Season 18/19 Stagsnet Match Report
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Stevenage
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Mansfield Town
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Newton 45+2.
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Sweeney 55, Walker 77, 86
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Attendance: 2761 (390 from Mansfield)
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Date: 22 December 2018
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SUPER STAGS WIN AT STEVENAGE
Martin Shaw at the Lamex Stadium, Broadhall Way Mansfield Town put in a dominant performance to win 3-1 at Stevenage this afternoon. The Stags dominated from the first whistle, pinning Stevenage in their own half in the opening stages. The Stags created all the best chances of the first half as Tyler Walker’s close range effort was blocked on the line, Timi Elsnik’s cross found Neal Bishop unmarked at the far post but it almost hit Bishop and went wide, Walker showed great pace to get through 1-on-1 with the keeper but the keeper was out quickly to block, Jacob Mellis’s close range effort was blocked on the line, and Walker headed wide from Mellis’ cross. But in an incredible sucker punch 2 minutes into stoppage time at the end of the half, Stevenage took the lead. From a corner from the left, former Stag Johnny Hunt played a 1-2 with another former Stag Joel Byrom, Hunt crossed from the byline and Danny Newton got between Ryan Sweeney and Mal Benning to flick into the net from 4 yards. Hayden White also switched off for a split-second allowing Hunt to get the cross in. Disappointing defending from the normally solid defence. The Stags were back on level terms on 55 minutes. A great tackle by Neal Bishop to win the ball and drive forward, he found Walker, whose goalbound shot was deflected and looped just wide. From the resulting corner from the left, taken by Mellis, Walker headed goalwards, it was parried on the line by the keeper, and Sweeney knocked the ball into the empty net from a yard with his knee. Sweeney’s first goal for the Stags and a great moment for him in front of the jubilant Stags fans. The second half was more even than the first, and Stevenage nearly regained the lead on 76 minutes. A low corner from Byrom to the edge of the area where Newton smashed a shot against the bar. I had initially thought Logan tipped it onto the bar, but from the main camera and pitchside video footage, I don’t think he touched it. Either way, it was a crucial moment, as within a minute it was the Stags who went in front. CJ Hamilton crossed the left, sub Danny Rose did superbly to arch his neck and head back across goal, and the ball fell kindly for Walker who calmly bent a shot around a crowd of players in front of him into the right corner of the net from 8 yards. The Stags extended the lead on 86 minutes as Hamilton knocked the ball 25 yards in front of him and outpaced his marker Wildin before crossing into the middle where Walker knocked it goalwards on the volley first time from 8 yards. The keeper parried, but Walker knocked the rebound into the net, to send the superb travelling fans into raptures. It was Walker’s 14th goal of the season in all competitions. It crowned a super performance from Mansfield who thoroughly deserved the win, having dominated the first half, and then having taken three chances in a more even second half. The win extended Mansfield’s club record unbeaten away record to 14 away games, a run which started at Stevenage last season. The win also extended Mansfield’s unbeaten record (home and away) to 14 games, the club’s best since a 20 game unbeaten run in 1976. Special mention of the superb Stags support today. The travelling fans created a great atmosphere singing throughout the game, while the home fans were mostly quiet. Mansfield were unchanged from the side that started against Forest Green. The bench was unchanged too. It was the usual 3-5-2 formation with Walker and Hamilton up front. Stevenage included two former Stags, Joel Byrom and Johnny Hunt, both of whom played for Mansfield in this fixture last season, just 8 months ago. That game was a draw that started the Stags’ unbeaten away run. It was a lovely sunny day and the pitch was fantastic. Stark contrast to a week ago at Forest Green. The Stags pinned the home team back in the opening stages. Inside the first minute, White beat Hunt on the right and his low ball in