Archived News from April 2011
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EMBARASSING, SHAMBOLIC, THE WORST PERFORMANCE EVER
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Blue Square Bet Premier
Hayes & Yeading United 4 - 0 Mansfield Town Pritchard 12, Buchanan 20, 25, Thompson og 81. Sent Off: Connor 30. Attendance: 316 (approx 80 from Mansfield) (lowest crowd to watch a Mansfield first team game in our history (since joining the league in 1931, excluding County Cup) Date: 9 April 2011 EMBARASSING, SHAMBOLIC, THE WORST PERFORMANCE I HAVE EVER SEEN Martin Shaw at Church Road Mansfield Town sunk to an all time low at Hayes & Yeading on Saturday afternoon with the worst performance I have ever seen from a Stags team since I started watching in 1971. Mansfield were simply blown away by a Hayes side battling against relegation from the Conference. Hayes were playing their third choice keeper yet Mansfield failed to force the keeper into a single save until the 87th minute (apart from a header from an offside position). At the other end, Hayes put in crosses from the left hand side at will, and could have scored more than the three goals they got in the first half, all the goals coming from crosses from the left. Don't be fooled by the Stags having Paul Connor sent off - this didn't happen until we were 3-0 down. In the second half, Tyrone Thompson scored a ridiculous own goal, and in the end the Stags could easily have lost by 6 or 7. The Stags have every chance of winning the FA Trophy in four weeks time, which would be fantastic and wonderful, but we are absolutely miles away from being a side that is close to challenging for promotion. Huge changes are needed. Stagsnet player ratings in the Match Centre. ---------------------- Buchanan brace helps Hayes hammer Mansfield By Matt Lewis, uxbridgegazette.co.uk Hayes & Yeading 4-0 Mansfield Town AN ELLIOTT Buchanan double blast inspired Hayes & Yeading to victory over ten-man Mansfield Town this afternoon. http://www.uxbridgegazette.co.uk/west-london-sport/hayesandyeading/2011/04/09/buchanan-brace-helps-hayes-hammer-mansfield-113046-28492728/? Buchanan's brace along with a Bradley Pritchard header and late Tyrone Thompson own-goal brushed aside the Stags who played over an hour with ten men following Paul Connor's dismissal. Free-scoring midfielder Pritchard gave Hayes the lead after just 11 minutes as he guided a header into the top corner of David Grof's net. Ten minutes later and it was two with Buchanan sweeping home a perfectly weighted cross from on-loan Crawley Town full-back Sam Rents. Moments later and Buchanan sent United into dreamland with a venomous volley that cannoned in off the post after Peter Holmes had beaten the offside trap. Already trailing by three goals, Mansfield Town gave themselves an even bigger mountain to climb on the half-hour mark when Connor was given a straight red-card for raising an arm to the face of Adam Bygrave. Steve Masterton really should have sent Garry Haylock's men in four goals to the good at the break, but the on-loan Crawley midfielder blazed his right-footed shot over Grof's crossbar. As expected, the second-half failed to maintain the break-neck pace of the first as the home side looked to frustrate the Stags with long periods of possession. Shane McWeeney could not have asked for a quieter debut between the sticks for Hayes & Yeading, the keeper barely having a save to make as the 10 men of Mansfield struggled to make an impact. The closest the visitors came was a Tom Naylor strike that sailed harmlessly past the post after Louis Bristoe had flicked on a long ball into the box from substitute Kyle Nix. With 10 minutes remaining Mansfield did find the net, however it was at the wrong end as Thompson bizarrely put past his own keeper to deepen the Town's misery and gift United a fourth -------------------- Woeful Stags suffer shock defeat at Church Road Evening Post report by Matt Halfpenny WOEFUL, ten-man Mansfield Town were embarrassed and humiliated by relegation-threatened Hayes and Yeading at Church Road this afternoon. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/mansfieldtown/mansfieldtownnews/Woeful-Stags-suffer-shock-defeat-Church-Road/article-3430402-detail/article.html? In a day to forget for the visitors, they were totally outplayed and got exactly what they deserved. Duncan Russell's side managed just three shots on goal all afternoon, while Hayes and Yeading could and should have won by a bigger margin as the Mansfield's defending was often non-existent. And their misery was completed by the dismissal of striker Paul Connor for leading with his elbow. Hayes and Yeading began confidently with Elliott Buchanan picking out Lee Brown on the left whose cross was just inches from finding the lone striker in the box as he continued his run. As the Stags struggled to get a foothold, it was no surprise when the hosts went in front in the 12th minute. Brown sped past Conor Higginson down the left and sent over a pinpoint near post centre that was glanced into the right-hand corner by Bradley Pritchard. It was not too far from being 2-0 when Steve Masterton delivered a free-kick into the box and Adam Bygrave's header was only just wide with David Grof scrambling. Hayes and Yeading did