Archived News from September 2012
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GREEN SENDING-OFF & DEFENSIVE MISTAKES COST STAGS
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Blue Square Bet Premier
Ebbsfleet United 3 - 1 Mansfield Town Elder 58, Walsh 60, Enver-Marum (pen) 81. Briscoe (pen) 42. Green sent off 33. Attendance: 828 (120 from Mansfield) Date: 8 September 2012 Martin Shaw at Stonebridge Road Mansfield Town suffered a big set-back after the run of 4 wins from 5 games, going down 3-1 at Ebbsfleet. In extreme heat, the opening half hour was quiet with no significant chances for either side. The main talking point had been the rough tactics of Ebbsfleet centre half Paul Lorraine, while Matt Rhead had been booked for his first offence, showing inconsistency with the way Lorraine had been treated. A game changing moment came on 33 minutes. Lorraine and Green challenged for a high ball right in front of the Ebbsfleet dugout. Lorraine was all over Green. As the players dropped down, the players were grappling with each other and Green did flick a little elbow at Lorraine. The referee didn't see it, but the fourth official called the referee over and clearly advised the referee. The referee then spoke with Green before pulling out a red card. The Stags were unhappy that the decision was taken on the view of the fourth official. Lorraine should have been booked earlier and was not blameless in the incident. The Stags took the lead on 42 minutes. Meikle did well to control a fine Murray ball to the right wing. Meikle crossed into the middle, it was half cleared by Walsh and Meikle got to the ball just before a defender who brought him down on the edge of the box. A clear penalty. With Green off the field, Briscoe took it and belted it to the left of centre, high into the net. It was the third successive game that the Stags have scored just before the break. The Stags continued to look comfortable despite the man disadvantage, but a moment of bad marking was costly on 58 minutes. Joe Howe crossed from the right, and Nathan Elder was left completely unmarked in the middle to head home from 7 yards. It seemed that Jones has lost his man, and the ball floated just over Jones' head allowing Elder the free header. Two minutes later and the home side scored again. A corner from the right was headed back across goal by Lorraine, and Phil Walsh, the other centre half, won an initial header, as Geohaghon tried to clear the ball he was held away from it by Enver-Marum, allowing Walsh time to lash home the loose ball. Paul Cox made a triple substitution, and one of the subs, Jake Speight, had a chance to equalise on 76 minutes when he cut inside from the right and fired into the side-netting. On 81 minutes, Elder cut down the left and along the byeline, Sutton tried to barge him off the ball without success. Then Sutton barged him off again a yard outside the area, and the referee who was perfectly positioned, gave a penalty. Enver-Marum sent Marriott the wrong way. Cox was sent off for words said to the linesman. The referee sent him to the back of the stand, but later Cox was told by an official that he had to leave the stand so that he could not view the game. So a disappointing result. Defensive mistakes cost the Stags dear, as did the early sending-off of Green especially given that it was a roasting afternoon. Stagsnet player ratings in the Match Centre ------------------ Stags slip to Ebbsfleet defeat mansfieldtown.net report by Andrew Webb Mansfield Town slipped to a disappointing defeat against Ebbsfleet United at Stonebridge Road. http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/stags-slip-to-ebbsfleet-defeat-359207.aspx?pageView=full#anchored The Stags took the lead on the stroke of half-time through a penalty from Louis Briscoe but goals from Nathan Elder, Phil Walsh and Liam Enver-Marum earned the hosts their first victory since the opening day of the season. On what was a tumultuous and boiling hot day in Kent, striker Matt Green also received a straight red card for an innocuous off the ball clash with Fleet skipper Paul Lorraine. With pitch-side temperatures exceeding 30 degrees at kick-off, the game unsurprisingly began in a slow fashion as both teams struggled to create any clear-cut goal scoring chances. The Stags were awarded their first meaningful free-kick after eight minutes when Lorraine dragged Green to the floor midway inside his own half. However, Lindon Meikle was unable to test Fleet 'keeper Preston Edwards with the set-piece opportunity and the early danger came to pass. Exodus Geohaghon flashed a header wide of the target following a corner from Adam Murray, whilst at the other end Enver-Marum twice fired into the Stags defensive wall as the hosts enjoyed a rare first-half foray into their