward for Oates, Oates couldn’t get a shot away, the ball fell to Lapslie, who miscued a shot goalwards and it was an easy save for the keeper. A rare chance for Hartlepool after 57 minutes as Hamilton headed Cooke’s corner a long way over the bar. Good play from Oates to win a corner after 58 minutes. Oates was booed by some of the home fans. Nothing short of moronic to boo a player who did more than anyone to get them promoted back to the Football League. The Stags made it 2-1 after 60 minutes. Hawkins headed on to Oates, just inside the Hartlepool half. Oates shielded the ball before finding Lapslie, who chipped forward for Swan to run on to it. Swan was half-tackled, and the ball ran free for Lapslie to get into the area on the right. Lapslie got past the diving tackle of Reghan Tumilty to the byline and chipped it back into the middle where Hawkins met it on the volley into the bottom left corner of the net from 9 yards. A great finish from Hawkins, and another super assist from Lapslie. Lapslie now has 8 assists this season (see my stats below), double the next best which is both Hewitt and Maris with 4 each. Hartlepool now had a very makeshift defence as Sterry went off injured (63 minutes), replaced by midfielder Christopher Missilou, who went in at left back, with Tumilty moving to right back. Swan headed well wide from an Akins cross after 63 minutes. Wes McDonald fired well at the other end from 30 yards after 72 minutes. Then Callum Cooke fired over the bar and over the stand from 20 yards after 76 minutes. Maris limped off after 80 minutes, after a foul by Menayese, not given as a free kick by the referee. He was replaced by Hartigan. Nigel Clough said after the game: “I thought there was a foul in the tackle on him and he’s been caught. I think he’s got an ankle/foot problem.” On 82 minutes, a really nasty challenge by Featherstone on Oates. Just a yellow card. From the replay, it should have been a red card. It was reckless, in the air, and out of control from Featherstone. Before play restarted, Hawkins was moved back into central defence, the Stags reverting to 3-5-2, or arguably 5-3-2 with the wing-backs almost as extra defenders now. Hartlepool never looked like equalising apart from one effort after 86 minutes when Christopher Missilou’s volley from 16 yards was deflected wide after Hawkins had cleared. Akins limped off after 88 minutes with a twisted ankle. He landed awkwardly after he jumped for a cross in that attack before Missilou’s shot was deflected wide. Akins was replaced by O’Toole. Hewitt switched to right wing-back, O’Toole to the right side of the back 3. Hewitt unwisely fouled Missilou on the left touchline with a minute left of the 90. The free kick was level with the edge of the area on the left. It was headed away by Lapslie. 7 minutes were added on, after injuries to Maris and Akins, and plenty of subs. Will Swan was close to making it 3-1 in stoppage time (90+3 minutes). He made a run to the byline on the right, then cut along the byline past Rollin Menayese and Missilou, moved the ball from his right foot to his left with quick feet and tried to beat the keeper at his near post, but the keeper blocked for a corner. Great play from Swan. From the resulting corner, Swan shot at goal with the outside of his right foot, it was blocked by Menayese. Swan wanted a penalty for handball but the referee wasn’t interested. The Stags wound the clock down well, with Lapslie and Swan combining well to win a free kick very late on. Celebrations at full time between the players and the 504 travelling Stags fans. Brilliant support from the fans, making the journey to Hartlepool on a Thursday night. A much-deserved win, against a fairly poor Hartlepool side. Man of the match: George Lapslie Here’s a running tally of various stats this season: Goals (league and cup): Swan 8, Lapslie 7, Hawkins 5, Akins, Maris 4, Harbottle 3, Bowery, Clarke, Oates 2, Gale, Gordon 1. Assists (league and cup): Lapslie 8, 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 5, Harbottle 3, Hartigan 1, Hawkins 4, Lapslie 3, Law 1, Maris 3, McLaughlin 2, O’Toole 5, Perch 3, 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) |
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Report by: Martin Shaw at Victoria Park (the Suit Direct stadium)
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Line Up:
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(3-5-2)
Pym 7 No chance with the goal which was right in the corner of the net off the post. Otherwise didn’t have a shot to save in the game. Hewitt 6.5 Distribution was very poor. Unwisely conceded a free kick after 89 minutes in a dangerous position. Otherwise did well. Hawkins 8 Great finish for his goal. Went up front and looked dangerous in the second half. Perch 7 Slotted into the defence well. Akins 7.5 Good game at right wing back then right back. One good on target shot that was blocked, and teed up Clarke for a shot. Clarke - Limped off after half an hour with a calf strain. Had one goalbound shot blocked and another just wide. Maris 7 Good game. Limped off with an ankle/foot problem. Wallace 6.5 One really good corner for a Hawkins header. Had to go off at half time with a cut ankle. McLaughlin 7 Some good crosses including from set pieces. Oates 8 Cracking finish for his goal. Some good pressing. Swan 7 Close to a goal in stoppage time with great skill. Couldn’t make the most of a couple of first half chances. Worked hard, good pressing. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Lapslie (for Clarke, 30 mins) 8.5 Terrific assists for both goals.
Quinn (for Wallace, 46 mins) 7 Decent second half. Hartigan (for Maris, 80 mins) - O’Toole (for Akins, 88 mins) - Subs not used: Flinders, Gordon, Boateng. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(3-4-1-2) Killip; Menayese, Shelton (McDonald, 58), Ferguson; Sterry (Missilou, 63), Sylla, Featherstone, Tumilty; Cooke; Umerah (Grey, 74), Hamilton. Subs not used: Boyes, Paterson, Odour, Hastie.
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Referee:
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Martin Coy 6 Should have sent Featherstone off for a really nasty challenge on Oates. Missed the foul by Menayese on Maris which led to him limping off. Otherwise did ok.
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