Season 18/19 Stagsnet Match Report
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Mansfield Town
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Newport County
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1-1 on aggregate after extra time.
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Newport win 5-3 on penalties
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Attendance: 7361 (1118 from Newport)
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Date: 12 May 2019
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SEASON OVER AS STAGS LOSE ON PENALTIES
Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town’s season came to a devastating end last night losing a penalty shoot-out in the second leg of the League Two play-off semi-finals, with Newport County progressing through to the final at Wembley. After neither side could break the deadlock in 90 minutes plus 30 minutes of extra time, it all came down to penalties and every spot kick was converted by both sides, apart from one, with Tyler Walker having his kick superbly saved by Joe Day in the Newport goal. How ironic that it was top scorer Walker who would be the only one to miss. He’s had a terrific season, been the regular penalty taker during the season and not missed one, and without his fantastic return of 26 goals, the Stags probably would not have made the top 7, let alone been in and around the top 3 all season. Realistically I think it’s unlikely that Walker will return next season, he will either get a chance at his parent club Nottingham Forest, or go to a club in League One, and hence if so, it’s a very sad way for his time here to end. As a loan player, he committed so much to the cause. The game itself was a remarkable one. Over the 120 minutes, Newport were unlucky not to win it, hitting the woodwork twice. In the first half, and for a short spell in the second half, they went so close on a number of occasions. In the first half: Sheehan volleyed against the back stanchion from Butler’s cross, Amond side-footed into the side netting when he should have scored, Labadie headed against the bar following a Demetriou long-throw, and Amond headed a free header just over the bar from Butler’s cross. Four near misses, while the Stags created almost nothing. The Stags started the second half better, but it was Newport who went close twice again around the hour mark, as Bennett sent a fabulous against the bar from fully 35 yards, and then Conrad Logan made a brilliant one-handed save from a shot from Sheehan from 23 yards, to add to the list of Logan’s superb saves from the first leg. After that it was the Stags with the better chances to win it. After 67 minutes, Ben Turner’s header forced a good save from the keeper from Mal Benning’s free kick. Then on 71 minutes, Tyler Walker shot from the edge of the area and the keeper tipped wide. And then after 85 minutes, a glorious chance for the Stags to win it, with Walker having a clear sight of goal from 14 yards but he sent his left-footed shot just wide of the right post with the keeper motionless. Agonisingly close. Then on 88 minutes, from Alex MacDonald’s cross, Danny Rose glanced a header wide. The tension had been unbelievable, and it continued into extra time as the chances kept on coming. After 96 minutes, a great ball from MacDonald sent CJ Hamilton away, he got into the area and blazed a shot over the bar. It was the sort of chance he has converted so many times this season. Two minutes later at the other end, following a Demetriou long throw, Sheehan curled a shot wide. Then an amazing triple chance for the Stags in the last minute of the first period of extra time: great play by Hamilton to get to the byline on the right and pull back to Walker, Walker’s first time flick goalwards was saved by the keeper with his right boot, the rebound came out to Danny Rose who seemed certain to score but his shot was blocked on the line by Regan Poole, and then Benning’s shot was blocked by Willmott. An incredible triple chance missed. Into the second period of extra time, and the best chance again fell to Walker as he headed inches wide after Gethin Jones headed on Benning’s corner. How on earth did the game end 0-0 after 120 minutes? And so to penalties. Newport went first and converted all five kicks. Logan wasn’t far away from saving Amond’s spot kick but otherwise Newport’s kicks were convincing. For Mansfield, sub Nicky Ajose and CJ Hamilton scored, before Walker’s kick was superbly saved by Day. Mal Benning converted Mansfield’s fourth penalty, off the right post, off the keeper, and then off the left post. But Dolan sent Logan the wrong way for Newport’s