double their lead in the 20th minute with almost a carbon copy of their opener. This time, Sam Rents whipped in a low left-wing centre for the fast-arriving Buchanan, who volleyed home sweetly from close range. It got even worse for the Stags as they went 3-0 down after a spectacular second by Buchanan. Rents played Peter Holmes into acres of space on the left and he picked out Buchanan at the far post, who volleyed in from 10 yards off the right-hand post. Immediately, Higginson was pulled off to be replaced by Kyle Nix, but it made little difference. It was almost four when Bygrave had a free header from a corner and was only just off target with his powerful effort. Mansfield's already unlikely hopes of getting back into the game were dealt a devastating blow moments later when Connor was shown a straight red card for pole-axing Bygrave. Mansfield were really on the ropes and as Istead mis-kicked in his own box, he was relieved to see Tom Naylor mop up behind him. The shots continued to rain in on the visiting goal as Pritchard played in Masterton, but he blazed over with just the advancing Grof to beat. More poor defending saw a Holmes shot deflected for a corner and the skipper also had a goalbound shot blocked as the flag kick that followed was only half cleared. As the second half got under way, Buchanan again got goalside as he looked for his hat-trick but was this time denied by Grof. Grof was twice required to clear under pressure before Naylor made a last-ditch tackle to prevent a simple tap-in for one of two Hayes and Yeading players. Mansfield finally fashioned a chance when Nix's free-kick was flicked on by Louis Briscoe for Naylor to fire wide at the far post. The Stags' desperate day was summed up nine minutes from time when Hayes and Yeading went four up with a terrible Tyrone Thompson own goal. He appeared until little pressure in dealing with a right-wing cross but, in trying to clear, diverted past his own keeper Grof. As Mansfield's defence went AWOL again, Pierre Joseph-Dubois should have made it five, only to head wide for point blank range. Steve Foster went close to pulling one back as time began to run out, but his drive in a scramble was pushed around the post by Shane McWeeney. Four additional minutes were added by the referee, but for Mansfield the full-time whistle could not come soon enough ------------------- Russell's long-term future remains up in the air after shambolic Stags performance Evening Post considered report by Matt Halfpenny MOST expected Duncan Russell's future as Mansfield Town boss to be decided by the club's success or failure in the FA Trophy final at Wembley, but any more shambolic embarrassments like this and his long-term fate will be sealed long before their big day out on May 7. This clash was the first of eight league games in 22 days before the end of April in which David Holdsworth's former assistant has to prove he deserves his contract extending beyond the summer. Against a struggling team, it was supposed to be Russell's chance to illustrate his tactical and motivational capabilities in front of watching chairman John Radford, back from his charity work overseas. Instead, he saw his charges produce the kind of horror show that more readily gets managers fired. Come what may, Russell will surely be at the helm for the Stags when they make their eagerly-awaited appearance under the arch, given he has guided them through five FA Trophy rounds to seal their final berth against Darlington. But he is unlikely to get the nod to lead what Radford is determined will be a promotion assault in 2011-12 if he cannot inspire his current crop to show more fight than this. Put into context, this pitiful, lugubrious surrender could arguably rank as the most humiliating in the club's distinguished history. Mansfield have suffered far greater margins of defeat, even in recent memory. The 6-0 hammerings at Preston in the nineties and Scunthorpe in the noughties are two that instantly spring to mind – and there are plenty more besides. But they were both in the Football League against clubs who were destined for bigger and better things. This demoralising defeat, however, was against a team battling to avoid the drop to the Blue Square Bet South next term. As well as Hayes and Yeading played on the day – and they were excellent – they are drawing crowds of just over 300 and the kind of team Mansfield, with their far greater resources, should be beating. Yet it was the Stags who looked possible relegation fodder. Indeed, Mansfield must be thankful they are no nearer to the trap door themselves, otherwise they could have been in for an anxious last few weeks. As always, mitigating circumstances can be cited, namely injuries, tiredness from the sheer frequency of recent games and the red card that saw the Stags play for an hour with ten men. In what was the latest thing to sum up how things are going for him right now, Paul Connor was adjudged to have led with his elbow in leaping with Adam Bygrave. Even so, those factors cannot, nor should not, hide the ineptitude and lack of application of those in amber and blue. And unless there is a remarkable improvement in the remaining matches, there are a number of out-of-contract players who should fear a potential axing as much