Archived News from January 2012
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STAGS WIN THRILLER WITH LAST GASP PENALTY
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Blue Square Bet Premier
Mansfield Town 3 - 2 Hayes & Yeading Dyer 38, Green 68, Hutchinson pen 90. Owusu 30, Soares 56. Attendance: 1872 (26 from Hayes & Yeading) Date: 21 January 2012 Martin Shaw at Field Mill Mansfield Town picked up a second consecutive victory in a thriller against Hayes & Yeading this afternoon. Second bottom Hayes belied their position with an impressive display and 14 of their fans who I spoke to on the way home were counting themselves very unlucky to have come away with nothing. After a poor opening half hour, the game came to light after Julian Owusu fired Hayes in front from 6 yards when the ball seemed to hold up nicely in the wind for him. Ross Dyer silenced his critics with a great equaliser on 38 minutes, firing in low and hard from the edge of the box, a goal sadly partially missed by the video cameraman. Another great finish, this time by Hayes & Yeading's impressive Louie Soares, put the visitors back in front on 56 minutes. Matt Green equalised on 68 minutes with his 17th goal of the season, firing home from inside the box. The Stags pushed hard for a winner in the last 20 minutes, and got it on the stroke of 90 minutes when Gary Roberts was clearly brought down in the box and substitute Ben Hutchinson coolly and confidently stroked the ball home. Matt Green should have sealed the win on 90+3 minutes when he rounded the keeper but fired wide. Great entertainment for the fans and in the end it was the result we wanted. Mansfield made one change from the side that beat Forest Green a fortnight ago, with Adam Smith in for Louis Briscoe. Stagsnet player ratings in the Match Centre -------------------- Nottingham Post: 
-------------------- Mansfield Town 3 Hayes and Yeading 2, Saturday 21st January chad.co.uk report by John Lomas Published on Saturday 21 January 2012 17:50 BEN Hutchinson was the last gasp spot kick hero as Mansfield Town twice had to come from behind against struggling Hayes and Yeading to win a thrilling clash 3-2 in another windswept Field Mill contest today. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-fc/mansfield_town_3_hayes_and_yeading_2_saturday_21st_january_1_4168603 Recent signing Hutchinson tucked away the coolest of penalties at the death to send Hayes home empty-handed after they had twice shocked the home side with a display belying their recent record of one win in 15. Earlier, Ross Dyer and Matt Green had netted to wipe out strikes from Hayes. Stags then took an iron grip on the final 20 minutes and took their just desserts. It wasn't pretty in the first half and Stags can and will play much better then this. But it was another three points which is all that mattered. Stags made just one change with Adam Smith, back from his loan spell at Aldershot, replacing Louis Briscoe on the wing. With a strong wind blowing downfield, boss Paul Cox elected to go for the height and flick-ons of Ross Dyer instead of giving a full debut to Ben Hutchinson. Huge downpours before kick-off coupled with a freezing gale howling downfield ensured players would have far more than the opposition to deal with. Marriott went down safely to gather an early low Owusu cross into a dangerous area while Murray's through ball skidded away from the run of Green as both sides tried to come to terms with the conditions. Soares was never going to beat Marriott with his tame low 25 yard punt on 10 minutes. A minute later Smith's ball inside into the path of Green saw him connect much better and keeper Pentney was happy to get his body in the way of the 20 yard thunderbolt and grab at the second attempt. Hayes caused another moment of worry as a poor headed clearance allowed Rose a hurried chance to shoot with Marriott off his line, but he was well over. On 19 minutes Dyer flicked a Murray ball into the path of Green who, as he pulled his foot back to bag an almost certain goal was thwarted by Moutaouakil's saving tackle. Dyer's appeals for a penalty for a shove in the back by Wishart were ignored, then Pentney had to keep out a 20 yard Meikle snapshot as Stags, with the wind at their backs, continued to make most of the running. On 28 minutes Murray was brought down just left of centre 25 yards from goal offering O'Neill the chance to curl one of his trademark free kicks goalwards. He got it over the wall but also three feet over the bar too. However, on 31 minutes the visitors stole a shock lead. A poor throw by Kendrick to the left of his own penalty area gifted the ball to Hand and the Hayes skipper drilled it low across goal behind the defence where Owusu was allowed to ghost in at the back post and turn it home. Green tried to hit back immediately as he turned onto a low pass and sidestepped two defenders before bundling a poor finish wide. Stags stepped up the pressure and when Roberts ran at the Hayes rearguard and got in a low accurate shot, it deflected wide for a corner. The equaliser was not long following on 38 minutes. Roberts took a quick free kick to Green who again turned well and skipped