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Archived News from February 2010

SCINTILLATING STAGS ROAST LAMBS
17th February 2010 22:10


Blue Square Premier
Tamworth 2 - 4 Mansfield Town
Wylde 19, Murdock 49. Duffy 16, Shaw 21, Nicholas 41, Sturrock 87.

Attendance: 1389 (646 from Mansfield)

Date: 13 February 2010

Martin Shaw at The Lamb

Mansfield Town put in a scintillating attacking performance away at Tamworth today to score FOUR times against a side that has only conceded THREE goals in their previous TWELVE games. The Stags were terrific going forward with fine goals from strikers Duffy, Shaw and Sturrock, and another fine finish from new left back Andy Nicholas. At the back, the Stags were not quite as clever and really poor defending and goalkeeping gifted Tamworth their first goal, but leading 3-2, the Stags were grateful to a magnificenet Marriott save and a free header that came crashing back off the bar. This was a crucial win and with the smart money saying that Chester will be gone later this week, the Stags will need something like 11 wins from the last 14 games to make it into the play-offs.

Stagsnet player ratings in the Match centre

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Tamworth 2 Mansfield Town 4 - Saturday 13th February 2010
CHAD.co.uk, 13 February 2010, By Stephen Thirkill
MANSFIELD Town got their play-off push back on track after a battling display secured a solid 4-2 win away at Tamworth on Saturday.

http://www.chad.co.uk/stags/TAMWORTH-2--MANSFIELD-TOWN.6070596.jp

Stags were in desperate need of three points having slipped out of the play-off places following three successive league defeats in recent weeks.

And first half strikes from Duffy, Shaw and Nicholas during an impressive 45 minutes of attacking football, followed by a Blair Sturrock goal at the death secured the lively Stags a well deserved victory.

Battling Tamworth had tried their best to spoil the day for the visitors as they looked to protect an impressive 10 game unbeaten streak in all competitions.

The Warwickshire side levelled through Wylde on 19 minutes and threatened to get back into the contest when substitute Murdoch pulled a goal back on 50 minutes.

But, despite being put under big spells of pressure, the Stags backline held firm with the type of focused determination called for by boss David Holdsworth.

And not for the first time this season, Stags shot-stopper Alan Marriott proved to be a massive factor, with a number of superb finger-tip saves helping secure the team's eighth away win in the league.

The only sour note of the day for Stags was the victories for Rushden and Diamonds and Luton Town, which kept Mansfield out of the play-off places for another week.

Stags, looking for their first win in four, made one forced change to their starting line-up as Scott Garner replaced the suspended Luke Jones, who was red-carded against Stevenage.

Jon Shaw, scorer in midweek, kept his place in the front line to partner Kyle Perry and Rob Duffy in a 4-3-3 formation.

Returning midfielder Kyle Nix kept his berth in the centre in the continued absence of Ollie Hotchkiss.

The Tamworth side presented a few familiar faces for Mansfield fans, with former Stags players Michael Blackwood and Iyseden Christie starting the game and Neil MacKenzie and Gavin Hurren on the bench.

The Lambs went into the BSP clash boasting a seven game unbeaten run in the league, including wins over Stevenage and Oxford United.

Stags had the first chance of the game after two minutes when Nix found himself in space on the edge of the box.

But he scuffed his cross-shot into the hands of Alcock as Jon Shaw threatened to close in.

Stags threatened again on 11 minutes after Nix was felled right on the edge of the box. But the midfielder then stepped up to blast the free-kick into the home wall.

Perry then warmed the hands of the Tamworth goalkeeper after latching on to a deep Gary Mills free-kick from the touchline as Stags began to take control of the fixture.

And that pressure finally told on 17 minutes when Rob Duffy wrapped his boot around a low Challinor cross to rifle home his 13th goal of the season into the corner to the delight of the healthy travelling support.

But the lead didn't last long as the Stags rearguard switched off at a corner. Tom Shaw whipped a cross in and, with Marriott unsure or unable to come to collect the cross in his six-yard box, Michael Wylde headed home from close range..

Stags then showed just the spirit that boss David Holdsworth has called for as they went straight back up the other end to restore their one goal cushion on 21 minutes through Jon Shaw.

The lively striker made it two goals in as many games after he fired home a sweetly struck volley from around 14 yards.