was flicked on by Mellis but cleared. A minute later, Hamilton got to the byline, pulled the ball back and Walker knocked goalwards but it was blocked on the line. The ball came out to Bishop, who miscued a shot well off target. The Stags continued dominating with two corners and several throw-ins. It was 8 minutes before Stevenage first got into the Stags half in a meaningful way. On 14 minutes, White played inside to Mellis, whose on-target shot was blocked. At the other end a minute later, a good tackle by Benning on Ben Kennedy as Stevenage built an attack. Preston was booked on 19 minutes for deliberately pulling back Newton. On 21 minutes, Hunt got into the Stags box on the left and had a shot blocked by Preston. Eventually it was recycled back to Hunt who sent a cross-shot well wide of the right post. Then on 25 minutes a chance for the Stags as Elsnik crossed from the left, it went through a crowd of players and hit Bishop at the far post, going wide. It was actually a good chance and Bishop put his head in his hands. Superb defending by Pearce on 32 minutes, halting a Stevenage attack, then embarking on a run forward. Another great chance for the Stags on 35 minutes. A loose back-pass from Byrom, Walker was on to it and showed good pace to get in 1-on-1 with keeper Farman. But the keeper was out quickly to block Walker’s shot. Two minutes later at the other end, James Ball tamely headed a Byrom free kick down and straight at Logan. A great double-chance for the Stags on 41 minutes. Benning combined with Hamilton on the left, Hamilton’s low ball across found Mellis, who turned and his close range shot was blocked. From the resulting corner, taken from the left by Mellis, short to Elsnik then back to Mellis, Mellis crossed and Walker glanced a header wide. One minute of stoppage time was added on. We had played more than that, even accounting for a ball going out of the ground and being replaced, when Stevenage got a corner on the left. From the corner, Johnny Hunt played a 1-2 with Joel Byrom, Hunt crossed from the byline and Danny Newton got between Ryan Sweeney and Mal Benning to flick into the net from 4 yards. Hayden White also switched off for a split-second allowing Hunt to get the cross in. Disappointing defending from the normally solid defence. The referee blew for half time from the restart. What a sucker punch for the Stags after dominating for 45 minutes. It actually felt like quite a shock to be behind having dominated. Half time 1-0 On 47 minutes, Benning crossed from the left, and Elsnik glanced a header wide of the right post. He needed to get more on it. A good break from the Stags on 50 minutes, started by Logan rolling out to Bishop. Good play then by Walker, on to Elsnik and to Benning, who chipped a cross-shot just over the bar. Mellis was booked for arguing over the direction of a throw-in on 51 minutes. Great set up play by Mansfield on 52 minutes as Elsnik laid off to Mellis, but Mellis was leaning back as he shot and his side-footed shot was well over the bar. The Stags were back on level terms on 55 minutes. A great tackle by Neal Bishop to win the ball and drive forward, he found Walker, whose goalbound shot was deflected and looped just wide. From the resulting corner from the left, taken by Mellis, Walker headed goalwards, it was parried on the line by the keeper, and Sweeney knocked the ball into the empty net from a yard with his knee. Sweeney’s first goal for the Stags and a great moment for him in front of the jubilant Stags fans. It was a rare Stags goal from a corner this season. On 56 minutes, a low ball in from Newton and sub Revell’s shot was blocked through to Logan. On 60 minutes, the referee might have given a free kick against Pearce for a high boot but gave him the benefit of the doubt. Bishop and Cuthbert tangled on 64 minutes. Bishop was down holding his head. The referee gave nothing. A minute later, an outrageous challenge by debutant Arthur Iontonn on Bishop. Iontonn was booked, it could easily have been red. Danny Rose replaced Benning on 69 minutes. After the game, Flitcroft said that Benning was just suffering a bit and needed some painkillers and wasn’t moving quite right. Hamilton dropped to left wing-back, Rose joined Walker up front. Stevenage nearly regained the lead on 76 minutes. A low corner from Byrom to the edge of the area where Newton smashed a shot against the bar. I had initially thought Logan tipped it onto the bar, but from the main