skilfully between two opponents. Unable to get a shot away as another challenge came in, the ball ran to Dyer who, with options to his right, instead lashed a low 20 yard shot which beat Pentney's fingertips to nestle in the net inside the left post. A far post Rose header took a deflection for a corner from which Lee's goalbound header was chested off the line by Roberts. Rose was furious when he was booked for a sliding challenge on Meikle which won the ball cleanly. Roberts took charge of the free kick and delivered a rasping on-target effort which Pentney did well to block and get away for a corner. Moutaouakil was next to be booked for a foul and then kicking the ball out the ground in temper. Stags ended the half on the front foot, Green and Smith both pulling low shots wide. Collins replaced Rose up front for Hayes for the second half. He immediately skinned Kendrick down the right to win the first of two Hayes corners, the second of which, taken short, saw Soares' angled shot saved by Marriott. But Dyer should have put Mansfield ahead on 51 minutes. Smith floated the perfect cross to the far post from the left and Dyer, from just two yards out, somehow sent his diving header wide of the post. Two minutes later Cadmore spotted a chance and lofted a free kick from inside his own half on the wind which Marriott had to save from. Smith forced a one-handed save with a good far post header from Green's cross. Then Cadmore put a powerful Roberts effort behind for a corner. Hayes struggled to clear the flag kick and Roberts eventually fired a shot over the bar as the home side asked all the questions. But, against the run of play, Hayes went in front for as second time on 57 minutes. Sub Collins fed the ball in from the right along the edge of the box where Soares was afforded time and space to tuck away a superb low finish between Marriott and the near post. Hayes tried again to use the wind as Hand hoisted in a dipping on-target shot from 35 yards which again forced Marriott to catch. But Stags sent on Hutchinson for Green and stepped up the pressure again. And it paid off on 68 minutes. Green's backheel sent Kendrick away, the keeper blocking his shot. But the ball stayed in play and Smith sent it back in towards Green who seemed to have an eternity to control, look up, and smash it past Pentney from 10 yards. Stags were pouring forward now but open at the back and, after Murray had been booked for dissent, Marriott was at full stretch to save from Cadmore at the far post from a free kick. Cadmore and Roberts' names were added to the book for fouls, then Briscoe replaced Meikle for the final 11 minute push. On 82 minutes, with Kendrick making a dummy overlap run, Smith curled a far post cross with his right foot and Murray stole in with a diving header from six yards but wide. Neat work by Hutchinson saw him feed Briscoe for a low cross through everyone to safety. Hutchinson then beat his man wide on the right and crossed long and high where Roberts was unable to get the ball on target first time. Soares went on a good run from a quickly-taken 88th minute free kick only to shoot low and wide. But there was late drama. Stags won a central free kick in the final minute which saw Briscoe's kick hit the wall. It bounced to Roberts who tried to burst past Wishart in the box whose tackle was a fraction mistimed and Roberts had won a penalty. We were now in stoppage time as Hutchinson stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way with the coollest and calmest of sidefooted spot kicks before embarking on a long ruin in front of the West Stand to milk the moment. Green should have put the icing on the cake when sent clean through with the sweetest of through balls by Briscoe. But, having taken the ball wide of the keeper, he lifted the ball over the gaping goal. Ajala was well over at the other end as the final whistle blew on a breathtaking second half. STAGS: Marriott; O'Neill, Dempster, Sutton; Kendrick; Smith, Murray, Roberts (Howell 90+4), Meikle (Briscoe 79); Green, Dyer (Hutchinson 65). Subs not used: Redmond, Riley. HAYES & YEADING: Pentney; Moutaouakil, Walsh, Cadmore, Wishart; Pele, Hand, Lee (Ajala 76), Soares; Oususu (Bassele 83); Rose (Collins ht). Subs not used: Beasant, Legg. REFEREE: Seb Stocksbridge of Gateshead. ATTENDANCE: 1,872 (26 away). ------------------------------------- report from http://www.hyufc.com by Lee Hermitage Mansfield Town 3 Hayes & Yeading United 2 For the second season running United went down to a gut-wrenching late defeat at Field Mill by the odd goal in five having led twice, as Mansfield pinched all the points in a game played in difficult conditions. Pedro Monteiro aka Pelé partnered Tom Cadmore in central defence to allow Phil Walsh to join Julian Owusu up front while Dwane Lee returned to the midfield in place of Luke Williams. Biting winds and rain meant that the opening phase of the game was scrappy as both sides failed to find an early rhythm. Louie Soares for United and Matt Green for the hosts were the first players to test the respective goalkeepers, but in each case their weak shots were comfortably gathered. United's defence had Tom Cadmore to thank on eighteen