Season 15/16 Stagsnet Match Report
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Mansfield Town
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York City
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Pearce 31.
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Winfield 10
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Attendance: 3958 (635 from York)
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Date: 28 December 2015
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STAGS RUE EARLY GOAL & MISSED CHANCES TO DRAW WITH YORK
Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill A disappointing result for Mansfield Town at home to York City this afternoon in a 1-1 draw. York belied their status in the bottom three of the league with a good start to the game and were much the better side in the opening 25 minutes. They were deservedly in front through a goal on 10 minutes as Luke Summerfield curled in a great free kick from the left and centre-half Dave Winfield was allowed to move forward completely unmarked and flick into the right corner of the net with his right leg from 8 yards. It was Lee Collins that he had escaped from. Extremely poor marking. Collins appealed in vain for offside. Video evidence is inconclusive as to whether he was offside. Another early goal conceded by the Stags. Mansfield have got the third best defensive record in the league conceding just 21 goals in total this season, but 9 of those goals have come in the opening 15 minutes of games. Having produced nothing in the opening 25 minutes, Mansfield were the better side for the remaining 20 minutes of the half. The Stags were level on 31 minutes with a great header by Krystian Pearce from 12 yards from a corner by Adam Chapman. Pearce directed his header just inside the left post and the keeper couldn’t reach it. 1-1 at half time and a fair reflection of the game. The second half was almost one way traffic though with Mansfield dominating possession and coming very close on three occasions to winning the game. On 64 minutes a brilliant cross from Nathan Thomas from the left and Matt Green somehow hit the bar from 2 yards with the goalkeeper nowhere and it seemed easier for Green to score. Five minutes later, the Stags hit the bar again as my man of the match Reggie Lambe fired a left footed shot from 22 yards that crashed off the woodwork. And then on 84 minutes, Chapman crossed from the right and Adi Yussuf got in a flying header from 10 yards that the keeper somehow kept out with a brilliant reflex save down to his right. All in all, a pretty entertaining game for a near-4000 crowd but frustration for the home fans at somehow not being able to force the victory. Some credit has to go to York, who looked better than a bottom-three side who had lost 5 away games on the trot. Four games unbeaten for Mansfield but three of those have been draws. The halfway point of the season and the Stags are two points behind the play-off zone. Worth reflecting that this time last year we were just five points above the relegation zone and in for an uncomfortable few months through to the end of the season. We’ve come a long way. Happy New Year everyone! Mansfield made one change to the side that drew at Cambridge. Adam Murray explained that Ryan Tafazolli had a slight niggle and he didn’t think he could get through 90 minutes. So Tafazolli dropped to the bench. Tafazolli had started every game in the league and had been one of only two ever-presents in the league up until this point (the other being Chapman). Lee Collins moved to centre half, and Mitch Rose moved to right back, which gave more of an attacking threat from the full-backs. Craig Westcarr returned to the side in Tafazolli’s place. Westcarr played the first part of the game up alongside Green in a 4-4-2 formation. Matty Blair was playing against his former club. York included Vadaine Oliver up front, he played most of last season on loan at Field Mill of course. The city of York has been hit by dreadful flooding over the last couple of days. Best wishes to those hundreds of households so badly affected. BBC Radio York were also affected and unable to provide the full match commentary that they usually broadcast. As a result we were asked to provide full match commentary for the York City club website MinstermenPlayer. It was an unseasonably mild day, and mercifully dry as well. York started on the front foot as the Stags started slowly. On 6 minutes, Ilesanmi sold Matty Blair a dummy on the byline and then fired wide from a tight angle. On 10 minutes, York were ahead. Matty Blair was adjudged to have fouled Berret wide on the left about 10 yards outside the area. Video evidence shows that Blair clearly got the ball first and it shouldn’t have been a foul. Luke Summerfield curled in a great free kick and centre-half Dave Winfield was allowed to move forward completely unmarked and flick into the right corner of the net with his right leg from 8 yards. It was Lee Collins that he had escaped from. Extremely poor marking. Collins appealed in vain for offside. Video evidence is inconclusive as to whether he was offside. On 16 minutes, a free kick for Mansfield 27 yards out, wide on the left. Chapman went for goal and sent a powerful shot straight at the keeper. Two minutes later, a good move by the Stags, their first of the game, was eventually out for a throw-in. York could have been further in front on 23 minutes. Ilesanmi fed Fewster who crossed from the left, Vadaine Oliver headed back towards the top left of the goal from the right and Jensen had to tip it away. Two minutes later, Fewster fired wide of the right post and Jensen had it covered. The Stags had barely been in the game but started to come to life on 25 minutes. Lambe fed Adams, who advanced a few paces and his shot was blocked almost at source. From the resulting corner from the left by Chapman, Clements slid in and skied well wide. On 27 minutes, great play by Blair who got past a defender and fired in a shot from the edge of the box that was deflected just over the bar with the keeper nowhere. From the resulting corner, half-appeals for a penalty for handball but nothing given. The Stags were level on 31 minutes with a great header by Krystian Pearce from 12 yards from a corner by Adam Chapman. Pearce directed his header just inside the left post and the keeper Flinders couldn’t reach it. Flinders was possibly slightly unsighted by Green and a York defender in front of him. Chapman had seemed to be taking abuse from the York fans behind the goal before