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Season 22/23 Stagsnet Match Report
English Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Stockport County  
1 - 1
 Mansfield Town
Madden 30.
 
 Akins 90+3
Attendance: 10,155 (1,407 from Mansfield)
 
Date: 18 March 2023

AKINS HEADER RESCUES POINT FOR STAGS AT STOCKPORT

Martin Shaw at Edgeley Park

Mansfield Town rescued an important point with a stoppage time equaliser from Lucas Akins at Stockport County yesterday. The goal was right in front of 1400 travelling Stags fans and there were great scenes to celebrate the goal. Stockport had led since the 30th minute through a header from Paddy Madden. With Stockport 4 points ahead of the Stags in the table, and Mansfield having 2 games in hand, it was important not to lose, having already lost 1-0 at Northampton on Tuesday night. The Stags now have 3 home games in a row, starting against Grimsby Town on Wednesday night.

Mansfield welcomed Elliott Hewitt back from injury, and there was also good news pre-match that he had extended his contract under 2025. However the Stags remained without 7 others through injury, including Stephen McLaughlin who will be out for a period of weeks again after getting whacked on his ankle at Northampton. Stephen Quinn was also out for 3 games through suspension. Ollie Clarke though edged towards avoiding a suspension by not getting booked at Stockport and providing he is not booked in both of his next 2 games, he will avoid a 2 game suspension.

The return of Hewitt meant that Akins went back up front, with Danny Johnson dropping to the bench. The other change in the starting line-up was that Boateng replaced Quinn.

It was Mansfield’s first visit to Edgeley Park for 10 years. The Stags won 3-1 on that occasion on the way to winning the Conference. To show how far both sides have come since that game, the attendance in January 2013 was 2,647 with 139 from Mansfield. The attendance yesterday was 10,155, four times as many, and a full house, and there were ten times as many travelling Stags fans, albeit the 2013 game was a midweek match.

Stockport created the first chance after 4 minutes when Paddy Madden played a great ball to Will Collar who got in behind James Perch to be 1-on-1 with Christy Pym but as Collar shot from 12 yards, Pym made a great save to his left pushing the ball away. Perch then blocked the follow-up shot from Collar.

The Stags went close at the other end after 13 minutes hitting the woodwork. A quickly taken free kick by Wallace set Keillor-Dunn away down the left, Keillor-Dunn played inside to Akins, who turned and squared to Ollie Clarke, who had charged forward. Clarke took one touch before firing goalwards from 20 yards. His shot took the slightest of deflections off Chris Hussey and clipped the top of the bar. Unlucky for Clarke.

No more real chances for either side until the home side took the lead after 30 minutes. Following a throw-in on the right from Akil Wright, Wright was left unmarked to cross into the middle where Madden got away from his marker Alfie Kilgour to head over Pym into the net from 12 yards. It was an absolutely brilliant header from Madden. I think Kilgour could have got tighter on him to stop him getting a clean header though. I don’t think it was an error by Pym to let the header go in but it might have been possible to save it with a brilliant stop.

The Stags were agonisingly close to equalising after 36 minutes. Great play from Hewitt to get to the byline on the right inside the area, and he crossed low and very hard. It cannoned off a defender and rolled agonisingly wide of the post with the keeper nowhere. So close.

Stockport ahead 1-0 at the break in a tight game with two big chances for either side, but Stockport having taken one of theirs.

Into the second half. Mansfield switched to 4 at the back, with Perch at left back, and Bowery moving forward.

Stockport had a good spell. Hussey brought a good save from Pym with a free kick from 22 yards after 47 minutes. Further chances followed for Antoni Sarcevic and Madden. The home side were on top.

Mansfield brought on Rhys Oates for the final 33 minutes and started to build up a head of steam. Kilgour sent a flying header wide from a Keillor-Dunn cross, Oates headed wide from a Boateng cross-shot. Oates made some surging runs. On 68 minutes, Boateng’s shot on the turn was blocked by Knoyle. Seven Mansfield players immediately claimed for a penalty for hitting the arm of Knoyle. I’ve seen a video from a different angle and it definitely hits Knoyle’s arm, but from close range.