Duffy was booked on 29 minutes for a two footed challenge on a defender, a tackle which the Merseyside referee saw as reckless, but one which Stags fans would have seen as excellent commitment.

There was a moment a comedy on 34 minutes as Stags nearly doubled their lead in bizarre fashion.
Despite having no Stags player within 30 yards of him, Wylde nearly made a massive hash of a back-pass attempt as he fired the ball well wide of his keeper.

But Alcock managed to scramble back and clear from his line to spare the centre-back's blushes.

Stags turned up the heat with half-time approaching as Perry and then Duffy headed high and wide respectively from Gary Mills corners.

It was 3-1 on 43 minutes when new-boy Andy Nicholas drilled a superb half volley into the bottom left hand corner after Duffy had flicked on a long Challinor throw in.

The finish was fitting of any striker and the perfect half-time reward for a solid and committed first 45 minutes for the lively visitors.

Tamworth, who were protecting their long unbeaten rub, brought on Jerome Murdock at the break as they looked to get back into the game.

And that substitution proved to be an inspired one when he pulled a goal back on 50 minutes.

Murdock showed his strength to twist and turn through two Mansfield defenders on the edge of the box, before he sent Marriott the wrong way with a powerful finish.

A moment later Marriott tipped a Tom Shaw shot just around the post to deny the resurgent Warwickshire side.

Stags took the wake up call and weathered the storm as the game began to develop into a fiercely fought midfield contest.

Christie fired a warning shot just over Marriott's bar on 68 minutes with an attempted lob.

Stags so nearly wrapped the game up on 72 minutes after a lightning counter attack involving Mills and Challinor.

Mills picked up the ball on the edge of the Mansfield box and charged at speed past three or four chasing Tamworth players and over the half way line.

He then slotted a neat pass inside to Challinor, who beat his man before dragging his shot agonisingly past the far post as the visiting fans prepared to celebrate.

Shaw then came close minutes later when he saw his goal-bound shot from close range well saved by Alcock after a long Challinor throw had caused confusion in the Tamworth box.

Marriott then showed why he his perhaps one of the best, if not the best goalkeeper in the division, when he leapt at full-stretch to tip wide a header that was destined for the top corner on 84 minutes.

A moment later the Mansfield goal once again led a charmed life as Wylde crashed a header against the crossbar as Tamworth cranked up the pressure.

Football is all about talking your chances, and Stags proved that with three minutes to go when Sturrock finished sweetly to seal the win after going clean through on goal.

Challinor, who was commanding throughout, broke well through midfield into space before playing Sturrock through one on one with Alcock.

TAMWORTH: Akcock, Blackwood, Smith, Wylde, Pritchard, Sheridan (Tait 69 mins), Shaw (MacKenzie 77 mins), Briscoe, Smith (Murdock 45 mins), Lake-Gaskin, Christie. Subs not used: Hurren, Fankem.

STAGS: Marriott, Silk, Garner, Foster, Nicholas, Mills, Challinor (Briscoe 90 mins), Nix (Brough 61 mins), Shaw, Perry (Sturrock 56 mins), Duffy. Subs: Collett, Williams.

REFEREE: Jake Collin of Merseyside.

ATTENDANCE: 1389 (646 away)

GOALS: Duffy 17 mins, Wylde 19 mins, Shaw 21 mins, Nicholas 43 mins, Murdock 50 mins, Sturrock 87 mins.

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Tamworth 2 Mansfield Town 4
Evening Post, February 13, 2010

MANSFIELD Town got back to winning ways as they triumphed 4-2 in an entertaining game against Tamworth today.
After three consecutive defeats, the pressure was on the Stags going into this match but they responded with a crucial win.
The visitors went ahead through Rob Duffy on 17 minutes, before The Lambs went straight down the other end to equalise.
That came when Michael Wylde headed in Tom Shaw's cross from close range.
But the parity didn't last long as, on 21 minutes, Mansfield regained the lead when Jon Shaw crashed home a volley from inside the box to complete a frantic five-minute spell.
Kyle Perry rose to meet a Gary Mills corner but planted his header over the bar but the third goal for Mansfield came three minutes before the break.
A throw from the left from Jon Challinor was headed on and left back Andy Nicholas, just like Duffy for the first goal, thundered in a shot that flew into the back of the net.
But five minutes after the interval substitute Jerome Murdock put his side back in the game with a sweet strike.
Challinor and Tom Shaw both went close to extending the lead before Alan Marriott produced a fingertip save to deny a Tamworth header from Neil MacKenzie's free kick.
Wylde also went close, striking the bar from a corner as Mansfield hung on.
But the Stags secured the victory three minutes from time when an advantage was played following a foul on Challinor and Blair Sturrock cut onto his left foot before hammering a low shot into the bottom corner.

