{ match reports }
 
An independent supporters' website dedicated to Mansfield Town FC
Season 22/23 Stagsnet Match Report
English Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Mansfield Town  
4 - 1
 Crawley Town
Clarke 5, Kilgour 47, Keillor-Dunn 50, 65.
 
 Ogungbo 70
Attendance: 6,080 (105 from Crawley)
 
Date: 1 April 2023

STAGS HIT CRAWLEY FOR 4 AND IT COULD HAVE BEEN 10

Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill

After scoring just one goal in four games, the Stags roared backed to goalscoring form yesterday hitting 4 goals past Crawley Town in a 4-1 victory at the One Call Stadium. The Stags were superb against a poor Crawley Town side, and in hitting the woodwork twice, having a stonewall penalty turned down, and missing a few sitters, the Stags really could have hit double figures. In total the Stags had 27 shots in the game, their highest of the season.

The win moved Mansfield back to within 2 points of the play-off places, two points behind Salford City with a game in hand. The Stags are also back to being the second top scorers in League Two, overtaking Carlisle, and two goals behind Salford. And after having 27 shots in this game, the Stags are also now second in the total number of shots in League Two this season (second behind Stevenage).

Mansfield made three changes from the side that drew with Sutton a week ago. Perch replaced Harbottle, who was out with concussion. Quinn returned from his three game suspension to replace Danny Johnson. Oates came in for Gale who had pulled out of training the day before the game.
Mansfield went with a 4-4-2 formation (diamond in midfield). Akins was up front with Oates. Keillor-Dunn was just behind. Wallace was in front of the back four, with Clarke and Quinn either side. Hewitt was at right back, Bowery at left back, Kilgour and Perch in central defence.
Clough explained after the game: “We set up to be attacking. We wanted to get Lucas (Akins) back up top today. We've got nobody else to play right wing-back. We've wanted him back up front with Oatesey and then Davis just behind them to be as attacking minded as we could be.”
Hewitt played after receiving a broken nose against Sutton. Clarke was fit after his tight hamstring against Sutton.
The Stags were without Swan, Hartigan, O’Toole (all out for the season, or most of it), McLaughlin, Callum Johnson, Maris, Reed, and Harbottle, plus Gale (9 players in total).
Clough explained about Reed after that game that he “was warming up at half-time last week (he was on the bench against Sutton) and he felt his knee again when he was passing a ball. So he had a little setback with that. We’ll see how he is this week.”
Taylor Anderson and Darien Wauchope were both on the bench having played for the youth team in the morning. Gale was also on the bench, but was not going to come on.

Crawley were unbeaten for 5 games: 3 wins and 2 draws. They were still third bottom though. They had only won one away game all season, their last away game, at AFC Wimbledon.
I had watched their game at home to Grimsby on Tuesday on iFollow. It was a1-1 draw. Crawley were very poor in that game and incredibly lucky to get a point. Grimsby should have won by at least 3 goals, but a fortunate late penalty rescued a point for Crawley. One thing I had identified, and mentioned in a pre-match video preview with the Crawley iFollow commentator, was that centre half Joel Lynch was very slow, and that if Mansfield could get Oates running at him, that could be a real area of benefit to the Stags. That certainly came to fruition, in spectacular style, as Oates took Lynch to the cleaners.
Crawley included Kellan Gordon at right back. Gordon left Mansfield for Crawley in January. The Stags knew all about Gordon of course and knew that he was very good going forward, but not so solid defensively, and again would try to exploit that.

The Stags were positive from the start and went ahead after 4 minutes and 1 second. The move started with a collision between Wallace and Gordon on the halfway line. Crawley and Gordon in particular wanted a free kick. From the video replay, I don’t think it was a foul. The referee played on. Keillor-Dunn turned and played a super ball out to the left wing for Quinn, who was in plenty of space with Gordon by now out of position. Quinn moved forward to level with the penalty spot and pulled the ball back and across to Clarke, 14 yards out, and unmarked. Clarke took two touches to get the ball out from under his feet, and fired left footed into the bottom right corner of the net, giving the keeper no chance. Clarke’s 5th goal of the season. Quinn’s 7th assist of the season (see my stats below).

The Stags could have been further ahead after 7 minutes. Clarke found Hewitt in space on the right near the byline. Hewitt’s low ball in across the six yard box was to Akins in the middle, but he couldn’t turn it into the net. Akins dropped to the floor in disbelief. A great ball in from Hewitt. Moments later Wallace half volleyed over the bar from the edge of the box.

