Archived News from December 2007
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NIL NIL DRAW KEEPS STAGS BOTTOM AFTER MISSED PEN
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Mansfield Town 0 - 0 Bradford City
M.Boulding missed pen 20 Attendance: 2308 (591 from Bradford) 5 December 2007 Michael missed a penalty for Mansfield after 20 minutes, while Rory Boulding had a goal disallowed in the second half, as the Stags drew 0-0 with Bradford at Field Mill to stay bottom of the Football League. It was the first 0-0 draw at Field Mill for nearly 2 years (since 2 January 2006). Stats by Martin Shaw --------------- thetelegraphandargus.co.uk MANSFIELD 0 CITY 0 By Simon Parker Comment City drew a blank against bottom club Mansfield at windy Field Mill tonight. Stuart McCall's men claimed their first away clean sheet of the season. But he would have hoped for more after setting City a four-point target from the trips to Mansfield and Chesterfield this week. Barry Conlon, back at his old club, forced a good save in the first minute and then curled one inches over the bar soon after. Omar Daley also thumped a post after a surging run from the lively Kyle Nix. But City survived a scare when Donovan Ricketts saved Michael Boulding's penalty after David Wetherall was punished for a nudge on Rory Boulding. CITY: Ricketts, Williams, Wetherall, Clarke, Heckingbottom, Daley, Phelan, Law, Nix, Ndumbu-Nsungu, Conlon. Subs: Evans, Thorne, Ainge, Penford, Waite. --------------------- BBC.co.uk Mansfield 0-0 Bradford Mansfield were left to rue Michael Boulding's missed penalty as they remain rooted to the bottom of League Two after a stalemate with Bradford. The hosts should have gone ahead with 20 minutes gone when David Wetherall brought down Rory Boulding. But Rory's brother Michael was denied by keeper Donovan Ricketts. Rory had a second-half effort ruled out for offside after latching on to his brother's cross while Barry Conlon spurned two early chances for Bradford. ----------------- CHAD report: Mansfield Town 0 Bradford City 0 by John Lomas THE Boulding brothers' luck was out tonight as Stags had to settle for a goalless draw at home to Bradford City on Wednesday night. Mickey Boulding saw his first half penalty kick saved by City keeper Donovan Ricketts while brother Rory had a second half effort chalked off for offside as the Bantams kept their first away clean sheet of the season. Mansfield have now gone 368 minutes without letting in a goal at Field Mill but couldn't find a way past Ricketts at the other end. Stags had slumped back to the foot of the Football League the night before when both Wrexham and Lincoln won and will now be looking towards Saturday's crucial visit of Bury. Former Stags striker Conlon almost gave the Bantams a dream start in the first 30 seconds. Unchanged Stags were caught pushing forward by a lightening break which saw Daley race down the right, cross long to the far side of the box and Conlon met it with a superb on-target volley that Muggleton had to turn aside for a corner. On five minutes Mickey Boulding put over a cross from the left by-line that only just cleared Dawson's head with the goal at his mercy. Bradford keeper Ricketts needed treatment after diving at the feet of John-Baptiste as he tried to reach a right wing cross. Conlon came desperately close again on 10 minutes as a low Ndumbu-Nsungu ball in from the left went through everyone and 12 yards from goal the big striker curled a finish narrowly over the far angle. However, Stags wasted a spot kick on 20 minutes. Bell's pass sent Rory Boulding into the box where he went down under the challenge of Wetherall. After a second's hesitation, the referee pointed to the spot. Mickey Boulding tried to slot the ball home low to the keeper's left but Ricketts had guessed correctly and made a comfortable block. Within two minutes Nix took a spectacular tumble in the box at the other end and while he was unsuccessfully screaming for a penalty, the ball ran on to Daley who smashed a rocket shot against the near post. The end to end action continued as Mickey Boulding got into a good position at the other end but scuffed his finish. Then brother Rory's deflected shot flew up and back down into the arms of Ricketts who juggled nervously with it for second before holding on tight. Mansfield won their first corner on 28 minutes which was cleared and Bradford again launched another swift counter which saw them three on two at the other end only for Muggleton's legs to deny Ndumbu-Nsungu's low finish. On 39 minutes Bells' through ball put Mickey Boulding into the box and he rounded the keeper but could not find a finish as he went down under the keeper's challenge. Stags continued to look the team most likely to break through. No one could get on the end of Jelleyman's low cross in front of goal. Then Wiliams was harshly booked for bringing down Mickey Boulding and Mullins headed well over from Hamshaw's free kick. Again Dawson was seconds late from getting onto the end of Rory Boulding cross right in front of goal as the half ended scoreless. Under pressure Muggleton did well to punch away a dangerous Law free kick from the right of the box after Mullins had handled. Stags were dealt a blow on 53 minutes when Bell limped off to be replaced by Brown who went wide left with Jelleyman dropping into an unfamiliar central midfield role. Martin was booked a minute later for a blatant body check on nippy winger Daley as he tried to skip past him again which saw several players race in to square up. Stags were struggling to make an attacking impact and Micky Boulding's long range hopeful low effort was wide and carried no real threat. Hamshaw then sent Mickey Boulding to the right of the box where his cross was fumbled by Ricketts and held at the second attempt with Dawson on hand to punish any further juggling. Rory Boulding had the ball in the Bradford net from brother Mickey's cross on 65 minutes but an offside flag was already raised. Clarke stormed into the Stags box on a great run and his low cross was hooked clear by Buxton. Then Muggleton had to clutch a backheader off one of his own defenders. Mullins slipped a neat ball in to Brown just inside the box on 81 minutes but he pulled his shot wide. Thorne was well over from 18 yards for Bradford as the sides began to run out of steam and ideas. The visitors stepped up a gear near the end and forced two corners while Daley saw a vicious 20 yard blast blocked by a well placed Muggleton as Stags at least held onto their point. STAGS: Muggleton, Mullins, Jelleyman, Bell (Brown 53), Hamshaw, Dawson, M. Boulding, Buxton, John-Baptiste, Martin, R. Boulding. Subs not used: White, McIntosh, McAliskey, Holmes. BRADFORD: Ricketts, Williams, Heckingbottom, Wetherall, Daley, Conlon (Thorne 68), Clarke, Phelan (Evans 85), Nix, Ndumbu-Nsungu , Law. Subs not used: Ainge, Penford, Waite. REFEREE: Mr Jarnail Singh of Middlesex. |
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