Archived News from January 2022
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CHARSLEY DOUBLE KEEPS STAGS RUN GOING VS WALSALL
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English Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Mansfield Town 2 - 0 Walsall Charsley 59, 90 Attendance: 5,728 (884 from Walsall) Date: 15 January 2022 Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town beat Walsall 2-0 at the One Call Stadium this afternoon with two goals from substitute Harry Charsley in the second half. Charsley was the unlikely goal hero, having not scored for just over a year, and he took his goals well, the first knocked in from 12 yards, and the second rifled in from a tight angle on the right to secure the victory. It was a deserved victory. The Stags should have been ahead by the break with Jordan Bowery going close twice, a Stephen McLaughlin header cleared off the line, Oli Hawkins heading wide with Rhys Oates just unable to turn it into the net, and Ollie Clarke volleying inches wide. Walsall finished the first half well after the Stags had dominated for 35 minutes, and George Miller, who scored twice against the Stags earlier in the season, but hadn’t scored for 13 games coming into this game, fired in a powerful shot from a tight angle which Nathan Bishop did well to save with a strong hand. Then Tyrese Shade sent a free kick just wide. Into the second half, and Miller went close again as he cut inside from the right and fired in a shot which George Maris blocked on the line after 56 minutes. Maris in the right place at the right time. The Stags went in front after 59 minutes as Charsley fired in from 12 yards. Bowery brought another save from the keeper at his near post, and Oates sent a brilliant effort inches wide of the right post with his left foot. The Stags should have made it 2-0 as Stephen Quinn won the ball and his cross was pushed out to Hawkins whose shot was somehow saved by the keeper, and Charsley’s follow-up shot was also blocked. Miller fired in a great effort after 78 minutes, which Bishop did very well to tip over the bar. The Stags sealed victory after 90 minutes when Charsley fired in from a tight angle after great interplay with Bowery down the right. Quite clearly a deserved victory for the Stags who had 17 shots to Walsall’s 10, and 6 shots on target to Walsall’s 3. Yet Walsall manager Matt Taylor rather absurdly claimed afterwards that his side should have got something from the game and that the scoreline flattered Mansfield. It is true however that the game turned on Maris’s block on the line and 3 minutes later the Stags taking the lead. Mansfield now have 9 wins from the last 10 league games, including 6 wins in a row, and 7 in a row at home. The Stags are up into the play-off places, and only three points behind the top 3. However, of course the Stags have played 15 of their 24 league games this season at home, and only 9 away so far. Incidentally, because of away postponements and an FA Cup home draw, this was Mansfield’s sixth consecutive home game, following the FA Cup tie away at Doncaster, and the last away game at Crawley which was back in November. It’s only the second time Mansfield have played six consecutive home games, the first time being when the Stags finished the 1978/79 season with six consecutive home games due to a string of earlier postponements, a run I remember for Bob Curtis converting some penalties and Mick Saxby scoring a few goals including in a win against Chesterfield. (The Stags did start the following season, 1979/80, with a home cup game in the League Cup too.) The Stags now have 6 of the next 8 games away from home by the end of February. That starts with a visit to leaders Forest Green on Tuesday. A very tough task for the Stags against the team that is 12 points clear of 4th place and will surely get automatic promotion. But the Stags are in incredible form and it’s a game to look forward to. If you can’t travel to the game, you can watch it with us on iFollow Stags. The game went ahead thanks to frost covers on the pitch overnight, protecting against a very cold night. It was also a foggy day, albeit not as foggy as the Hartlepool game, but visibility was a little reduced by the end of the game. Then half an hour after the game had finished, I could no longer see the goal at the North Stand end from the Quarry Lane stand. DETAILED REPORT IN THE MATCH CENTRE ------------------------- SAT 15 JAN 2022LEAGUE TWO Mansfield Town 2-0 Walsall Charsley (58'minutes, 89'minutes) Assists Bowery (89'minutes) Report supplied by PA Media. