Season 17/18 Stagsnet Match Report
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Mansfield Town
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Guiseley
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Spencer 31, 52, pen 65.
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Holden sent off 39, M’Boungou sent off 50
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Attendance: 4081 (675 from Guiseley)
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Date: 3 December 2017
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SPENCER HAT-TRICK SENDS STAGS THROUGH
Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town comfortably progressed to the third round of the FA Cup at the expense of National League Guiseley thanks to a hat-trick from Jimmy Spencer, his first goals for the club. It was the first hat-trick by a Stags player since Sam Clucas scored 4, also in the FA Cup, at St Albans, 4 years ago. The Stags now have 24 hours until Monday night to dream of an away tie at somewhere like Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea, or even Tottenham at Wembley. Paul Cox and Adam Murray returned to Mansfield as manager and assistant manager of Guiseley. Remarkably it meant that Mansfield’s last 3 managers (Cox, Murray, and Steve Evans) were in the dugouts at the same time. I doubt it has ever happened before that the most recent previous two managers of any league club were both in the away dugout. The Stags were dominant from start from finish. Mansfield had a total of 29 attempts on goal of which 17 were on target. The Stags were ahead when Spencer powered a header home from a fantastic pinpoint Paul Anderson cross. Spencer added a second volleying into the roof of the net after good play down the left from CJ Hamilton and a fine cross. Guiseley were unable to cope with Hamilton’s pace all afternoon. Spencer’s third came as he was hauled down in the box and stepped up to take the penalty himself, sending keeper Jonny Maxted the wrong way. Spencer had missed a penalty earlier in the season against Luton. Guiseley had two players sent off and could have no complaints with either. Darren Holden was given a straight red card for diving in on Spencer with a dangerous challenge. The video shows that the referee had no choice but to show the red card. The second sending off was for Chris M’Boungou who, having earlier been booked, deliberately tripped the onrushing Hamilton to pick up a second yellow card. It was simply madness from M’Boungou, who should have picked up his second yellow card just sixty seconds earlier when he got away with a bad challenge on Spencer. The Stags could and should have scored more than 3 goals. Rhys Bennett’s header was brilliantly turned onto the inside of the post by the keeper from a MacDonald cross, and CJ Hamilton had a shot deflected against the post. Keeper Jonny Maxted made a string of other good saves and there were plenty of other misses. But it didn’t matter for Mansfield. Guiseley never got going and Paul Cox was rightly disappointed with their performance after the game. The Stags’ unbeaten run now stands at a hugely impressive 11 games in all competitions. Attention switches to the Checkatrade Trophy on Wednesday and a trip to Blackpool (don’t forget the kick off is 7pm). Steve Evans will undoubtedly make many changes. The size and quality of Mansfield’s squad means that the Checkatrade Trophy is not a distraction but instead a welcome chance for players who’ve not played much, to impress. It was Guiseley’s first ever game in round two of the FA Cup. And they brought an impressive 675 fans, who were given free coach travel. Before the game, Cox and Murray were given a great reception by the Mansfield fans, as they richly deserved. Cox had taken Mansfield to the Conference play-offs, then to promotion from the Conference the follow season, which I think was one of the most important promotions in the club’s history, winning the title in doing so, one of just three titles the club has ever achieved. Along the way there were too many big moments to list here, such as pushing Liverpool all the way in the FA Cup. Murray had been the captain in the Conference winning season, in what was his third spell with the club, and he had also played an important part in promotion under Stuart Watkiss more than a decade earlier. He was promoted to manager after Cox left. Both Cox and Murray can rightly be described as club legends. Three players (Rhys Bennett, Danny Rose and CJ Hamilton) started for Mansfield today who were signed by Adam Murray. And another (Pearce) was on the bench. None in the matchday squad remained from the Paul Cox era. The Stags were without Jacob Mellis, who had not recovered from a knock, but was on the bench. Joel Byrom has a groin issue and was also missing. Strikers Kane Hemmings and Lee Angol were not ready to return from injury. Will Atkinson came into defensive midfield role, MacDonald moved into an attacking central midfield role, Paul Anderson returned to the right side of midfield, and Jimmy Spencer replaced Omari-Sterling James up front. CJ Hamilton kept his place on the left despite a poor performance last week, and repaid Steve Evans with an excellent display today. Guiseley were without John Rooney, who scored at Accrington in the first round, through suspension. Former Stag Kevan Hurst was on the bench and came on at half time. It was a pleasant and mild December day in Mansfield. Inside the