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An independent supporters' website dedicated to Mansfield Town FC
Season 18/19 Stagsnet Match Report
English Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Mansfield Town  
4 - 0
 Northampton Town
Eksnik 5, Rose 58, 88, Hamilton 82.
 
 
Attendance: 4550 (485 from Northampton)
 
Date: 29 September 2018

STAGS HAMMER FOUR PAST COBBLERS

Martin Shaw and Simon Chamberlain at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill

Mansfield Town got back to winning ways with a convincing 4-0 against Northampton Town at the One Call Stadium this afternoon. The Stags were fired on their way after just 5 minutes by a sensational solo goal from Timi Elsnik, on his first league start for Mansfield, who ran from the edge of his own box, following a Northampton corner, all the way to the edge of the other box, before firing low across the keeper into the bottom right corner of the net. It might turn out to be the best goal of the season in the league for Mansfield, and rival the sixth goal against Accrington in the League Cup, for overall goal of the season. Elsnik nearly put the Stags further in front at the end of the first when his shot towards the top corner was tipped over by the keeper. And from the resulting corner Matt Preston’s powerful header was blocked on the line by the keeper. Bobby Olejnik made a good save moments earlier keeping out a shot from van Veen. After recent games where the Stags have been pegged back from single goal leads, a second goal would be crucial, and it came on 58 minutes. Danny Rose charged down a clearance from Leon Barnett on the Stags right, the ball rebounded to keeper David Cornell, whose clearance was also charged down by Rose, and Rose then rolled the ball into the empty net from a tight angle on the right hand side. A reward for perseverance from Rose. The Stags sealed the win on 82 minutes, with great play on the right hand side involving sub Will Atkinson, Rose and CJ Hamilton. Rose laid the ball inside to Hamilton, who fired low left-footed under the keeper from a tight angle, and from about the same position that Rose had scored. The icing on the cake came on 87 minutes when Hamilton made a good run down the right and crossed into the middle, where Rose fired into the net from 11 yards. Not the best connection on Rose’s shot but it was enough to go into the net. A very good performance from the Stags with Rose back to his best, scoring twice and setting up another, and Elsnik also having a very good game, with that sensational goal, and going close to another goal. Northampton were woeful, and their fans let them know what they thought at the end of the game. A big win for the Stags who need to follow this up against Oldham on Tuesday.

Mansfield made one change from the side that drew at Cambridge. Alex MacDonald picked up a knee injury in the game at Cambridge (though finished the game). He will have an operation on Tuesday and is set to be out for six weeks. In came Timi Elsnik in his place, for his first league start for the Stags, on loan from Derby for the season. Hayden White was still out with an ankle injury. Craig Davies was back in the squad and on the bench after injury. Jacob Mellis served the final game of his three match suspension. The Stags lined up in a 3-4-1-2 formation with Elsnik alongside Bishop in front of the defence, and Khan in a floating role behind Walker and Rose.

It was another beautiful afternoon in Mansfield, sunny, dry and still, with the pitch in superb condition.

The Stags created the first chance on 4 minutes as Bishop crossed from the right and Rose headed well wide.

The Stags were ahead with a sensational solo goal from Timi Elsnik on 5 minutes. A Northampton corner from their left, was headed away by Rose. Elsnik picked it up, just outside his own area, and ran all the way to the edge of the Northampton area, before firing left footed low across the keeper into the bottom right corner of the net. A stunning goal from the Slovenian.

On 10 minutes, a shot from Elsnik was blocked to Rose who crossed in and Hamilton’s on-target shot was deflected for a corner. A minute later, Hamilton hurled in a long throw from the right and Rose flicked a header well wide.

Leon Barnett was booked for a foul on Rose on 17 minutes, with the Stags players claiming it was elbow. From the resulting free kick, Elsnik chipped forward, Pearce flicked on, and Walker headed down straight to the keeper.

A mistake from Elsnik on 24 minutes, as a misplaced pass allowed Northampton to break but the ball ricocheted kindly to Olejnik. A minute later, Pearce slipped over, Northampton broke again, and van Veen fired a poor shot straight at Olejnik.

Van Veen was booked for a late challenge on Sweeney on 35 minutes.

Consecutive corners from the left and the right for the Stags on 44 minutes, but both failed to beat the first man (Khan from the left and Elsnik from the right).

On 45+1 minutes, Olejnik made a good save with his legs keeping out a shot from van Veen from a tight angle on the left.

Elsnik nearly put the Stags further in front on 45+2 minutes. Rose played inside to Elsnik and his shot towards the top left corner of the net was tipped over by the keeper. From the resulting corner, from the left by Khan to the far post, Preston’s powerful header was blocked on the line by the keeper, a fabulous save.

The Stags good value for the lead at half time despite not having played exceptionally well, and the game still in the balance.

A nice presentation from Carolyn and John Radford to Alan Wilson at half time, marking his 30 years of announcing at the Stags. Keep going Alan and here’s to another 30.

Half time 1-0

On 47 minutes, Khan cut inside from the left and fired just over the bar from 20 yards. That was just inches over.

Two minutes later, a free kick 33 yards from goal. Khan fired towards the roof of the net, and keeper Cornell tipped over the bar. From the video, it was heading just over the bar before the keeper tipped it further over.

