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An independent supporters' website dedicated to Mansfield Town FC
Season 15/16 Stagsnet Match Report
Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Mansfield Town  
1 - 1
 AFC Wimbledon
Clements 15.
 
 Elliott 6.
Attendance: 3042 (208 from Wimbledon)
 
Date: 5 September 2015

BELOW PAR STAGS HANG ON FOR IMPORTANT POINT AGAINST AFC WIMBLEDON

Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill

Mansfield Town picked up a third consecutive home 1-1 draw, against AFC Wimbledon at Field Mill this afternoon. Mansfield were not too impressive through most of the game and a point was probably more than we deserved. But there is an important characteristic of being to pick up points when you don’t play well, and so providing you do play well on occasions, such as we did away to York and Notts County, then points from games like this will keep you in the top half of the table. Mansfield are 8th after 6 games, which is a more than satisfactory start to the season following on from last season. Mansfield were behind after 6 minutes for the second Saturday running, as former Cambridge striker Tom Elliott fired home powerfully from the edge of the box underneath Brian Jensen following a big goal kick that had been headed out by Tafazolli then slid forward to Elliott by George Francomb. Mansfield hadn’t been in the game but a brilliant free-kick from Chris Clements on 15 minutes brought the equaliser. Clements fired over the wall and into the bottom left corner from 25 yards giving the keeper no chance. By half time, the game was fairly even. Wimbledon got on top in the second half with several players impressing including Elliott, Rigg and Francomb and Mansfield were hanging on. Wimbledon were unable to find the net though and during stoppage time, Wimbledon sub Lyle Taylor was sent off for an alleged elbow on Nicky Hunt, which looked harsh. With virtually the last kick of the game, Mansfield came within a whisker of stealing all three points with another free kick from Clements, this time from the edge of the D, which just flashed past the left post. Clements was Mansfield’s clear man of the match, though Pearce, Tafazolli and keeper Jensen also played well. Otherwise though Mansfield gave the ball away too often and gave Wimbledon too much space on the wings allowing too many crosses in. The Stags created very little going forward with Green isolated and cutting a frustrated figure at the lack of decent service and with too many inaccurate long balls forward from the back.

Mansfield were unchanged from the side that won at York last Saturday, after several players had been rested in the JPT game in midweek. It was a 4-1-4-1 formation with Chapman sitting in front of the back four, Westcarr and Lambe on the right and left of midfield respectively, and Green on his own up front. AFC Wimbledon were more or less at full strength having also rested six players in their JPT game in midweek.

On 4 minutes, Akinfenwa laid back to Rigg, who fired wide from 24 yards.

Mansfield were behind after 6 minutes for the second Saturday running, as former Cambridge striker Tom Elliott fired home powerfully from the edge of the box underneath Brian Jensen following a big goal kick from James Shea that had been headed out by Tafazolli then slid forward to Elliott by George Francomb.

On 12 minutes, there seemed to be a clear foul on Hunt, not given, and resulting in a corner for Wimbledon. It didn’t come to anything.

On 14 minutes, Francomb fed Elliott on the left, on the angle of the area, he chested down and fired into the side netting, though Jensen had it covered.

Mansfield hadn’t been in the game but a brilliant free-kick from Chris Clements on 15 minutes brought the equaliser.
Lambe chested the ball down and was brought down, 25 yards out from goal, to the left of centre. Clements fired over the wall and into the bottom left corner giving the keeper no chance.

At the other end two minutes later, good defending from Clements on the edge of his own area.

A great tackle from Pearce on 20 minutes, after Chapman had given the ball away. On 22 minutes, Francomb went on a great run and sent in a low shot which Jensen saved easily.

On 23 minutes, Westcarr did well to win a corner. Chapman took it from the right, to the far post, where Tafazolli found space, rose and headed wide of the right post. It was a good opportunity.

Another great tackle by Pearce on 25 minutes, halfway inside his own half. Moments later, Francomb crossed from the right, and a great header behind by Pearce with Akinfenwa lurking. Brilliant control inside his own area by Clements on 31 minutes, he cleared, and Wimbledon keeper Shea controlled the ball dangerously to keep it away from Green.

Mansfield were messing inside their own half on 33 minutes. Chapman’s header conceded possession to Wimbledon, down their left, a Rigg cross into the middle was headed up by Tafazolli and Elliott headed wide as the ball dropped back down.

On 35 minutes, a free kick from Benning into the box, the ball pinged around the Wimbledon box. Green attempted an overhead kick, Pearce had a goalbound shot blocked, it looked like it might fall for Green, and finally it was cleared.

On 38 minutes, Clements won the ball, after Francomb had got past two defenders on the right.

Straight to the other end, and a ball forward to Green. Green bore down on goal and seemed to be brought down 20 yards from goal. It looked like the defender clipped Green’s heels, but the referee waved play on.

On 41 minutes, great play by Clements outside his own area.

On 43 minutes, a free kick for Mansfield on the right, on the byline, almost like a short corner. Benning took it, to Rose and Rose seemed to be upended just inside the area, but no penalty given. From the match DVD, I don’t think many referees would have given that as a penalty. Moments later a great tackle by Benning.

On 44 minutes, Benning crossed from the left, and Green cold only get the top of his head to it, and away for a throw-in. Moments later, another good tackle by Clements.