as Russell. Mansfield made just one change to the side pegged back to draw 2-2 with Southport in midweek as Kevin Sandwith came in for Paul Stonehouse at left-back. It did little to shore up a rickety defence and by the time Connor was given his marching orders, the visitors were already being totally outplayed and three down. All those goals came down the Hayes and Yeading left as they clinically exposed makeshift right-back Steven Istead. To be fair, the former Ilkeston man has done his best to fill in during the absence of the injured Gary Silk and Dan Spence. But it was inevitable he would be exposed sooner or later and his problems were augmented by Conor Higginson's woes ahead of him. The teenager was on a high after opening his senior goal account in midweek, but he was swiftly grounded by an entirely forgettable afternoon, which saw him hauled off and replaced by Kyle Nix. It took Hayes and Yeading just 12 minutes to make their superiority count as Lee Brown strolled past Higginson and crossed to the near post for Bradley Pritchard to nod home. Elliott Buchanan was the next to benefit from more poor marking as he volleyed home Sam Rents' cross. And it was Buchanan who struck again when he volleyed in sweetly off the right-hand post from a Peter Holmes centre to leave the Stags shell-shocked and barely a quarter of the game gone. At least in the second period, they managed to stem the tide slightly, helped by the hosts easing off. But there was still time for a bizarre own goal from Tyrone Thompson that saw him slice past David Grof when attempting to clear. It summed up the afternoon perfectly. In all, the Stags managed just one shot on target, from central defender Steve Foster in the dying stages. There really was very little encouragement to take and you could only feel sorry for those supporters who braved the long trip south. On the day Crawley were crowned Blue Square Bet Premier champions, they must have felt a return to the Football League was further away than ever. Russell, meanwhile, put on a brave face as he conducted his post-match interviews, but he is not daft. He knows the clock is ticking – and that his lives are fast running out Match facts: Hayes & Yeading v Mansfield Town Hayes and Yeading: McWeeney, Ferrell, Cadmore, Bygrave, Brown, Pritchard (Appiah 87), Masterton, Holmes, Hand (Yiadom 80), Rents, Buchanan (Joseph-Dubois 63). Subs not used: Green, Wright. Mansfield: Grof, Istead, Foster, Naylor, Sandwith, Higginson (Nix 26), Thompson, Murray, Briscoe (Mitchley 62), Connor, Medley (Smith 59). Subs not used: Collett, Silk. Referee: Ian Cooper (Kent). Attendance: 316. Goals: Hayes and Yeading: Pritchard (12), Buchanan (20 and 25), Thompson og (81) Shots on target: Hayes and Yeading 5 Mansfield 1. Shots off target: Hayes and Yeading 6 Mansfield 2. Fouls: Hayes and Yeading 9 Mansfield 8. Corners: Hayes and Yeading 7 Mansfield 4. Offsides: Hayes and Yeading 4 Mansfield 2. Bookings: Hayes and Yeading 2 (Ferrell 58, foul on Medley; Cadmore, 64, foul on Mitchley) Mansfield. Sendings off: Hayes and Yeading 0 Mansfield 1 (Connor 30, violent conduct). Mansfield's man of the match: Louis Briscoe. An onerous task to select anyone given that no player could say they did themselves justice, but at least the Stags top scorer did threaten at times when he was switched to the right, before being withdrawn to give him a breather ---------------- Hayes and Yeading 4 Mansfield Town 0, Saturday 9th April CHAD report by Stephen Thirkill SHAMBOLIC Stags turned in one of their worst performances of the season as they were thrashed 4-0 by relegation-threatened Hayes and Yeading on Saturday, reports Stephen Thirkill. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-fc/hayes_and_yeading_4_mansfield_town_0_saturday_9th_april_1_3273217?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed Embarrassed Mansfield were put to the sword during a torrid first 45 minutes and had no answer to the attacking prowess of Bradley Pritchard and Elliott Buchanan or the raiding runs of Rents, Brown and Masterton through midfield. It was nothing more than sorry Mansfield deserved as they failed to rise to the challenge in any way, or show any fighting spirit, against a team desperate for three points to avoid the drop from the Blue Square Premier. Clinical headers from the impressive Pritchard on 12 minutes and Buchanan on 21 minutes saw Hayes ease into a two goal lead, before Buchanan made it three with a sweetly struck volley on 25 minutes. All three of the goals came down the left flank as the inexperienced Connor Higginson and stand in right-back Stevie Istead were left horribly exposed during a nightmare first half hour. The farce was then wrapped up in fitting fashion with eight minutes to go when Tyrone Thompson, who had all the time and space in the world, sliced his attempted clearance past Grof to the disbelief of everyone in the ground. All too often Hayes were afforded far too much time and space in all areas of the pitch as their slick passing moves ripped fragile Stags to shreds. The defeat was made even worse for the FA Trophy finalists on the half hour mark when joint top-scorer Paul Connor was dismissed by referee Ian Cooper for leading with his elbow in a challenge with Adam Bygrave. And although the