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report from Tamworth official site:
Tamworth welcomed The Stags of Mansfield for the first ever meeting between to the two sides at The Lamb with Gary Mills' squad looking to extend their unbeaten run to eleven games against the side they defeated at Field Mill in the FA Trophy in December.
Mills made no changes to the starting eleven that brought a point back from Wrexham on Tuesday night while Richard Tait and Neil MacKenzie made a welcome return to the bench after a time out with illness.

After a minute's silence in honour of Gary Mills' father, Roland who passed away last week, The Lambs got the match underway kicking towards the Castle End and an early challenge by Shaw on Mills earned the Tamworth player a telling off and as the ball worked it's way forward, Nix hit a tame shot at Alcock from the left of the box.
The Lambs won a left sided corner on 4 which bobbled in the area before being hoofed clear and some tenacious midfield play from Chris Smith ended with Lake-Gaskin whipping the ball into the box but it was too strong for Christie to deal with.
Chris Smith cleared the ball off the feet of Challinor on 7 as he ran in down the right but was penalised for climbing 25 yards out on the left of centre on 9 setting up Mills to fire a freekick into the box which Briscoe headed away.
Nix was adjudged to have been brought down on the edge of the box on 11 by Jay Smith. Duffy and Nix lined up the deadball and Nix hit the wall with his effort which was then cleared away from danger and The Lambs pushed on.
As the ball ran down the left wing Briscoe and Mills went for the same ball and the Lambs defender picked up the first yellow card of the game giving the Mills the freekick by the touchline which was headed harmlessly back to Alcock.
Mansfield won a corner on the left on 16 when a low shot on the by-line was blocked and tried a short corner, but were penalised for a moving ball but when the ball came in and was worked back from the right Duffy hit a low shot into the near corner from the left of the area to give the visitors the lead (0-1, 17 mins), ending Alcock's clean sheet record at 723 minutes.
Tamworth immediately went on the offensive and Pritchard won a corner on the right which was played short to Shaw who crossed for Wylde to head in at the far post (1-1, 19 mins)
Christie was penalised for handling the ball as it was half cleared into his chest 30 yards from goal but play switched to the other end and when The Lambs defence were unable to deal with the danger Shaw popped up to slot home from close range and give the Stags the lead again (1-2, 21 mins).
From a throw on the right wing, Shaw tried a half volley under pressure but could only find Marriott's hands on 23 and from a corner on 24 Jay Smith fired wide of the near post from the edge of the box.
A deep free kick found the head of Chris Smith on 25 but his effort at the back post failed to trouble Marriott while Blackwood found come space on the left wing to get a cross away but with everyone expecting the offside flag the ball was easily cleared.
Duffy was booked for a two footed challenge on the edge of the Lambs area and back pass from Chris Smith forced Alcock to make a quick run to clear the danger as Duffy bore down.
On 32 Shaw saw his freekick from by the home dugout headed away as Chris Smith ghosted in at the back of the area and on 34 Wylde almost scored at the wrong end with a backpass from outside the box on the right that left Alcock scampering back before clearing a yard off the line.
Chris Smith was penalised for a push in Duffy's back on the halfway line 36 but the Stags were offside from the freekick.
Christie pushed the ball through to Pritchard down the left channel on 37 and he took a touch but was denied by Marriott's presence as he went to turn the ball goalward while at the other end, Alcock left his area by some 15 yards to head away the danger from a long ball forward looking for Duffy.
A corner for Mansfield perhaps could have been denied by Blackwood on 39 which Foster rose to head highest, but also high over the bar and another was won on 40 but it came to nothing.
Then on 42 Nicholas found time on the left of the box to fire home a left footed shot into the bottom corner and extend Mansfield's lead (1-3, 42 mins).
Pritchard then hit a shot at goal from the right wing which forced Marriott to parry the ball out for a corner which the Stags keeper jumped to collect and Shaw was penalised for a foul on Perry 25 yards out in a central position which drew Shaw and captain Chris Smith together for a chat with the referee.
Nix lined up the dead ball as one minute added time was shown and although the freekick came to nothing Mansfield won a right sided corner from open play.