opponents half of the field. Murray and Green almost linked up to great effect on 18 minutes, but a superb sliding challenge from Lorraine denied Green the opportunity of breaking through on goal and into a one-on-one with Edwards. Despite the Stags being awarded a free-kick for a foul on Matt Rhead, the bustling striker was surprisingly cautioned by referee Chris Knowles; an incident which came moments before Mansfield nearly opened the scoring. Inside the six-yard box, Rhead connected with a pinpoint left-wing cross from Ritchie Sutton and guided a header towards Green who was lurking dangerously at the near post, but the Stags talisman failed to connect and the temporary danger came to pass as the hosts breathed a huge sigh of relief. On the half-hour mark, Mansfield were reduced to ten men as talisman Green was shown a straight red card following another off-the-ball tussle with Lorraine. The pair went to ground together as they attempted to connect with a long ball over the top and despite the Stags being awarded a free-kick, everyone inside Stonebridge Road was left bamboozled when the referee pulled a red card from his pocket and ordered Green off the field of play As the hosts started to enjoy the superiority of having an extra man, Paul Cox's side delivered a sucker-punch on the cusp of half-time when Briscoe fired his side ahead from the penalty spot. Ebbsfleet's defence had held firm against a vast number of crosses into their own area, but finally came unstuck when Liam Bellamy's reckless lunge brought down Meikle inside the area, leaving the referee with no other choice than but to award a penalty. In the absence of Green, spot-kick duties were left to joint-longest serving player Briscoe and the winger made no mistake at all with a powerfully driven penalty that gave Edwards little chance. Mansfield could have then been awarded a further spot-kick before the interval when Luke Jones ended up with a bust lip after catching a sly elbow from an opponent inside the area. However, despite vociferous appeals for another spot-kick, the referee ordered play to continue on this occasion. Rhead volleyed wide of the target as the Stags threatened to double their advantage shortly after the re-start, but Cox's men were soon hit by a double sucker punch as the hosts netted two goals in the space of three minutes which completely turned the game on its head. Elder drifted into empty space on the edge of the six-yard box and stooped low to head home an intricate right-wing cross from Joe Howe on 58 minutes, before Walsh capitalised on some poor defending and lashed home from a similar position on the hour-mark. Jake Speight and Nick Wright replaced Rhead and Briscoe in a double substitution made after 65 minutes, though it was Neil Barrett who had the next opportunity, when he whistled a low shot wide of the target from 20-yards out after 'keeper Alan Marriott had parried straight into his path. Speight came close to an equaliser on 74 minutes as he picked up possession in the middle of the park and set about on a weaving run, which saw him drift into the box from the inside-right channel. Despite scuffing his shot into the side-netting from an acute angle, a furious Edwards nevertheless ordered his defence to tighten up. Mansfield continued to dictate possession as the game meandered towards its conclusion, but it was Ebbsfleet who grabbed the fourth goal of the game from the penalty spot. The hosts launched a quick counter-attack, which saw Sutton and Elder go shoulder-to-shoulder at the by-line after the Fleet attacker had beaten Sutton for pace, to cut inside from the left flank. Just as Elder looked up and was about to drive a low cross through the six-yard box, play was brought to a halt and the referee pointed to the spot to award Ebbsfleet a spot-kick, which Enver-Marum successfully converted to effectively kill the game off and leave the Stags stunned. Ebbsfleet again had the ball in the net again in the dying stages when Enver-Marum fired home from the edge of the box, though his strike was ruled out as he was judged to have strayed into an offside position. Nevertheless, the hosts saw out the four minutes of additional time with little difficulty, thus recording their first home win of their Blue Square Bet Premier campaign in the process. Attendance: 828 (120 away supporters). ---------------- Ebbsfleet 3-1 Mansfield Town, Saturday 8th September By John Lomas chad.co.uk report A 33rd MINUTE red card for striker Matt Green led to Mansfield Town's downfall on an afternoon of high controversy at Ebbsfleet United today. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-fc/ebbsfleet-3-1-mansfield-town-saturday-8th-september-1-4911456 There was nothing in the game on an unseasonly hot afternoon when Green was red-carded for an alleged elbow on home defender Paul Lorraine, who had already clashed with Green and Matt Rhead in an ill-tempered first half. But Stags were furious that the only person who saw the elbow was the fourth official with the other officials well placed. Nevertheless, Stags' 10 men still went in ahead thanks to a Louis Briscoe penalty three minutes from the break. But United, who had won just one of their first seven games, made the extra man count in the second half on a stiflingly hot afternoon as they bagged two goals in as many minutes through Nathan Elder and Paul Walsh on 58 and 60 minutes. It was all over when Liam Enver-Marum bagged an 81st minute spot kick with Stags' boss Paul Cox sent to the stands for kicking the ball away in anger. The Stags, who had won four of their previous five matches, were unchanged for the third game on the trot. After six minutes of feeling each other out, Stags won a free kick on the left which Murray floated in, but was cleared. Lorraine and Green were lectured after a tackle turned into a wrestling match on the ground but the cards stayed in the pocket. Fleet also defended the visitors' first corner as Geohaghon's header was shepherded out for a goalkick. United's first threat came on 15 minutes when Stags conceded a central free kick 20 yards from goal. But the wall did its job to block both Enver-Marum's kick and his follow-up. Rhead was booked on 21 minutes after clashing with Lorraine in the corner. Stags forced a second corner on 24 minutes to no avail as we reached the midway stage of the half with neither keeper having had a save to make. Tempers flared yet again in the hot sunshine as Green reacted angrily to Lorraine steaming into his back for a header by catching him with his elbow which left the defender sprawled on the pitch. The referee showed Green a 33rd minute red card sparking furious scenes on the Mansfield bench. On 35 minutes Elder lofted a hopeful attempt just wide from a distance, the ball passing wide of the angle in the first goal attempt of the contest. Marriott clawed away the home side's first corner on 39 minutes. But the 10 men grabbed a 42nd minute lead from their second spot kick success of the week. Meikle's burst of pace in into the box caught out Bellamy who brought him down. And Briscoe made no mistake as he slammed the kick home down the centre. Elder went down in the box in stoppage time asking for a penalty. But the referee disagreed and 10-men Stags went in ahead. Folkes replaced Bellamy for the second half for United. Howe sent a dipping shot just over the top from 25 yards in the first threat of the second half. Soon after Rhead controlled and spun well before hitting a decent shot across the face of the home goal. But poor marking by the visitors gifted Ebbsfleet a 58th minute equaliser. Howe sent in a superb cross from the right but no defender was near Elder as he powered a close range header past an exposed Marriott. Two minutes later the game had turned firmly on its head as Stags failed to clear a home corner and Walsh was on hand to ran the ball high into the net from eight yards. Stags responded with a bold triple substitution, sending on Wright, Speight and Roberts for Meikle, Briscoe and Rhead, restoring two up front. Barrett wasn't far wide with a low snapshot after Marriott and Geohaghon got in each other's way. Four successive long throws by Geohaghon yielded a corner which Edwards easily gathered. More Stags pressure ended with Speight making space in the box on the right bt dragging a low shot into the sidenetting. However, it was all over for the 10 men with nine minutes to go. Elder tried to bustle his way past Sutton on the by-line and was brought down to earn a decisive penalty. Enver-Marum sent Marriott the wrong way and Fleet had their second win of the season in the bag. Stags boss Cox continued to harangue the officials and was dismissed from the bench before play restarted. Ebbsfleet were now enjoying their afternoon and pulling Stags all over the park. And there was a let-off on 87 minutes when Enver-Marum fired home a low pull-back from Blake only to see an offside flag raised. Four minutes were added on at the end during which a superb searching through ball from Roberts sent Speight racing away to fire in a good shot which Edwards beat away to his right. EBBSFLEET: Edwards, Blake, Ada, Walsh, Lorraine, Enver-Marum, Marwa (Phipp 73), Elder (Williams 87), Howe, Barrett, Bellamy (Folkes HT). Subs not used: Menz, Aseez. STAGS: Marriott; Sutton, Jones, Geohaghon, Daniel; Briscoe (Wright 65), Howell, Murray, Meikle (Speight 65); Green, Rhead (Roberts 65). Subs not used: Thompson, Clements. REFEREE: Chris Knowles. ATTENDANCE: 828. ----------------- Fleet 3 Mansfield Town 1 http://ebbsfleetunited.co.uk/home/?p=7824 A second-half comeback against 