Archived News from April 2022
|
STAGS PEGGED BACK IN DRAW AT HARTLEPOOL
|
 |
|
English Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Hartlepool United 2 - 2 Mansfield Town Grey 41, Molyneux 43. Lapslie 20, Perch 25. Attendance: 4,577 (288 from Mansfield) Date: 29 March 2022 Martin Shaw at Victoria Park (the Suit Direct stadium) Mansfield Town were pegged back after taking a two goal lead at Hartlepool United last night and had to settle for a point in a 2-2 draw. It was a frustrating result for the Stags who played well overall and had 23 shots at goal (9 on target) compared to 10 (6 on target) for Hartlepool. Mansfield were already without Ollie Clarke and George Maris who remained out with injury (Maris will return to training on Friday Nigel Clough told me after the game, while Ollie Clarke is further away from returning). Farrend Rawson missed the trip with food poisoning. Matty Longstaff, Stephen McLaughlin, Kieran Wallace and Rhys Oates all dropped out of the side to the bench from the side that started against Oldham, all of them “half injured”, carrying knocks, as Nigel Clough told me after the game. Stephen Quinn was also carrying a knock but Clough told me he couldn’t rest everybody. Stirk, Lapslie, Akins and Bowery came into the starting XI. A side-note on Longstaff by the way: the Newcastle man was offered to Hartlepool during the January transfer window and Hartlepool manager Graeme Lee turned him down, before he came to Mansfield on deadline day of course! Incredible in my opinion that any League Two club could turn down a player like Longstaff. The Stags also lost Jamie Murphy half way through the first half with a tight hamstring. Nigel Clough didn’t know how long he would be out. He was replaced by Jason Law. The Stags had three chances in a minute to open the scoring around the 12 minute mark. George Lapslie, then Jordan Bowery had shots blocked from the edge of the six yard box. Then from an Elliott Hewitt long throw-in headed on by Jordan Bowery, Jamie Murphy’s shot from six yards was well-saved at point blank range by the keeper. The Stags did take the lead after 20 minutes. And it came from great play in and around the box. Murphy inched his way to the edge of the box, slid the ball into the box to Lucas Akins, who had his back to goal. Akins held off his marker, squared to Bowery 16 yards from goal, and Bowery flicked a little ball up to Lapslie who volleyed into the net from 10 yards. A lovely team goal. A beautiful assist from Bowery. Lapslie’s second goal in successive games. His sixth goal of the season and a Lapslie back to his goalscoring best could be massive between now and the end of the season. The Stags made it 2-0 after 25 minutes. Lapslie curled in a cross from wide on the right. It bounced up to Perch ten yards out from goal. Perch headed the ball up, over the keeper, and it dipped under the bar into the right corner of the net. A very skilful header from Perch. His first goal of the season. Perch pulled his protective headband off and waved it around to celebrate! What a moment for the man whose whole career was in doubt a few months ago after his skull fracture and who was captain for the night. Nigel Clough described the goal after the game: “Perchy has ghosted in at the far post, it was a great cross from Laps as well. It cross evaded everybody, but Perchy meant it, not many players at this level would’ve done what he did with that chance. Some people think it’s a bit of fluke but it’s not, he knew exactly what he was doing.” Lucas Akins had a double chance to make it 3-0 after 29 minutes. Akins controlled the ball nicely on the halfway line, and set Lapslie away running towards goal. Lapslie then laid the ball inside to Akins for a shot from 20 yards with just the keeper to beat. The keeper got down to his left to keep it out. The ball rebounded up and Akins rose above a defender to head it goalwards again, but again the keeper saved it. Hartlepool pulled a goal back after 41 minutes. Centre half Neil Byrne was not closed down and given time to chip a ball forward from the centre circle out to the right, over Perch and Jason Law, and full back Jamie Sterry superbly chested the ball down and fired in a low cross-shot. Nathan Bishop did well to save it with his boot but it fell kindly for Joe Grey who knocked the loose ball into the net from 6 yards. The Stags had successfully silenced the home crowd, but they were right up for it again. And on 43 minutes, from nowhere, Hartlepool were level. Hawkins, under no pressure, gave the ball away in his own half 45 yards from goal. Nicky Featherstone played a little ball forward to Luke Molyneux, 35 yards from goal. Molyneux took three touches before firing low from 22 yards into the bottom right corner of the net. A great finish from Molyneux, but self inflicted by Mansfield with Hawkins giving the ball away unnecessarily. Nigel Clough said after the game: “You have the experienced Oli Hawkins, who gives the ball away in a ridiculous area two minutes before half-time and all of a sudden they are back in at 2-2 from absolutely nowhere. We only have ourselves to blame. The ball should have been put in a corner for Lucas (Akins) to chase. It was a lack of game management from one of our more experienced players.” The Stags were shell-shocked. 