second half was a more even affair, with Hayes easing off in a bid to keep their three points secure, 10-man Stags offered no attacking bite and registered only one meaningful strike on goal. The humiliating defeat will give Duncan Russell plenty to think about as he attempts to get his side firing on all cylinders for the FA Trophy final on 7th May. Mansfield went into the encounter determined to erase the bad memories of their second half collapse against Southport in midweek. Boss Duncan Russell made one change, recalling Kevin Sandwith into the starting line up at the expense of Paul Stonehouse. Stags named a strong looking bench, with Gary Silk, Kyle Nix and Danny Mitchley all making a welcome return from injury. Relegation-threatened Hayes and Yeading needed the points for a very different reason and went into the fixture full of confidence having defeated Wrexham 2-0 away last week. Hayes and Yeading threatened first after six minutes when Lee Brown found space down the left. But Elliott Buchanan was unable to connect with the cross while in space. Hayes hit the front on 12 minutes when top scorer Bradley Pritchard powered home a header from close range after Brown once again beat Higginson too easily down the left flank before sending in the perfect cross. Adam Bygrave came close to doubling the home side's advantage on 16 minutes when his flicked header from 12 yards had Grof scrambling across his goal. At the other end Stags captain Steve Foster had a half chance at goal on 18 minutes when he headed a Kevin Sandwith corner wide of the left post after he rose well to beat his marker. But it was one-way traffic, and on-song Hayes doubled their lead on 21 minutes when Rents once again found far too much time and space down the exposed left flank. He then fired in a teasing cross, which Elliott Buchanan needed no second invite to head home past the helpless Grof. It was nothing more than the relegation-threatened side deserved as they continued to boss the game and show much more desire, belief and energy than the struggling FA Trophy finalists. And it was three for rampant Hayes on 25 minutes as they took full advantage of Mansfield's visible weakness down the left side. This time the lively Elliott Buchanan made no mistake as he fired a sweet volley in off the left post from a tight angle after Holmes had picked him out well with a floating centre. Shell-shocked Stags brought Kyle Nix on to replace Higginson immediately as they looked to strengthen the crumbling midfield. But the mountain grew even bigger for the struggling visitors when joint top scorer Paul Connor saw red for leading with his elbow as he went up with Bygrave on the half hour mark. As the first half wore on Hayes and Yeading continued to pour forward in numbers and exploit the huge gaps in the non-existent Stags midfield. Masterton should have made it four on 36 minutes when quick link up play with Pritchard saw him clean through on goal. But Masterton failed to keep his cool and, as Grof narrowed the angle, he blazed high and wide. Rents and Holmes both came close to making it 4-0 on 42 minutes as jittery Mansfield consistently failed to clear their lines. It was nothing short of a shambles for Duncan Russell's men, who were all too often left chasing shadows as Hayes' flowing passing moves cut through the exposed Stags' rearguard with ease. Powerful Bradley Pritchard proved a constant thorn for the visitors', with his strong hold-up play providing the foundations for Hayes to build attacks. Mansfield also had no answer to the raiding runs of Brown, Rents or Buchanan and could count themselves lucky to be only three down at the break. Buchanan came close to sealing his hat-trick on 53 minutes as he sneaked past his marker before firing at the feet of Grof. Stags began to stem the one-way traffic as Hayes looked to keep a firm control of the game and the valuable three points in the bag. Defender Tom Naylor nearly gave Stags a faint lifeline when he stabbed wide at the back post after Briscoe had fired at goal. Naylor registered Stags first shot on target after 79 minutes with a weak header straight at home debutant McWeeney. The farce got even worse for Stags after Tyrone Thomspon sliced the simplest of clearances past Gof for a candidate for own goal of the season on 81 minutes. It was a howler which summed up Mansfield Town's performance. Substitute Joseph-Dubois should have made it five moments later when he headed high over the bar after finding space in the box. Foster's powerful shot on the turn was then parried away for a corner on 86 minutes by McWeeney as Mansfield looked for a consolation goal. Stags escaped any further punishment as they prepared for what was no doubt one of the longest journey's home of the season. HAYES AND YEADING: McWeeney, Ferrell, Cadmore, Rents, Bygrave, Masterton, Holmes, Buchanan (Joseph-Dubois 72 mins), Hand (Yiadom 80 mins), Pritchard (Appiah 87 mins), Brown. Subs not used: Green, Wright. MANSFIELD TOWN: Grof, Sandwith, Foster, Briscoe (Mitchley 72 mins), Thompson, Naylor, Istead, Medley (Smith 69 mins), Connor, Higginson (Nix 26 mins), Murray. Subs not used: Collett, Silk. ATTENDANCE: 316. REFEREE: Ian Cooper of Kent ------------------- |
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