Season 16/17 Stagsnet Match Report
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Stevenage
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Mansfield Town
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Danny Rose 44
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Attendance: 2765 (389 from Mansfield)
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Date: 22 April 2017
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STAGS WIN AT STEVENAGE TO STAY IN THE HUNT
Martin Shaw and Simon Chamberlain at Broadhall Way Mansfield Town won 1-0 at 5th placed Stevenage to move closer to the play-off zone with just two games to go in League Two. The vital goal came a minute before half time from Danny Rose, as Joel Byrom’s shot deflected up, Krystian Pearce headed forward, and Rhys Bennett knocked back out to Rose who volleyed into the roof of the net from 6 yards. That goal followed a shot from Rose that was deflected over the bar for a corner. Just 4 minutes earlier, Rose had gone close when his header from Byrom’s corner to the far post was cleared off the line. Stevenage had been on top through much of the first half but really only went close once when a Charlie Lee long throw from the right went over everyone and McKee at the far post fired into the side netting. The Stags had to deal with an aerial bombardment as Lee hurled massive throw after massive throw into the Stags box, but the defence, with Rhys Bennett and Krystian Pearce outstanding, dealt with everything. Up until Rose’s header cleared off the line, Mansfield had been disappointing going forward. The Stags had three glorious chances to seal the game in the second half. Firstly on 53 minutes, after some good play, Ben Whiteman’s left footed shot from the edge of the box was deflected, but with the keeper wrong-footed, the ball span wide of the right post for a corner. Then on 59 minutes, a cracking run from Alex MacDonald from inside his own half, he seemed to have lost the ball but won it back, then with just the keeper to beat, he tried to dink the ball over the keeper but got it all wrong and the chance was gone. And then on 69 minutes, Danny Rose broke forward into the box and as he shot goalwards, a defender slid in with a terrific clearance. Stevenage again put plenty of balls into the Stags box, through a number of puzzling free kicks awarded for very little, but the Stags defence stood rock solid and Stevenage failed to create a single presentable chance in the second half, apart from Ben Kennedy’s shot onto the roof of the net from the edge of the box. A very generous 7 minutes of time added on but the Stags were not to be thwarted and were soon to be celebrating a massive three points with the ecstatic 389 Stags fans behind the goal. Some really impressive performances for the Stags, especially in the back line again with Bennett and Pearce both excellent. So Mansfield are just one point off a play-off position with two games left, and it is a huge game now at home to already promoted Portsmouth next Saturday. If you can possibly get to the One Call Stadium, do so to cheer Mansfield on. Mansfield made one change to the side that drew with Luton. MacDonald came in for Potter. We predicted in our report of the Luton game that MacDonald would start here. Steve Evans explained that Charlie Lee in the Stevenage midfield could bully the Stags, but MacDonald would not be bullied. The formation was again three at the back, two wing-backs, three in midfield and two up front. Pat Hoban was back on the bench after having a minor knee operation with Steve Evans putting as many strikers as possible on the bench. Joel Byrom was returning to the club where he had a lot of success earlier in his career. Stevenage were without their three best players. Top scorer Matt Godden is out for the season, influential midfielder Ben Kennedy was returning from injury and on the bench, and Steven Schumacher out injured. It was a good time for Mansfield to play Stevenage therefore. Stevenage had won 8 home games on the bounce, before losing their last home game to Morecambe. It was a must-win game for Mansfield, as would be all three of the final games if the Stags were to reach the play-offs. The pitch was a little bit bobbly in places. It was a glorious day, mostly sunny and milder than billed by the weather forecasters. There was great news at lunchtime that the Stags youth team had won this morning to clinch their league title. A tremendous achievement. Congratulations to the team and all the management. On 4 minutes, Danny Rose to MacDonald, to Coulthirst on the left and he fired across the face of goal but there was no-one anywhere near getting on the end of it. On 6 minutes, a free kick forward from Benning was cleared to Whiteman who scuffed a shot straight at the keeper from 20 yards. Straight to the other end and a long ball forward by the Stevenage keeper found Hinds who got to the edge of the area and Pearce did well to block his shot. Then MacDonald conceded a foul 28 yards from goal. Gorman took the resulting free kick straight into Kean’s midriff. A minute later, a great clearance by Bennett from Henry’s low cross. Stevenage could have taken the lead on 9 minutes. A long throw from the right from Charlie Lee went over everyone and McKee at the far post fired into the side netting on the left. There was a whole succession of long throws by Lee. We had noticed before the game how narrow the pitch was and it now became obvious why this was. On 12 minutes, Pett fired a low shot well wide of the left post. On 18 minutes, the Stags attacked, Coulthirst got to the by line and set up Benning for a cross but it was over everyone and cleared. Stevenage were the better side for sure in the opening 20 minutes. On 21 minutes, Danny Rose won the ball, took two touches and fired a low shot straight at the keeper from the edge of the box. That was better from Mansfield. On 26 minutes, good play from Coulthirst pushing forward and brought down. MacDonald took the resulting free kick from 30 yards out and his shot was deflected