2-0 up, and it could have been more, but suddenly pegged back to 2-2 just before the break. The second half saw a catalogue of Stags chances. After 48 minutes, Ryan Stirk fired just over the bar from 18 yards. The Stags could have had a penalty after 61 minutes. Akins laid the ball off to Hewitt who took a touch just inside the area and was blocked off by Jamie Sterry. From the video replay, I think it should have been a penalty. Referee Trevor Kettle gave the free kick the other way, presumably adjudging that Hewitt had knocked Sterry over. Nigel Clough said after the game: "I thought we had a stonewall penalty when Elliott Hewitt has gone into the box and somehow he (the referee) has managed to give a free kick against Elliott Hewitt which was quite staggering. The lad (Sterry) has blocked him and knew exactly what he was doing, has gone down, and the referee's given them a free kick." Great play from Hewitt after 65 minutes, he played a 1-2 with Bowery on the right, cut inside, and slid a great ball across to Quinn for a shot from 18 yards, across the keeper and wide of the right post. Rhys Oates, who did more than anyone to get Hartlepool promoted back to the Football League last season, came on to replace Quinn after 67 minutes. He was booed and subjected to utterly disgusting chants for the rest of the game. Contrast his reception to that of Matt Green who did more than anyone to get Mansfield promoted back to the Football League 9 years ago. Every time Green returned to play against the Stags he was treated with respect. Oates was straight into the action, on 72 minutes, running on to a loose backwards pass, picking it up just inside the Hartlepool half, running at goal and from the edge of the area sliding his shot inches wide of the right post with just the keeper to beat. Frustration for Oates. The Hartlepool fans delighted. Oates was away again a minute later, brilliantly controlling a ball over the top by Stirk, but he was forced wider by defender Neill Byrne and dragged his shot wide again. Two minutes after that, another run from Oates towards the edge of the area, he was tackled, the ball fell to Lapslie who shot wide. Brilliant really from Oates with those runs, but huge frustration that the Stags couldn’t make it count. After 78 minutes, Stirk cut inside and brought down 22 yards from goal. With regular free kick takers all not on the pitch, it was left to Oates to take it and he slammed the free kick into the wall, it came back to Oates, his shot was blocked again, it came out to Law who fired well over the bar. The chances kept on coming. Bowery got into the area on the left after 80 minutes and his shot was blocked. A minute later, Bowery crossed to Hewitt who poked a shot straight at the keeper. On 88 minutes, a 30 yard shot from Lapslie was blocked for a corner. From the resulting corner taken by Law, it came out to Perch who fired well over the bar. Having completely dominated the game for at least 75 minutes, the Stags were nearly caught with a sucker punch 2 minutes into stoppage time. Stirk gave the ball away in his own half, Hartlepool sub Joe White pushed forward, got passed Hawkins and O’Toole with a great run into the Stags area and in a 1-on-1 with just Bishop to beat, he slid his shot wide. The game was nearly a reversal of the game at the One Call Stadium, when Hartlepool had led 2-0 and Mansfield came back to win it 3-2. Plenty of good performances in the Stags side. Goalscorers Lapslie and Perch both played very well. Perch is not a natural at left back, but slotted in well. Hewitt was very good, going forward well. Akins and Bowery both did well going forward, as did Murphy before he went off. Jason Law in for a rare substitute appearance grew into the game and had a fine second half. Oates once again made some great runs when he came on as substitute but couldn’t find an end product on this occasion. Despite that near miss in stoppage time for Hartlepool, this was very frustrating for Mansfield, who played well, created a lot of chances, and should have won. But, we didn't, so we move on to the next game and try and win that one! And what a game it is against third-placed Northampton. Get yourself to the One Call Stadium if you can. The Stags are in with a good shout of promotion, it should be an exciting end to the season! DETAILED REPORT IN THE MATCH CENTRE ---------------------------- TUE 29 MAR 2022, LEAGUE TWO Hartlepool United 2-2 Mansfield Town Grey (41'minutes), Molyneux (43'minutes) Lapslie (21'minutes), Perch (25'minutes) Assists Featherstone (43'minutes) Bowery (21'minutes), Lapslie (25'minutes) Report supplied by PA Media. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60830343 Mansfield blew a two-goal lead and the chance to move into the League Two play-off places as they drew at Hartlepool. Home goalkeeper Ben Killip saved smartly from Jordan Bowery and then George Lapslie, before the latter turned in from six yards in the 21st minute. They doubled their advantage four minutes later when a deep cross by Elliot Hewitt bounced in front of James Perch and the defender's looping header sailed high over Killip and into the net. In command and coasting, Lucas Akins was denied a third for the Stags by Killip, but then Pools evelled with two goals in as many minutes. A sublime touch by Jamie Sterry saw Joe Grey knock in from close range after 41 minutes before leading scorer Luke Molyneux fired in a low drive from 25 yards to equalise. Molyneux later left the field on a stretcher, but Pools had chances to take the lead through Neill Byrne and Isaac Fletcher, before Mansfield substitute Rhys Oates wasted two good openings against his former club. In stoppage time, Pools loanee Joe White skipped into the area but pushed his shot wide. Match Stats Home Team Hartlepool Away Team Mansfield Possession Home 47% Away 53% Shots Home 10 Away 23 Shots on Target Home 6 Away 9 Corners Home 1 Away 3 Fouls Home 7 Away 18 ----------------- Frustration for Mansfield Town as they are held at Hartlepool United chad.co.uk, Tuesday 29th March 2022 Mansfield Town missed the chance to return to the League Two play-off places after being held to a 2-2 draw at Hartlepool United tonight. George Lapslie and James Perch put Nigel Clough’s Stags two goals to the good with a four-minute first-half double. But the visitors were stunned on the stroke of half-time as Joe Grey and Luke Molyneux levelled proceedings inside less than two minutes before the break at Victoria Park. After a one-way second half with numerous chances for Stags to win it, Clough's charges then were fortunate substitute Joe White squandered a glaring chance in stoppage time as they escaped with a point at the end. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/frustration-for-mansfield-town-as-they-are-held-at-hartlepool-united-3632405 The Stags, who could have gone fourth had they won, burst out of the blocks early on and had a flurry of early chances. Ryan Stirk forced a good early save from Ben Killip and a minute later Jamie Murphy was frustrated by the shot-stopper from inside the six-yard box. The visitors took a deserved lead in the 21st minute as Lapslie completed a fine five-man team move with an equally delightful finish to put the visitors ahead. And the Stags were in dreamland four minutes later when their lead was doubled. Lapslie turned provider this time around as he produced a back-post cross for Perch to loop a header beyond Killip that dipped under the bar at the far post. It was almost three on the half-hour mark, but Lucas Akins tamely headed straight at keeper Killip. The Pools struck just before the break as Grey was in the right place at the right time to fire home the rebound after Nathan Bishop kept out Jamie Sterry’s effort. And within the blink of an eye the hosts had levelled, much to Clough’s annoyance. Molyneux picked up possession on the edge of the box and fired home a left-footed effort to drastically change the complexion of the contest heading into the break. The shaken visitors had an early change to reclaim the lead when Stirk hit his strike over the bar. Moments later scorer Molyneux was stretchered off after a nasty collision, caught by a fair James Perch tackle that saw the Stags man booed for the rest of the night. Stephen Quinn sliced an effort wide as the Stags tried to force an opening. Rhys Oates came on as a Mansfield sub to home boos to face his old club and quickly looked set to sting them as he raced through the hosts’ defence before firing wide of the mark, and he repeated the trick minutes later as another chance went begging. Chance after chance passed Mansfield by. But with Stags piling on the pressure, they were almost caught by a sucker punch at the death. Stirk gave the ball away in the middle of the park in stoppage time and Joe White missed a great opportunity