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59918822 In-form Mansfield chalked up their seventh home League Two win in a row to leap into the play-off spots as a Harry Charsley brace saw off visiting Walsall. Mansfield had the edge in the first half and saw two efforts cleared off the line. Tom Leak denied Jordan Bowery on the line after seven minutes and Hayden White then kept out a Stephen McLaughlin header from a 21st-minute corner. But Walsall's George Miller forced a great one-handed save from Nathan Bishop with a powerful 36th-minute shot and George Maris was hurt making a goal-line clearance with his head after 56 minutes, getting in the way of another Miller effort after he had cut in from the right. Just before the hour mark, the Stags broke through as Walsall failed to clear Elliott Hewitt's throw from the right and interval substitute Charsley hammered home the loose ball through a crowd of players from 12 yards. Carl Rushworth denied both Bowery and Oliver Hawkins before Charsley made it safe one minute from time as he smashed home from the right of the box after a superb series of exchanged passes down the right with Bowery as Mansfield made it eight league victories from their last nine games. Match Stats Home Team Mansfield Away Team Walsall Possession Home 58% Away 42% Shots Home 17 Away 10 Shots on Target Home 6 Away 3 Corners Home 6 Away 4 Fouls Home 14 Away 11 --------------------- Harry Charsley at the double as Mansfield Town see off Walsall to leap into the play-off places at last chad.co.uk, By John Lomas, Saturday 15th January 2022 Mansfield Town completed their meteoric rise from the bottom two relegation spots into League Two's play-off places with this afternoon's 2-0 home win over Walsall at a foggy One Call Stadium. But they had to dig deep to see off the Saddlers with two second half strikes from sub Harry Charsley. It was a seventh home league win in a row and a ninth league win in 10. After some fantastic performances in a recent gruelling schedule, Stags failed to hit the heights they had been managing but still had enough to keep their run going. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/harry-charsley-at-the-double-as-mansfield-town-see-off-walsall-to-leap-into-the-play-off-places-at-last-3528946 The Mansfield side showed just one change with midfielder Ryan Stirk replaced by defender Farrend Rawson, who was back from a Covid lay-off, allowing John-Joe O'Toole to be pushed into midfield. The Saddlers side included ex-Stags Hayden White and Rollin Menayese but there was no place in the 18 for Otis Khan. Stags made hard work of halting Walsall's first attack in a scruffy opening in which Rushworth also comfortably held a teasing Quinn cross. On seven minutes Bowery lifted an effort towards goal that beat Rushworth but Leak kicked clear a couple off the line with Stags just needing someone to help it over. Then, from a free kick, Hawkins nodded the ball into the path of Bowery eight yards out, but he was unable to adjust and get a finish away. On 13 minutes Shade turned on a White throw on the right and pulled a low effort wide of Bishop's near post. Bowery caused more problems on 21 minutes as he out-muscled Leak on the right and, from a narrow angle, forced Rushworth down to save. From the corner, McLaughlin got there with a near post glancing header that White cleared off the line. On 27 minutes Maris floated in a free kick that Hawkins headed wide as Stags continued to knock on the door. Eight minutes later Clarke was desperately close. Oates sent Quinn to the left by-line and his cross was met first time by Clarkle but guided narrowly wide. Bishop had his first save to make a minute later as Miller fired a fierce shot at him from the right of the box and he sent up an instinctive arm to block. As we entered stoppage time, Hawkins picked up a booking for tripping Miller just outside the box, Shade's free kick zipping just wide of the far post. Charsley took over from Clarke in the Mansfield midfield for the second half. O'Toole moved into central defence to allow Hawkins to go up front. Kiernan blazed a volley well over from a half-cleared free kick on the restart. Stags had a scare on 56 minutes as Miller determinedly cut in from the right and made space for a shot that beat Bishop but hit Maris in the head on the line and Miller then fired the loose ball over. But Charsley made