Season 23/24 Stagsnet Match Report
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Mansfield Town
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Barrow
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Clarke 72.
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Tiensia sent off 83
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Attendance: 6,714 (156 from Barrow)
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Date: 23 September 2023
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STAGS BEAT BARROW WITH CLARKE STRIKE
Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town beat Barrow 1-0 at the One Call Stadium yesterday with a single goal from Ollie Clarke. The goal came after 72 minutes as Clarke struck a lovely right footed shot from 20 yards into the bottom left corner of the net. Barrow were reduced to ten men after 83 minutes when left back Junior Tiensia was given a straight red card for a lunging challenge on Aaron Lewis. The Stags remain unbeaten in all competitions and move back to third place. It was not a slick performance from Mansfield in the first half, with no service for the strikers, and in trying the get round the sides, the crossing was poor. Barrow had the best chance of the half when Tiensia and Robbie Gotts combined down the left to set up a chance for striker Emile Acquah but he fired over the bar from 7 yards. Tiensia caused Mansfield some problems down the left, as did Gotts, and Tiensia went close when he cut in from the left and curled a shot with the outside of his left boot, wide of the right post after 12 minutes. Barrow wanted a penalty after 14 minutes when Gotts blasted a cross that hit Bowery’s arm at point blank range, from about a yard away. The referee waved away the appeals, immediately indicating that it was at point blank range by holding his hands close to each other. Mansfield had a few shots in the first half, but Barrow got in some blocks, from Clarke, Swan and Flint, while Reed had a shot deflected wide and Keillor-Dunn blasted high and wide. 0-0 was just about the right scoreline at half time, though Barrow had the best two chances. The second half was slightly better from Mansfield. The Stags were nearly in front after 60 minutes. Bowery had a shot blocked in the area, the ball was recycled and Keillor-Dunn showed good footwork and teed up Swan for a shot from 14 yards which was deflected just over the bar. I initially thought it clipped the bar, but it actually hit the back stanchion. At the other end after 66 minutes, Pym got down to save Ged Garner’s low shot which was deflected from 20 yards. Mansfield might have been down to ten men after 70 minutes as Macdonald and Rory Feely went for the same ball, Macdonald was slightly late and caught Feely with a bad challenge. It was a relief to see the referee pull out only a yellow card. Some referees would have shown a red card I think. Barrow manager Pete Wild said after the game: “The turning point for me was they should have had a red card before ours. He dived in and left the floor.” Macdonald has already been sent off once this season, at Crewe on the opening day of the season, and needs to be careful. Mansfield took the lead after 72 minutes. Macdonald curled a ball down the line on the left for Swan, Swan got to near the byline and cut the ball back to Clarke. Clarke took a touch to steady himself and struck a lovely right footed shot from 20 yards into the bottom left corner of the net. It was a great finish. Maris had been waiting to come on to replace Clarke, so it was good timing from Clarke. Maris did replace him 5 minutes later. Clarke and Swan were involved again two minutes after the goal. Clarke set Swan to the byline on the left, Swan pulled back to Keillor-Dunn but it was slightly behind him and he couldn’t get his shot on target. Barrow were reduced to ten men after 83 minutes when Tiensia was given a straight red card for a lunging challenge on Lewis. Poor challenge and no argument over the decision, though the referee initially pulled out a yellow card and may have changed his mind on the advice of his assistant who had a good view. Barrow manager Pete Wild said after the game: “Our lad's was a red though, which didn't help us.” Barrow had no chances to equalise, indeed the last chance was the Garner deflected shot earlier on 66 minutes which Pym saved. Mansfield twice went close to making it 2-0. After 90+1 minutes, Cargill, who did well as substitute, as he did at Colchester last week, did well to intercept a pass, steamed forward, played the ball forward to Akins, who laid off to Keillor-Dunn and Keillor-Dunn’s free shot from the edge of the area was well-saved. Good play from Cargill and Akins. Then after 90+4 minutes, following a corner from the left from Maris, Flint tried an overhead kick in the box, it fell for Akins who took a touch and turned it goalwards from 8 yards but it was blocked by Feely. Seven minutes of stoppage time were played and Mansfield were celebrating the victory. Barrow had won all three games at Mansfield since they returned to the EFL, so this felt like a big win to beat them. And grinding out a 1-0 win when you are not at your best is so important. Because