A third yellow card for Northampton on 52 minutes as captain Ash Taylor was booked for a dreadful foul after the referee’s whistle had already gone!

On 53 minutes, Sweeney crossed from the right, Pearce headed down, and Walker swept a shot which was blocked by the keeper, and came off Walker for a goal kick.

The Stags could have increased the lead on 56 minutes, as Elsnik put in a great cross from the left, Walker stuck out a leg and diverted it inches wide of the right post.

After recent games where the Stags have been pegged back from single goal leads, a second goal would be crucial, and it came on 58 minutes. Rose charged down a clearance from Leon Barnett on the Stags right, the ball rebounded to keeper Cornell, whose clearance was also charged down by Rose, and Rose then rolled the ball into the empty net from a tight angle on the right hand side. A reward for perseverance from Rose.

On 59 minutes, Walker pushed forward and fired in a shot from 30 yards which was deflected for a corner.

On 62 minutes, from Khan’s free kick from the left, Preston was up highest but headed well wide.

Rose tried an ambitious shot from the halfway line on 65 minutes, but it was straight at the keeper.

There was nearly an embarrassing moment for Cobblers keeper Cornell on 66 minutes when Walker crossed from the right, the keeper caught it on the line, but fell backwards into the net and just dropped the ball forward out of the net to stop it going over the line. Our video footage from pitchside confirms the ball did not cross the line.

On 68 minutes, Elsnik found Hamilton but his soft shot was deflected for a corner.

A half chance for Rose on 70 minutes. A high ball forward from Sweeney, Rose controlled it brilliantly, but his shot was saved by the keeper.

A good punch away from Olejnik on 72 minutes.

Atkinson replaced Walker on 74 minutes. Atkinson went in a right wing-back. Hamilton moved further forward on the right.

On 77 minutes, Hamilton played the ball inside to Rose, who spooned a first time shot over the bar.

It was nearly 3-0 on 79 minutes. Khan’s corner from the left was met by Bishop with a header at the near post, and the keeper pushed it behind for a corner.

The Stags sealed the win on 82 minutes, with great play on the right hand side involving Atkinson, Rose and Hamilton. Rose laid the ball inside to Hamilton, who fired low left-footed under the keeper from a tight angle, and from about the same position that Rose had scored.

Benning was booked on 84 minutes for booting the ball away in frustration after not getting a shot in. The referee had moments earlier warned captain Pearce about the Stags wasting time after Rose had kicked the ball after the whistle had gone.

Wonderful play from Benning on 86 minutes on the left, he fed Khan, who got into the area and won a corner.

Moments later, Atkinson crossed from the left to Rose on the right, who volleyed over the Quarry Lane stand from a tight angle, attempting a Marco Van Basten effort from 1988 into the top far corner. It was also about the 7th time the ball had gone out of the ground or settled on the Bishop Street stand roof.

The icing on the cake came on 87 minutes when Hamilton made a good run down the right and crossed into the middle, where Rose fired into the net from 11 yards. Not the best connection on Rose’s shot but it was enough to go into the net.

Craig Davies replaced Khan on 88 minutes.

Butcher replaced Elsnik on 90 minutes.

On 90+2 minutes, a free kick from 30 yards out from Benning was a decent effort and saved on the line by the keeper.

A thumping win for the Stags. Northampton players went to applaud their fans at full time and were rebuffed by the fans waving them away.

Man of the match: Danny Rose



Before the game, it was great to have a good chat with Tom Curtis, who scored for the Stags against Northampton in the playoff semi-final in 2004. Tom now works for the FA. He came just to watch the game with Mark Kearney.




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



Line Up:
(3-4-1-2)
Olejnik 7 One good save and one good punch.
Preston 7 One powerful header blocked on the line by the keeper. Solid
Pearce 6.5 Slipped over gifting the Cobblers one chance. Otherwise solid.
Sweeney 7 Solid.
Hamilton 7.5 A goal and an assist.
Bishop 7.5 Good game, powerhouse. One header well saved by the keeper.
Elsnik 8 Sensational solo goal running from the edge of one box to the other before firing into the corner of the net. Another shot tipped over the keeper. One great cross for a chance for Walker. One mistake nearly gifted the Cobblers a chance.
Benning 7 Decent free kick which the keeper tipped over. Good play to set up a chance for Khan. Good game.
Khan 7.5 Started poorly with set pieces. Three good set pieces later, setting up two headers for Preston and one for Bishop. Good shot from a free kick tipped over the bar.
Walker 6.5 Did ok. Just wide with a good chance from Elsnik’s cross.
Rose 8.5 Two goals and one assist. Looking back near his best.
Sub Line Up:
Atkinson (for Walker, 74 mins) -
Davies (for Khan, 88 mins) -
Butcher (for Elsnik, 90 mins) -
Subs not used: Logan, Gibbens, Sterling-James, Graham.
Opposition Line Up:
(4-4-2) Cornell; Odoffin, Taylor, Barnett, Buchanan; Foley, O'Toole, Waters, Bowditch (Bridge 67); van Veen (Williams 45), Hoskins. Subs not used: Ward, Facey, Pierre, Turnbull, Pollock.
Referee:
Trevor Kettle 7 Got the bookings just about the right. Did his best to nip issues in the bud.


Season 18/19 Reports