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Season 17/18 Stagsnet Match Report
English Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Luton Town  
2 - 1
 Mansfield Town
Collins 61, Rea 70.
 
 Hemmings 34
Attendance: 9592 (725 from Mansfield)
 
Date: 2 April 2018

STAGS BEATEN AT LUTON DESPITE PLAYING WELL

Martin Shaw at Kenilworth Road

Mansfield Town were beaten 2-1 at Kenilworth Road by a Luton Town side that now look almost certainties for automatic promotion. The Stags meanwhile remain outside the play-off spots. It was the second time this season that Mansfield somehow came away from a game with Luton that they should have got more from. Mansfield could have had the game sewn up by half time. The Stags took the lead on 34 minutes, when Conrad Logan’s long ball forward was superbly controlled by Kane Hemmings, who turned away from his marker Scott Cuthbert on the edge of the area, before firing left footed under keeper James Shea and into the net from 16 yards. A clinical finish from Hemmings, and an assist for Logan, who celebrated in front of the Stags fans. The Stags had a quadruple chance to increase the lead on 38 minutes as Alex MacDonald missed his kick with a clear sight of goal from 8 yards, but he got a second chance as his shot was blocked by the keeper, the ball came out to Jacob Mellis whose shot was also blocked by the keeper, MacDonald then recycled the ball to Zander Diamond whose shot from 13 yards was deflected over the bar by the head of Alan Sheehan, who knew little about it, as it looked destined for the net. A minute later, Hemmings did superbly from 20 yards to get himself into a shooting position and his excellent left footed shot was millimetres wide of the right post; it may have even hit the outside of the right post, I can’t tell from the video. The Stags went even closer on 45+1 minutes as Jacob Mellis picked up a clearance 32 yards from goal, took a couple of paces forward, and his shot took a slight deflection off Alan McCormack before looping onto the bar, with the keeper completely beaten and unmoved. Earlier in the half, Zander Diamond had sent a clean header over the bar from a corner. At the other end, Logan made a good save with his body, coming out quickly to deny Elliot Lee, and later saved from James Collins, who had looked offside but the flag didn’t go up. So a tremendous first half from Mansfield who ended it 1-0 ahead, but could easily have been 2 or 3 ahead and out of sight. Into the second half, and Logan made a great save, tipping away Elliot Lee’s shot from 20 yards on 53 minutes. Then Rea’s cross hit the top of the bar, though Logan had it covered. The Stags had two chances in a minute to make it 2-0 on 59 minutes. Firstly, outstanding play from Jacob Mellis, who won the ball inside his own half, embarked on a brilliant run and laid the ball off to Hemmings, whose left-footed shot was deflected for a corner, when he should have scored. Then Mellis squared to Hemmings whose shot from inside the D was wide. But within a minute, Luton were level. The impressive Pelly Ruddock got to the byline on the right, and his low cross found James Collins, who got away from his marker Rhys Bennett, to knock into the net. Poor marking from Bennett. But the Stags should have been back in front on 66 minutes. A cross from Hemmings from the right was expertly headed down by Diamond to give Angol a shot at goal from 9 yards. He seemed certain to score, but somehow his shot was deflected wide by James Collins. Angol really should have scored. Three minutes later on 69 minutes, Mellis had another shot from the edge of the area blocked, Luton broke away and Hemmings brought Collins down from behind to pick up a booking. But from the resulting free kick, 30 yards out, Alan Sheehan’s kick bounced just in front of Logan who couldn’t hold onto the ball, and it came out to Glenn Rea who knocked into the net from 5 yards. A disaster for Logan (who otherwise made some good saves), but also no Stags defenders were alert enough to get to the loose ball before Rea. The Stags were shell-shocked, having had so many glorious chances to put the game to bed, and now found themselves behind. The Stags could not force an equaliser in the final 20 minutes as Luton wound the clock down efficiently. Indeed it was Luton who came closer to scoring in the final few minutes as Logan saved well from Ruddock. Luton celebrated massively at the final whistle. It was absolutely gutting. So another defeat for Mansfield, the third on the trot, and the seventh game without a win. And that is just three points from the six games played under new manager David Flitcroft. However, another encouraging display after the spirited defeat against Accrington. I think it’s fair to say if Mansfield play as well as they have against the top two sides in the last two games, against the 6 teams in the bottom half of the table in the final 6 games of the season, they should win 4 or 5 of those games which will probably be enough to get into the play-offs. However that relies on playing as well as they have here! Anything less is likely to lead to a miserable end to the season. The game against Crewe on Saturday will be very important for Mansfield to get back on the winning trail, and the Stags will need the supporters right behind them once again. Come on Mansfield!

