Season 18/19 Stagsnet Match Report
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Forest Green Rovers
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Mansfield Town
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Reid 70.
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Grant 14
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Attendance: 2128 (204 from Mansfield)
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Date: 29 January 2019
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STAGS DRAW IN SUPERB GAME AT FOREST GREEN
Martin Shaw at the New Lawn Mansfield Town drew 1-1 in a superb game at Forest Green Rovers last night. The game was 4th vs 2nd, with Forest Green two places and four points behind the Stags, and the result meant that the Stags maintained that gap. Mansfield’s performance oozed quality in the first half and the Stags could easily have been 3-0 ahead at half time. They had to settle for 1-0 at the break though, with Jorge Grant scoring an excellent goal after 14 minutes, firing a precision shot in off the left post from 23 yards. But Mansfield were unfortunate as Nicky Ajose headed against the inside of the post from a great cross from Grant on 33 minutes, and Tyler Walker fired a thunderbolt shot from 19 yards against the underside of the bar via the fingertips of keeper Montgomery after 40 minutes. Mansfield should also have had a penalty when Grant nicked the ball away from Farrend Rawson and was tripped from behind by the defender but the referee gave nothing. Forest Green had plenty of the ball in the first half but never looked like scoring. Forest Green still hadn’t looked like scoring when they equalised out of the blue after 70 minutes as sub Reuben Reid headed in from 6 yards having got in between Ryan Sweeney and Krystian Pearce. After that, the home side finished the game strongly putting the Stags under pressure in the final minutes. Reid had a good chance when he lobbed over the bar with only Jordan Smith to beat, and Reece Brown fired inches wide via a small deflection in the 4th minute of stoppage time. Yet despite being under pressure the Stags always had the quality to create more chances and Grant fired over from a great position after superb play on the left by CJ Hamilton. And then Grant fired a free kick over the bar from a similar position to where he scored from on Saturday. Overall, this was a great game that on chances alone, the Stags were unfortunate not to win, however Forest Green fought back strongly and certainly could have won it at the end, so perhaps a draw was just about the right result. It was certainly a game when both sides showed they were worthy promotion contenders, and it’s likely to be another exciting game when the two sides meet again in 3.5 weeks at the One Call Stadium. Next up for Mansfield, it’s the visit of Macclesfield to the One Call Stadium on Saturday. Don’t forget that under 18’s will get free admission, so let’s get a great atmosphere going for the visit of Sol Campbell’s improving side. Nathan Cameron, who did well in pre-season at Mansfield on trial before getting injured, will be available for Macclesfield after his red card on Saturday against Cheltenham was rescinded and he has been playing very well for them so will be tough opponent. A word on the great Stags following at Forest Green. The weather had been atrocious for the original game that was abandoned at half time, and there was every chance that it could be the same again here with the forecast of rain and snow. Fortunately the bad weather stopped around 4.30pm and the game was eventually played in good conditions but massive credit to all the Stags fans who travelled and were rewarded with what was mostly a good performance and a superb game. Before the game at Forest Green, there was great news that Ryan Sweeney, who’s had such a good season, has signed on a permanent 2.5 year deal on a free transfer from Stoke. And right wing-back Gethin Jones signed on loan from Fleetwood for the rest of the season on Monday, following the terrible news just over a week ago that Hayden White will miss the rest of the season with a broken leg. There was bad news as well before the game that young striker Jordan Graham will be out for the rest of the season. I had noted in my report on Saturday that he was missing from the 18 having picked up an injury in the reserve game at Wigan last Tuesday just one day after he signed a new extended contract. Then he posted on instagram “Season done but I’ll be back”. Terrible news, get well soon Jordan. The Stags team was unchanged from the win over Tranmere with CJ Hamilton at right wing back in a 3-4-1-2 formation. Gethin Jones therefore had to be content with a place on the bench. Both Neal Bishop and Tyler Walker were fit to play after David Flitcroft had revealed on Saturday that they had been struggling with a back injury and neck spasm respectively. Forest Green included former Stag Paul Digby who was suspended for the original game in November. Lee Collins was on the bench and didn’t come on. It was a cold evening. The pitch played well with no heavy rain in the 3 hours up to kick off. Forest Green had the first chance of the game on 5 minutes as Carl Winchester sent a shot from 25 yards that was always going over the bar. The Stags went close on 13 minutes. A great move as Bishop won the ball, Walker pushed forward and found Ajose on the left. Ajose played a lovely ball forward for Grant who flicked wide of the near post. I was about to say in commentary that it was reminiscent of Ajose’s super ball for Hamilton’s goal at Colchester. But I didn’t have time because within seconds the Stags were ahead! Walker flicked to Ajose. Ajose knocked a first time ball square to Grant who took his shot quickly with his left foot from 23 yards, in off the left post before the keeper was able to react. Magnificent from Grant, precision shooting. What a player we have in our side here. Mansfield should have had a penalty on 17 minutes when Grant nicked the ball away from Farrend Rawson and was tripped from behind by the defender but the referee gave nothing. Poor officiating, either the referee or his assistant should have seen it. Joseph Mills pushed forward on 20 minutes and shot from 25 yards. Smith stopped it but didn’t hold it. Sweeney was first to the loose ball to help get it away from danger, though the offside flag was up. A minute later Reece Brown shot from 30 yards straight at Smith, who this time pouched the shot safely. Sweeney powered a header forward from the halfway line on 25 minutes, it nearly fell nicely for Walker but McGinley was able to head back to his keeper. Good defending from Benning on 30 