After the Stags had been on top for 20 minutes, Stockport went close to sealing the win after 77 minutes as Isaac Olaofe got past Bowery, but Kilgour threw his body in the way of Olaofe’s shot. And then from the resulting corner, a header from Kyle Wootton was blocked by his own teammate.

Five minutes of stoppage time were added on. It looked like the Stags would fall to a narrow defeat. But joy for the Stags three minutes into stoppage time. Hewitt’s long throw from the left was headed away by Akil Wright and further away by Olaofe. But Ollie Clarke played an excellent first time ball back out to Hewitt on the left. Hewitt took a touch to control it, and chipped in a beautiful cross with the outside of his right boot and Lucas Akins got up above the defence to powerfully head into the roof of the net from 8 yards. What a moment in front of the 1400 travelling Stags fans. A great cross from Hewitt, his Hewitt’s 6th assist of the season (see my stats below). A thumping header from Akins, his 8th goal of the season. And an excellent ball from Clarke to Hewitt for him to put in the cross.

Over the course of the game, in my opinion it was a deserved equaliser, based on the number of good chances and near-misses for each side.
It was crucial too. The Stags could ill-afford to fall 7 points behind Stockport. As it is, with Salford winning, the gap to 7th place is now 3 points, though Mansfield have 2 games in hand on Salford. The gap to 3rd place is up to 10 points. That looks a big gap with just 11 games to go. Three home games coming up, starting against Grimsby Town on Wednesday night. The Stags need to make those home games count.

DETAILED REPORT :

Mansfield welcomed Elliott Hewitt back from injury, and there was also good news pre-match that he had extended his contract under 2025. However the Stags remained without 7 others through injury, including Stephen McLaughlin who will be out for a period of weeks again after getting whacked on his ankle at Northampton. Stephen Quinn was also out for 3 games through suspension. Ollie Clarke though edged towards avoiding a suspension by not getting booked at Stockport and providing he is not booked in both of his next 2 games, he will avoid a 2 game suspension.

The return of Hewitt meant that Akins went back up front, with Danny Johnson dropping to the bench. The other change in the starting line-up from the game at Northampton was that Boateng replaced Quinn.

Stockport made one change from their team that won at Colchester: Akil Wright came in for the injured Fraser Horsfall in central defence.

Stockport created the first chance after 4 minutes when Paddy Madden played a great ball to Will Collar who got in behind James Perch to be 1-on-1 with Christy Pym but as Collar shot from 12 yards, Pym made a great save to his left pushing the ball away. Perch then blocked the follow-up shot from Collar.

The Stags went close at the other end after 13 minutes hitting the woodwork. A quickly taken free kick by Wallace set Keillor-Dunn away down the left, Keillor-Dunn played inside to Akins, who turned and squared to Ollie Clarke, who had charged forward. Clarke took one touch before firing goalwards from 20 yards. His shot took the slightest of deflections off Chris Hussey and clipped the top of the bar. Unlucky for Clarke.

Pym was out to the edge of his area to claim the ball after 15 minutes. A mistake from Kilgour after 19 minutes, and he was rescued by Harbottle as Wootton was about to shoot. Three minutes later, an easy save for Pym from Madden’s shot. Then good keeping from Pym on 28 minutes, pushing away a deep corner.

The home side took the lead after 30 minutes. Following a throw-in on the right from Akil Wright, Wright was left unmarked to cross into the middle where Madden got away from his marker Alfie Kilgour to head over Pym into the net from 12 yards. It was an absolutely brilliant header from Madden. I think Kilgour could have got tighter on him to stop him getting a clean header though. I don’t think it was an error by Pym to let the header go in but it might have been possible to save it with a brilliant stop.

The Stags were agonisingly close to equalising after 36 minutes. Great play from Hewitt to get to the byline on the right inside the area, and he crossed low and very hard. It cannoned off a defender and rolled agonisingly wide of the post with the keeper nowhere. So close.

