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STAGS BEATEN AT NORTHAMPTON WITH QUINN SENT OFF
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English Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Northampton Town 1 - 0 Mansfield Town Hoskins pen 28 mins. Quinn sent off 66 Attendance: 6,301 (1,039 from Mansfield) Date: 14 March 2023 STAGS BEATEN AT NORTHAMPTON WITH QUINN SENT OFF AND McLAUGHLIN INJURED Martin Shaw at Sixfields Mansfield Town were beaten 1-0 at Northampton last night with the only goal of the game being a penalty after 28 minutes when Sam Hoskins scored after Christy Pym had brought down Louis Appere. Mansfield were then hampered by the sending off of Stephen Quinn after 66 minutes for a stupid challenge on the halfway line. And to make matters worse, Stephen McLaughlin who was returning after a long lay-off with an ankle injury and being eased back into the game for the final 25 minutes, got a bad whack on his ankle, and had to go off again and is likely to be out for a while longer, though that is not yet confirmed. It was a very bad night all round, with Northampton moving 8 points clear of the Stags, and the Stags 9 points behind 3rd place Carlisle. Indeed the Stags remain outside the play-off places, a point behind Salford with two games in hand. The Stags are 5 points behind 5th placed Stockport with 2 games in hand and visit Edgeley Park on Saturday in what will be another very big game. The Stags came into the game in good form, with 4 wins out of 5, and there was a boost with McLaughlin and Oates back from injury on the bench. The starting XI was as expected, being the side that started the second half at AFC Wimbledon, apart from Pym returning from sickness in goal in place of Flinders. The Stags were without 7 players due to injury, and with McLaughlin and Oates not fit enough to start that made a total of 9. However Northampton were without 10 players, 8 due to injury, 1 suspended, and 1 (Pinnock, the long throw specialist) still in hospital with his partner after having a baby on Monday. The game was fairly low on quality from both sides. There were a few chances for either side in the opening stages. Bowery headed wide from an Akins cross. Keillor-Dunn was gifted the ball but couldn’t find Danny Johnson in the middle with his cross. Akins headed wide from the resulting corner. Danny Johnson shot just wide from 26 yards. At the other end, a Hoskins shot from 28 yards gave Pym an easy save. Then Perch did well to block after a Hoskins break forward. The only goal of the game came after 28 minutes. Wallace lost the ball just inside his own half, dispossessed by Appere. Jack Sowerby took a few steps forward and threaded a fine ball through the Stags defence for Appere to run in behind Kilgour and Perch to put him 1-on-1 with Pym. Appere knocked the ball past Pym and was clipped by the outstretched right leg of Pym and went down. The referee immediately pointed to the spot. Some Stags fans behind the goal thought that Appere dived, but the video shows he was caught by Pym’s leg and it was a penalty. Pym was booked for the foul. Hoskins buried the penalty in the bottom right corner. Pym went the right way, but couldn’t quite get to it. I don’t think Pym was badly at fault for the foul, he was more or less in the right position, made an attempt to get the ball and didn’t quite get it, though of course he could have done better. Wallace was certainly at fault for losing the ball. Wallace was immediately substituted, having earlier been harshly booked, and then lost the ball in the build up to the penalty. He was replaced by Boateng. There was controversy after 35 minutes when the Stags should have had a penalty of their own. Ollie Clarke nipped in to win the ball 25 yards from goal, ran in to the area in a 1-on-1 with keeper Lee Burge, lifted the ball over the keeper, and was caught by the keeper sending him to the ground. The ball rolled just wide of the left post. It was actually a similar incident to the penalty at the other end, with Clarke getting to the ball just before the keeper and being clipped. Anywhere else on the pitch, the referee would clearly have given a free kick, and had VAR been in place, a penalty would surely have been awarded. But despite huge appeals, the referee just gave a goal kick. Poor refereeing. Danny Johnson had another chance before the break when he headed down a Quinn cross by the keeper saved on his line. Into the second half, Kilgour did well to block as Hoskins broke forward. Then Pym gifted the ball away and Kilgour did well to rescue him. McLaughlin and Oates were introduced after 64 minutes. But two minutes later, madness from Quinn saw the Stags reduced to 10 men. Quinn broke forward following a corner and was deliberately