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Season 16/17 Stagsnet Match Report
English Football League Trophy - Checkatrade Trophy - Quarter Final
Mansfield Town  
1 - 2
 Wycombe Wanderers
Green pen 34.
 
 Kashket 72, Akinfenwa 81
Attendance: 2047 (108 from Wycombe)
 
Date: 24 January 2017

STAGS OUT OF CHECKATRADE TROPHY IN QUARTER-FINALS

Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill

Mansfield Town were knocked out of the Checkatrade Trophy in the quarter-finals by Wycombe Wanderers, having led until the 72nd minute, after Matt Green’s penalty had put the Stags in front. But goals from Wycombe’s substitutes Scott Kashket and Adebayo Akinfenwa turned the game around, the first stemming from a howler by Stags keeper Jake Kean. It was a disappointing night with the Stags just a game and a half away from Wembley at the half time interval, but ultimately this was a poor performance from Mansfield which did not warrant victory. In a feisty first half, that was every bit the battle that Steve Evans said it would be, Mansfield went in front when Mal Benning surged forward down the left, crossed into the middle and Joe Jacobson unnecessarily but blatantly handballed it for a clear penalty. Matt Green converted into the bottom left corner of the net for his 12th goal of the season. But the game changed on 72 minutes when Muller’s shot from 30 yards was not held by Kean allowing Kashket to turn in from close range. An absolute howler from Kean. The winner came on 81 minutes when Akinfenwa chested down Bean’s cross and fired past Kean. Wycombe’s win made them 16 games unbeaten, a tremendous run. Mansfield of course were missing their four cup-tied players who have impressed in recent league games. They will be back for Saturday as the Stags continue to push to get into the play-off places with a home game against Leyton Orient.

Mansfield were forced into several changes from the side that beat Cambridge in the league. White, Byrom, Whiteman and Coulthirst were suspended. Danny Rose also dropped out. The five players coming in were McGuire, Jack Thomas, Baxendale, Green and Arquin. Collins switched to right back from midfield. I watched the Stags youth team earlier in the day and the absence of young Zayn Hakeem and Cameron Healey from that team meant that they would be in the 18 man squad for the first team game.

Wycombe, unbeaten in 15 games, made several changes of their own, including resting both centre halves, and dangerous strike pairing of Akinfenwa and Kashket, who were on the bench.

A double chance for Wycombe on 2 minutes. Bean’s shot from the edge of the box was blocked by Bennett, Wycombe recycled the ball and Sam Saunders blasted over the bar from 12 yards.

A minute later at the other end, Arquin teed up Bennett in the area who shot wide of the left post.

On 8 minutes, Baxendale crossed in from the right and Bennett headed wide. On 10 minutes, Baxendale’s free kick from the right was met by Arquin who guided a header forward but it went straight through to keeper Jamal Blackman.

On 15 minutes, Cowan-Hall crossed from the right, Pearce’s clearing header was poor and straight to Sam Saunders who miscued a volley straight at Kean.

Bennett made a great tackle on Cowan-Hall as he pushed forward. Then on 16 minutes, Bennett lofted a ball forward, it dropped to Arquin who shot well wide. From the resulting goal-kick, McGuire headed back into the Wycombe half, Green powered after it and shot straight at Blackman from 22 yards. Strong from Green.

Mansfield went close to taking the lead on 21 minutes. Baxendale’s free kick from the left was eventually knocked back in by Arquin, and headed out to Pearce who fired just over from 14 yards. It was very close.

On 24 minutes, Green span away from his marker 30 yards from goal, and fired just wide of the left post.

Mansfield went in front on 34 minutes when Mal Benning surged forward down the left, crossed into the middle and Joe Jacobson unnecessarily but blatantly handballed it for a clear penalty. Matt Green converted into the bottom left corner of the net for his 12th goal of the season.

On 37 minutes, a good tackle by Benning on Weston. Four minutes later, Jacobson’s shot was well blocked by Pearce.

On 45+1 minutes, Saunders virtually assaulted McGuire right in front of the Mansfield dugout and was lucky to escape with a yellow card.

1-0 to Mansfield at half time and the referee called the two captains together at the break. It had been an absolute battle especially in the latter stages of the half.