Good defending at the other end on 9 minutes by Bowery, tracking back.

After 13 minutes, Bowery’s low ball in from the left was partially cleared by Lynch to Keillor-Dunn 14 yards out. Keillor-Dunn fired goalwards from 14 yards, and it was going in before Lynch blocked it 3 yards from his goalline with the keeper beaten. The Stags recycled the ball, Hewitt put in another great cross from the right, and Keillor-Dunn headed over the bar from 8 yards. Keillor-Dunn was unmarked and should have done better.

A minute later at the other end, Ben Gladwin fired over the bar from 28 yards.

After 17 minutes, Quinn slid in to win the ball on the edge of the area, and Keillor-Dunn curled a shot over the bar from 20 yards.

A real chance for Crawley to equalise after 19 minutes. Perch initially did well to clear a cross. The ball was partially cleared to Gladwin, who squared the ball to Ashley Nadesan. Keillor-Dunn nipped in to dispossess Nadesan but only succeeded in playing the ball back towards his own goal, which put Dom Telford clean through on goal 1-on-1 with Pym. But Pym made a great save at close range from Telford’s shot from 8 yards. Two minutes later, Telford fired wide from 20 yards.

After 25 minutes, Keillor-Dunn shot straight at the keeper from 25 yards.

Nadesan volleyed over the bar for Crawley from a corner after 27 minutes.

Wallace won the ball from Gordon on the left touchline after 31 minutes, he found Oates 35 yards from goal. Oates got past Ogungbo before firing wide of the left post from 25 yards via a deflection off Lynch.

After 33 minutes, Keillor-Dunn curled a great ball out to Quinn on the area on the left, Quinn took a good first touch and from a tight angle fired in a low shot to the near post, which the keeper saved with his legs. The ball stayed in play, the Stags recycled the ball and Clarke slightly miscued a shot just wide of the left post from 16 yards.

After 35 minutes, Akins lobbed a great ball forward down the left for Oates to run on to. Oates surged forward into the box and was through 1-on-1 with the keeper, but his low shot gave the keeper a chance and he saved it low to his left. Moments later, Clarke won the ball back brilliantly on the halfway line, set Hewitt away down the right, Hewitt crossed in and Oates headed high and wide at the far post. The cross was just too high for Oates to get over.

On 41 minutes, after a scramble in the box, Clarke’s goalbound shot from 16 yards was blocked by Dion Conroy.

Two good pieces of defending by Perch against Telford at the other end.

A final chance in the first half for the Stags after 45+3 minutes. Keillor-Dunn played out to Quinn on the left. Quinn squared back to Keillor-Dunn on the edge of the area, and Keillor-Dunn’s goalbouned side-footed shot was blocked by Lynch on the edge of his six-yard box.

The Stags 1-0 ahead at half time, but having had a catalogue of chances: 14 shots from the Stags in the first half, 4 from Crawley. Crawley were wide open at the back, a very poor defensive display. Keeper Corey Addai had a comedy first half with abysmal distribution, and repeatedly miscuing kicks. But he did make some good saves.

Half time 1-0

The Stags made it 2-0 after 47 minutes. Keillor-Dunn’s corner from the right was low to the edge of the area, where Oates peeled off his marker to fired goalwards, but it was blocked. The ball was cleared. Quinn found Akins on the left level with the edge of the area. Akins cut across the edge of the area, away from Gordon as though he wasn’t there, and dinked a cross into the middle for Kilgour to power a header into the top left corner of the net from 10 yards. A terrific header from Kilgour who had to generate the power himself. And a great assist from Akins. Kilgour’s 4th goal since joining in January. And Akins’ 5th assist.

Pym saved comfortably from Jack Powell’s curling shot from the edge of the area after 48 minutes.

It was 3-0 after 50 minutes. Akins flicked a fine ball down the right for Oates to run onto, up against Lynch. This was no contest (see pre-match comment earlier), and Lynch gave up, leaving Oates all the time in the world to draw the keeper, and then square the ball for the completely unmarked Keillor-Dunn to put the ball into the completely empty net from 6 yards. Keillor-Dunn could never score a simpler goal, put on a plate for him by Oates. A tactical disaster from Crawley to put Lynch up against Oates. They could have put Travis Johnson up against Oates, Johnson played in central defence on Tuesday, and showed considerably more pace, but he was left on the bench here.

