Season 23/24 Stagsnet Match Report
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Gillingham
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Mansfield Town
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Bonne 2.
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Keillor-Dunn 36
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Attendance: 6,486 (545 from Mansfield)
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Date: 30 September 2023
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STAGS DRAW AT GILLINGHAM IN GREAT GAME
By Martin Shaw at Priestfield Mansfield Town drew 1-1 at Gillingham this afternoon in a great game of entertaining football between the two sides second and third in League Two at the start of the day. Both teams played well, created plenty of chances, and could have won the game. Both teams generally defended well too and showed why both have conceded fewer goals than games played, the only sides in League Two to have done that. Gillingham put their bodies on the line and blocked multiple shots in the second half as the Stags threatened to win the game. But in the end I think the draw was a fair result. Gillingham were ahead in under 2 minutes and it came from a very bad error from Lewis Brunt. Brunt brought the ball out from defence and tried to find Calum Macdonald 30 yards from his own goal. But his pass was misplaced, intercepted by Shaun Mahoney, who got to the byline on the right and pulled back to Macauley Bonne who sent a cushioned volley past Christy Pym from 8 yards. Gillingham manager Neil Harris had said in his midweek press conference that Bonne was playing very well but just needed to find his first goal of the season ... it was gifted to him here. It was deja vu from the last away game, at Colchester two weeks ago. I wrote in my report of the Colchester game: 'Colchester took the lead after 30 minutes. Lewis Brunt brought the ball out of defence, but lost it, allowing Arthur Read to thread a ball forward for Joe Taylor to move into the space vacated by Brunt, and smash a powerful shot under Christy Pym from 12 yards. Brunt can’t be losing the ball there, and he did similar at Accrington last week but got away with it.' 3 similar mistakes in 3 away games on the trot. Brunt has been hugely impressive as a young defender on loan from Leicester, but there can’t be more mistakes like this. Nigel Clough said after the game: “Away at second in the league you can't afford to give a goal away. It was a young player making a mistake and he has to learn from that.” Mansfield equalised after 36 minutes, and Gillingham were very unhappy with the goal. Brunt cleared the ball forward into the centre circle where George Maris controlled it nicely. Maris laid off to Ollie Clarke who surged forward before being brought down from behind, 35 yards from goal by Ethan Coleman. The referee blew his whistle for the free kick, took his yellow card from his pocket and had it in his hand without raising it. Simultaneously Clarke, now six yards further forward than the offence was committed, asked for the ball back from Davis Keillor-Dunn, and as it came to him, he put the ball down, and took the free kick quickly, forward to Keillor-Dunn, in yards of space. Keillor-Dunn took one touch to control the ball, and rolled it through the legs of the keeper into the net from 8 yards. Mansfield have been taking quick free kicks all season. Nigel Clough said after the game: “Ollie just put the ball down like we practice in training. It's what we tell them to do, get the ball back to where the offence has been committed and let's see if we can play quick.” Gillingham should have been alive to that. Gillingham were furious that the quick free kick was allowed. Should the goal have stood? In my opinion, no. The free kick was taken about six yards further forward than the offence was committed. Perhaps that was within the tolerance of what the referee thought was acceptable. However at the point the referee has pulled his yellow card out of his pocket, in my opinion he has started the booking process, and I don't think he should allow the free kick to be taken quickly, as at that point, the offending player should be respectfully ready to accept the card, not running away to defend. Had the referee not pulled out the yellow card, then it would seem to be reasonable to allow the free kick to be taken quickly. That said, Gillingham completely switched off, while Clarke and Keillor-Dunn switched on, and credit to the two Stags players for being alive to that. Gillingham could have been two ahead before the Stags equalised. After 15 minutes, Aden Flint blocked well on his line, with Pym beaten from a shot from Shaun Williams. Two minutes later, Pym pushed a flick wide from Bonne that was heading for the top corner from a Dom Jefferies cross. And on 30 minutes, Conor Masterton lashed a shot over the bar from 6 yards from a free kick from the right. Mansfield came close to equalising when Lucas Akins glanced a header just wide of the far post from a Maris corner from