Half time 1-0

Just 15 seconds inside the second half, Jack Thomas lobbed a nice ball forward for Green but Blackman was out quickly to clear.

Jack Thomas was booked for a tackle in the Wycombe area on 47 minutes.

The Stags went close on 51 minutes. Benning made a good run forward down the left, got the ball back from Green, and fired inches wide of the right post.

On 54 minutes, Jacobson’s corner from the left found Cowan-Hall who got away from his marker Benning and headed over. Poor marking form Benning.

The Stags could have had a penalty on 56 minutes. Green and Muller challenged for the ball just inside the area and Green went down. Steve Evans insisted after the game that it was a penalty; our pitchside video footage is inconclusive.

On 57 minutes, Benning tried his luck with a shot from just 3 yards inside the Wycombe half, he struck it cleanly but it was wide of the right post.

A minute later, Bennett sent a left footed shot just wide of the right post from 22 yards.

Wycombe brought on their big gun strikers Akinfenwa and Kashket on 66 minutes.

The game changed on 72 minutes as Wycombe levelled. A quick free kick caught Stags napping, the ball was cleared to Muller whose shot from 30 yards was not held by Kean allowing Kashket to turn in from close range, getting to the ball quicker than any defender. An absolute howler from Kean.

On 74 minutes, a great run from Hamilton, he cut inside his defender then to the byline, but his cross was blocked for a corner.

A chance for Arquin on 78 minutes, a great lay off from Green into his path, but before he could pull the trigger, a defender played the ball against him and the ball ran wide of the left post.

Kashket had the ball in the net on 79 minutes, but the whistle had already gone.

Wycombe took the lead on 81 minutes when Akinfenwa chested down Bean’s cross and fired left footed past Kean. Good strength and finishing from Akinfenwa.

Danny Rose replaced Arquin, and Hemmings replaced Baxendale on 82 minutes.

A double chance for the Stags to equalise on 83 minutes. Hamilton’s shot from 12 yards was saved by Blackman, and Benning’s follow up shot came off Green and just wide for a goal kick.

Hoban replaced Collins on 88 minutes as the Stags went to 3 at the back.

On 90 minutes, Danny Rose made a good run forward and from 22 yards sent a left footed shot just wide of the right post with Blackman at full stretch. A minute into stoppage time, Green’s acrobatic volley was blocked.

The Stags were giving away unnecessary fouls allowing Wycombe to wind the clock down.

One final chance on 90+6 minutes, a free kick from Hemmings into the middle was cleared out to Benning to shot wide.

Man of the match: Mal Benning


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



Line Up:
(4-1-3-2)
Kean 5 An absolute howler for the first goal. No chance with the second goal. Only one other save to make, a soft shot straight at him.
Collins 6 Steady job at right back.
Bennett 7 Several good bits of defending. Had three efforts at goal but sent all of them wide.
Pearce 6 One good block, but also one poor clearing header. One decent shot just over the bar.
Benning 7 Some good runs forward, including leading to the penalty. Some good defending, but allowed Cowan-Hall a free header in the second half.
McGuire 7 Good game in front of the back four, as the game turned into a battle.
Baxendale 5 A couple of decent crosses in the first 10 minutes. Anonymous after that.
J.Thomas 5 One good ball forward. But didn’t really take his opportunity on his second start of the season.
Hamilton 6.5 Good second half with good runs and one decent shot saved.
Green 7 Scored the penalty, could have had another. Several good efforts including two good efforts in the first half. Good lay-offs for Benning and Arquin.
Arquin 5 Set up a chance for Bennett, otherwise disappointing.
Sub Line Up:
D.Rose (for Arquin, 82 mins) - Good run and shot wide late on.
Hemmings (for Baxendale, 82 mins) -
Hoban (for Collins, 88 mins) -
Subs not used: Shearer, Healey, Hurst, Hakeem.
Opposition Line Up:
Blackman, Jombati, Muller, De Havilland, Jacobson; O’Nien, Weston, Bean (Wood 84), Saunders, Thompson (Akinfenwa 66), Cowan-Hall (Kashket 66). Subs not used: Richardson, Pierre, Harriman, Freeman.
Referee:
David Webb 5


Season 16/17 Reports