fifth penalty to send Newport to Wembley. In my opinion, Newport were the deserved winners over the 120 minutes and penalties here. But how different it might have been if the Stags had taken a lead into the game from the first leg, which they should have done but for two incorrect refereeing decisions on Thursday. The game was played in a wonderful atmosphere. Credit to the 6,200 Stags fans who roared their team on. Credit also to Newport and their 1110 travelling fans. Good luck at Wembley. Spare a thought for owners John and Carolyn Radford who put in so much to try to make promotion possible and John tweeted after the game: “I'm hurting after that as my love for this club is beyond words. The measure of a club, though, is how you react and advance from adversity. This setback should only make us stronger, as one united club. A special mention to our fans who have been magnificent all season.” Thanks to John and Carolyn as always. So that’s it for this season. It was close. It couldn’t be finer margins, losing with one penalty missed in a penalty shoot-out. And Mansfield of course had so many chances to secure promotion in those final games of the season, losing the final three games when victory in any of them would have been enough to go up automatically. Overall it’s been a very enjoyable season with plenty of entertaining and exciting football along the way. But it ends in disappointment. Thanks for listening this season, thanks for watching the videos, and thanks for reading. We’ll go again next season. FULL REPORT: Mansfield made one change from the first leg: Bishop missed out with a calf injury sustained in the first leg. He was replaced by Tomlinson. There were no changes on the bench. Newport also made one change: Labadie started in place of Dolan. It was a sunny evening in Mansfield. The kick off time was 6pm on a Sunday, for the purposes of TV. I cannot ever recall the Stags kicking off at 6pm before. Hamilton won a corner inside the opening 45 seconds. After 6 minutes, Amond crossed into the middle, Jones did well to clear ahead of Willmott. Walker was fouled by Labadie after 8 minutes, 27 yards from goal. Mellis took the resulting free kick but it was well over the bar. Two minutes later, a free kick for Newport 5 yards inside the Stags half. Willmott took it, O’Brien headed back across goal, but no-one was there. A surprise after 11 minutes. Hamilton with a long throw from the left into the middle. Where have you been hiding that CJ? His first long throw in a match. The throw-in came back to him, and his cross was deflected through to the keeper. On 12 minutes, Sheehan’s shot from 30 yards was pushed wide by Logan. Two corner and a throw-in followed, all cleared. Good defending by Hamilton on 18 minutes. Walker won a free kick turning away from O’Brien after 19 minutes. O’Brien was booked. Recall that O’Brien should have been sent off in the first time for pulling down Walker. Mellis took the resulting free kick, Sweeney knocked it up and over the bar. After 23 minutes, the best chance of the game so far as Sheehan volleyed against the back stanchion from Butler’s cross. A minute later, another good chance for Newport as Amond side-footed into the side netting when he should have scored, having been teed up Matt. On 26 minutes, a Newport from 35 yards from Sheehan was blocked by the wall through to Logan. On 32 minutes, Willmott’s free kick from 35 yards into the middle was pushed away by Logan. Two minutes later, Willmott’s shot was well blocked by Turner. Newport continued right on top. After 39 minutes, Labadie headed against the bar following a Demetriou long-throw, and Logan smothered the rebound. A moment of controversy after 42 minutes as Butler smashed into Rose with his elbow. The referee booked Butler. Had we had VAR and the benefit of replays, Butler would certainly have sent off. On 45 minutes, Amond headed a free header just over the bar from Butler’s cross. On 45+2 minutes, Willmott crossed, it flicked off the top of Turner’s head against the top of the angle of post and bar. From the resulting corner, Amond headed well wide. Half-time and the Stags lucky to be level. Four near misses for Newport, while the Stags created almost nothing. Half time 0-0 Benning replaced Tomlinson at the start of the second half. Benning went in at left wing back. Hamilton moved up front as the Stags switched from 3-5-2 to 3-4-3. Good play from Walker after 46 minutes as he created space on the edge of the area to turn and fire over the bar. The Stags’ best chance so far. Benning made a surging run after 47 minutes and his shot was blocked. Hamilton got into the area on the left after 48 