A good corner from the Stags after 45 minutes had Stockport under pressure. Boateng’s corner was punched away by the keeper, under pressure, Wallace recycled the ball on the left and crossed back in. It was headed away with Hewitt in position to get in a header. Clarke then crossed in from the right and Wallace headed wide at the far post.

Stockport ahead 1-0 at the break in a tight game with two big chances for either side, but Stockport having taken one of theirs.

Half time 1-0

At the start of the second half. Mansfield switched to 4 at the back, with Perch at left back, and Bowery moving forward. It was a 4-3-3 formation:
Hewitt, Harbottle, Kilgour, Perch;
Clarke, Wallace, Boateng;
Keillor-Dunn, Akins, Bowery.

Stockport had a good spell at the start of the second half. Hussey brought a good save from Pym with a free kick from 22 yards after 47 minutes. Two minutes later, Hussey’s corner from the right skimmed off the top of Wright’s head at the far post and well wide. Then on 52 minutes, Collar played in Sarcevic and his low shot gave Pym an easy save. And on 54 minutes, Collar played in to Madden whose shot from the edge of the area was deflected over the bar, a good block by Harbottle actually who was out quickly to meet Madden. Then a minute after that, Pym bowled the ball out, it was intercepted, played to Collar and his shot from 25 yards was blocked by Pym, who spilled it, and Harbottle cleared it away, though the offside flag was up. The home side were on top.

Mansfield brought on Rhys Oates after 57 minutes. He replaced Perch. Bowery move to left back. It was still 4-3-3, with Akins (right), Oates (centre), Keillor-Dunn (left) up front.

The Stags started to build up a head of steam. After 60 minutes, Keillor-Dunn did well to win the ball and set Clarke away on a surging run, but with Akins in space on his right, he was tackled for a corner. Following the resulting corner, Kilgour sent a flying header wide from a Keillor-Dunn cross. On 63 minutes, following another corner, the ball came out to Boateng and his cross-shot was headed wide by Oates.
Oates was making some surging runs. On 67 minutes, a great break from Oates and he was fouled 25 yards out, but Keillor-Dunn couldn’t beat the first man with his free kick. Then brilliant play from Oates to win a throw-in. On 68 minutes, Boateng’s shot on the turn was blocked by Knoyle. Seven Mansfield players immediately claimed for a penalty for hitting the arm of Knoyle. From my angle and from the main camera it was difficult to see, but I’ve seen a video from a different angle and it definitely hits Knoyle’s arm, but from close range. After 74 minutes, Oates broke forward, found Akins but his cross was cleared.

Meanwhile Stockport were employing blatant time-wasting tactics. Whilst it’s frustrating to watch, no question that the Stags do this too on occasions.

Danny Johnson replaced Wallace after 74 minutes. Keillor-Dunn dropped back into midfield. Up front: Oates (right), Danny Johnson (middle), Akins (left). Danny Johnson immediately gave the ball away, on 76 minutes.

After the Stags had been on top for 20 minutes, Stockport went close to sealing the win after 77 minutes as Isaac Olaofe got past Bowery, but Kilgour threw his body in the way of Olaofe’s shot. And then from the resulting corner, a header from Kyle Wootton was blocked by his own teammate, Olaofe.

After 80 minutes, Boateng’s corner to Clarke at the near post but Clarke shanked his shot wide. At the other end a minute later, Pym was out to claim well under pressure.

An extraordinary incident after 84 minutes when Oates was wrestled to the ground, missed by all the officials, including the 4th official who Nigel Clough told me was busy talking to a steward.

A double change for the Stags after 89 minutes as Gale replaced Harbottle, and Law replaced Boateng. Akins dropped back to right back.