bundled over by Kieron Bowie near the halfway line. A clear foul, but the hapless referee gave nothing. The red mist descended on Quinn and he dived in on a rash challenge on Bowie on the halfway line, in front of the dugouts. It was a ridiculous challenge and the referee immediately produced a red card, the correct decision. Not the first time Quinn has let his team down in such a situation. Quinn will miss the next 3 games. The Stags down to ten men for the final 24 minutes plus stoppage time. A chance for Oates after 74 minutes when he pushed forward on the right, cut inside and fired goalwards, but the keeper made a save on his line. A fully match sharp and firing Oates might have buried the chance. After that the Stags were really able to create any further chances to equalise and it was the home side who had several chances to seal the game with Hoskins firing over the bar and Pym making a good save from Bowie. But there was another blow for the Stags when McLaughlin was fouled on his ankle, and eventually had to limp off. Incidentally the referee didn’t even give a free kick for the challenge on him. We’ll have to wait and see how long McLaughlin will be out for now. A very bad night for the Stags. On to Stockport on Saturday and another big game. DETAILED REPORT IN THE MATCH CENTRE ---------------------- TUE 14 MAR 2023, LEAGUE TWO Northampton Town 1-0 Mansfield Town Hoskins (28'minutes pen) Quinn (Dismissed at66'minutes) https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64272613 Match report supplied by PA Media. Northampton moved to within a point of the automatic promotion places with an excellent 1-0 win over 10-man Mansfield at Sixfields on Tuesday. The Cobblers started well and were first to threaten when Will Hondermarck sent Sam Hoskins through on goal, but he took too much time to get a shot away and James Perch recovered to make a block. The same man made no mistake when he was presented with another opportunity on 28 minutes. Mansfield goalkeeper Christy Pym tripped Louis Appere in the penalty box and Hoskins dispatched from the spot for his 19th of the season. Ollie Clarke poked a good chance wide for Mansfield moments later and Danny Johnson's header deflected kindly for Lee Burge as the visitors ended the first half on top. Hoskins saw a shot blocked after the restart before Mansfield were reduced to 10 men when Stephen Quinn saw red for a wild two-footed challenge on Kieron Bowie. Northampton had chances to make their life more comfortable as Hoskins blazed over and Pym saved well from Bowie in stoppage time, but one goal would be enough for all three points. Match Stats Home Team Northampton Away Team Mansfield Possession Home 50% Away 50% Shots Home 14 Away 9 Shots on Target Home 4 Away 2 Corners Home 6 Away 1 Fouls Home 9 Away 12 --------------------- Stephen Quinn sees red as Mansfield Town lose at promotion rivals Northampton Town chad.co.uk, Tues 14 Mar 2023 Mansfield Town suffered a night to forget as they lost 1-0 at promotion rivals Northampton Town while Stephen Quinn was shown a straight red card midway through the second half tonight. Stags also saw Stephen McLaughlin come on as a sub after six weeks out injured only to limp back off within 18 minutes on a miserable evening at Sixfields. The Stags were bidding for a fourth straight away win, which would have fired them three points clear of the chasing pack. But Sam Hoskins’ first-half penalty separated the two sides in a scrappy encounter and closed the gap on third-placed Carlisle. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/stephen-quinn-sees-red-as-mansfield-town-lose-at-promotion-rivals-northampton-town-4064630 Stags remain in eighth, a point off Salford, who occupy the final play-off spot. Boss Nigel Clough had made two changes as shot-stopper Christy Pym and Danny Johnson replaced Scott Flinders and Callum Johnson. The Stags started brightly and had the first chance as Jordan Bowery met Lucas Akins’ cross but nodded wide. Moments later Akins had a opportunity to open the scoring himself as he headed wide of the mark. Johnson was the next Stags’ player to go close to breaking the deadlock as he fired just wide of the mark from outside the box after Ollie Clarke did well to knock the ball into his path. However, Pym gifted the hosts a penalty on 28 minutes when he brought down Louis Appere as he attempted the round the keeper - a counter-attack started when Keiran Wallace lost the ball in the middle of the park. Hoskins blasted home his 19th goal of the campaign, despite Pym almost making amends by guessing the right way. With Wallace already booked before his error, Clough quickly substituted him and sent on Hiram Boateng. Stags had two chances to level. One-on-one with the keeper, Clarke