Archived News from August 2005
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IMPRESSIVE STAGS PAY PENALTY FOR DEFENSIVE LAPSES
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Boston United 2 - 2 Mansfield Town
Thomas 9, White 34. Barker (pen) 25, Brown 70. Attendance: 2848 (approx 700 from Mansfield) Martin Shaw at York Street Mansfield Town picked up another point in a highly entertaining draw at Boston this afternoon, but it should have been all three but for some lapses in defence, and failure to make their territorial advantage count. After going behind early on, Richie Barker pulled the Stags level with a thunderous penalty after Rhys Day was fouled in the box. The Stags were behind again before half time after Pressman seemed to be at fault, but Simon Brown rescued a deserved point with a superb equalizer on 70 minutes. FULL REPORT IN THE MATCH CENTRE. ----------- BBC Mansfield twice fought back from a goal down to claim a draw with Boston. The hosts made the breakthrough early on when Danny Thomas fired an angled drive past Kevin Pressman. Mansfield equalised with a Richie Barker penalty after Lee had pushed Rhys Day but Alan White's looping header restored Boston's lead. However, the Stags continued to fight and substitute Simon Brown burst down the right and fired low into the far corner to snatch a point. ----------- bostonunited.com Boston United V Mansfield Town - Match report Written by Scotty Walds Saturday, 27 August 2005 Mansfield Town twice came from behind to salvage a point as Boston United continued their run of draws at York Street on Saturday afternoon. Manager Steve Evans made only one change to the starting line-up that lost at Bramall Lane narrowly in midweek, bringing in Bradley Maylett on the wing for Simon Rusk. It only took The Pilgrims nine minutes to get their noses in front, as Danny Thomas fired across the former Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Kevin Pressman into the bottom corner of the net. However, seventeen minutes later, Jason Lee bundled over away defender Rhys Day as a cross came in from the Mansfield left, and captain Richie Barker netted from the resultant spot kick - despite Nathan Abbey getting a hand on the effort. It wasn't long before a fantastic header from Unietd Man-of-the-Match Alan White left Pressman flailing as the ball looped into the centre of the goal. Midway through the second half, Simon Brown collected the ball just inside his own half, on the right hand side. He decided to simply run at the United defence, who seemed unwilling to get stuck in through fear of fouling. Brown got through to Abbey and drilled past the former Luton Town stopper. The Pilgrims forced the game upon their opponents for the remaining twenty minutes, and will feel agrieved to not have taken the full three points. Julian Joachim cut in from the right flank, and seemed to be clipped from behind in the six yard box, although the referee decided to wave play on - despite standing only yards away. Into the dying moments of the game, and a United corner was crossed in from the left wing - substitute Mark Greaves rose and was set to head powerfully towards goal, when a clear nudge in the back went unpunished. A good game for the neutral - disappointment for the home crowd as United went winless again. Roll on Monday's trip to Sixfields, hoem of Northampton Town and former striker Andy Kirk. ---------------- CHAD report: Boston Utd 2 Stags 2 SEVEN days before at Peterborough it was all doom and gloom and the knives were out for Calton Palmer's young Stags side. But a cup win over Championship Stoke City followed by another impressive away point in their pockets at Boston United on Saturday, provided the perfect answer to their critics. Palmer has asked Stags fans to show his young side some patience and admitted that, talented as they are, they will make mistakes. Saturday saw the best side of them. Among the pre-season promotion favourites, Boston have not yet made the big splash expected of them – or even won a game. And on Saturday they twice led but were twice pegged back by a Stags side who might feel they ultimately deserved all three points. With the Matthew Tipton affair and the Carling Cup draw the pre-match buzz on the terraces as another huge away Stags following turned up at Boston's ancient York Street, Stags retained the side that put Stoke out the Carling Cup, apart from the return of Kevin Pressman in goal. And, after defending an early corner from the home side, Mansfield quickly took the game by the scruff of the neck as they did at Peterborough seven days previously. Chris Beardsley, who is starting to look a far more mature striker than when last with the club, had a shot blocked before brilliantly setting up Alex John-Baptiste for a shot that sailed just over. Gareth Jelleyman also headed a Richie Barker cross straight at keeper Nathan Abbey. So it was against the run of play when on nine minutes Abbey launched a kick downfield, Jason Lee flicked on and Danny Thomas fired home across Pressman. Mansfield were unruffled and continued to play with confidence, Giles Coke and John-Baptiste were everywhere in midfield, and Lee Canoville dived in quickly to stop Beardsley finishing while Coke had a shot deflect just over from Barker's pass soon after. The deserved equaliser arrived on 25 minutes thanks to a moment of madness from Lee. The former Forest man had been involved in lots of little niggles and, seconds after a shoving contest with Day, he saw the Stags defender about to get away from him in the box as he raced towards a Coke free kick and inexplicably put an arm across him. Premier referee Chris Foy pointed to the spot and Baker sent a venomous kick straight down the centre as Abbey picked a direction in which to dive. But nine minutes later Boston rocked Stags with a second goal. Brad Maylett crossed from the left and, at the far post, Alan White jumped well to arch a header over Pressman and just past a defender on the line. Mansfield continued to press until the break but went in behind. It could have all been over shortly after the re-start when Lee brought a vintage save from Pressman, his free header from six yards seeing the former Wednesday star diving to his right to claw it away. That lifted Mansfield and Coke tried to head a Jelleyman cross over the backpeddling keeper but saw his effort drop just wide. With Simon Brown on for Gavin Peers, Mansfield pressed hard though once or twice might have been caught out at the other end. Coke could not believe his luck on 68 minutes when his shot on the turn smacked the Boston crossbar. But a minute later they were level and Brown was the hero as he raced into the right of the box and fired home a superb finish off the inside of the far post. Julian Joachim was inches wide near the end while Boston had two huge calls for penalties, one for a hand ball and another for a foul on Joachim in the box in stoppage time. Neither were given and the Boston players, manager and supporters were queuing up seconds later at the whistle to berate Mr Foy. It mattered not a jot to the Stags who now head towards Monday's Bank Holiday showdown with neighbours Notts County in confident mood with that Peterborough nightmare well and truly laid to rest. |
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