minutes, and pulled back to Rose whose first time shot was well over the bar. Good play from Hamilton. A minute after that, Jones forced his way in from the right and shot wide left footed from 20 yards. This was much better from the Stags, and the noise level from the fans was creating a great atmosphere. After 51 minutes, Willmott crossed from the left, but the offside flag was up as Bennett headed over. On 56 minutes, a long throw from Demetriou came back to him, and eventually there was a low shot from O’Brien which saved by Logan. The Stags had started the second half better, but it was Newport who went close twice again around the hour mark. First, Bennett sent a fabulous against the bar from fully 35 yards. Then on 61 minutes, Logan made a brilliant one-handed save from a shot from Sheehan from 23 yards, to add to the list of Logan’s superb saves from the first leg. Walker was pushed over on the edge of the area after 63 minutes. Benning took the free kick, into the keeper’s midriff. From that moment, it was the Stags with the better chances to win it. After 67 minutes, Turner’s header forced a good save from the keeper from Benning’s free kick. The ball came back to Benning who recycled into the middle, and Turner headed straight at the keeper. Then on 71 minutes, Walker shot from the edge of the area and the keeper tipped wide, after Rose had flicked on. A minute later, Benning’s right footed cross was headed down, it more or less hit Walker and ran through to the keeper. A great break from the Stags after 79 minutes, Hamilton trapped the ball brilliantly, made a good run, and finally Rose’s shot as deflected over the bar. On 82 minutes, Willmott’s free kick not cleared and after a bit of pinball, Logan made a routine save above his head. After 85 minutes, a glorious chance for the Stags to win it, with Walker having a clear sight of goal from 14 yards but he sent his left-footed shot just wide of the right post with the keeper motionless. Agonisingly close. Then on 88 minutes, from MacDonald’s cross, Rose glanced a header wide. On 90 minutes, Benning’s free kick from level with the edge of the area on the left was headed wide by Turner. Jones was booked on 90+1 minutes. On 90+4 minutes, a shot from Jones was blocked. Full time. So many chances for both sides, but it remained 0-0 and 1-1 on aggregate. Full time 0-0 Atkinson replaced Mellis at the start of extra time. The tension had been unbelievable, and it continued into extra time as the chances kept on coming. After 94 minutes, Benning slid the ball forward for Hamilton to run into the area and fire wide from a tight angle. After 96 minutes, a glorious chance for Hamilton. A great ball from MacDonald sent Hamilton away, he got into the area and blazed a shot over the bar. It was the sort of chance he has converted so many times this season. Two minutes later at the other end, following a Demetriou long throw, Sheehan curled a shot wide. Then an amazing triple chance for the Stags in the last minute of the first period of extra time: great play by Hamilton to get to the byline on the right and pull back to Walker, Walker’s first time flick goalwards was saved by the keeper with his right boot, the rebound came out to Danny Rose who seemed certain to score but his shot was blocked on the line by Regan Poole, and then Benning’s shot was blocked by Willmott. An incredible triple chance missed. Ajose replaced Rose straight after that triple chance. Ajose’s first time back onto the pitch following a long lay-off through injury. A minute into stoppage time, a corner came out to MacDonald, whose powerful shot was blocked. Half time in extra time and the Stags with bay far the better chances. Half time in extra time 0-0 Into the second period of extra time. After 107 minutes, Demetriou’s long throw came out to Sheehan who volleyed wide. So many chances created for Newport from Demetriou’s long throws over the two legs. The best chance of the second period of extra time came on 110 minutes and fell to Walker as he headed inches wide after Jones headed on Benning’s corner. Two minutes later, Benning’s free kick from level with the edge of the area on the right was headed over by Sweeney. Then on 116 minutes Hamilton’s shot from the left was blocked. With a minute left, Walker got into the area and went down but there was no foul. At the other end in the final minute, Demetriou headed over from Willmott’s free kick. Grant replaced Jones just before the final whistle, clearly brought on for the penalty shoot-out. How on earth did the game end 0-0 after 120 minutes? Full time in extra time 0-0. 