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Archived News from March 2009

SUPER STAGS KNOCK 3 PAST FOREST GREEN
15th March 2009 18:46


Blue Square Premier
Mansfield Town 3 - 0 Forest Green Rovers
Stallard 10, Duffy 53 (pen), Garner 80. Somner sent off 74. Mangan sent off 45+1.
Attendance: 2174 (52 from Forest Green)

Date: 14 March 2009

Mansfield Town beat Forest Green Rovers 3-0 at Field Mill on Saturday. Forest Green had only been beaten once in their previous 10 games.

REPORTS TO FOLLOW
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CHAD photo gallery at CHAD.co.uk here

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Stats by Svante Bernhard, aka Sweden Stag:

Stags have now broken a club record for consecutive home league games without conceding (since joining the Football League in 1931). With today's clean sheet against Forest Green, we haven't conceded a goal at home in six consecutive league fixtures at Field Mill, like this:

* 1-0 against Crawley on January 17, 2009
* 0-0 against Rushden & Diamonds on January 28, 2009
* 1-0 against York on February 7, 2009
* 0-0 against Kettering on February 17, 2009
* 1-0 against Lewes on March 7, 2009
* 3-0 against Forest Green on March 14, 2009

Last home goal conceded in the BSP was in the 37th minute against Burton on December 29, 2008. 593 minutes without conceding at Field Mill.

In the low-scoring 1984-85 Division Four season, I have found five consecutive home fixtures without lettíng in a goal. It was these:

* 0-0 against Swindon on September 29, 1984
* 1-0 against Torquay on October 13, 1984
* 1-0 against Wrexham on October 20, 1984
* 0-0 against Tranmere on November 3, 1984
* 2-0 against Chester on November 7, 1984

On September 19, 1984, we lost 1-0 at home to Colchester, on November 24, 1984, we lost at home 2-0 to Bury. Details checked courtesy of the centenary book.

In our last five home games of the 1948-49 division 3 (N) campaign, we did not concede as well, all wins, like this:

* 3-0 against York on March 19, 1949
* 2-0 against Carlisle on April 2, 1949
* 1-0 against Hartlepools on April 16, 1949
* 2-0 against Barrow on April 18, 1949
* 2-0 against Rochdale on April 30, 1949

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Observer report by Steve Hartshorn:
THREE GOAL STAGS FELL FOREST

Mansfield Town 3 Forest Green Rovers 0.

Stags ran out 3-0 winners at Field Mill in a thrilling encounter against a Forest Green Rovers side who had not lost in their previous 10 games. Goals from Stallard, Duffy and Garner gave Mansfield their biggest win of the season, although the game was marred by several questionable decisions by Referee Harwood who took it upon himself to show three yellow cards and one red to each side.

Stags have now gone 6 games without conceding a goal at Field Mill since David Holdsworth became manager, and although the side are still 13 points from a play off position, there is an exciting and confident mood in and around the Club.

Holdsworth made just one change to the side that lost narrowly at Cambridge in midweek, Curtis Woodhouse finding a place on the bench in place of Neil MacKenzie. The front two remained the same, Stallard and Duffy being the preferred partnership with no place as yet for new signing, Daryl Clare.

Stags started brightly and went ahead after just ten minutes. Ryan Williams crossed precisely onto the head of Mark Stallard, who made no mistake from close range. It was the third goal on the trot that the definitive little winger had set up since his arrival back in Mansfield.

Two minutes later and Stags should have gone a further goal ahead. Stallard this time the provider as he laid the ball perfectly into the path of D'Laryea, unfortunately though the Stags' captains effort was scuffed and flew into the grateful arms of Burton in the Rovers goal.

On 19 minutes, the visitor's earned their first corner of the game, but the wind was so swirling that it took Fowler several attempts to get the ball to stay still long enough for him to get it into the Stags area. Mayo eventually clearing the danger.

Rovers, who have drawn more games away from home than any other team in the BSP created their best chance of the game just before the half hour mark when Platt ran into the area before setting up Stonehouse who saw his deflected cross saved at the near post by Marriott.

Forest Green were keeping up the pressure on the Mansfield back four but Garner and Moses were holding firm and causing frustration to a Rovers side who must have thought they had done enough to at least be level.

On 38 minutes, Gary Silk earned himself a yellow card for a late tackle on Fowler.

In first half added on time, Field Mill was rocked on its feet when the Referee produced a surprising red card. 19 goal Forest Green striker, Mangan was stopped on route to goal by a timely tackle by Moses. It looked for all the world that it had been a good piece of defending between Moses and Marriott, but not to Mangan who according to the referee used foul and abusive language towards him and was promptly shown a straight red.

It took Mansfield just seven minutes of the 2nd half to effectively kill off the game when the Referee spotted a push in the area on Garner by Lawless and awarded Stags a penalty kick. Rob Duffy stepped up to confidently fire in his fifth goal in a Stags shirt, his 3rd from the spot.

Less than 60 seconds later and Stags could have gone a further goal ahead after Ryan Williams had sped into the box but his effort on goal was saved by the legs of Burton.

Stags were now rampant and on 61 minutes should have added to their tally, again Williams was the creator this time pulling the ball back from the touchline to Stallard who then tried to find his striking partner, Duffy but the ball back was slightly behind and Rovers cleared the danger.

The referee then decided to play an integral part in the proceedings when he produced two yellow cards in a minute, the first for Somner for showing studs and then for Platt as the Rovers midfielder chopped down Arnold in full flow. Moments later Arnold was replaced by Briscoe.

On 68 minutes, Stags were grateful for the agility of keeper, Marriott. Garner causing hearts to flutter when he attempted to get something on a clearance but only succeeded into powering the ball towards his own goal forcing his own keeper to leap through the air a touch it over his own crossbar.

Two minutes later and Platt let go but was frustrated when his free kick was saved by Marriott.

On 74 minutes, the referee once more became to topic of conversation when he produced a straight red for Stags midfielder, Matty Somner, who kicked out at Rovers sub Adriano Rigoglioso. Mark Stallard was so incensed that he ended up in the ref's notebook and was quickly replaced by Curtis Woodhouse, possibly before he could talk himself into anymore trouble.

With just over 10 minutes to go, Ayres was booked for Rovers for a foul on Silk, seconds later and Stags were celebrating their 3rd goal of the game, when Scott Garner got on the end of a Woodhouse free kick to head the ball across the keeper into the net.

In the 88th minute Rovers Captain Darren Jones caused uproar when he cynically fouled Ryan Williams and was booked. For the rest of the game the Forest Green man was treated to a round of boo's each time he had the ball at his feet.

The last real chance of the game came into added on time when Louis Briscoe was denied by Burton.

Next weekend Stags travel to Grays Athletic who fresh from a 4-1 hammering at Oxford United will be hoping to start a run to try and get out of the BSP relegation zone.

OBSERVER Man of the Match – The influential Ryan Williams. With the ball at his feet he seems to roll back the years. Has made a big impact since his arrival.

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