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Archived News from October 2003

STAGSNET REPORT BY SWEDEN STAG
22nd October 2003 15:24


Two Stagsnet reports for the Torquay game.
Below is Match Report by Svante Bernhard.
Another match report is in the Match Centre.
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Torquay-Mansfield 1-0 (Hockley 35). Attendance: 2773 (about 250 stags fans)

Report by Svante Bernhard aka Sweden Stag

A Swede making a stagsnet report from a Stags away game? It became possible after seeing the fixture list and then try to make arrangements to visit Swedish friends currently studying in Plymouth. And only hours before the game, I managed to meet up with Gruff66, who took me to the game and back to Plymouth. So here is my report.

The Stags fell unluckily to their second consecutive away defeat at Torquay tonight. The winner was a flukey one coming about ten minutes before half time when Hockley scored his second goal for the season (his first one also proved to be the only one, against Lincoln earlier on in the season.
The Stags came fresh from a crash at Doncaster last Saturday and were hoping to reverse that defeat while the Gulls had outplayed Hull but had to be content with a 1-1 draw.
Mansfield had control the first quarter of the game but did not get to any real dangerous shots on target.
The shots from the Stags were sadly lacking the final touch. Christie had the best one in the first half just before the HT whistle but his efforts, just like the ones of Mendes and Lawrence, were blocked. Dimech had a superb first half and was all over the pitch, just like Tom Curtis. On the other hand, Williamson and Vaughan were shockers in the first half.

HT 1-0

The second half was not one of many chances, Torquay having the better ones through the Gulls top marksman David Graham. From my position it was easy to see why he's already netted eight times, being very difficult to mark - and also had some good attempts to extend the lead. On the other hand, Torquay GK Kevin Dearden, who played instead of the suspended Arjan van Heusden, in fact a Stags loanee last term - while the Stags were without the dropped Neil MacKenzie. Due to injuries, Eaton and Hassell did not figure in the line-up as well.
Midway through the second half Corden, who had failed to make an impression throughout the game, was replaced by Colin Larkin. Latter had the best chance to equalize in the final minutes, but his shot flew just wide of the near post from the position I was in. Lawrence, too, had some chances, but also failed to hit the onion bag.
So in the end, it was a disappointing defeat for the Stags who now need to beat Cheltenham to get back to winning ways and also dropped two places in the table with Yeovil and Doncaster winning. For Keith Curle, it wasn't a happy return to one of his former ground as a player.
Overall, the Stags lacked the clinical finishing to get away with a point this time around. At times, Pilkington's kicking was poor and not enough distribution to the attack from the midfield.
To me, Liam Lawrence was the man of the match. Was all over the park and was a nuisance to the Torquay defence - just about pipping Dimech and Curtis to it.
And Torquay's man of the match was, in my opinion, David Graham.

Player ratings:

Pilkington 6 - Goal not his fault, but must improve kicking
Clarke 7 - Liked going forward, did so on numerous occasions
Curtis 8 - Ran his socks off, was all over the park
Vaughan 5 - Had a shocker, especially in the first half
Lawrence 9 - Always dangerous, unlucky with the final touches
Corden 6 - Not as his best, was rightly subbed
Mendes 7 - Tried hard, unlucky with the finishing
Dimech 8 - Superb first half, slightly worse second half
Christie 7 - Lacked the final touches this time
Williamson 5 - Also not at his best
Artell 7 - Had a fairly good game

Subs:

Larkin 5 - Missed a great chance to equalize in the final minutes
Disley - Had a good chance seconds after coming on, but not on long enough for a rating
Andy White - Not on long enough to make an impression

Subs not used: Day, Jason White

Referee: David Crick (Surrey) 6. Petty at times, otherwise had a reasonable game

 

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