Season 18/19 Stagsnet Match Report
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Oldham Athletic
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Mansfield Town
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Nepomuceno 29, 67, Maouche 56.
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Walker 60, Bishop 76
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Attendance: 6179 (1334 from Mansfield)
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Date: 22 April 2019
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STAGS BEATEN 3-2 AT OLDHAM
Martin Shaw at Boundary Park Mansfield Town were beaten 3-2 at Oldham Athletic this afternoon, a bitterly disappointing result as the Stags hang on to third place on goal difference from MK Dons who drew at home to Port Vale. Meanwhile Bury beat Northampton to leapfrog the Stags into second place, with just two games left. After a first half in which the Stags were lacking in quality having got into several good positions but failed to deliver good crosses, Oldham led 1-0 with a goal on 29 minutes as Nepomuceno got goalside of Gethin Jones to run on to a defence-splitting pass from Maouche and fire past Conrad Logan from 13 yards. If the first half was average, the second half was thrilling. Oldham doubled their lead after 56 minutes. Lang got away from Mal Benning on the right, and laid back to Sylla, whose cross was headed away by Jones but only straight to Nepomuceno whose powerful shot was blocked by Matt Preston and fell for Maouche to turn and fire into the net from 6 yards. Mansfield immediately switched to an ultra-attacking 4-3-3 formation and it paid dividends straight away as Jacob Mellis laid a wonderful ball into the path of Tyler Walker who slammed a low shot through the keeper’s legs from 17 yards for his 25th goal of the season. But Oldham regained their two-goal advantage after 67 minutes as Hamer’s long throw was headed out by Preston straight to Nepomuceno on the edge of the area, he took aim and blasted a spectacular shot into the top left corner of the net. The Stags had to commit men forward and nearly conceded a fourth goal after 71 minutes as Maouche split the defence again to find Lang who was through 1-on-1 with Logan but Logan was out superbly to save. The Stags pulled a goal back to make it 3-2 after 76 minutes. Benning’s corner was headed away, it ricocheted fortunately off Hamilton to Bishop who controlled well, turned superbly and sent a low shot bobbling into the bottom right corner of the net. With the Stags leaving spaces at the back, O’Grady went close to extending Oldham’s lead, and at the other end, Walker fired just over the bar after another great ball from Mellis. Then huge controversy and heartbreak for the Stags in the 6th minute of stoppage time. Walker laid off to Mellis on the edge of the area, Mellis took aim and sent a fine low shot against the inside of the left post. The ball rebounded out and Danny Rose who did brilliantly to acrobatically turn the ball into the empty net. But the linesman’s flag was up against Rose. TV replays on the live Spy Sports coverage show that Rose was level with the defender as Mellis took aim, in my opinion, and also in the opinion of the Sky Sports commentators. A bad call from the officials that was so costly for Mansfield. A draw would have signalled a great comeback from the Stags and a vital point in a game in which we didn’t play very well. But it wasn’t to be. On to next Saturday then. A perfect day for the Stags of course would be victory over Stevenage coupled with an MK Dons defeat at play-off chasing Colchester. That would leave Mansfield 3 points ahead of MK Dons with a better goal difference by at least 9 goals, and on the verge of promotion. Stevenage themselves are chasing a play-off spot. A big performance is needed from Mansfield. Oldham, whose players did a lap of honour at the end of the game, have given themselves a chance of reaching the play-offs with this win and a sixth game without defeat. They are 4 points behind 7th place with a game in hand and a better goal difference. Mansfield were not surprisingly unchanged from the terrific 4-0 win over Morecambe on Good Friday. The bench was also unchanged. Oldham included former Stags loanee Alex Iacovitti in defence. Giles Coke, who played for the Stags more than a decade ago, was an unused sub for Oldham. It was a glorious warm sunny day in Oldham. Normally it rains when the Stags come here! Not that Mansfield have had many games here in recent years. In