first minute, Odejayi made a good run forward and his low shot was straight at Logan. The Stags should have had a penalty on 4 minutes as Rose burst into the area following a long throw forward from Hunt, and Rose was brought down by M’Boungou. The video shows M’Boungou with his hands on Rose’s shoulder from behind and then bringing his down with his right leg. The referee was well behind play and just gave a corner. A minute later, a great crossfield ball from White to Hamilton. Hamilton got to the byline, and crossed low to Spencer, who turned and shot just wide of the right post. On 6 minutes, a chance for Guiseley. Fondop found Molyneux in space of the edge of the area on the left, and Molyneux fired just over and wide. Evans and Raynor were not happy on the touchline with the Stags defending. On 7 minutes, Rose flicked on a Logan long ball forward to Spencer, and Spencer controlled well before shooting across the keeper and wide of the left post. On 10 minutes, the Stags should have had a second penalty. A great tackle by White on Fondop. Hamilton picked up a loose ball and powered forward down the left all the way into the area where his shorts were pulled from behind, but the officials didn’t spot it. Hamilton stayed on his feet and his cross was blocked. The pull on his shorts was clearly visible in real time and on our pitchside video. M’Boungou was booked on 14 minutes for a bad foul on Rose. The free kick was 23 yards out, to the right of centre. Atkinson took it short to MacDonald who turned and shot and keeper Maxted dived to push it away. A good effort. On 15 minutes, a great save by Maxted. A wonderful run by White into the area, he pulled back to Anderson whose low shot was on target and saved by Maxted with his legs. The Stags went even closer on 16 minutes. MacDonald lofted a high ball from the right across the area, and Bennett got up well to head it down towards the left corner of the net. Keeper Maxted got down brilliantly to push it against the inside of the left post and away. A minute later, MacDonald’s free kick from 30 yards was floated in and Spencer flicked on but straight to Maxted. Hunt was booked for a foul on Fondop on 19 minutes. Cox and Raynor were both spoken to by the referee as he told them to stay in their technical areas. On 22 minutes, Hamilton got to the byline and his cross was cleared to Atkinson whose shot nearly hit the corner flag. A minute later at the other end, a great tackle by Bennett on the edge of his own area. On 26 minutes, a good shot from Anderson which Maxted pushed wide. Then on 29 minutes, a good chance for Spencer when his shot from the edge of the area was blocked. The Stags were ahead on 31 minutes. Logan bowled the ball out to Atkinson, who found Anderson on the right. Anderson delivered a fantastic pinpoint cross and Spencer lost his marker in the middle to power a header down and past Maxted. On 34 minutes, Molyneux played the ball across the Stags area and Bennett did well to put it over his own bar. From the resulting corner, the Stags broke well, Spencer played a great ball to Anderson, he went into the area but lost control when he should have got a shot in. A good tackle by Atkinson on 38 minutes, as he took the ball off Fondop. Atkinson was breaking play up well. Guiseley were down to 10 men on 39 minutes. Darren Holden was given a straight red card for diving in on Spencer with a dangerous challenge. The video shows that the referee had no choice but to show the red card. Odejayi was sacrified, leaving Fondop on his own up front. On 45 minutes, Spencer knocked down to Anderson, back to Spencer and his shot was deflected into the roof of the net. That was close. A minute later, Hamilton did well to win the ball, he found Spencer whose did well to slide in and get a shot on target which was pushed wide by Maxted. A minute after that, Spencer flicked on to Hamilton whose low shot was blocked. Then a Stags throw-in to Spencer who should have shot but instead crossed and it was cleared. The Stags finished the half with Guiseley on the ropes and down to ten men. A good performance from Mansfield in what was an entertaining game. Half time 1-0 Former Stag Kevan Hurst was brought on by Guiseley at half time. On 49 minutes, Guiseley should have been down to 9 men as M’Boungou, booked in the first half, got away with a bad challenge on Spencer putting his arm in Spencer’s face. But a minute later, M’Boungou deliberately tripped the onrushing Hamilton to finally pick up his second yellow card. It was simply madness from M’Boungou. Guiseley switched to a 3-4-1 formation. The resulting free kick, 24 yards out, was sent over the bar by MacDonald. It was 2-0 on 52 minutes. Spencer volleyed into the roof of the net after good play down the left from Hamilton and a fine cross. A rare chance for Guiseley on 57 minutes. A corner was headed towards the right corner of the net by Lawlor and MacDonald cleared off the line. Mansfield have headed three off the line from similar positions in recent games, the previous two by Hemmings. The Stags broke straight to the other end and Rose was fouled, 24 yards out to the right of centre. Hunt fired the free kick into the wall. The Stags have yet to score with a shot from a free kick from this sort of position this season. On 60 minutes, Hamilton played the ball to Anderson and he shot into the side netting. On 63 minutes a quick corner from MacDonald to Anderson back to MacDonald and his shot from a