dinked an effort wide on 35 minutes before Johnson’s deflected header was easily saved by Lee Burge to end the half. After the break, Alfie Kilgour did well to stop Hoskins doubling the hosts’ lead before Clough made a double change, sending on McLaughlin and Rhys Oates, who were both said to be making progress on returns from injury but not yet 100 per cent. Then Mansfield were left with a mountain to climb when Quinn saw red for a late challenge on Kieron Bowie. Quinn had just been fouled by Bowie and, with the decision not given, the red mist descended for the Irishman as he jumped into a dangerous tackle on the touchline that saw players from both sides pile into a melee. Oates did force Burge into a good save as Stags threatened to level on 74 minutes after robbing Dyche. But the Cobblers held on for a vital three points in their promotion bid and Pym did well to keep out Bowie's late effort before D'Magio Wright-Phillips fired into the side netting in stoppage time as Northampton moved to within a point of the top three automatic places. NORTHAMPTON: Burge, Sherring, Guthrie, Dyche, Lintott, Leonard, Sowerby (Wright-Phillips, 83), Hondermarck, Haynes (Yengi, 77), Hoskins, Appere (Bowie, 59). SUBS NOT USED: King, Wyatt, Abimbola, Osew. STAGS: Pym, Harbottle, Kilgour, Perch, Akins, Clarke, Quinn, Wallace (Boateng, 28), Bowery, Keillor-Dunn (McLaughlin, 64; Law, 83), D Johnson (Oates, 64). SUBS NOT USED: Flinders, Anderson, Gale. REFEREE: Geoff Eltringham ATTENDANCE: 6,301 (1,089 away).(error - 1039) -------------------- Hoskins on the spot as Cobblers claim crucial win over promotion rivals Mansfield Cobblers kept their top three hopes well and truly alive with a terrific 1-0 victory over promotion rivals Mansfield Town at Sixfields on Tuesday night. northamptonchron.co.uk, By James Heneghan, Tues 14 Mar 2023 Despite their long list of absentees, and although Mansfield should have been fresher having had the weekend off, Northampton were the better team from start to finish and thoroughly deserved all three points to move within a point of the automatic promotion places. Cobblers played well in the first-half and were worth their lead at the break following Sam Hoskins’ 19th goal of the season, which came from the penalty spot. Mansfield began to rally in the second period but their momentum stalled when Stephen Quinn saw red for a wild, inexplicable two-footed challenge and from then on Town were in control and really should have won by a greater margin. https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/sport/football/hoskins-on-the-spot-as-cobblers-claim-crucial-win-over-promotion-rivals-mansfield-4064627 It was an impressive all-round performance from the injury-ravaged Cobblers, arguably one of their best of the season in the circumstances, and for all the recent negativity, that’s now only one defeat in 10 games. Max Dyche made just his second league start of the season and his return to the side meant a change of formation to three at the back. Will Hondermarck also came in with Josh Eppiah injured and Mitch Pinnock absent due to the recent birth of his newborn baby. Cobblers were missing 10 first-team players in total, which meant teenage midfielder Peter Abimbola and academy youngster Reuben Wyatt were both needed to fill the bench. The home side made a steady start at Sixfields and they were first to threaten after 12 minutes when Hondermarck released Hoskins and he streaked through on goal, but his desire to cut back onto his right foot allowed James Perch to recover and make the block. The first-half was a game of cat and mouse, Cobblers playing a lot of passes between Marc Leonard and the centre-backs as they tried to draw Mansfield onto them before breaking quickly, and that tactic bore fruit with the opening goal on 28 minutes. Mansfield’s high-line always looked vulnerable and Cobblers exploited it when Jack Sowerby threaded a pass through to Louis Appéré who attempted to go round goalkeeper Christy Pym but was tripped as he did so. Hoskins made no mistake from the spot, dispatching confidently for his 19th of the campaign. The visitors had an excellent chance to hit straight back but Ollie Clarke poked wide after breaking through the heart of Town’s defence before Danny Johnson’s header deflected into the arms of Lee Burge. Mansfield finished the first-half better than how they started it but Cobblers went close to a second straight after the restart with Hoskins’ shot well blocked by a defender. The most predictable thing all evening then happened as Appéré picked up a leg injury and had to be replaced by Kieron Bowie, and he was immediately into the action as tempers boiled over. Quinn felt he should have been awarded a free-kick but he didn’t get it and the red mist