Mansfield made one change from the side that lost to Accrington. Mal Benning is suspended for three games, so in came Johnny Hunt at left back. It was a 4-4-2 formation, rather than the 4-3-3 in the last away game, with MacDonald on the right of midfield, and Mellis and Atkinson in central midfield. Pearce returned from suspension to the subs bench. Potter returned from injury to the subs bench. Danny Rose is still out injured. Incidentally, it appears that fitness coach Lee Taylor has left the club, and Daryl Taylor who was fitness coach when Adam Murray was manager (Murray always referred to him as DT) was back in that role today and on Friday.

Luton came into the game as the only side in League Two to have lost as few games as Mansfield this season. After today’s game, Luton have of course now lost the fewest games in League Two. Luton were without goalscoring midfielder Luke Berry, who suffered a bad injury on Friday. They had the prolific Danny Hylton and James Collins up front.

The Luton pitch was in very good condition despite plenty of recent rain. Indeed, the groundsman was even able to water the pitch before kick off.

The Stags started brightly. On 8 minutes, a short free kick on the left from Hunt to Hamilton, who fed back to the overlapping Hunt, who turned inside and played back to Hamilton who just ran the ball out for a goal kick. An encouraging start nonetheless. On 10 minutes, more good play down the left from Mansfield zipping the ball around, before Hemmings played the ball forward to Hamilton in the area, but Hamilton was pulled off for offside, incorrectly as shown on the video). On 12 minutes, even more good play on the left between Hunt and Hamilton, though it came to nothing. At the other end, a couple of attacks from Luton came to nothing.

On 19 minutes, a good cross from White from the right, Angol headed down, but it was cleared for a corner before Hamilton could get on the end of the knock down. At the other end on 21 minutes, Danny Hylton tried a ridiculous shot from a yard from the corner flag on the right, over the bar. Ambitious to put it mildly.

On 24 minutes, Hamilton broke into the area on the left, and knocked the ball back to Hemmings, then a split second after releasing the ball, Hamilton went down over Olly Lee’s outstretched leg. The Stags appealed for a penalty, but correctly turned down by the referee in my opinion, though you have seen them given. Play continued and Hunt put in a poor cross from the left, over everyone.

On 26 minutes, Potts crossed low into the middle but Bennett just cleared. The ball eventually came out to Collins, who fired over the bar from 25 yards.

On 27 minutes, good play on the left from the Stags, Hamilton fed Hemmings, whose cross shot was turned into the side netting by the Luton defence.

Back to the other end a minute later, and a good cross from the left by Ruddock was well-headed away by Hunt.

The Stags could have been in front on 30 minutes. MacDonald’s corner from the left was met cleanly by Diamond, who leapt well but headed just over the bar. A great chance.

On 33 minutes, the Stags were sliced open by a great ball from Olly Lee to Elliot Lee in the area, and Logan made a good save with his body, coming out quickly

The Stags took the lead on 34 minutes, when Logan’s long ball forward was superbly controlled by Hemmings, who turned away from his marker Scott Cuthbert on the edge of the area, before firing left footed under keeper James Shea and into the net from 16 yards. A clinical finish from Hemmings, and an assist for Logan, who celebrated in front of the Stags fans.

Angol was booked on 36 minutes for not retreating 10 yards at a free kick. A minute later, Alan Sheehan was booked for Luton for chopping down Angol.

The Stags had a quadruple chance to increase the lead on 38 minutes as MacDonald missed his kick with a clear sight of goal from 8 yards, but he got a second chance as his shot was blocked by the keeper, the ball came out to Mellis whose shot was also blocked by the keeper, MacDonald then recycled the ball to Diamond whose shot from 13 yards was deflected over the bar by the head of Alan Sheehan, who knew little about it, as it looked destined for the net.

A minute later, Hemmings did superbly from 20 yards to get himself into a shooting position and his excellent left footed shot was millimetres wide of the right post; it may have even hit the outside of the right post, I can’t tell from the video.

On 41 minutes, McCormack cross from the left was well punch away by Logan.

The Stags went even closer on 45+1 minutes as Mellis picked up a clearance 32 yards from goal, took a couple of paces forward, and his shot took a slight deflection off McCormack before looping onto the bar, with the keeper completely beaten and unmoved.

Two minutes later, Logan saved from James Collins, who had looked offside but the flag didn’t go up. Elliot Lee had played the ball forward to Collins10 yards from goal, and the video shows that Collins was actually onside. The first ended with a good catch by Logan from a Sheehan free kick from the right.

So a tremendous first half from Mansfield who ended it 1-0 ahead, but could easily have been 2 or 3 ahead and out of sight.

Half time 0-1

On 49 minutes, Collins laid off for Olly Lee who shot well over the bar from the edge of the area.

On 51 minutes, a great tackle by White on Collins on the edge of the area.

Logan made a great save, tipping away Elliot Lee’s shot from 20 yards on 53 minutes. Then Rea’s cross hit the top of the bar, though Logan had it covered, on 56 minutes.

The Stags had two chances in a minute to make it 2-0 on 59 minutes. Firstly, outstanding play from Mellis, who won the ball inside his own half, embarked on a brilliant run and laid the ball off to Hemmings, whose left-footed shot was deflected for a corner, when he should have scored.

