Season 22/23 Stagsnet Match Report
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Walsall
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Mansfield Town
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James-Taylor 43, Kinsella 47.
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Oates 82.
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Attendance: 6,199 (1,090 from Mansfield)
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Date: 1 January 2023
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STAGS BEATEN AT WALSALL IN FRUSTRATING GAME
Martin Shaw at Bescot Stadium (Poundland Bescot Stadium) Mansfield Town lost 2-1 at Walsall in the first game of 2023 amid great frustration for the Stags players, management and over 1,000 travelling fans. The Stags had 18 shots to Walsall’s 11 and should not have lost the game, but went down to goals either side of half time, after having been much the better side in the opening 43 minutes. The Stags pulled a goal back through Rhys Oates after 82 minutes and put the Walsall goal under pressure in the final 20 minutes but were unable to find an equaliser. Walsall were only on top in this game for the final two minutes of the first half and about 20 minutes at the start of the second half, but that turned out to be enough to secure the 3 points. Mansfield’s squad was stretched to the limit with injuries to Clarke, Maris, Akins and Wallace (all picked up at Hartlepool), Harbottle (already out for 3 weeks), and Hewitt (ill). Maris was at least fit enough to be on the bench, and things got worse when Hartigan was injured and had to be helped off the pitch clearly very upset, with another shoulder injury, and he’s sadly going to be out for quite a while again. With the January transfer window now open, the Stags are in need of strengthening in central defence, with a pacey defender a priority, as Nigel Clough has recently commented on the lack of pace of O’Toole and Perch, and a high quality wing-back/full-back. Mansfield have 3 home games out of the next 4, against Barrow, Crewe and Doncaster this month, and will be looking for a big haul of points. The Stags should have been well ahead by half time. After 5 minutes, Hawkins volleyed straight to the keeper from a Hartigan free kick. After 9 minutes, a great break down the right by Oates, he laid off to Gordon whose low ball in was flicked by Swan and was inches behind Lapslie who agonisingly couldn’t turn the ball into an empty net. After 12 minutes, Swan’s low ball across came to Lapslie, who sent a shot just wide of the right post from the edge of the area. After 41 minutes, a Maris shot from 20 yards was parried by the keeper, and Lapslie fired the rebound wide. And after 45+5 minutes, after a great run by Oates, Maris fired just over the bar from 18 yards. Walsall had created very little, apart from multiple long throws into the box from Tom Knowles, and one great run down the right from Knowles who then cut in and his shot was blocked by Perch. But completely against the run of play, Walsall took the lead after 43 minutes. Andy Williams cut inside McLaughlin, who had a poor game, and tried to feed Jacob Maddox. Maris intercepted the pass and sent it towards his own goal, it deflected off Hawkins, perfectly into the path of Douglas James-Taylor, who turned and fired past Pym into the corner of the net. It felt like a fortunate goal for Walsall. Walsall increased their lead 2 minutes into the second half. A corner well beyond the back post and very deep found Liam Kinsella completely unmarked, he looped a header goalwards from 12 yards out and it ended up in the back of the net. Kinsella stayed back for the rest of Walsall’s corners, and normally does so, according to the assistant manager after the game, so this probably caught out Mansfield’s marking plans. Walsall were then on top for about 20 minutes, missing chances to go 3-0 ahead, including James-Taylor stabbing wide from a corner, and O’Toole slicing a clearance just wide of his own goal from a dangerous Liam Gordon cross. The Stags then put Walsall under pressure for the rest of the game, with Boateng firing well over the bar, Bowery firing just over the bar, and Hawkins stabbing a half-volley over the bar from a good free kick from Boateng. Then a glorious chance after 79 minutes as Maris made a fine run forward and found Oates in the box, but as Oates turned to try and shoot he missed his kick in front of goal. The Stags finally pulled a goal back after 82 minutes as Kellan Gordon chipped in a cross from the right and Oates headed into the corner of the net from 8 yards. The referee, who’d had a good game for 80 minutes, then lost the plot giving three free kicks against Hawkins all for fouls on Manny Monthe, all of which were plainly six of one and half a dozen of the other. But despite keeping up the pressure, the Stags couldn’t find the quality to create another golden chance and there was real frustration at the end of the game at the defeat. Nevertheless, Happy New Year everyone! Thank you for reading and listening during 2022. DETAILED REPORT : Mansfield were forced into 5 changes from the side that won at Hartlepool. Wallace, Clarke, Maris and Akins were all injured at Hartlepool, while Hewitt was ill. In came Quinn, Lapslie, Hartigan, Gordon and Boateng. Maris was fit enough to be on the bench. It was a 4-4-2 formation: Pym; Gordon, Hawkins, Perch, McLaughlin; Hartigan, Boateng, Quinn, Lapslie; Oates, Swan. There was an obvious lack of pace at the back with Hewitt and Harbottle missing. Young full back Taylor Anderson was on the bench. Bowery and Law returned to the bench. Goalkeeper coach Adam Collin was named on the bench to make up the numbers. Walsall had lost their last game but that was their first defeat in 8 games. They were without Danny Johnson, on loan from Mansfield, who couldn’t play under the terms of his loan. His loan runs out on January 15. Wing-back Liam Bennett had been recalled by Cambridge. And former Stag Hayden White was injured. Oisen McEntee came in for his debut in central defence. Tom Knowles filled in at wing-back, and impressed in that role. After 5 minutes, Hawkins volleyed straight to the keeper from a Hartigan free kick from 40 yards out. A minute later, great control from Swan, and he played a ball forward for Oates to run on it, but his pass had too much on it. At the other end, 4 long throws in the opening 8 minutes from Tom Knowles, all cleared. After 9 minutes, a great break down the right by Oates, he laid off to Kellan Gordon whose low ball in was flicked by Swan and was inches behind Lapslie who agonisingly couldn’t turn the ball into an empty net. That was so close. After 12 minutes, Swan’s low ball across came to Lapslie via a miscued clearance from Daniels, and Lapslie sent a left-footed shot just wide of the right post from the edge of the area. That was close as well. At the other end after 16 minutes, good defending by McLaughlin in the area after Knowles had initially worked some space for himself. A good run down the right by Kellan Gordon after 19 minutes, and his low ball in was cleared. After 21 minutes, Boateng’s shot from 24 yards was blocked on the edge of the area, but it was probably going a foot or so wide anyway. Within a minute, the Stags were on the attack again as Quinn played in to Lapslie, whose shot from 22 yards was blocked. This was super football from the Stags. Boateng won the ball in the Walsall half after 24 minutes, he played a square pass to Oates but put slightly too much on it sending Oates a bit wide and though Oates got in a shot from 24 yards, it was blocked. The Stags had been very good. But after 33 minutes, Hartigan had to be helped off the pitch clearly very upset, with another shoulder injury. It came after he fell awkwardly. Maris came on to replace him. Maris had not been fit enough to start the game and play 90 minutes. Walsall’s first chance of the game came after 34 minutes when Douglas James-Taylor turned and his shot was blocked by Perch through to Pym. Then the impressive Tom Knowles made a great run down the right, he cut in and his shot was well-blocked by Perch for a corner. On 38 minutes, Perch did well to head back to Pym under pressure from Andy Williams. After 41 minutes, Boateng sent Oates away to the edge of the area, and his shot was blocked by Monthe. Moments later, a Maris shot from 20 yards was parried by the keeper, and Lapslie fired the rebound wide. Walsall had created very little. But completely against the run of play, Walsall took the lead after 43 minutes. Andy Williams cut inside McLaughlin, who had a poor game, and tried to feed Jacob Maddox. Maris intercepted the pass and sent it towards his own goal, it deflected off Hawkins, perfectly into the path of Douglas James-Taylor, who turned and fired past Pym into the corner of the net. It felt like a fortunate goal for Walsall. After 45+4 minutes, Knowles sent a shot wide of the left post from 28 yards. Then on 45+5 minutes, after a great run by Oates, Maris fired just over the bar from 18 yards. The Stags should have been well ahead by half time after a very good 40 minutes, creating plenty of chances. Perhaps the injury to Hartigan disrupted the Stags as Walsall came into the game before the break and got that sucker-punch goal after 43 minutes which was a fortunate one. Half time 1-0 Walsall increased their lead 2 minutes into the second half. It started with McLaughlin losing the ball to Knowles on the halfway line, and then fouling his man in frustration trying to win it back. The free kick reached Daniels on the left and his cross was well-blocked for a corner by Boateng. The corner from the left taken by Isaac Hutchinson was well beyond the back post and very deep and found Liam Kinsella completely unmarked, he looped a header goalwards from 12 yards out and it ended up in the back of the net. Kinsella stayed back for the rest of Walsall’s corners, and normally does so, according to the assistant manager after the game, so this probably caught out Mansfield’s marking plans. Walsall were then on top for about 20 minutes, missing chances to go 3-0 ahead. After 51 minutes, James-Taylor stabbed just wide from a corner. A minute later, Williams fired wide from a tight angle from the right. Then Liam Gordon got past Kellan Gordon and his shot from an angle was blocked. After 62 minutes, Oates brilliantly cut inside from the right, his cross in was initially cleared, but came to Maris whose low shot from 20 yards was blocked by McEntee. Mansfield made a double change after 63 minutes. O’Toole replaced McLaughlin, Bowery replaced Quinn. The Stags switched to 3 at the back: O’Toole, Hawkins, Perch. With Gordon at right wing-back, Bowery at left wing-back. After 67 minutes, O’Toole