the big breakthrough for Stags on 59 minutes. Hawkins flicked on Elliott Hewitt's throw from the right and when Walsall failed to clear, the ball rolled out to Charsley, 12 yards from goal, and he smashed it home through a crowd of players. Bowery was then twice off target as Stags sought to press home their advantage amid the gathering fog. On 74 minutes McLaughlin sent a free kick into the wall, saw his follow-up blocked and the ball ran for Bowery to force Rushworth to save low at his near post. A minute later Oates was inches wide from 20 yards and seconds later, after some poor Walsall defending, Rushworth threw his body in the way of Hawkins' finish. Walsall pressed, but Stags comfortably kept them at bay and made the points safe on 89 minutes. Bowery and Charsley progressed down the right with a series of neat passes between them before Bowery laid him into space in the box and Charsley, from a tight angle, crashed in his second of the day. STAGS: Bishop, Hewitt, Rawson, Hawkins (Gale 90+1), McLaughlin, Clarke (Charsley HT), O'Toole, Quinn, Maris, Oate (Johnson 90+1)s, Bowery. SUBS NOT USED: Stech, Nartey, Law, Sinclair. WALSALL: Rushworth, White, Ward, Labadie (Willock 85), Kiernan (Wilkinson 73), Osabede, Miller, Earing, Leak, Menayese, Shade (Phillips 69). SUBS NOT USED: Rose, Kinsella, Perry, Mills. REFEREE: Ross Joyce. ATTENDANCE: 5,728 (884 away). ------------------ Mansfield 2 Walsall 0 - Report expressandstar.com, By Joe Edwards, Saturday 15th January 2022 Walsall's winless start to 2022 continued as they again showed a lack of ruthlessness in a 2-0 loss at in-form Mansfield Town. The Saddlers had their moments at Field Mill, with George Miller going close in both halves. Ultimately, though, Stags substitute Harry Charsley displayed the killer touch, with his brace sealing a second successive loss for Matt Taylor's lot. Walsall have now won just one of their last eight games across all competitions, and this clash was summed up in a couple of second-half minutes. Miller had a shot cleared off the line and right up the other end, Charsley capitalised on indecision from a long throw-in to put Mansfield ahead. https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/walsall-fc/2022/01/15/mansfield-2-walsall-0---report/ He then made sure of the three points as the Saddlers sent bodies forward in search of an equaliser in the closing stages, switching off defensively. Walsall may feel the scoreline was harsh and they did battle, but with a tough tun of fixtures ahead, they need to find a way to consistently produce results. This defeat leaves the Saddlers 15th in the League Two table. A home clash with eighth-placed Exeter City comes next. After the defensive horror-show at Stevenage, Walsall brought in Tom Leak for his first league start under Taylor at centre-back. Tyrese Shade and Emmanuel Osadebe also came in, while the Saddlers had a notable absentee. Otis Khan - who the club have been trying to get tied down to a new deal in recent weeks - was not in the matchday squad, with Taylor later insisting it was due to illness. Conor Wilkinson and Zak Mills dropped to the seven-man bench, which again included fans' favourite Liam Kinsella. Mansfield came into the game looking for their sixth league victory on the spin and almost netted inside the first 10 minutes. Ex-Villa striker Jordan Bowery lobbed the ball over Carl Rushworth but did not get the required power, and the sharp Leak was on hand to make a goal-line clearance. The inexperienced defender - thrust into the spotlight amid Manny Monthe's FA ban and Ash Taylor's departure for Scottish side Kilmarnock on Friday - enjoyed a pretty solid start. Walsall were doing well enough on the whole, too. The boggy, bobbly pitch did not lend itself to fancy football, but the Saddlers were battling and organised. They created the odd half-chance - Shade drifting inside and dragging a left-footed shot wide of the near post. The Stags, meanwhile, were proving dangerous from set pieces. Stephen McLaughlin had a header from a corner blocked by former Mansfield man Hayden White. Oli Hawkins then nodded wide, and Walsall needed to weather the storm. Mansfield continued to threaten as they had Ollie Clarke prod the ball wide after Stephen Quinn's cross. The Saddlers, though, while perhaps riding their luck at times, had managed to keep the hosts at bay going into the break. They could have even nicked a goal as well, with Miller forcing a fine stop from Nathan Bishop before Shade