After 54 minutes, Clarke played a great ball down the line for Oates to run on to. Lynch wasn’t even in the frame this time. Oates squared for Akins, unmarked 10 yards out, but Akins couldn’t beat the keeper and his low shot was saved on the line by the keeper with his legs. Akins should have buried that from another chance put on a plate by Oates.

As Crawley cleared the ball and Gordon threatened to break, he was deliberately brought down by Quinn on the edge of his own area. Quinn was shown a yellow card. Clough said after the game he didn’t think the yellow card was warranted, but I think it was a fair decision from the referee. Gordon reacted and pushed Quinn, but escaped a yellow card himself.

After 55 minutes, Clarke crossed from the right and Akins glanced a header wide of the left post via a deflection. Following the resulting corner, from Keillor-Dunn along the byline to Akins, Akins pulled the ball back to Quinn whose low shot from 12 yards was saved on the line by the keeper.

On 59 minutes, Keillor-Dunn sent Oates away on the left with a great ball. Oates surged into the area and fired a powerful low left-footed shot towards the near post and the keeper made another good save with his legs. Following the resulting corner, Quinn pulled the ball back to Keillor-Dunn, and he curled a shot from the edge of the area straight at the keeper.

Boateng replaced Quinn after 62 minutes. Quinn had been booked, and no risks needed to be taken for him getting another card on his 37th birthday.

The Stags should have had a penalty after 63 minutes. Keillor-Dunn slipped a beautiful ball forward for Boateng, who controlled the ball on the edge of the area, knocked the ball past Gordon, and was brought down by Gordon. Referee Sam Allison waved play on. A quite extraordinary decision from the referee. It was a cast iron, 100%, stonewall penalty. Gordon was simply late on Boateng who had knocked the ball past him. I asked Nigel Clough about it after the game. He told me the referee said he thought both players slipped. Laughable officiating. This was the referee who cost Mansfield two points at Colchester last season with a poor decision to award Colchester a penalty after 90+5 minutes.

Boateng was hurt but able to carry on.

It was 4-0 after 65 minutes. Clarke won the ball 40 yards from goal. Wallace slipped a nice ball down the line for Oates. Oates squared the ball into the middle towards Keillor-Dunn 12 yards from goal. Anthony Grant blocked the cross but slipped over in the process, leaving Keillor-Dunn to pick up the loose ball, take a couple of touches to turn and fire left footed into the left corner of the net. A really nice finish from Keillor-Dunn. His 5th goal for Mansfield since joining in January. As Oates’ cross was blocked before Keillor-Dunn picked it up, I have not given an assist to Oates.

A chance for Crawley to pull one back after 68 minutes. Ogungbo crossed the left, Gordon was left unmarked at the right post by Bowery, but Bowery redeemed himself by blocking Gordon’s shot from 7 yards on the line with his chest.

A second change for Mansfield after 69 minutes as Law replaced Clarke. Clarke has run through the pain barrier in recent matches, and this was a sensible opportunity to rest him for 20 minutes. He’d had another superb game.

Crawley made it 4-1 after 70 minutes. They played a series of good passes outside the Stags box, before Ogungbo played a 1-2 with Nadesan to get into the box in the left and fired low into the bottom right corner of the net from 9 yards giving Pym no chance. A really well-worked goal.

Law played a 1-2 with Akins outside the box on the right before firing goalwards from 18 yards and his shot was blocked by sub Travis Johnson. Good play from Law.

The referee was having a poor game now, and missed Akins having his shirt pulled after 80 minutes. Quite how he and his officials missed it was remarkable.

The Stags hit the post after 81 minutes. Law slipped a lovely ball in behind the defence for Akins in the area on the left, Akins took a touch and from 9 yards beat the keeper with his left footed shot but hit the post.

The Stags hit the woodwork again after 86 minutes. Boateng dispossessed Grant 25 yards from goal, created a yard of space for himself on the edge of the area, and curled a lovely shot that beat the keeper and crashed off the underside of the crossbar. Brilliant play from Boateng which deserved a goal.

On 90 minutes, Boateng was brought down 22 yards from goal, left of centre. Boateng took the free kick short for Bowery, who curled a shot wide.

Hewitt was rested after 90 minutes, replaced by youth team right back Taylor Anderson, who had played for the youth team in the morning, and was on for his third substitute appearance for the first team.

After 90+2 minutes, Lynch curled a long ball forward for Crawley sub James Tilley to get in behind Taylor Anderson but Perch did brilliantly to win the ball before Tilley could shoot. A minute later, Taylor Anderson made a good tackle in his own area on Ogungbo. And a minute after that, Taylor Anderson headed away a free kick for a corner.