the left after 27 minutes. Gillingham with the better chances in the first half, but it Mansfield who were the better side in the second half and with the much better chances. After 50 minutes, a great move as Akins chested down and laid inside to Clarke, Clarke got to the byline and pulled back and inside for Maris who fired wide from the near the penalty spot. Maris conceded after the game: “I should have scored. I just didn't sort my feet out in time to get good contact on it.” The Stags then had a succession of shots blocked as Gillingham got their bodies in the way. Keillor-Dunn twice had shots well-saved, Clarke twice had shots blocked. Keillor-Dunn should have then scored on 66 minutes as Maris sent him through 1-on-1 with the keeper but he neither shot nor took it round the keeper, instead dummying it to try to get past the keeper, who did well to get a hand on it. Then a great move after 72 minutes as Maris played out to Keillor-Dunn on the right, Keillor-Dunn played a great low pass into the area for Aaron Lewis to hit it first time but just wide of the left post from 10 yards. The Gills best chances of the second half came when Pym spilled a powerful shot from Mahoney out to Bonne, but as Bonne was about to shoot, Flint put in a wonderful tackle, after 57 minutes. And then on 85 minutes, sub Ashley Nadesan, turned the ball over the bar from close range following a corner. A brilliant game. A fair result in the end. Mansfield were good though not brilliant. Aden Flint was my man of the match, a colossus at the back. Maris also really impressive in an attacking midfield role. Mansfield remain unbeaten in league and cup after 13 matches, and are still the only EFL club to be unbeaten this season in all competitions, as we head into October. The next game is at home to Wrexham on Tuesday. It promises to be another pulsating night. If you can’t get to the game, you can buy a match pass to watch it with us on iFollow Stags. DETAILED REPORT : Mansfield made one change from the side that beat Barrow in the last league game: Maris for Swan. It was five changes from the side that started against Peterborough on Tuesday: Bowery for Williams, Macdonald for Cargill, Clarke for Boateng, Akins for Gale, Keillor-Dunn for Swan. Maris switched to the attacking midfield role normally filled by Keillor-Dunn and Keillor-Dunn went up front with Akins. Callum Johnson was back from injury (his other hamstring) on the bench. Gillingham were without Oli Hawkins to a long term injury. He said after the game he expects to be out for two more months. George Lapslie was returning from injury and was on the bench. He came on in the second half, but was ineffective. Jonny Williams started in midfield, but the mere presence of Ollie Clarke on the opposition side rendered him completely ineffective! It was a sunny afternoon in Kent, a glorious day for the end of September. Gillingham were ahead in under 2 minutes and it came from a very bad error from Lewis Brunt. Brunt brought the ball out from defence and tried to find Calum Macdonald 30 yards from his own goal. But his pass was misplaced, intercepted by Shaun Mahoney, who got to the byline on the right and pulled back to Macauley Bonne who sent a cushioned volley past Christy Pym from 8 yards. Gillingham manager Neil Harris had said in his midweek press conference that Bonne was playing very well but just needed to find his first goal of the season ... it was gifted to him here. It was deja vu from the last away game, at Colchester two weeks ago. I wrote in my report of the Colchester game: 'Colchester took the lead after 30 minutes. Lewis Brunt brought the ball out of defence, but lost it, allowing Arthur Read to thread a ball forward for Joe Taylor to move into the space vacated by Brunt, and smash a powerful shot under Christy Pym from 12 yards. Brunt can’t be losing the ball there, and he did similar at Accrington last week but got away with it.' 3 similar mistakes in 3 away games on the trot. Brunt has been hugely impressive as a young defender on loan from Leicester, but there can’t be more mistakes like this. Nigel Clough said after the game: “Away at second in the league you can't afford to give a goal away. It was a young player making a mistake and he has to learn from that.” After 6 minutes, Macdonald was booked for a foul on Mahoney. A very harsh yellow considering fouls that were just as bad later on that went unpunished. For example on 9 minutes, a similar foul by Shad Ogie brought no yellow card. Flint, the Mansfield captain, complained to the referee. After 13 minutes, a 30 yard shot from Malone, straight at Pym. Gillingham could have added to the lead after 15 minutes as Aden Flint blocked well on his line, with Pym beaten from a shot from Shaun Williams. Two minutes later, Pym pushed a flick wide from Bonne that was heading for the top corner from a Dom Jefferies cross. Pym caught the resulting corner very nicely, he kicked straight out to Keillor-Dunn, who found Maris, whose shot from 30 yards was blocked. Then on 21 minutes, Macdonald had