minutes. He had a fine first half with several blocks. On 32 minutes, a really good turn by the talented Reece Brown outside the box and his low shot was an easy save for Smith. Mansfield were unfortunate on 33 minutes as Nicky Ajose headed against the inside of the post from a great cross from the right by Grant. Two minutes later, Ajose crossed from the left, Walker controlled and his shot from 14 yards was blocked. On 38 minutes, Gunning chipped a great diagonal ball into the area and George Williams volleyed straight at Smith without getting any power on his shot. Wonderful interplay between Grant and Benning on the left wing on 39 minutes. Grant chipped a cross to the far post and the keeper had to tip his cross away. Our pitchside video footage shows the cross was probably going in. Then Tyler Walker fired a left footed thunderbolt shot from 19 yards against the underside of the bar via the fingertips of keeper Montgomery after 40 minutes. Fantastic from Walker, so unlucky, but full credit to the keeper for getting fingertips on it. Sweeney was booked for a deliberate foul on Williams on 40 minutes. Taking one for the team really. Sweeney joins Bishop on 9 yellow cards and just one more away from a two game suspension. The Stags led 1-0 at the break and had oozed quality going forward despite Forest Green having had a lot of the ball. Grant, Walker, Ajose, especially were a joy to watch. Mansfield though were to rue the efforts against the post, the bar and the stonewall penalty that was not given. If any of those had gone in, the Stags would probably have won the game. Forest Green had been restricted to long range shots which didn’t look like troubling Smith. Half time 0-1 After 48 minutes, Christian Doidge, who was generally anonymous in the match, pulled a shot well wide from 25 yards. Gethin Jones came on for Ajose on 56 minutes for his Stags debut, at right wing back. Hamilton moved forward. On 58 minutes, Grant whipped a teasing ball in from the left, defender Gunning completely missed it. Gethin Jones went for it at the far post but only succeeded in booting the keeper Montgomery in the face as the ball squirmed wide. Montgomery was horribly injured and ended up having surgery on his face at two separate hospitals. Hopefully he will make a full recovery soon. It purely accidental from Gethin Jones, less than two minutes into his Stags debut. Montgomery was replaced by keeper Lewis Ward who made his Forest Green debut, while Reuben Reid also came on and joined Doidge up front. That looked a formidable forward line, and Reid was to make the difference. A good punch away by Smith on 63 minutes. On 68 minutes, Winchester put over a powerful cross that evaded everyone for a goal kick. Forest Green hadn’t looked like scoring when they equalised out of the blue after 70 minutes as Reuben Reid headed in from 6 yards having got in between Ryan Sweeney and Krystian Pearce, from a cross from the right by Shephard. A rare lapse on the night from the Stags defence. On 72 minutes, Grant found Bishop with a great ball, and Bishop’s shot from 25 yards was blocked. Four minutes later, Walker slid the ball forward for Grant to run on to in the box, but sub keeper Ward was out quickly to claim bravely. Straight to the other end, and Smith caught Reid’s low cross. Then on 79 minutes, Doidge found Winchester who sent a shot high and wide from the edge of the box after a good move. The Stags had a wonderful chance to retake the lead on 81 minutes as Grant fired over from a great position after superb play on the left by Hamilton, who turned his man of the touchline and then played the ball inside. On 84 minutes, Reid had a good chance when he lobbed over the bar with only Jordan Smith to beat. At the other end, Walker’s cross from the right was over everyone. On 88 minutes, Reece Brown fired well wide from a free kick from 30 yards. On the stroke of 90 minutes, good work from Walker to win a free kick 23 yards from goal. It was a similar position to where Grant scored from on Saturday, but this time Grant fired over the bar. On 90+1 minutes, Winchester fired well wide from 25 yards. Then Reece Brown fired inches wide via a small deflection in the 4th minute of stoppage time with hearts in mouths for Stags fans. From the resulting corner, Doidge’s powerful header was blocked by his own man Gunning but was already going wide. A brilliant game, and a draw for the Stags. On to Saturday and that home game with Macclesfield. Man of the match: Jorge Grant |
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Report by: Martin Shaw at the New Lawn
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Line Up:
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(3-4-1-2)
Smith 6 One good punch. No chance with the goal. Really no other difficult saves to make. I don’t think he touched Reece Brown’s stoppage time shot that was deflected wide. Preston 6.5 Solid game. Pearce 6 With Sweeney, could have done better with the Forest Green goal. Otherwise solid. Sweeney 6.5 With Pearce, could have done better with the Forest Green goal. Otherwise solid. Now on 9 yellow cards and just one more away from a two game suspension. Hamilton 6 Superb play to put a chance on a plate for Grant which he missed. Otherwise very quiet game. Bishop 6.5 Won the ball in the build-up to Grant’s first chance of the game. Decent game. Mellis 6 Did ok. Benning 7 Several good blocks in the first half. Allowed one or two too many crosses from Shephard. Grant 8.5 Excellent goal. Great cross for Ajose’s header against the bar. Quick feet saw him brought down but the referee inexplicably turned down the stonewall penalty. Missed a great chance near the end. What quality he brings to the side. Walker 7.5 Thunderbolt shot against the underside of the bar. Involved in several great moves. Ajose 7 Headed against the inside of the post. An assist for Grant’s goal, and set up Grant’s chance a minute before the goal with a great ball. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Jones (for Ajose, 56 mins) - Accidentally kicked the keeper in the face within two minutes of coming on for his Stags debut.
Subs not used: Logan, Law, Atkinson, Alistair Smith, Khan, Rose. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(3-5-2) Montgomery (Ward 60); Rawson, Gunning, McGinley (James 45); Shephard, Brown, Digby, Winchester, Mills; Williams (Reid 58), Doidge. Subs not used: McClousky, Collins, Campbell, Mondal.
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Referee:
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Chris Sarginson 5 Missed the stonewall penalty on Grant despite being just a few yards away.
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