On 45 minutes, Westcarr’s shot from 30 yards was straight at the keeper.

Into stoppage time and Mansfield got a free-kick 20 yards out, on the right touchline. Benning took it, straight to a Wimbledon player, allowing Wimbledon to break. A truly terrible free-kick.

Just about even at the break. The Stags had started so slowly and behind on 6 minutes. But the goal from Clements had sparked Mansfield into a bit of life and got them playing a bit of football.

Half time 1-1

On 48 minutes, a free-kick for Wimbledon 25 yards from goal, to the right of centre. The free-kick given for Wimbledon when it looked like it was a foul on Tafazolli. Francomb clipped the ball in and eventually headed behind for a goal-kick. Amazing that Wimbledon did not take a shot at goal form there.

A good tackle from Pearce on Elliott on 50 minutes, but then a foul by Hunt on Elliott. Francomb took the free-kick, from the left, and his cross was out for a goal-kick.

Chapman was booked for something he said on 51 minutes. It confounded his poor game so far.

A real chance for Mansfield on 52 minutes. A long ball forward by Jensen to Green in the area, Green did well to shield the ball from the keeper, and Green fed Lambe, whose shot from 16 yards was headed off the line by the only defender on the line. A bullet shot would have given him no chance on the line.

A corner from the right moments later for Mansfield. Tafazolli headed it back, and out for another corner.

Rose got a yellow card on 55 minutes for kicking the ball away or possibly for deliberate hand ball.

On 57 minutes, Rigg sent in a free shot from the left, Jensen saved well with his legs, it looped up in the air and Elliott headed wide. Before play restarted the ball had to be changed because it was now flat!

On 58 minutes, Westcarr crossed from the left, the keeper spilled it just past his own post. Moments later, Hunt’s long throw was headed up by a defender, and the keeper held it on his line.

On 64 minutes, a Wimbledon cross from the left and Benning got a vital header away.

Nathan Thomas replaced Lambe on 65 minutes.

On 67 minutes, Akinfenwa turned Pearce, but then a great tackle from Pearce on the big man.

On 68 minutes, a suicidal backpass by Tafazolli, Akinfenwa got there first but Jensen did well to somehow smother it and Tafazolli was able to clear. The battle of the beasts Akinfenwa and Jensen won by Jensen, and sparing Tafazolli’s blushes.

On 70 minutes, a corner straight out of play by Benning, and then moments later a Benning free-kick straight to the keeper. Poor.

Green was booked for a foul on 73 minutes. That looked very harsh.

A free kick 23 yards out to the left of centre for Wimbledon on 75 minutes as Akinfenwa was fouled. Sub Lyle Taylor took it just over the bar.

Beardsley replaced Westcarr on 76 minutes, Beardsley went up front with Green, Rose to the right with Nathan Thomas on the left in a 4-4-2

On 79 minutes, a free-kick against the Stags when it looked like Hunt was fouled. To make matters worse, Hunt was booked.

On 84 minutes, a shot from Bulman from 25 yards hit Green, Bulman appealed for a penalty but it certainly wasn’t.

On 85 minutes Francomb shot powerfully into the side netting, Jensen never moved. It was close.

Jack Thomas replaced Rose on 85 minutes. There was only one team looking like they might win it and it wasn’t Mansfield.

Into stoppage time, and on 90+4 Wimbledon sub Lyle Taylor was sent off for an alleged elbow on Nicky Hunt, which looked harsh.

On 90+6, and with virtually the last kick of the game, Mansfield came within a whisker of stealing all three points with another free kick from Clements, this time from the edge of the D, which just flashed past the left post.

A mixed response at the final whistle.

Man of the match: Chris Clements


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



Line Up:
(4-1-4-1)
Jensen 7 A commanding figure. A couple of good saves; kicked well.
Hunt 5 Too many crosses came in.
Pearce 7.5 At least five great tackles. Very good game.
Tafazolli 7 Decent game. Suicidal backpass could have been costly though.
Benning 5 Too many crosses came in. Set pieces too often too close to the keeper.
Chapman 5 Gave the ball away too often. A couple of good corners.
Westcarr 6 Ok.
Rose 6 Not as dynamic as usual.
Clements 8 Very good game. Great goal and nearly repeated the trick to win the game. Some great tackles and good distribution.
Lambe 5 Earned the free-kick which led to the goal. Should have done better with shot with just a defender to beat on the line. Too quiet.
Green 6 Too isolated and cut a frustrated figure at the lack of decent service and with too many inaccurate long balls forward from the back.
Sub Line Up:
N.Thomas (for Lambe, 65) -
Beardsley (for Westcarr, 76) -
J.Thomas (for Rose, 85) -
Subs not used: Marsden, Collins, McGuire, Yussuf.

Opposition Line Up:
James Shea, Barry Fuller, Karleigh Osborne (Will Nightingale), Paul Robinson, Jon Meades, George Francomb, Dannie Bulman, Jake Reeves, Sean Rigg, Tom Elliott (Lyle Taylor), Bayo Akinfenwa (Ade Azeez).
Referee:
Ross Joyce 4 Very poor, annoying both sets of supporters.


Season 15/16 Reports