two shots in the area that were blocked. Bowery brought down Jonny Williams after 23 minutes and wasn’t booked when he might have been. Mansfield came close to equalising when Lucas Akins glanced a header just wide of the far post from a Maris corner from the left after 27 minutes. And on 30 minutes, Conor Masterton lashed a shot over the bar from 6 yards from a free kick from the right. The free kick after Clarke colliding with Jefferies, bringing him down. Keillor-Dunn made space for a shot from 20 yards after 33 minutes, it was blocked. A minute later, Clarke won a free kick, but Macdonald’s free kick delivery was poor. Mansfield equalised after 36 minutes, and Gillingham were very unhappy with the goal. Brunt cleared the ball forward into the centre circle where George Maris controlled it nicely. Maris laid off to Ollie Clarke who surged forward before being brought down from behind, 35 yards from goal by Ethan Coleman. The referee blew his whistle for the free kick, took his yellow card from his pocket and had it in his hand without raising it. Simultaneously Clarke, now six yards further forward than the offence was committed, asked for the ball back from Davis Keillor-Dunn, and as it came to him, he put the ball down, and took the free kick quickly, forward to Keillor-Dunn, in yards of space. Keillor-Dunn took one touch to control the ball, and rolled it through the legs of the keeper into the net from 8 yards. Mansfield have been taking quick free kicks all season. Nigel Clough said after the game: “Ollie just put the ball down like we practice in training. It's what we tell them to do, get the ball back to where the offence has been committed and let's see if we can play quick.” Gillingham should have been alive to that. Gillingham were furious that the quick free kick was allowed. Should the goal have stood? In my opinion, no. The free kick was taken about six yards further forward than the offence was committed. Perhaps that was within the tolerance of what the referee thought was acceptable. However at the point the referee has pulled his yellow card out of his pocket, in my opinion he has started the booking process, and I don't think he should allow the free kick to be taken quickly, as at that point, the offending player should be respectfully ready to accept the card, not running away to defend. Had the referee not pulled out the yellow card, then it would seem to be reasonable to allow the free kick to be taken quickly. That said, Gillingham completely switched off, while Clarke and Keillor-Dunn switched on, and credit to the two Stags players for being alive to that. Coleman was booked in the aftermath. Gillingham fans were unhappy again after 39 minutes. The Gills won a free kick 32 yards out, then tried to take it quickly from 15 yards away from where the foul took the place. The ref rightly didn’t allow it. Gillingham players and fans had completely lost their composure for the moment. Understandable to an extent. On 41 minutes, Malone crossed into the box and Masterson headed high over the bar. A chance for the Stags to take the lead after 45+5 minutes. Akins broke forward to the edge of the area, cut onto his left foot and his curling shot was blocked. Maris recycled the ball back to Reed whose shot from 20 yards, on target, was deflected wide. Half time 1-1 Cargill replaced Macdonald at left back for the second half. Purely because Macdonald had been booked. Gillingham with the better chances in the first half, but it Mansfield who were the better side in the second half and with the much better chances. After 50 minutes, a great move as Akins chested down and laid inside to Clarke, Clarke got to the byline and pulled back and inside for Maris who fired wide from the near the penalty spot. Maris conceded after the game: “I should have scored. I just didn't sort my feet out in time to get good contact on it.” On 53 minutes, Keillor-Dunn teed up Akins whose shot from 16 yards was blocked by Ogie. The Stags won a corner. The corner came out to Maris whose shot from the edge of the area was blocked. The Gills best chance of the second half came when Pym spilled a powerful shot from Mahoney out to Bonne, but as Bonne was about to shoot, Flint put in a wonderful tackle, after 57 minutes. Mistake from Pym, brilliant from Flint. Two minutes later at the other end, from Flint’s free kick forward, Cargill headed on, to Keillor-Dunn in the area. Keillor-Dunn’s shot from 8 yards hit the keeper and rebounded out to Clarke, whose follow-up shot was blocked and deflected wide by Coleman. From the resulting corner, Clarke’s shot from 10 yards was blocked by Alexander. After 61 minutes, a quick throw-in from Akins to Keillor-Dunn and Keillor-Dunn’s low shot was pushed wide by the keeper. George Lapslie came on for Gillingham after 63 minutes. Keillor-Dunn should have then scored on 66 minutes as Maris sent him through 1-on-1 with the keeper but he neither shot nor took it round the keeper, instead dummying it to try to get past the keeper, who did well to get a hand on it. Then