fact only a handful since the last win here which was all the way back in 1978. After not having a game live on Sky Sports for 13 years, this was the second one in a month! What a noise from the Stags fans before kick off and in the early stages of the game. It was immense. I think this ground is good for acoustics. The home fans were loud too. It was a wonderful atmosphere. Oldham had the ball in the net after 5 minutes but the flag had long since been up. Maouche played forward to Lang who carried on long after the flag was up and knocked into the net. In a low key start to the game despite the atmosphere created by the fans, the first chance of the game for either side didn’t come until 17 minutes. Jones headed to Grant on the right, he got to the edge of the area and sliced a shot wide of the right post. At the other end on 19 minutes, Maouche cut onto his left foot from the right and fired just over the bar from 22 yards. On 21 minutes, Mellis played forward to Walker who turned and shot just high and wide of the angle from 23 yards. Two minutes later, Iacovitti cut inside Jones on the left and shot right footed wide of the right post. Hamilton won Mansfield’s first corner on 25 minutes. Grant’s inswinging corner from the left was pushed into the top of his net by keeper Iversen. Moments later, Benning’s corner from the right was knocked just past his own post by a defender. Then another corner, the 4th in succession, was held by Iversen. Oldham took the lead on 29 minutes as Nepomuceno got goalside of Gethin Jones to run on to a defence-splitting pass from Maouche and fire past Conrad Logan from 13 yards. After 32 minutes, a low ball in to the area from Mellis was cleared. Then moments later a low across from Pearce was cleared. A minute after that, a low ball across the face of goal from Mellis and no-one was there. A good chance from the Stags and a good move on 34 minutes. Grant pulled back to Hamilton from the byline, and Hamilton miscued a shot over the bar. On 36 minutes, Benning’s ball forward was sliced wide of his own post by a defender. From the resulting corner from the right by Benning, Sweeney got up well and headed over the bar. He got a good connection on his header and it was close. Grant was booked after 38 minutes. He lost the ball, and in his frustration, dived in on Sylla. Jones got to the byline and put in a poor cross after 43 minutes. At the other end a minute later, Lang was in space on the left, he cut inside and his shot was blocked. An average first half in which the Stags were lacking in quality having got into several good positions but failed to deliver good crosses. Mansfield’s best chance was a header from Sweeney. Oldham led thanks to a great pass from Maouche and Nepomuceno getting goalside of Jones to fire in. Half time 1-0 A chance for the Stags to equalise after 47 minutes. Benning’s free kick from the left was volleyed back across goal from the right by Bishop, straight to Pearce in the middle and Pearce turned it goalwards but couldn’t get any power on it at all and it was an easy save for the keeper. It was Mansfield’s first effort on target. A great interception from Pearce at the other end as Lang broke forward, and Pearce then set off on a marauding run. A great break from the Stags on 52 minutes as Hamilton surged forward with tremendous pace and found Mellis, whose shot was deflected to the keeper. MacDonald replaced Grant after 53 minutes. Logan pouched a cross well on 54 minutes. Oldham doubled their lead after 56 minutes. Lang got away from Benning on the right, and laid back to Sylla, whose cross was headed away by Jones but only straight to Nepomuceno whose powerful shot was blocked by Preston and fell for Maouche to turn and fire into the net from 6 yards. Terrible defending from the Stags who made a mess of clearing their lines. Rose replaced Sweeney after 58 minutes as Mansfield immediately switched to an ultra-attacking 4-3-3 formation, with Walker on the right, Rose in the middle and Hamilton on the left up front. And it paid dividends straight away on 60 minutes as Mansfield pulled it back to 2-1. Mellis laid a wonderful ball into the path of Walker who slammed a low left-footed shot through the keeper’s legs from 17 yards for his 25th goal of the season. On 63 minutes, Pearce made a great challenge on Maouche as Oldham broke. But Oldham regained their two-goal advantage to make it 3-1 after 67 minutes as Hamer’s long throw was headed out by Preston straight to Nepomuceno on the edge of the