the corner, and he celebrated in front of them to get his own back. On 38 minutes, great play by Rose down the right to Blair but Blair’s cross didn’t beat the first man. Two minutes later, Westcarr seemed to win the ball on the edge of the area and the referee gave a free kick against him. On 43 minutes, a good tackle by Chapman after Blair had given the ball away. On 45+1 minutes, a York corner from the left flew through a bunch of players and out the other side. 1-1 at the break and a fair reflection of the game, which had been a half of two halves. Half time 1-1 On 48 minutes a free kick from the halfway line by Chapman, Adams put the ball back into the box, it came down to Westcarr who shot from a tight angle, and the keeper deflected wide. From the resulting corner, Lambe’s left footed cross-shot was held under his bar by the keeper. On 50 minutes, a great run from Lambe from well inside his own half. He played the ball forward to Green who went down in the box but it was no penalty. Jensen had a lucky escape on 51 minutes as his clearance hit Oliver and out for a goal-kick. The second week running that’s happened. Lambe was booked on 52 minutes when it didn’t even look like he’d committed a foul. On 55 minutes, a free kick for the Stags 30 yards out, just to the right of centre. Adams took it, an inswinging cross-come-shot which was heading in and Flinders saved to his right. It would have only needed a touch from a Stags player to turn it in. Nathan Thomas replaced Blair on 56 minutes. On 62 minutes, good play by Fewster who cut inside Rose from the left, but fired well wide. On 64 minutes, Chapman played a fine ball out to the left where Nathan Thomas fired in a brilliant cross and Matt Green somehow hit the bar from 2 yards with the goalkeeper nowhere and it seemed easier for Green to score. A minute later, Nathan Thomas embarked on another run, his cross was deflected up and Flinders punched away. A minute after that, a good move by the Stags, the ball finally came to Nathan Thomas who fired wide. On 68 minutes, Nathan Thomas got past one defender and crossed but it was put behind for a corner. This was wonderful wingplay from Nathan Thomas and you sense a goal was coming. On 69 minutes, the Stags hit the bar again as Reggie Lambe fired a left footed shot from 22 yards that crashed off the woodwork. Unlucky from Lambe, a fine effort. On 71 minutes, Nathan Thomas fired well wide from 33 yards. A minute later, Lambe won the ball well and fired in a powerful effort from 25 yards which Flinders palmed away. A reminder that York were still in the game on 73 minutes as Galbraith cut in from the right, along the byline, and shot from a tight angle straight into Jensen’s midriff. On 74 minutes, Clements cut inside and his shot was blocked. Moments later, Clements was booked for a foul. On 77 minutes at the other end Carson got away down the left and his cross-shot whistled wide of the right post with Oliver diving in and just unable to get there. Yussuf came on for Westcarr on 78 minutes. On 79 minutes, Lambe broke forward into the area and his shot was blocked. The Stags nearly won it on 84 minutes. Chapman crossed from the right and Adi Yussuf got in a flying header from 10 yards that keeper Flinders somehow kept out with a brilliant reflex save down to his right. Two minutes later, Green turned and his shot was blocked. Straight to the other end and Oliver fired a hopeless shot well wide from an impossible position. Then on 88 minutes Penn fired a good shot from 25 yards just wide. On 90+1 minutes, Chapman’s free kick from 45 yards was flicked on by Pearce and Flinders saved at full stretch. Full time and applause from most fans for an entertaining game, which the Stags should have won in the second half. Most of the home fans really got behind the side in the second half and nearly roared the side home to victory. Some good performances in the Mansfield side with Reggie Lambe my man of the match. Adam Chapman had a good game with some good set pieces and passes. There were times in the second half though where it was noticeable that both Chapman and Clements were sitting too deep as Stags were on the attack. Nathan Thomas came on as substitute and looked inspired for 10 minutes but he then faded quickly. His cross for Green should have been match-winning though. On to the Accrington game on Saturday, the second of three successive home games. We’ve yet to beat Accrington in 9 attempts in the league since they reformed in 1968 (though we did of course beat them before that); time to put that right. Man of the match: Reggie Lambe |
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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)
Jensen 6.5 Good save from Oliver and a couple of routine saves. Was too slow clearing on one occasion, as he was at Cambridge. Rose 6.5 Generally did well at right back. Fewster cut inside him and shot on one occasion. Collins 5 At fault for the goal and held his hand up afterwards. Otherwise had a solid game. Pearce 7 Great goal after going so close in the previous two matches. Solid defensively. Adams 6.5 Got forward well on a few occasions. Defended well. Blair 6 Great skill to get past a defender and fire in a shot that was deflected just over. Otherwise blew hot and cold with some poor crosses. Clements 5 Frustrating game. Chapman 7.5 Several good set pieces and passes to set up chances, including the goal and Yussuf’s header. Lambe 8 Got in several good shots and had several good runs. Westcarr 5 Involved in very little. Green 6 Should have scored from close range when he hit the bar. Set up Lambe for shot against the bar. |
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Sub Line Up:
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N.Thomas (for Blair, 56) 7 Wonderful talent and had a sensational 10 minutes but then faded. Needs to find more consistency.
Yussuf (for Westcarr, 78) - Good diving header that was brilliantly saved. Subs not used: Shearer, Tafazolli, McGuire, J.Thomas, Beardsley. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(4-3-3): Flinders; Nolan, Boyle, Winfield, Ilesanmi; Berrett, Summerfield, Penn; Galbraith, Oliver, Fewster (Carson 76). Subs not used: Ingham, Straker, Swan, Godfrey, McEvoy, Kitching.
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Referee:
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Darren Handley 5 Had a poor game. The free-kick which led to the York goal was not a foul. The booking of Lambe was a poor decision. .
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