to steal the spoils as he put wide from a one on one with Nathan Bishop. Stags had come from 2-0 down to win at home to Hartlepool on Boxing Day. But on this occasion the spoils ended up shared in a thrilling game. Whether it is a point gained or two dropped will only be known in five weeks time as Stags stay in eighth, level on points with all the sides placed fourth to seventh, with two games in hand, and three points shy of the top three with two of them to play in the next week. HARTLEPOOL: Killip, Sterry, Byrne, Odusina, Ferguson, Morris (Shelton, 79), Featherstone, Fletcher (Crawford, 79), Molyneux (White, 53), Bogle, Grey. SUBS NOT USED: Bilokapic, Liddle, Smith, Ogle. STAGS: Bishop, O’Toole, Hawkins, Stirk, Hewitt, Quinn (Oates, 67), Lapslie, Perch, Murphy (Law, 24), Bowery (McLaughlin, 90), Akins. SUBS NOT USED: Stech, Wallace, Longstaff, Johnson. REFEREE: Trevor Kettle. ------------------ Hartlepool United 2-2 Mansfield Town: Injury to Luke Molyneux overshadows an entertaining draw at the Suit Direct Stadium hartlepoolmail.co.uk, By Joe Ramage, Tuesday 29th March 2022 Luke Molyneux was stretchered off with what appeared to be a serious injury as Hartlepool United drew with Mansfield Town. Molyneux, celebrating his 24th birthday, had been finding his stride after marking the occasion with another excellent goal to drag Pools level in a game they trailed. https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/sport/football/hartlepool-united-2-2-mansfield-town-injury-to-luke-molyneux-overshadows-an-entertaining-draw-at-the-suit-direct-stadium-3632404 Graeme Lee’s side found themselves two goals behind midway through the first half after a quickfire double from the Stags had the visitors in a commanding lead. George Lapslie fired through the returning Ben Killip from the edge of the area before former Newcastle United man James Perch managed to loop a header over Killip into the corner to extend the lead four minutes later. Pools were fortunate not to fall further behind before Joe Grey grabbed them a lifeline when he bundled in a rebound four minutes before the interval. And as quick as they fell two behind, Pools levelled things in an equally swift manner as Molyneux found the bottom corner from the edge of the area. But the evening took a turn for the worse for Pools’ leading goalscorer after being on the receiving end of a firm challenge from Perch which left the 24-year-old writhing in pain. Supporters looked on with concern as Molyneux was carried away on a stretcher. Lee reverted to a back four making three changes from Saturday’s defeat at Northampton Town. Out went Gary Liddle, Tom Crawford and goalkeeper Nicholas Bilokapic as Killip returned from illness with Isaac Fletcher and Grey returning outfield. And Lee will have been pleased with the opening he got from his side as Pools began with the kind of energy and vigour he had desired. Molynuex twice teed up midfielder Bryn Morris in the early exchanges who went close as Pools took the game to the play-off chasing Stags. But those signs of encouragement soon faded as Nigel Clough’s side settled into the game to bring two good saves from Killip. First Ryan Stirk stung Killip’s palms before Jamie Murphy brought brilliant stop from little more than six yards after a throw-in from the right was flicked into the area. But the visitors did find a way through soon after as Lucas Akins and Jordan Bowery linked well before Lapslie fired through a crowded penalty area beyond Killip. Lapslie then turned provider as he whipped a teasing cross in from the right which skidded up off the turf onto Perch’s head and looped over Killip into the corner. Bowery had the chance to add a third when capitalising on a mix up between Timi Odusina and David Ferguson only for Killip to make a big stop. But out of nothing Pools grabbed a lifeline as a pinpoint ball over the top from Neill Byrne found Jamie Sterry and his effort was parried into the path of Grey who had continued his run to bundle into an empty net. And Pools were level within minutes as Molyneux found a pocket of space outside the area before expertly picking out the bottom corner. Joe White, who replaced the injured Molyneux, missed a golden opportunity in stoppage time to win it for Pools only to drag wide. It’s a creditable point for Lee’s side but the immediate concern will be with Molyneux and whether his season is now over. ---------------------- Hartlepool United 2-2 Mansfield: Action packed draw sees Luke Molyneux stretchered off thenorthernecho.co.uk, By Matty Jones @MattyJones93 IT’S never dull at the Suit Direct Stadium. Hartlepool United and Mansfield played out an entertaining draw which showed plenty of desire, guilt edged