wide of the left post. The Stags’ poor first half was summed up on 29 minutes with a short corner that was wasted with a poor cross from Coulthirst. On 31 minutes, yet another Charlie Lee long throw was headed away. There had been so many in the first half but Bennett and Pearce were particularly dominant. Meanwhile the Stags were not creating anything going forward and long balls forward from Jake Kean at the back were coming to nothing. The Stags sprung into life on 40 minutes. Danny Rose did well to win a free kick on the left. MacDonald’s free kick was into a good area and flicked off a Stevenage head for a corner. The resulting corner from the right was taken by Byrom to beyond the far post where Rose headed goalwards and it was cleared off the line by McAnuff. Great set piece routine from Byrom and Rose but it wasn’t quite over the line. On 44 minutes, brilliant play from Coulthirst along the byline and he pulled back to Danny Rose who had time to compose himself and shoot goalwards but it was deflected over the bar. From the resulting corner, the Stags were in front. Byrom’s shot deflected up, Pearce headed forward, and Bennett knocked back out to Danny Rose who volleyed into the roof of the net from 6 yards. Stevenage had been the better side for much of the first half with the Stags offering little going forward but Danny Rose went close twice in the final stages of the first half before emphatically firing Mansfield in front. Half time 0-1 White was booked on 51 minutes for something on the halfway line. From the video it looks as though it was for holding, but was harsh The Stags were nearly further in front on 53 minutes. Good play from Mansfield round the edge of the box and Whiteman shot left footed from the edge of the box, it took a deflection and span agonisingly wide of the right post with the keeper wrong footed. On 55 minutes, Stevenage brought on Ben Kennedy who was returning from injury. He’s a superb player who’s played well against us before but has had off field problems. On 57 minutes, Coulthirst was brought down 22 yards from goal and Charlie Lee booked. Alex MacDonald took the resulting free kick and put it over the bar with a disappointing effort. On 59 minutes, a cracking run from Alex MacDonald from inside his own half, he seemed to have lost the ball but won it back, then with just the keeper to beat, he tried to dink the ball over the keeper but got it all wrong and the chance was gone. Coulthirst did well to win a free kick on the half way line but the free kick was wasted. On 66 minutes, yet another long throw from Stevenage. The ball was played back into the middle, Wilkinson headed tamely goalwards and Kean caught on his line. Two minutes later, McAnuff got to the edge of the area but Pearce put in a good block. On 69 minutes, Danny Rose broke forward into the box and as he shot goalwards, a defender slid in with a terrific clearance. Green replaced Danny Rose on 70 minutes. He’d had a good game. On 72 minutes, Kennedy showed a great touch on the edge of the area and chipped the shot on to the roof of the net. Collins replaced Taft on 74 minutes, as Collins went into the three man central defence in a straight swap. White did really well to win a corner on 76 minutes with a surging run. The 389 travelling Stags fans were giving great support to the Stags with plenty of vocal support. On 84 minutes, a really good punch from Kean from a long throw in. The ball was played back in and Wilkinson’s header was going wide but Kean caught it low down anyway. McGuire replaced MacDonald on 88 minutes. McGuire was straight into the action on 89 minutes with a good header away. And then a good tackle by White. Seven minutes of time added on was excessive but the Stags held out with no chances for Stevenage and the ecstatic Stags fans were soon celebrating victory. Some argy-bargy amongst the players at full time. From review of the video, Benning pushed Kennedy to start it. Amongst the celebrations, Steve Evans went up to the Stags fans and gave someone in the crowd a match ball. Man of the match: Rhys Bennett/Krystian Pearce |
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Report by: Martin Shaw and Simon Chamberlain at Broadhall Way
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Line Up:
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(3-2-3-2)
Kean 7 Didn’t have any saves to make but good handling and commanded his box. Bennett 8 terrific game in the face of an aerial bombardment. One great early clearance from a low cross. Pearce 8 Captain’s performance, like Bennett terrific in the air and snuffed out numerous attacks. Taft 7 Generally defended well. Lost the ball in dangerous places a couple of times, to the annoyance of Steve Evans. White 7.5 Some great runs forward and showed his pace. Benning 7 Decent game. Whiteman 6.5 Not at his best. Byrom 6.5 One good corner for Rose’s header. MacDonald 7.5 One blisteringly good run though wasted the chance he created. Worked terrifically hard. Coulthirst 7 Hold up play was great. A handful for the defence and retained the ball well, but a couple of times didn’t release the ball when he had someone in a better position. D.Rose 7.5 Scored the vital goal, and had another header cleared off the line, and one shot blocked in the second half. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Green (for D.Rose, 70 mins) -
Collins (for Taft, 74 mins) -. McGuire (for MacDonald, 88 mins) - Subs not used: Jensen, Potter, Hoban, Arquin. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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Jones; Henry (Tonge 77), Wilkinson, King, Ogilvie; Gorman, Lee, McAnuff, Pett; Hinds, McKee (Kennedy 55). Subs: Day, Franks, Wells, Gray, Ntlhe.
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Referee:
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Graham Salisbury 6 Awarded a number of puzzling free kicks for very little, including in stoppage time, but otherwise was mostly ok. 7 minutes added on was excessive.
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