Then Mellis squared to Hemmings whose shot from inside the D was wide.

But within a minute, Luton were level. The impressive Pelly Ruddock got to the byline on the right, and his low cross found James Collins, who got away from his marker Rhys Bennett, to knock into the net. Poor marking from Bennett.

But the Stags should have been back in front on 66 minutes. A cross from Hemmings from the right was expertly headed down by Diamond to give Angol a shot at goal from 9 yards. He seemed certain to score, but somehow his shot was deflected wide by James Collins. Angol really should have scored.

On 67 minutes, a powerful cross from MacDonald from the right was pushed away by the keeper. Straight to the other end and Ruddock’s shot from 25 yards was well wide.

On 69 minutes, Mellis had another shot from the edge of the area blocked, Luton broke away and Hemmings brought Collins down from behind to pick up a booking. But from the resulting free kick, 30 yards out, Alan Sheehan’s kick bounced just in front of Logan who couldn’t hold onto the ball, and it came out to Glenn Rea who knocked into the net from 5 yards. A disaster for Logan (who otherwise made some good saves), but also no Stags defenders were alert enough to get to the loose ball before Rea.

The Stags were shell-shocked, having had so many glorious chances to put the game to bed, and now found themselves behind.

Potter replaced Atkinson on 71 minutes. The last time Potter played was the last game of the Steve Evans era. He has been injured since then.

Mellis was booked for a foul on 72 minutes.

An easy save for Logan on 76 minutes, as Ruddock shot from 20 yards.

White was booked on 86 minutes for a blatant foul on Ruddock. White could have been booked a couple of minutes earlier as well.

Anderson and Miller replaced Hunt and White on 88 minutes. Anderson went in to right back. Hamilton sort of moved back to left back, though Mansfield were committing bodies forward.

On 90 minutes, a poor free kick from MacDonald from 30 yards, wide on the left, curled past the far post for a goal kick.

A half chance for Angol on 90+2 minutes. Collins headed out and Angol volleyed high and wide from 25 yards.

On 90+3 minutes, with Stags having bodies forward, Ruddock forced his way into the area on the left and brought a good low save from Logan. The ball came out to sub Justin, whose shot was deflected wide.

Luton had wound the clock down efficiently and celebrated massively at the final whistle. It was absolutely gutting.

Man of the match: Jacob Mellis

Report by: Martin Shaw at Kenilworth Road



Line Up:
(4-4-2)
Logan 6 Two very good saves and one good save, plus very good handling. An assist for the Stags goal! Unfortunately his howler for the second goal was so very costly.
White 7 One particularly good cross. One great tackle. Decent game.
Diamond 7.5 Defended solidly. A real threat in the opposition box: one on target shot deflected over, one header over, and great header to set up the glorious chance for Angol.
Bennett 5.5 Allowed Collins to get away from him for the first goal. Otherwise had a reasonable game.
Hunt 7.5 Impressive return from a long spell out of the team with Benning cementing his place at left back. Started well down the left, combining with Hamilton going forward. Defended well, including one super header away.
MacDonald 5 Continued to work very hard, as he always does, but quite a dip in form since the Exeter game (of course he’s not alone in that). One good corner for Diamond’s header. Missed his kick when in front of goal, then immediately had a shot blocked. Dreadful free kick in stoppage time was frustrating.
Mellis 8 Some outstanding play. His run from halfway inside his own half after winning the ball, to set up a chance for Hemmings, was brilliant. So unlucky was when his very slightly deflected shot from 28 yards struck the bar with the keeper standing watching it.
Atkinson 6 Did ok, though didn’t feature heavily.
Hamilton 7 Caused Luton plenty of problems, especially in the first half.
Angol 5 Not his day. Missed a glorious chance from 9 yards when he shot was deflected wide by Collins, and sent a late volley against the roof of the stand.
Hemmings 7 Clinical finish for the goal, after a super turn to get away from his marker Cuthbert. Another superb effort from 20 yards which was millimetres wide of the right post (manager Flitcroft commented that it hit the post, but I’m not so sure). Should have done better with two chances in a minute immediately before Luton equalised.
Sub Line Up:
Potter (for Atkinson, 71 mins) - Welcome return from injury. But didn’t get into the game.
Anderson (for White, 88 mins) -
Miller (for Hunt, 88 mins) -
Subs not used: Olejnik, Pearce, Digby, Byrom.
Opposition Line Up:
(4-1-3-2): James Shea; Jack Stacey, Scott Cuthbert (Glen Rea 43), Alan Sheehan, Dan Potts; Alan McCormack; Olly Lee, Pelly Ruddock, Elliot Lee (James Justin 83); James Collins, Danny Hylton (Jake Jervis 70). Subs not used: Marek Stech, Harry Cornick, Flynn Downes, Luke Gambin.
Referee:
Kevin Johnson 7 Fairly easy afternoon. Handled the game well.


Season 17/18 Reports