of the second half performance, Mansfield probably just about shaded it and deserved the win. Nigel Clough summed it up well after the game: “It was very hard-fought and looked as though it could be a 0-0 and you’re just hoping for someone to come up with a flash of brilliance. Ollie Clarke’s strike from the edge of the box wins us the game. I’m very pleased with a clean sheet. We were not at our best. We’re not as fluent as we were a few weeks ago and a little disjointed at times.” No-one was outstanding for Mansfield, it wasn’t fluent. But no-one had a terrible game either. Brunt was very good in the second half, after a few mistakes in the first half. Flint was his usual solid self. Reed had a good game, though not his best by any means. Clarke of course got the decisive goal. Cargill caught the eye from the sub’s bench. DETAILED REPORT : Mansfield made two changes from the side that drew at Colchester: Swan came in for Gale, Clarke came in for Boateng who had a back spasm in the week and could only make the bench. Maris returned from injury to the bench. Callum Johnson felt his other hamstring after returning from a hamstring injury at Colchester, and was out. Barrow started the day 2 points behind Mansfield with a game in hand having lost only once this season. It was not a slick performance from Mansfield in the first half, with no service for the strikers, and in trying the get round the sides, the crossing was poor. After 2 minutes, Gotts shot high and wide from 18 yards. After 10 minutes, Reed had a shot deflected wide of the left post after a good move. From the resulting corner, taken by Keillor-Dunn, Reed headed back to him and Keillor-Dunn cut inside but blasted high and wide. Tiensia caused Mansfield some problems down the left, as did Gotts, and Tiensia went close when he cut in from the left and curled a shot with the outside of his left boot, wide of the right post after 12 minutes. Brunt then missed two headers away as the ball sailed over his head. Barrow wanted a penalty after 14 minutes when Gotts blasted a cross that hit Bowery’s arm at point blank range, from about a yard away. The referee waved away the appeals, immediately indicating that it was at point blank range by holding his hands close to each other. On 18 minutes, striker Emile Acquah shot from the corner of the area straight at Pym, after Lewis was dispossessed. A great block by Flint after 23 minutes after he had made a mistake. Barrow had the best chance of the half after 24 minutes when Tiensia and Robbie Gotts combined down the left to set up a chance for Acquah but he fired over the bar from 7 yards. Mansfield had a few shots in the first half, but Barrow got in some blocks: from Clarke after 25 minutes, that was a good chance. Then after 40 minutes Swan had a shot blocked. And after 43 minutes, Flint pushed forward to 20 yards from goal and his shot was blocked. 0-0 was just about the right scoreline at half time, though Barrow had the best two chances. The Stags were fortunate that Acquah up front for Barrow was dreadful. He was replaced at the break. Half time 0-0 The second half was slightly better from Mansfield. After 46 minutes, Akins did well to win a corner using his strength to shepherd the ball out. The corner from Lewis was over everyone. Then two good pieces of defending from Brunt. On 58 minutes, Feely headed a corner over for Barrow. A poor free kick from Macdonald, wasted, after 59 minutes. The Stags were nearly in front after 60 minutes. Bowery had a shot blocked in the area, the ball was recycled and Keillor-Dunn showed good footwork and teed up Swan for a shot from 14 yards which was deflected just over the bar. I initially thought it clipped the bar, but it actually hit the back stanchion. At the other end after 66 minutes, Pym got down to save Ged Garner’s low shot which was deflected from 20 yards. Mansfield might have been down to ten men after 70 minutes as Macdonald and Rory Feely went for the same ball, Macdonald was slightly late and caught Feely with a bad challenge. It was a relief to see the referee pull out only a yellow card. Some referees would have shown a red card I think. Barrow manager Pete Wild said after the game: “The turning point for me was they should have had a red card before ours. He dived in and left the floor.” Macdonald has already been sent off once this season, at Crewe on the opening day of the season, and needs to be careful. Mansfield took the lead after 72 minutes. Macdonald curled a ball down the line on the left for Swan, Swan got to near the byline and cut the ball back to Clarke. Clarke took a touch to steady himself and struck a lovely right footed shot from 20 yards into the bottom left corner of the net. It was a great finish. Maris had been waiting to come on to replace Clarke, so it was good timing from Clarke. Maris did replace him 5 minutes later. Clarke and Swan were involved again two minutes after the goal. Clarke set Swan to the byline on the left, Swan pulled back to Keillor-Dunn but it was slightly behind him and he couldn’t get his shot on target. It should have been a corner but the referee wrongly gave a goal-kick. 77 minutes: Cargill replaced Macdonald, Maris