Five minutes of stoppage time were added on. It looked like the Stags would fall to a narrow defeat. But joy for the Stags three minutes into stoppage time. Hewitt’s long throw from the left was headed away by Akil Wright and further away by Olaofe. But Ollie Clarke played an excellent first time ball back out to Hewitt on the left. Hewitt took a touch to control it, and chipped in a beautiful cross with the outside of his right boot and Lucas Akins got up above the defence to powerfully head into the roof of the net from 8 yards. What a moment in front of the 1400 travelling Stags fans. A great cross from Hewitt, his Hewitt’s 6th assist of the season (see my stats below). A thumping header from Akins, his 8th goal of the season. And an excellent ball from Clarke to Hewitt for him to put in the cross.

Over the course of the game, in my opinion it was a deserved equaliser, based on the number of good chances and near-misses for each side. The Stags came on strongly in the last 35 minutes after Oates came on. Hopefully the return of Oates from injury can be the catalyst for a good run of results.

Man of the match: Elliott Hewitt


Here’s a running tally of various stats this season:

Goals (league and cup): Swan 9, Akins 8, Lapslie 7, Harbottle 5, Hawkins 5, Maris 5, Clarke 4, Oates 4, Bowery 3, Keillor-Dunn 3, Kilgour 3, Gale 1, Gordon 1, D.Johnson 1, Hewitt 1, McLaughlin 1, Quinn 1. 1 OG

Assists (league and cup): Lapslie 8, Hewitt 6, Quinn 6, Maris 5, Akins 4, Gordon 4, Boateng 3, Keillor-Dunn 3, McLaughlin 3, Clarke 2, C.Johnson 2, Hartigan 2, Bowery 1, Flinders 1, Hawkins 1, Law 1, Oates 1, Perch 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, Bowery 2, Clarke 8, Harbottle 6, Hartigan 1, Hawkins 4, Keillor-Dunn 1, D.Johnson 1, Lapslie 3, Law 2, Maris 5, McLaughlin 2, O’Toole 5, Oates 1, Perch 5, Pym 2, Quinn 7, Reed 1, Swan 2, Wallace 5.
Red cards (league and cup): Boateng 1, Bowery 1, Maris 1, Perch, Quinn 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)


Report by: Martin Shaw at Edgeley Park



Line Up:
(3-5-2)
Pym 6.5 Great save from a 1-on-1 early on. Good save from Hussey free kick. Good handling throughout. For the goal, I don’t think it was an error by Pym but it might have been possible to save it with a brilliant stop.
Harbottle 7.5 Good play to rescue a Kilgour mistake. One good block.
Kilgour 6 Could have got tighter on Madden for the goal. Mistake in the first half when Harbottle rescued him. Great block when he threw his body in the way of Olaofe’s shot
Perch 6.5 Did ok. One good block. Allowed Collar in behind him for one chance.
Hewitt 8 Great cross for the goal, his 6th assist of the season. Very unlucky when his low and hard cross cannoned off a defender and rolled agonisingly wide of the post with the keeper nowhere.
Clarke 7.5 Excellent ball to Hewitt in the build up to the goal. Unlucky when his deflected shot hit the top of the bar.
Wallace 6 Ok. One header wide.
Boateng 5.5 Didn’t create much.
Bowery 6 Olaofe got past him for a second half chance. Otherwise did ok.
Keillor-Dunn 6 Good cross for a Kilgour header. Otherwise didn’t match his recent performances.
Akins 7.5 Thumping header for his 8th goal of the season, what a moment in front of the Stags fans.
Sub Line Up:
Oates (for Perch, 57 mins) 7.5 Made some surging runs and got the Stags going when he came on.
D.Johnson (for Wallace, 74 mins) -
Gale (for Harbottle, 89 mins) -
Law (for Boateng, 89 mins) -
Subs not used: Flinders, Taylor Anderson, McKeal Abdullah.
Opposition Line Up:
(3-5-2): Hinchliffe; Wright, Byrne, Hussey; Knoyle, Collar (Camps, 90), Croasdale, Sarcevic, Hippolyte (Stretton, 65); Madden (Olaofe, 71), Wootton. Subs not used: Jaros, R. Johnson, Rydel, Rowe.
Referee:
Paul Howard 7 Generally handled the game well, but the officials incredibly missed Oates wrestled to the ground.


Season 22/23 Reports