tight angle went out for a throw in. The Stags made it 3-0 on 65 minutes. A good move from Mansfield, Hunt played a fine 1-2 with Hamilton on the left and Hunt slid a ball inside for Spencer on the edge of the six-yard box. As Spencer turned, his shirt was pulled from behind by Palmer and he went down for a clear penalty. Spencer sent Maxted the wrong way from the spot, firing the ball low into the left of the goal. After the game Spencer said he scuffed the kick. Even if Maxted had gone the right way, he probably wouldn’t have saved it as it was hit low, rather than just off the ground where keepers can more easily save them. So a hat-trick for Spencer, who before this game was yet to open his Stags account. It was just a matter of how many the Stags could score now. On 67 minutes, a great run from Hamilton and he sent in a right foot shot which Maxted saved low down. Moments later, Hamilton down the left again, to MacDonald and on to Spencer, whose soft shot was straight at the keeper. Hurst fired over the bar from 30 yards for Guiseley on 68 minutes. Potter replaced Anderson on 69 minutes. Yet another free kick for Mansfield in a shooting position on 72 minutes, as Potter was brought down, 22 yards out, to the left of centre. MacDonald’s free kick was low, under the wall and Maxted saved low. A minute later, Spencer chested down Hunt’s free kick to MacDonald who fired wide of the right post from 25 yards. Butcher replaced MacDonald on 73 minutes. Butcher was straight into the action on 74 minutes, as Spencer found him with a good ball forward, but Butcher instead of shooting elected to cross and it was cleared. On 77 minutes, White crossed in and Rose volleyed over the bar. It was reminiscent of his goal against Swindon. On 79 minutes, Logan was called upon to punch away two crosses from Hurst. The Stags broke straight to the other end, Rose flicked on to Butcher who fired over. Then on 81 minutes, White crossed from the right to Hamilton who shot wide when he really should have scored. Hamilton pulled up his shirt over his face. Hamilton was so unlucky on 83 minutes when he was denied the goal his performance deserved. He forced his way into the area and his shot was deflected against the post. A comedy moment on 84 minutes as Potter smashed the ball against the referee’s head. The ball rebounded out of play for a Guiseley throw-in! Sterling-James replaced Spencer on 88 minutes. Spencer came off to a standing ovation. On 90+1 minutes, White crossed from the right, one defender tried to clear the ball, it hit another and went behind for a corner. Potter took the resulting corner, got the ball back, got to the byline and his effort came off a defender just wide of the left post. The final whistle signalled the most comfortable of wins for Mansfield. Mansfield had a total of 29 attempts on goal of which 17 were on target. The Stags can look forward to the third round draw. Man of the match: Jimmy Spencer |
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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):
Logan 6 Punched away two crosses. Had little else to do. White 8 Very good game. Four good crosses. One great run. One excellent crossfield pass. Diamond 6 Solid. A quiet afternoon with little to do. Bennett 7 One great tackle and one good clearance over his own bar. Unlucky when keeper Maxted turned his header onto the inside of the post. Hunt 6 Slid the ball inside for Spencer when Spencer was fouled for the penalty. Solid game. Anderson 7 Fantastic pinpoint cross for the first goal. Two shots well saved, but he should have scored with the one that Maxted saved with his legs. Atkinson 7 Broke play up well. Good play into the build up to the first goal. MacDonald 7 Good cross for Bennett’s header against the post. Good effort from the free kick taken shot when Maxted did well to push his shot away. One other free kick low through the wall saved by the keeper. Good clearance off the line. Hamilton 9 Excellent and simply ran riot. Guiseley were unable to cope with his pace all afternoon. Countless fine runs. Fine cross for the second goal. Unlucky when his deflected shot hit the post, but should have scored with another effort that he put wide just before that. M’Boungou fouled him for his second yellow card. Should have had a penalty when his shorts were pulled from behind. Spencer 9 Hat-trick: powerful header when he lost his marker, volley into the roof of the net, and sent the keeper the wrong way from a penalty that he won himself. Plenty of other good pieces of play. Rose 7 Should have had a penalty when he was clearly fouled in the first half. Just had one chance when he volleyed over the bar. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Potter (for Anderson, 69 mins) -
Butcher (for MacDonald, 73 mins) - Sterling-James (for Spencer, 88 mins) - Subs not used: Olejnik, Pearce, Digby, Mellis. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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Maxted; Brown, Palmer, M’Boungou, Holden; Hughes (Hurst 45), Lawlor, Lenighan, Molyneux (Purver 55); Odejayi (Lowe 43), Fondop. Subs unused: Green, Correira, McFadzean, Haworth.
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Referee:
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Carl Boyeson 6 Correctly sent off two Guiseley players. But should have sent M’Boungou off earlier and missed two penalties for Mansfield.
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