replaced Clarke, as mentioned. On 82 minutes, Lewis reacted to a challenge from behind by Gotts. Both were booked. Barrow were reduced to ten men after 83 minutes when Tiensia was given a straight red card for a lunging challenge on Lewis. Poor challenge and no argument over the decision, though the referee initially pulled out a yellow card and may have changed his mind on the advice of his assistant who had a good view. Barrow manager Pete Wild said after the game: “Our lad's was a red though, which didn't help us.” Another double change for Mansfield after 85 minutes: Boateng for Lewis, Gale for Swan. Barrow had no chances to equalise, indeed the last chance was the Garner deflected shot earlier on 66 minutes which Pym saved. After 89 minutes, Gale tried an overhead kick but was wide. Mansfield twice went close to making it 2-0. After 90+1 minutes, Cargill, who did well as substitute, as he did at Colchester last week, did well to intercept a pass, steamed forward, played the ball forward to Akins, who laid off to Keillor-Dunn and Keillor-Dunn’s free shot from the edge of the area was well-saved. Good play from Cargill and Akins. Then after 90+4 minutes, following a corner from the left from Maris, Flint tried an overhead kick in the box, it fell for Akins who took a touch and turned it goalwards from 8 yards but it was blocked by Feely. A good interception by Flint after 90+6 minutes. Seven minutes of stoppage time were played and Mansfield were celebrating the victory. Barrow had won all three games at Mansfield since they returned to the EFL, so this felt like a big win to beat them. And grinding out a 1-0 win when you are not at your best is so important. Because of the second half performance, Mansfield probably just about shaded it and deserved the win. Man of the match: Aden Flint Here’s a running tally of various stats this season: Goals (league and cup): Keillor-Dunn 7, Akins 3, Maris 3, Oates 3, Clarke 1, Lewis 1, Reed 1. Assists (league and cup): Oates 4, Quinn 4, Keillor-Dunn 3, Bowery 1, Gale 1, Flint 1, Maris 1, Reed 1, Swan 1. (notes on assists: in the case of a penalty, the player who earns the penalty gets an assist. In the case of a solo goal, such as Maris against Newport at home two seasons ago, 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. In the case of an own goal, the player who caused the own goal gets an assist, for example McLaughlin against Newport away two seasons ago 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 last season, nobody gets an assist.) Injuries: Kilgour (ruptured Achilles, return July), Hewitt (ACL, return April), Quinn (nicked a ligament in side of knee, out for 3-4 months), Oates (ruptured ankle ligaments, out for 2-3 months), McLaughlin (knee, return mid-late Oct), O’Toole (ankle, injured in U21 game against Notts Co, out for a week), Johnson (felt his other hamstring after returning from a hamstring injury at Colchester). Yellow cards (league only, alphabetical order): Boateng 1, Cargill 2, Clarke 1, Gale 1, Johnson 1, Keillor-Dunn 1, Kilgour 1, Lewis 2, Macdonald 2, Maris 1, Quinn 1, Reed 3, Swan 1. Red cards (league and cup): Macdonald 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: 7344 (average away fans: 747, average home fans 6597) (remember the attendance is calculated as tickets sold, including season tickets. There are 5171 season ticket holders this season.) |
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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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(4-4-2, diamond in midfield)
Pym 7 Just had one awkward save, from Garner’s deflected shot. Bowery 7 Given a tricky afternoon by Tiensia and Gotts, but overall a good game at right back. Flint 8 Very solid. Plenty of interceptions, clearances and headers. Brunt 7 Very good in the second half, after a few mistakes in the first half. Macdonald 6 Might have been shown a red card. Some poor crossing. Good ball down the line in the build up to the goal. Reed 7 Had a good game, though not his best by any means. Generally accurate passing. Lewis 6 Not his best game, but was ok. Clarke 7 Got the decisive goal. Keillor-Dunn 6 Good footwork to set up chance for Swan. Brought a good save from the keeper in stoppage time. Akins 6 Not in his best form at the moment but continues to work hard. Swan 7 An assist for the goal. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Cargill (for Macdonald, 77) - Again caught the eye from the sub’s bench.
Maris (for Clarke, 77) - Boateng (for Lewis, 85) - Gale (for Swan, 85) - Subs not used: Flinders, Williams, Cooper. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(4-4-2): Farman; Feely, Ray, Canavan, Tiensia; Worrall (Chester 55), Spence (Foley 73), Gotts (White 82), Campbell (Telford 82); Proctor, Acquah (Garner 55). Sub not used: Lillis.
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Referee:
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Marc Edwards 8 Got the red card for Tiensia right. Correctly waved away appeals for penalty when ball struck Bowery’s arm from point blank range. Might have shown Macdonald a red card, some referees might.
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