descended as he launched into a wild two-footed challenge on Bowie right in front of the west stand dugouts. Referee Geoff Eltringham wasted no time in whipping out the red card. Despite that, a mistake from Dyche presented Rhys Oates with a decent chance to level but Burge denied him before Hoskins blazed over at the other end. Cobblers had further opportunities to put the game to bed as Tete Yengi cleared the crossbar, Pym thwarted Bowie and D'Margio Wight-Phillips volleyed into the side-netting, but one goal would be sufficient for all three points. Match facts Cobblers: Burge, Sherring, Guthrie ©, Dyche, Lintott, Haynes (Yengi 77), Sowerby (Wright-Phillips 83), Leonard, Hondermarck, Hoskins, Appéré (Bowie 59) Subs not used: King, Osew, Abimbola, Wyatt, Yengi Mansfield: Pym, Harbottle, Kilgour, Perch, Clarke ©, Wallace (Boateng 28), Quinn, Akins, Bowery, Keillor-Dunn (McLaughlin 64) (Law 82), Johnson (Oates 64) Subs not used: Flinders, Anderson, Gale Referee: Geoff Eltringham Attendance: 6,301 Mansfield fans: 1,039 --------------------- Northampton Town 1 Mansfield Town 0 - the match report https://www.ntfc.co.uk/news/2023/march/2223_h_report14/ SKY BET LEAGUE 2 Tuesday March 14th, 7.45pm Sixfields NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1 Sam Hoskins 28 pen MANSFIELD TOWN 0 Attendance: 6,301 (1,039 away fans) Cobblers: Lee Burge, Harvey Lintott, Sam Sherring, Jon Guthrie, Max Dyche, Ryan Haynes (sub Tete Yengi 77), Marc Leonard, Jack Sowerby, Will Hondermarck (sub D'Margio Wright-Phillips 83), Sam Hoskins, Louis Appere (sub Kieron Bowie 59) Subs not used: Tom King, Paul Osew, Reuben Wyatt, Peter Abimbola Mansfield: Christy Pym, Riley Harbottle, Lucas Akins, Ollie Clarke, Jordan Bowery, Danny Johnson (sub Rhys Oates 64), James Perch, Stephen Quinn, Kieran Wallace (sub Hiram Boateng 28), Alfie Kilgour, Davis Keillor-Dunn (sub Stephen McLaughlin 64, sub Jason Law 83) Subs not used: Scott Flinders, James Gale, Taylor Anderson Referee: Geoff Eltringham Booked: Cobblers: Jon Brady (51), Ryan Haynes (66) Mansfield: Kieran Wallace (4), Christy Pym (27), Jason Law (88) Sent off: Cobblers: none Mansfield: Stephen Quinn (66) It was a chilly Tuesday night at Sixfields for the re-arranged fixture with Mansfield Town and with ten players unavailable for selection, boss Jon Brady was forced into making two changes to the side that started at Hartlepool. Max Dyche and Will Hondermarck replaced Josh Eppiah (knee) and Mitch Pinnock who was missing due to personal reasons, his partner having just given birth to the couple’s first child. The first real chance of the night fell to Sam Hoskins but after a good forward run from the Cobblers top goalscorer his shot was blocked behind by Stags defender James Perch. Danny Johnson shot wide for Mansfield midway through the first half but the Cobblers were awarded a penalty soon after when Christy Pym brought down Louis Appere. Hoskins stepped up to coolly slot home his 19th goal of the season and put the Cobblers in front. Ollie Clarke spurned a good chance to equalise for the Stags but having broken clear of the Cobblers defence he failed to test Lee Burge. Mansfield then had another half chance just before half-time but Burge got down well to keep out a deflected header from Johnson. Hoskins and Ryan Haynes both had shots deflected behind as the Cobblers looked to double their lead before a flashpoint midway through the second half saw Mansfield’s Stephen Quinn shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Kieron Bowie. Stags substitute Rhys Oates was denied by a good save from Burge while Hoskins spurned a chance to make it 2-0 after getting on the end of a good ball into the box from Harvey Lintott. Substitute Tete Yengi, like Hoskins, also shot over after being played in by Bowie as the Cobblers looked to seal the win with a second goal. Pym saved from Bowie and Lintott had a shot deflected behind as the Cobblers continued to press into six minutes of stoppage time. In the end though, Hoskins' first half penalty proved the difference in a well deserved victory for Jon Brady’s side who kept up the pressure on the top three with a big three points against one of their promotion rivals. COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets) SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 6 SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 6 CORNERS: (2) 6 FOULS: (4) 9 CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 1 MANSFIELD MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets) SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 2 SHOTS OFF TARGET: (5) 5 CORNERS: (1) 1 FOULS: (4) 11 CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1 ----------------------- |
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