sliced a clearance just wide of his own goal from a dangerous Liam Gordon cross from the left, after Liam Gordon got past Kellan Gordon. The Stags then put Walsall under pressure for the rest of the game. After 68 minutes, Boateng fired well over the bar, after a good Stags break involving Bowery and Oates. A terrible shot. Two minutes later, Swan’s shot from 28 yards was blocked. Two minutes after that, Bowery cut inside from the left and fired just over the bar. A good effort from Bowery. After 76 minutes, Hawkins stabbed a half-volley over the bar from a good free kick from Boateng. A good opportunity and pretty close. Straight to the other end, and Walsall sub Conor Wilkinson shot well over the bar from 25 yards. Law replaced Swan after 78 minutes. Then a glorious chance after 79 minutes as Maris made a fine run forward and found Oates in the box, but as Oates turned to try and shoot he missed his kick in front of goal. The Stags re-organised with Hawkins going up front, and Bowery switching to centre half. The Stags finally pulled a goal back after 82 minutes as Kellan Gordon chipped in a cross from the right and Oates headed into the corner of the net from 8 yards. The referee, who’d had a good game for 80 minutes, then lost the plot giving three free kicks against Hawkins all for fouls on Manny Monthe, all of which were plainly six of one and half a dozen of the other. But despite keeping up the pressure, the Stags couldn’t find the quality to create another golden chance. For example after 90+5 minutes, O’Toole, who otherwise played well, sent a terrible cross over the bar. There was real frustration for the Stags at the end of the game at the defeat. 18 chances for the Stags to 11 from Walsall tells its own tale. The Stags were certainly much the better side for first 43 minutes and last 25 minutes. The injury to Hartigan seemed to disrupt Mansfield’s performance in between those times as Walsall scored their two goals. Oates had a fine game for Mansfield and very much deserved his 4th goal of the season. Meanwhile Donervon Daniels and Manny Monthe were particularly impressive in the Walsall defence. There was a good battle between Kellan Gordon and Liam Gordon, both of whom were much better going forward than defending. The Stags were down on pace at the back with Hewitt and Harbottle absent, but Perch and Hawkins had good games, and Walsall didn't really exploit that lack of pace. O'Toole also looked good at the back when he came on, though it was a shame about his cross over the bar in stoppage time. As I said earlier, Mansfield now have 3 home games out of the next 4, against Barrow, Crewe and Doncaster this month, and will be looking for a big haul of points. Man of the match; Rhys Oates Here’s a running tally of various stats this season: Goals (league and cup): Swan 8, Lapslie 7, Hawkins 5, Akins 4, Maris 4, Oates 4, Harbottle 3, Bowery 2, Clarke 2, Gale 1, Gordon 1. Assists (league and cup): Lapslie 8, Maris 5, Gordon 4, Hewitt 4, McLaughlin 3, Akins 2, Boateng 2, Hartigan 2, Bowery 1, Clarke 1, Hawkins 1, Law 1, Oates 1, Quinn 1, 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 Bescot Stadium (Poundland Bescot Stadium)
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Line Up:
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(4-4-2)
Pym 6 Not at fault for the goals and had no other saves to make. Gordon 7 Put in some good crosses. A good battle between Kellan Gordon and Liam Gordon, both of whom were much better going forward than defending. Hawkins 7.5 Had a good game, in defence until late on. Missed a couple of chances to score. Perch 8 Plenty of good defending. Good to see him back in some form. McLaughlin 5.5 Poor game. Could have done better for the first goal, and conceded a free kick in the build-up to the second goal. Hartigan 7 Started the game well, but had to go off with a shoulder injury. Boateng 6.5 Did ok. Some good passing. One poor shot. Quinn 6.5 Also did ok. Lapslie 7 Went close several times in the first half. Oates 8 Had a fine game and very much deserved his 4th goal of the season. Plenty of good runs. Swan 5.5 Disappointing game. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Maris (for Hartigan, 33 mins) 7 Did well. Unlucky with his part in the first Walsall goal. Very good pass for the chance for Oates when Oates missed his kick.
O’Toole (for McLaughlin, 63 mins) - Looked good at the back when he came on, though it was a shame about his cross over the bar in stoppage time. Brought the ball out of defence well. Bowery (for Quinn, 63 mins) - One good shot just over the bar. Did ok at left wing-back, then centre half. Law (for Swan, 78 mins) - Did well. Put in some crosses. Subs not used: Flinders, Adam Collin, Taylor Anderson. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(3-4-1-2) Evans; McEntee, Daniels, Monthe; Knowles, Kinsella, Maddox (Cowley 78), Liam Gordon; Hutchinson; James-Taylor (Earring 87), Williams (Wilkinson 73). Subs not used: Barrett, Cashman, Allen, Maher.
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Referee:
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Charles Breakspear 6.5 Had a good game for 80 minutes, then lost the plot giving three free kicks against Hawkins all for fouls on Manny Monthe, all of which were plainly six of one and half a dozen of the other.
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