camera and pitchside video footage, I don’t think he touched it. Either way, it was a crucial moment, as within a minute it was the Stags who went in front. CJ Hamilton crossed the left, sub Danny Rose did superbly to arch his neck and head back across goal, and the ball fell kindly for Walker who calmly bent a shot around a crowd of players in front of him into the right corner of the net from 8 yards. As the goal went in, Otis Khan and Jordan Graham were stripped and ready to come on. Walker was going to come off. Khan and Graham had to sit back down! The Stags extended the lead on 86 minutes as Hamilton knocked the ball 25 yards in front of him and outpaced his marker Wildin before crossing into the middle where Walker knocked it goalwards on the volley first time from 8 yards. The keeper parried, but Walker knocked the rebound into the net, to send the superb travelling fans into raptures. It was Walker’s 14th goal of the season in all competitions. Again, as the goal went in, Jordan Graham was stripped and ready to come on! On 87 minutes, a chance for Stevenage to pull a goal back as Kennedy crossed high from the left and sub Vancooten fired over the bar from close range. Jordan Graham did get onto the pitch on 88 minutes as he replaced Elsnik. On 90+2 minutes, Mellis sent a great shot just over the bar. “David Flitcroft’s barmy army” and “Flitcroft give us a wave” chanted the Stags fans. What character from the Stags to come back from undeservedly going behind. The second half goals crowned a super performance from Mansfield who thoroughly deserved the win, having dominated the first half, and then having taken three chances in a more even second half. So the final game before Christmas and Mansfield have lost just one game this season. In the whole of the top five divisions, only Liverpool have lost the same or fewer games (they have lost none). Merry Christmas everyone! Man of the match: Tyler Walker |
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Report by: Martin Shaw at the Lamex Stadium, Broadhall Way
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Line Up:
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(3-5-2)
Logan 6.5 Not at fault for the goal. Otherwise a quiet game with one shot against his bar and no other shots to save. Preston 7.5 Very solid game. One good block. Pearce 7.5 One superb piece of defending in the first half. Very solid. Sweeney 7.5 In the right place to turn in his first goal for Mansfield with his knee and what an important goal it was. Perhaps could have done better with the Stevenage goal, allowing Newton to nick the ball into the net. Otherwise very solid. White 7 Switched off for a split-second allowing Johnny Hunt to get the cross in for the Stevenage goal. Some very good play going forward. Mellis 8 Corner led to the first goal. Good cross for a Walker header in the first half. Great shot just over the bar in stoppage time. Some lovely football in open play. Bishop 7.5 Great tackle to win the ball and set up chance for Walker just before the first goal. Good game. Elsnik 7 Good game in the middle of the park. Good cross for Bishop’s early chance. Benning 7 Perhaps could have done better with the Stevenage goal. One good tackle. Some good crosses and attacking play. Taken off suffering a bit and needed some painkillers and wasn’t moving quite right. Walker 9 An assist and two goals. Involved in so much with several near misses. Then his header was parried on the line before Sweeney knocked in the first goal. Walker then scored the 2nd and 3rd goals himself, the 2nd a super finish calmly bending a shot around a crowd of players. Hamilton 8.5 His cross started the build-up to the second goal, then showed incredible pace to set up the third goal. Set up two first half chances. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Rose (for Benning, 69 mins) - Great header to set up the second goal.
Graham (for Elsnik, 88 mins) - Subs not used: Kean, Law, Atkinson, Butcher, Khan. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(4-4-1-1) Farman; Wildin (Vancooten 87), Henry, Cuthbert, Hunt (Sonupe 82); Iontonn, Byrom, Ball (Revell 46), Seddon; Kennedy; Newton. Subs not used: Reid, Dieng, Guthrie, Wilkinson.
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Referee:
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Dean Whitestone 6.5 Overall a decent game. Allowed too much roughing up of Bishop.
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