1-1 on aggregate. And so to a penalty shoot out. Newport won the toss to have the shoot out in front of their supporters. Newport won the second toss as well and chose to go first. Butler scores. 1-0 to Newport Ajose scores, firing into the left of the net. 1-1 Amond scores. Logan goes the right way but can’t quite reach it. 2-1 to Newport Hamilton scores. 2-2 Demetriou scores, sending Logan the wrong way. 3-2 to Newport Walker’s kick is superbly saved by Day, diving to his right. Oh no. Still 3-2 to Newport Poole scores. 4-2 to Newport Benning converts Mansfield’s fourth penalty, off the right post, off the keeper, and then off the left post. 4-3 to Newport Dolan sends Logan the wrong way for Newport’s fifth penalty to send Newport to Wembley. Man of the match: CJ Hamilton Footnote: following this final match of the season, these are my average player ratings based on the league+cup games for players who started at least 40 games: Bishop 6.97, Hamilton 6.94, Pearce 6.86, Mellis 6.86, Benning 6.80, Walker 6.76, Preston 6.66, Sweeney 6.63. Other players who started at least 15 games: Logan 6.96, Olejnik 6.95, Elsnik 6.94, Khan 6.86, White 6.78, MacDonald 6.68, Grant 6.67, Rose 6.61. Note: only ratings for players starting a game are included - ie. sub appearances not included. Thanks to Pete Wright for his spreadsheet. FOOTNOTE: Two days after the defeat on penalties, David Flitcroft’s contract was terminated, and academy manager John Dempster was appointed first team manager. I thought the decision to sack Flitcroft was reasonable. His target was to get promotion. Personally I would have given him another go though. My opinion on Dempster being appointed is that has done very well as youth team manager. It's a big step up of course. Hopefully he'll do a great job. |
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Report by: Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill
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Line Up:
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(3-5-2)
Logan 7.5 Brilliant one-handed save from a shot from Sheehan from 23 yards, to add to the list of his superb saves from the first leg. Several other decent saves and solid handling. Wasn’t far away from saving Amond’s spot kick but couldn’t keep any of them out. Pearce 7 Part of the defence that somehow kept a clean sheet. Turner 7 Had three chances to score and forced one good save from the keeper. One good defensive block. Sweeney 7 Part of the defence that somehow kept a clean sheet. Jones 6.5 Did ok. Got a couple of shots in. MacDonald 7 Great play to set up Hamilton’s run and shot. Good cross for a Rose header. Mellis 5.5 Free kicks disappointing. Tomlinson 5.5 Sacrificed at half time to change shape and get Benning on. Hamilton 7.5 Great chance when he got into the area and blazed a shot over the bar. It was the sort of chance he has converted so many times this season. Great play to set up the amazing tripe chance in extra time. Two more good pieces of play to set up chances for Rose. Converted his penalty. Came up with a surprise with his long throw into the middle. Where have you been hiding that CJ? Walker 5.5 Had his penalty kick superbly saved by Joe Day. How ironic that it was top scorer who would be the only one to miss. Missed a glorious chance towards the end of the 90 minutes. Rose 5.5 Seemed certain to score amid that triple chance but couldn’t lift his shot over the keeper and defender on the line. Glanced a header wide near the end of the 90 minutes. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Benning (for Tomlinson, 46 mins) 7 Some good set pieces set up half chances. Converted his penalty ... just ... off the right post, off the keeper, and then off the left post.
Atkinson (for Mellis, 91 mins) - Ajose (for Rose, 105 mins) - Did well in the second period of extra time. Took his penalty well. His first time back onto the pitch following a long lay-off through injury. Grant (for Jones, 120 mins) - Sent on to take Mansfield’s fifth penalty, but the shoot-out didn’t get that far. Subs not used: J.Smith, Khan, Alistair Smith. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(3-5-2): Day, Poole, O’Brien, Demetriou; Willmott, Labadie (Azeez, 75, McKirdy 110), Sheehan (Dolan 110), Bennett, Butler, Amond, Matt. Subs not used: Pipe, Marsh-Brown, Randall, Crofts.
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Referee:
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Michael Salisbury 6 Should have sent Butler off when he smashed into Rose with his elbow. Had we had VAR and the benefit of replays, Butler would certainly have been sent off. Otherwise little contentious to deal with.
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