minutes. Adam Murray and Ross Dyer combined to feed Green, but Cadmore's superbly timed tackle prevented the Stags striker from pulling the trigger. Five minutes later Lindon Meikle cut inside to shoot but Carl Pentney had little difficulty with the save. At the other end United forced the first corner of the game but could make nothing of it, while Luke O'Neill's free kick for the home side broke a seat behind the goal rather than warm Pentney's gloves. After an opening half hour that had seen both sides struggle with the conditions, United had the lead as good as gifted to them. Joe Kendrick's throw in was woefully short, and Jamie Hand, who reminded the United fans what they've been missing since August throughout the entire game, was quickest on to it. His crisp ball across the penalty box found Julian Owusu in plenty of space, and he fired past the advancing Alan Marriott for his first goal in United colours (left). Unfortunately United couldn't hold that lead for any length of time, and the home side were level seven minutes later. Gary Roberts took a quick free-kick. Green found Dyer four yards outside the United penalty area, and his well placed low shot left Pentney with no real chance. All square at the break, and Nas Bashir brought on Tom Collins in place of Jordan Rose who'd had an uncomfortable first half. Both sides adapted better to the conditions in the second half, and United were now playing with the benefit of the wind. Collins' impact was instant, his cross just two minutes into the second half was headed to safety by John Dempster. The home side should, perhaps, have taken the lead on fifty minutes when Adam Smith's excellent cross was met by Dyer, who somehow headed wide when it looked easier to score while Cadmore's wind assisted free-kick from inside the United half nearly dipped under Marriott's crossbar. At the other end Carl Pentney made a fine save from Smith's header as the United defence were caught out trying to play offside. On 55 minutes, the travelling supporters were celebrating as United regained the lead. Collins found Louie Soares in a spot of space just outside the Mansfield penalty area, and his excellent shot provided his fifteenth goal of the season. Once again though, United were unable to hold the lead for any great deal of time, and Mansfield were level again at the mid point of the second half. Pentney saved Kendrick's initial effort, but the United defence switched off as Smith found Green around eight yards out, and he had enough time and space to bring the score back to 2-2. The game had now developed into a far more dramatic, if not perhaps entertaining game than the early stages had promised. With nineteen minutes left to play, Marriott made the save of the match to prevent United taking the lead for the third time. A free kick was awarded for a foul on Collins, and Soares' delivery was neatly headed down by Tom Cadmore, with the Mansfield stopper just about pushing the effort to safety. Toby Ajala replaced Lee for the final quarter hour, and with seven minutes left Aristede Bassele replaced Owusu as Nas Bashir sought to protect the precious point which would have been the very least our performance deserved. However, just as in our previous away game at Kidderminster, it all fell apart as the clock ticked past the ninety minute mark. The home side were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area. Substitute Louis Briscoe's effort was blocked well by the solid United wall, but the ball bounced loose to Gary Roberts on Town's right, and as he tried to advance past Daniel Wishart, he was caught by the United left back. Referee Seb Stockbridge had little hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot and Ben Hutchinson, who had replaced Dyer just after the hour, sent Pentney the wrong way to give Mansfield an injury time lead. The devastated United side couldn't break Mansfield down once more, and were nearly beaten for a fourth time when Green was put through by Briscoe, but he fired over the bar as he tried to round Pentney. The 3-2 scoreline was harsh on a United side who still seek their first points of 2012, and have now collected just five points from the last fourteen games. United Man of the Match: Jamie Hand. ------------------------------------- Mansfield Town 3 Hayes and Yeading 2 Nottingham Post report by Stevie Roden BEN Hutchinson came off to the bench to fire a dramatic last-gasp winner for Mansfield Town against Hayes and Yeading today. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/Mansfield-Town-3-Hayes-Yeading-2/story-14995586-detail/story.html The former Celtic and Middlesbrough striker slotted home an injury-time penalty to claim all three points for the Stags. Mansfield twice fought back from behind before Hutchinson converted from the spot at Field Mill. Julian Owusu gave the visitors the lead in the 31st minute before Ross Dyer hit back six minutes later. But Louis Soares put Hayes back in front in the 57th minute only for Matt Green to drag the Stags level at 2-2. Gary Roberts was then fouled in the box in the first minute of stoppage time and Hutchinson kept his cool to slot home the winner ------------------ Stags leave it late but back-to-back victories puts them in good heart Nottingham Post considered report by Stevie Roden PRE-MATCH talk was all about results, not classy performances. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/story-15010404-detail/story.html Mansfield Town manager Paul Cox said he would take 19 ugly wins in the battle to make the Blue Square Bet Premier play-offs, rather than perform well and drop points. In their last outing two weeks earlier, a below-par Stags had eked out a 1-0 win against Forest Green. A forgettable game, but three crucial points. And after a totally dire opening half hour at Field Mill on Saturday, with the game goalless and being played into a driving, bitter wind, ugly was an understatement. Forgettable would have been too kind. But then, a moment of madness from Stags full-back Joe Kendrick provided the spark to jump-starting a match that would eventually lead to a dramatic three points for the Stags. His dreadful throw-in led to Hayes taking the lead out of nothing. But it would prompt Mansfield to twice fight back from behind, before snatching three points in stoppage time. In the end, they were not at their best again, but they secured the victory with a dogged comeback. It made it back-to-back wins ahead of a possible season-defining week where they now travel to Luton and then Ebbsfleet, in great style. And in the end, the Stags also showed it is not all about just guts and determination. They can play football as well, as the last 20 minutes of this game more than proved. In the last couple of years, Ben Hutchinson might have lost his way somewhat through injuries and off-the-field issues. But at Field Mill, he now has a chance to resurrect a career that saw him gracing the Champions League stage with Celtic not so long ago. And with the Stags trailing, the striker's 65th minute introduction added a spark that paved the way for a more ruthless attacking edge. He was not involved in the equaliser three minutes later, as Matt Green delivered a clever flick on to Kendrick, only for him to be thwarted by the goalkeeper. But as the ball spilled to Adam Smith, he delivered the cross that Green cushioned before finishing emphatically. From there, Hutchinson caused problems with his quick-thinking, skilful feet and footballing brain which no doubt was the last thing a tiring part-time Hayes side wanted to see. And when the very impressive Gary Roberts, recently signed from Port Vale, was taken down in the first minute of stoppage time, Hutchinson soon had hold of the ball. With Green the regular penalty taker, it was a brave call on the part of the Nottingham-born 24-year-old. Confidence could have been perceived as arrogance. What if he missed? But as he coolly slotted home, his own reaction, on just his second substitute appearance since joining, showed how much it meant. A winner for Mansfield and Hutchinson felt like a winner again as he saluted three sides of the ground. Rather than an ugly three points, it was a dramatic three points. But the game had taken a turn for the worse early on when Kendrick's poor throw-in on the left fell straight to Jamie Hand. He slotted the ball across the box, where Julian Owusu slipped in too easily behind two defenders and fired beyond an exposed Alan Marriott. The equaliser came six minutes later as quick-thinking from Roberts saw him take a free-kick to Green, who promptly beat two men before the ball deflected up into the path of Ross Dyer. The striker showed no hesitation, taking a touch before driving a 20-yard shot inside Carl Pentney's right-hand post. Mansfield were left ruing a missed chanced six minutes after the break as Smith delivered a perfect ball for Dyer at the back post and as it dropped, it looked a certain goal but somehow, from three yards out, he put it the wrong side of the post. And they were made to pay just before the hour when Louis Soares was given too much time and space, allowing him to try his luck and he fired a 20-yard effort into Marriott's left-hand corner. Then the introduction of Hutchinson before the second Stags equaliser, as Green converted clinically. From that moment, Mansfield defied the conditions, got the ball down and went all-out for the winner, playing some far from ugly football in the meantime. Hutchinson twice unlocked Hayes down the right, the second seeing him feed fellow substitute Louis Briscoe but Roberts could not convert his deep cross at the back post. It was not all one way traffic however, as Marriott dived superbly to tip a Tom Cadmore effort onto his post at full stretch before the telling moment came in the final minute when was Briscoe was hauled down in a central position on the edge of box. His free kick looped off the wall and fell to Roberts who was chopped down for a last-gasp penalty. Cue Hutchinson's winning strike from the spot. You cannot get away from the fact that before this match, Hayes had one win in 15 matches. For the Stags to lose would have been catastrophic. But it was an afternoon that, despite being more than worrying at times, ended perfectly for Cox and his men – with three points ----------- |
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