chances and physicality throughout as the two sides deservedly shared the spoils. But the game may well be marred by a bad injury to top scorer Luke Molyneux. The frantic action started right from the first minute. Pools seized upon a misplaced pass by Ollie Hawkins with Joe Grey picked up the pieces. Because his through pass was slightly behind Luke Molyneux, the top scorer was forced to lay off to Bryn Morris for a first time shot that keeper Nathan Bishop got behind from 25 yards. Ben Killip returned to the side after recovering from illness that kept him out of the weekend’s defeat to Northampton. He showed his importance to the side with two outstanding saves in two minutes. A high cross fell to Jordan Bowery inside the box but the keeper smothered his effort away before a long throw dropped to the toes of Jamie Murphy who saw his half volley parried away from point blank range. But there was only so much the goalkeeper could do to keep the scores level as the Stags rammed their way through the Pools defence with a smart team goal. After patient build-up play, Bowery flicked a first time pass through to George Lapslie putting it on a plate for the midfielder to lash home on the volley from close range. Things were about to get worse five minutes later as Pools shipped another soft goal. A cross from Bowery from the right curled it’s way to the back post. Former Newcastle United defender James Perch managed to catch the header right as the ball bounced up in front of him. The ball looped over the head of Killip and into the far right corner in what turned out to be a bit of a freak goal for the Stags to double the lead. Nevertheless, Pools had now given themselves a huge task to get a result with just over a quarter of the game gone. Graeme Lee’s side were nowhere near their best and Mansfield continued to threaten. But for the rest of the half, they showed why the slogan on their shirt says ‘Never Say Die’. https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/20030105.hartlepool-united-2-2-mansfield-action-packed-draw-sees-luke-molyneux-stretched-off/ Five minutes before the interval, Neill Byrne picked out Jamie Sterry with a pinpoint ball of the top. The full-back chested the ball down and struck first time on the run and Bishop saved well but could only parry as far as Joe Grey who gobbled up the chance from close range to pull one back. Less than two minutes later, the birthday boy handed himself the best kind of present for a footballer. Molyneux, celebrating his 24th birthday, collected the ball in space and drove at the Mansfield defence. There were options around him but the club’s top scorer had the confidence to let rip and drive the ball into the bottom right corner from 25 yards out to ignite scenes at the Suit Direct Stadium. The equalising goal completed a cracker of a first half but could it be matched in the second? Unfortunately, the early stages of the second half were marred by a bad injury to Pools magic man. Perch crunched into Molyneux and won the ball on the left hand side but the midfielder was hurt badly. The veteran defender attempted to reason with angry home supporters as Molyneux received lengthy treatment from medical personnel. After bringing Pools back into the game, the birthday boy left the field on a stretcher with his leg in a brace to the applause of both home and away support. In the absence of their top scorer, Pools attempted to rally themselves. Isaac Fletcher managed to carve out some space on the edge of the box but saw his low shot saved by Bishop as he dived low to his right. The Stags thought they had a strong shout for a penalty just before the hour mark when Sterk and Sterry collided in the box but the referee pointed for a free-kick for the home side. Rhys Oates was brought into the action with just over 20 minutes left and was hell bent on teaching his old side a lesson. Last season’s top scorer for Pools latched onto a short Nicky Featherstone pass, burst passed Byrne but struck his shot wide of the post to cheers from around the ground. He then had a free-kick right on the edge of the box but blasted it straight at the wall. Both sides just seemed to run out of steam towards the end of the game but in stoppage time, Joe White missed the best chance of the half. The Newcastle United loanee intercepted a ball and charged his way passed three Mansfield defenders where he was clean through on goal. With the goalkeeper to beat, White slid the ball passed the post to miss what would have been the match winning goal. It wasn’t to be on the night as Pools earned themselves a hard earned point to climb back into the top half of the League Two table. ----------------------- |
Latest | April 2022