area, he took aim and blasted a spectacular shot into the top left corner of the net. The Stags had to commit men forward and nearly conceded a fourth goal after 71 minutes as Maouche split the defence again to find Lang who was through 1-on-1 with Logan but Logan was out superbly to save. The Stags were too open at the back and Sylla had a shot blocked by Pearce after 73 minutes. The Stags pulled a goal back again to make it 3-2 after 76 minutes. Benning’s corner was headed away, it ricocheted fortunately off Hamilton to Bishop who controlled well, turned superbly and sent a low shot bobbling into the bottom right corner of the net. With the Stags leaving spaces at the back, O’Grady went close to extending Oldham’s lead after 78 minutes as raced clear and his shot squirmed just wide. Jones hit his head on the post in trying to clear and there was relief that he was ok after a stoppage. At the other end on 80 minutes, Walker fired just over the bar after another great ball from Mellis. Benning was hurt on the touchline after 86 minutes, but he was eventually ok to get up. From the video, Benning was barged into touch by Missilou who should have been at least booked but wasn’t. Then that huge controversy and heartbreak for the Stags in the 6th minute of stoppage time. Walker laid off to Mellis on the edge of the area, Mellis took aim and sent a fine low shot against the inside of the left post. The ball rebounded out and Rose who did brilliantly to acrobatically turn the ball into the empty net. But the linesman’s flag was up against Rose. TV replays on the live Spy Sports coverage show that Rose was level with the defender as Mellis took aim, in my opinion, and also in the opinion of the Sky Sports commentators. A bad call from the officials that was so costly for Mansfield. A draw would have signalled a great comeback from the Stags and a vital point in a game in which we didn’t play very well. But it wasn’t to be. In truth the Stags probably did not deserve a draw not that that really makes any difference at this stage of the season. The Stags have to lick their wounds and come back with a strong performance against Stevenage. Man of the match: Jacob Mellis |
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Report by: Martin Shaw at Boundary Park
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Line Up:
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(3-5-2)
Logan 6.5 Superb save 1-on-1 with Lang. Not at fault for the goals. Preston 6 Headed clearance went straight to Nepomuceno to score the third goal. Pearce 7 Several good interceptions and challenges. Sweeney 6 Sent one header wide. Sacrificed after an hour to change shape. Jones 5 Nepomuceno got goalside of him to score the first goal. Iacovitti cut inside him to send a shot wide. Great relief that he was ok after hitting his head on the post. Difficult game overall. Mellis 8 Wonderful assist for Walker’s goal. Also set up two other shots for Walker. Fine shot against the inside of the post in stoppage time. Bishop 6 Fine goal, turning well and shooting into the corner of the net for his 4th goal of the season. Benning 6 Lang got away from him in the build-up to the second goal. Good corner for Sweeney’s header. Grant 5.5 Good set-up for a shot from Hamilton. Didn’t contribute enough. Walker 7 Good finish for his 25th goal of the season. A couple of other shots, over the bar. Hamilton 5.5 Miscued one shot well wide. One fine surging run, but not enough. |
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Sub Line Up:
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MacDonald (for Grant, 53 mins) 6 Didn’t really get into the game.
Rose (for Sweeney, 58 mins) 7 Did brilliantly to acrobatically turn the ball into the empty net in stoppage time, cruelly and wrongly ruled out for offside. Subs not used: J.Smith, Turner, Atkinson, Tomlinson, Hakeem. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(4-4-1-1): Daniel Iversen; Tom Hamer, Peter Clarke, George Edmundson, Alex Iacovitti; Callum Lang, Mohamed Sylla (Rob Hunt 84), Christopher Missilou, Gevaro Nepomuceno; Mohamed Maouche; Chris O’Grady. Subs not used: Zeus De La Paz, Andy Taylor, Giles Coke, Jonathan Benteke, Sonhy Sefil, Oladapo Afolayan.
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Referee:
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John Busby 5 Only one difficult decision to make for the officials, the linesman got it wrong, and it was so costly for the Stags.
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