a great move after 72 minutes as Maris played out to Keillor-Dunn on the right, Keillor-Dunn played a great low pass into the area for Aaron Lewis to hit it first time but just wide of the left post from 10 yards. The Stags were massively on top. A great block by Cargill on a shot by Mahoney after 74 minutes. Two minutes later Ogie fired a shot from 30 yards over the Rainham End stand, no mean feat. A great run from Maris on the left, he cut inside and curled in a shot which Ogie deflected over the bar. Another error by the ref after 79 minutes as Bonne scuffed a cross straight behind for a goal kick, but somehow the ref gave a corner to the disbelief of the Stags defence and Pym. From that corner, it came out to Malone who shot well over the bar. Swan replaced Clarke after 80 minutes. After 82 minutes, Maris teed up Keillor-Dunn for a shot from the edge of the area, that was blocked by Coleman. So many shots blocked. A minute later Keillor-Dunn was booked for bringing down Nadesan. Keillor-Dunn first tried to trip Nadesan from behind, unsuccessfully, and then brought him down. Crazy from Keillor-Dunn who could easily have picked up a yellow card for each attempted foul. Luckily he only picked up one yellow card. On 85 minutes, Nadesan turned the ball over the bar from close range following a corner. Into 4 minutes of stoppage time. After 90+2 minutes, Keillor-Dunn so nearly set Swan away for a 1-on-1 but Ogie intercepted. Reed gave away a free kick with an unwise challenge level with the edge of the area on the left after 90+3 minutes. Before the free kick was taken, Gale replaced Keillor-Dunn. From the resulting free kick, a long range shot from Alexander was blocked. The Stags broke and Akins had a golden opportunity to cross into the middle for Gale but his cross was blocked for a corner. Cargill headed down the corner and it was booted away as the referee blew the final whistle. A brilliant game. A fair result in the end. Man of the match: Aden Flint Here’s a running tally of various stats this season: Goals (league and cup): Keillor-Dunn 8, Akins 4, Maris 3, Oates 3, Clarke 1, Lewis 1, Reed 1, Swan 1. Assists (league and cup): Oates 4, Quinn 4, Keillor-Dunn 3, Swan 2, Bowery 1, Clarke, Gale 1, Flint 1, Maris 1, Macdonald 1, Reed 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, “we're hoping February/March time we might get him back"), Quinn (nicked a ligament in side of knee, “still probably another couple of months away" as at 26Sep), Oates (ruptured ankle ligaments, “still probably another couple of months away" as at 26Sep), McLaughlin (knee, "we're going to take our time with him, we're hopefully looking sometime in November"), O’Toole (ankle, injured in U21 game against Notts Co, was “out for a week”, but hasn’t returned yet). Yellow cards (league only, alphabetical order): Boateng 1, Cargill 2, Clarke 1, Gale 1, Johnson 1, Keillor-Dunn 2, Kilgour 1, Lewis 2, Macdonald 3, 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) |
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Report by: By Martin Shaw at Priestfield
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Line Up:
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(4-4-2, diamond in midfield)
Pym 6 One good save. Spilled a powerful shot from Mahoney straight out to Bonne but rescued by brilliant tackle from Flint. Good handling. No chance with the goal. Bowery 7 Good game. Flint 9 My man of the match, a colossus at the back, including a wonderful tackle, and a great block on the line. Brunt 5 Bad mistake for the goal. Nigel Clough said after the game: “It was a young player making a mistake and he has to learn from that.” Macdonald 6 Subbed at half time after he had been booked. Didn’t have the best first half after his booking. Reed 6.5 Gave away late free kick with an unwise challenge. Good chance before half time but shot was deflected wide. Lewis 6.5 One shot wide. Clarke 8 Great awareness to create the goal. Great set-up for Maris’s shot wide. Several shots blocked. Maris 8 Really impressive in an attacking midfield role. Set up several chances. Should have scored when he shot wide. Keillor-Dunn 7.5 Really switched on for the goal. 8 goals in 10 league games now this season. Akins 6.5 Glanced a header just wide. Battled hard. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Cargill (for Macdonald, 46) 7 Good second half, solid defending. One great block.
Swan (for Clarke, 80) - Gale (for Keillor-Dunn, 90+4) - Subs not used: Flinders, Callum Johnson, George Williams, Boateng. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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Turner; Alexander, Masterson, Ogie, Malone; Coleman, Shaun Williams, Jonny Williams (Jayden Clarke 63mins), Jefferies (Lapslie 63mins), Mahoney (Nadesan 82mins), Bonne. Subs not used: Morris, Ehmer, Nichols, McKenzie.
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Referee:
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Jacob Miles 4 Had a bit of a stinker.
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