That was the final goalmouth action.

A big win for the Stags. Another catalogue of chances in the second half: 13 shots from the Stags in the second half, 3 from Crawley.

In total, 27 shots from the Stags (all described above). Four goals, two efforts against the woodwork. Some sitters missed. Some good saves from keeper Corey Addai. And a stonewall penalty not given. Crawley were wide open at the back, a very poor defensive display, but the Stags played very well in exploiting that.

Plenty of really good performances from Stags players.

The next game is away at Swindon on Good Friday (3pm). As the game is on a Bank Holiday, you can buy a match pass to watch it with us on iFollow if you are not travelling to the County Ground. Swindon are in mid table, 13 wins, 12 draws, 13 defeats. A bit surprising in my opinion, as they seem to have a good squad, and since January a striker in Charlie Austin who could surely still be playing higher than League Two. Swindon were excellent in winning 5-2 at Mansfield earlier in the season, but clearly are not consistent. Now would be a good time for the Stags to get revenge for that, and win at a ground where we have a very poor record.

Man of the match: Davis Keillor-Dunn

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

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

Assists (league and cup): Lapslie 8, Quinn 7, Hewitt 6, Akins 5, Maris 5, Gordon 4, Boateng 3, Keillor-Dunn 3, McLaughlin 3, Clarke 2, C.Johnson 2, Hartigan 2, Oates 2, Bowery 1, Flinders 1, Hawkins 1, Law 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, Gale 1, 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 8, 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)

Average home league attendance: 6646 (average away fans: 547, average home fans 6099) (see Tranmere report for explanation of how attendance is calculated: it is essentially tickets sold, including season tickets)


Report by: Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill



Line Up:
(4-4-2, diamond in midfield)
Pym 7 Great save at close range from Telford’s shot from 8 yards at 1-0. No chance with the goal.
Hewitt 8 Solid at right back. Got forward well including three good crosses in the first half.
Kilgour 8 Terrific header for his goal as he had to generate the power himself. Another very solid game. Clough explained after the game: “He is almost playing on one leg as he has a very sore heel and can do very little training. We just turn him out for games which he will have to do until the end of the season.”
Perch 8 Several good pieces of defending, including in stoppage time to prevent a shot at goal. Clough said after the game he “was probably man of the match today, read the situations very well and defended well."
Bowery 7.5 Unusually at left back rather than left wing-back. Did well. One good piece of tracking back. Left Gordon unmarked in the area on one occasion, but redeemed himself by blocking Gordon’s shot.
Wallace 8 Very good game in front of the back four. Won the ball several times. Involved in the build-up to the 4th goal.
Clarke 9 Neat finish for his goal early on. Had another superb game. He has run through the pain barrier in recent matches, and it was sensible to rest him for 20 minutes.
Quinn 9 Excellent for an hour before being subbed. Plenty of great passes to set up chances, including for the 1st goal. How Mansfield have missed him during his suspension.
Keillor-Dunn 9 Two goals, the second a very good finish. Plenty of other shots. Some great passes including for the penalty-that-should-have-been.
Oates 8.5 Took defender Joel Lynch to the cleaners in the second half in setting up the 3rd and 4th goals and a sitter for Akins.
Akins 8.5 Back up front. Super game. Assist for the second goal. Unlucky to hit the post. Missed a sitter.
Sub Line Up:
Boateng (for Quinn, 62 mins) - Excellent 30 minutes. Brilliant play to hit the underside of the bar. Great play when he should have won a penalty.
Law (for Clarke, 69 mins) - Did really well for 20 minutes. Lovely pass to set up Akins for his shot against the post. Another good 1-2 with Akins for a shot.
Taylor Anderson (for Hewitt, 90 mins) -
Subs not used: Flinders, Darien Wauchope, D.Johnson, Gale.
Opposition Line Up:
(4-4-2): Addai; Gordon, Conroy (Johnson 72’), Lynch, Mazeed Ogungbo; Powell (Fellows 58’), Grant, Gladwin (Oteh 46’), Khaleel; Nadesan (Tilley 72’), Telford (Spong 72’). Subs not used: Schofield, Mason.
Referee:
Sam Allison 5 Extraordinary decision not to award the penalty for the foul on Boateng. Nigel Clough told me the referee said he thought both players slipped - laughable. Missed one or two shirt pulls. Otherwise wasn’t too bad.


Season 22/23 Reports