HT: Tamworth 1 3 Mansfield Town

Murdock replaced Jay Smith at halftime for The Lambs and Mansfield kicked off proceedings and after a period of Tamworth pressure a quick freekick from Shaw saw Christie turn a shot from the left towards goal but Marriott was equal to it, dropping low in front of his post to collect.
And the substitution paid off on 50 when Christie flicked the ball to Murdock who jinked in the area to beat his man and fire low past Marriott (2-3, 50 mins)
Shaw almost equalised on 51 with a low shot from 20 yards which Marriott pushed around the post for a corner but it came to nothing.
Smith tried an audacious lob from the halfway line on 55 shortly before Dean Holdsworth made his first change of the game. Smith then performed more acrobatics chesting a dangerous left wing cross from Silk into Alcock's hands from a yard out.
A trip by Shaw on Mills on the halfway line earned the Lambs midfielder a card on the hour andn after a period of midfield battling Christie tired his luck with a chip shot from 20 yards but cleared the bar with ease.
Sheridan was replaced by Tait on 69 pushing Blackwood onto the left midfield but it was Mansfield who almost snatched another when Mills fed Challinor with a ball out of the centre and when Briscoe slipped he rolled the shot just wide of the right hand upright.
Pritchard was booked for a foul on the halfway line on Foster on 72 and a minute later Tait was on hand to clear from Sturrock. Alcock denied Jon Shaw with a close range shot on 75 and MacKenzie came on for Tom Shaw shortly after.
As the game entered the final 10 minutes Mansfield booted away some bpressure from Tamworth and the flag denied Wylde a shot from 8 yards and Christie turned his man to put a shot into Marriot on 82 and a freekick on the left for a foul on Murdock was taken by MacKenzie on 84 which Wylde met with a fine header and Marriott pushed away equally as well to deny him.
Murdock won a corner with a blocked shot from the right of the box on 85 and Wylde hit the bar with a header which was then scrambled away but for all their pressure Mansfield countered with a goal 3 minutes from time when Sturrock picked up the ball 18 yards out and fired low past Alcock to inflict the biggest opposition goal tally against The Lambs this season. (2-4, 87 mins)
Five minutes added time was indicated at the end of the game and Tamworth won a freekick 25 yards out on the left of centre allowing MacKenzie to line up and when the ball fell to Pritchard he went for goal but found Marriott in the way.
As did MacKenzie on 94 and a half minutes with a half volley from outside of the right of the area in the final action of the game.

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Battling Lambs lose out to Mansfield Town in thriller
thisistamworth.co.uk, February 15, 2010
http://www.thisistamworth.co.uk

Tamworth were edged out 4-2 by Mansfield Town in a pulsating local derby on Saturday.
The high tempo game sparked into life with three goals in five first half minutes with the visitors opening the scoring on 17 minutes as Tamworth's defence failed to deal with a ball from the right and Rob Duffy fired a firm shot past Lambs keeper Danny Alcock from close range.
The home side responded immediately, levelling on 19 minutes as Tom Shaw whipped in a corner which was headed home from close range by Michael Wylde.
However, parity didn't last long as the Stags went back in front on 21 minutes when Jon Shaw struck a volley low into the net from inside the area.
The visitors made it 3-1 on 42 minutes as a long throw-in into the penalty area from Jon Challinor found its way to Andy Nicholas who finished with power from the left hand side of the box.
Tamworth hit back after the break through substitute Jerome Murdock, who latched onto a flick from Iyseden Christie and hit a sweet effort into the net.
It looked like they may push on and earn a point as Tom Shaw brought a fine save out of Alan Marriott while, at the other end, Challinor could have put the game beyond doubt on 71 minutes but fired wide.
Alcock pulled off a fine save to deny Jon Shaw while Christie and Wylde were both denied by Marriott.
As the home side pressed, Wylde hit the bar before the visitors killed the game off on 87 minutes as sub Blair Sturrock cut onto his left foot before firing a low shot past Alcock.

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