dragged a free-kick wide. Walsall chief Taylor would have been pleased with the first-half effort. The Stags moved the imposing Hawkins from central defence to centre forward - as they often tend to do - for the beginning of the second period. Then came a crucial couple of minutes. The Saddlers almost went in front as White found striker Miller with a perfectly-weighted through-ball down the right. He beat a few yellow and blue shirts, and shot-stopper Bishop with his strike, but was denied by George Maris. The midfielder got himself in the right position to bravely block Miller's shot with his face, and Mansfield soon reaped the benefits. Almost straight up the other end, Elliott Hewitt's long throw-in had Walsall in disarray, and half-time substitute Charsley pounced by hammering the ball home from 12 yards. Fine margins making the difference. The Saddlers kept plugging away. Kieran Phillips and Wilkinson were both introduced - the latter pulling a shot wide from the edge of the box. Miller also tested Bishop with a curling effort. Walsall had Rushworth to thank for a series of smart stops, thwarting Hawkins and Bowery to keep up their hopes of a late leveller. But as the Saddlers pushed, they were undone on the counter-attack. Charsley and Bowery linked up wonderfully, and the former ghosted in unmarked and ended the move with an emphatic finish beyond Rushworth. The Stags are now in the play-off places. For Walsall, though, it is three without a win and successive defeats. That lack of a cutting edge playing its part once more. Teams Mansfield (4-4-2): Bishop; Hewitt, Rawson, Hawkins (Gale, 90), McLaughlin; Clarke (c) (Charsley, 46), O'Toole, Maris, Quinn; Oates (Johnson, 90), Bowery Subs not used: Stech, Nartey, Law, Sinclair Walsall (4-2-3-1): Rushworth; White, Menayese, Leak, Ward; Labadie (Willock, 86), Earing; Shade (Phillips, 69), Osadebe, Kiernan (Wilkinson, 73); Miller Subs not used: Rose (gk), Mills, Perry, Kinsella Goals: Charsley (58, 89) Attendance: 5,728 (884 Walsall fans) Referee: Ross Joyce ------------------ Mansfield 2 Walsall 0 - Player ratings expressandstar.com, By Joe Edwards, Saturday 15th January 2022 Joe Edwards rates the players after Walsall's 2-0 loss at Mansfield Town. https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/walsall-fc/2022/01/16/mansfield-2-walsall-0---player-ratings/ CARL RUSHWORTH Made some sharp saves - keeping out both Hawkins and Bowery in the second half. Distribution was not great, but gave Walsall some hope with those stops. Saves: 7 HAYDEN WHITE Against his old club, White had one of his more solid outings this season. Carried the ball with confidence and played a fine through-ball to Miller for his second-half chance. Not spectacular, but decent. Solid: 7 ROLLIN MENAYESE Not at his best, but certainly better than he was at Stevenage. Mansfield's front players are a talented bunch and and Menayese, also formerly of the Stags, found it difficult on a few occasions. Did OK: 6 TOM LEAK Considering it was his first league start under Taylor, Leak did all right. Given a tougher test by Hawkins after the break. Steady: 6 STEPHEN WARD Failed to offer much going forward and was not great defensively, in truth. Struggled: 5 JOSS LABADIE Another quiet display from Walsall's skipper. His energy and combativeness were nullified by a strong Stags midfield. Nullified: 5 JACK EARING Showed a bit more intent in possession, but Earing also did not have as much of an impact as he would have liked, really. Quiet: 5 TYRESE SHADE Had a couple of efforts in the first half. Shade, though, faded after the break before being taken off for Phillips. Faded: 5 EMMANUEL OSADEBE Brought back in, Osadebe showed one or two nice touches but, again, failed to have a major influence on proceedings. Lacking: 5 BRENDAN KIERNAN Worked hard, but was another who did not really do a great deal. Got replaced by Wilkinson in the 73rd minute. Uninvolved: 5 GEORGE MILLER Goalless streak goes on. Miller, though, at least went close to scoring. Forced a sharp stop from Bishop and was a touch unlucky with the Maris block. Probably should not have given him the chance, but had beaten the keeper with the shot. Effort: 6 SUBS Kieran Phillips (for Shade, 69) Did not see a lot of the ball. 5 Conor Wilkinson (for Kiernan, 73) Pulled a shot wide. 5 Shay Willock (for Labadie, 86) Only had one touch. N/A Not used: Rose (gk), Mills, Perry, Kinsella ------------------- |
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