10-man Mansfield gave the Fleet their first home win of the season and went some way to erasing the Forest Green result in midweek. An injury to Craig Stone and a tactical rethink by Liam Daish saw Fleet line up in a 3-5-2 formation, with Ryan Blake and Joe Howe operating either side of three central defenders. As against Wrexham, a hot afternoon made for a relatively slow tempo in the opening period and neither side could force a clear chance. Blake created the first opening with a delicate cross that landed nicely in the centre of the Mansfield box but there was no striker in attendance. Blake also showed guile to wrongfoot a Stags defender and slip a ball to Liam Enver-Marum out wide but the Fleet No.7 couldn't bring it under control. And Enver-Marum also had a free-kick on the edge of the box but twice hit the wall as the home side's midfield had a more calm and controlled edge with Marwa pulling the strings. At the other end, it was more about Paul Lorraine's battle with the bustling Matt Rhead and the usually prolific Matt Green, with all players earning a talking-to from the referee, Rhead also earning a yellow card in the 20th minute. And that flashpoint sparked the turning point of the match on 33 minutes when Lorraine and Green went for a ball right in front of the home bench and Green's elbow on the Fleet skipper was spotted by the fourth official and he was off for an early bath. Fleet naturally looked a little livelier for the next five minutes as Elder headed just wide, Liam Bellamy wasted a free-kick from 25 yards and the same player then delivered a corner that goalkeeper Alan Marriott was forced to punch clear. But the 10 men got their noses in front four minutes before half-time. Lindon Meikle got hold of the ball on the Mansfield right and ran along the edge of the box. Bellamy had a chance to clear but delayed his tackle and as Meikle regained control of the ball he went sprawling over Bellamy's outstretched leg. The referee didn't hesitate and Louis Briscoe made no mistake from the spot. Fleet loudly appealed – but in vain – for their own penalty just before half-time when Elder went down under Ritchie Sutton's challenge but the Stags held it together to leave the Stonebridge Road public disgruntled. Bellamy was replaced by James Folkes at the start of the second half and within two minutes Howe had launched a shot just over the bar, the first real note of intent from the Fleet. But for all their possession, the home side lacked the penetration to unlock the Stags defence and the visitors began to stroke the ball around midfield, looking not at all uncomfortable with 10 men. It was just as well, then, that Liam Daish's side clawed their way back into the game on 57 minutes. Patrick Ada broke from defence for the Fleet and found space to surge forward before an incisive pass found Howe out wide. He delivered a perfect cross which Elder, unmarked inside the box, was only too happy to gobble up, giving Marriott little chance to keep it out. Happy just to be level, Fleet fans had plenty more to cheer about two minutes later. Folkes fired in a corner from the right which caused immense confusion inside the Mansfield box and Phil Walsh arrived to lash it into the back of the net for 2-1. Neil Barrett could have made it 3-1 on 68 minutes after good build-up play by Enver-Marum and Blake saw the ball knocked back into his path. Barrett had time to control it and pick his spot but dragged his shot just wide of the post. Mansfield weren't quite finished and substitute Jake Speight found space to turn inside the box and hit the side netting as Fleet started to play a little deep. But any anxiety was dispelled on 81 minutes when Elder surged into the box along the byline and was needlessly barged aside by Sutton, allowing Enver-Marum to bury the penalty and give his side a two-goal cushion. The Stags' boss was then sent to the stands as he lashed out at a ball in anger. The two-goal cushion could have been three six minutes later when Enver-Marum rifled a shot into the roof of the net – reminiscent of Michael West's strike against Luton last season – but it was ruled out for offside. By now Fleet were in command and playing the ball about midfield with a reassuring nonchalance, though they had Preston Edwards to thank in time added on after Speight sprung his markers and hit a firm mid-height strike that the Fleet goalkeeper pushed away at full stretch. The joy was plain to see on the faces of the players and manager as Fleet grabbed only their second win in eight games – but as the boss said after the game: “There might be more losses than wins, but you've got to enjoy it when you win.” TEAM: Edwards, Lorraine, Ada, Walsh, Blake, Howe, Marwa (Phipp 72), Bellamy (Folkes 46), Barrett, Elder (Williams 87), Enver-Marum. Subs not used: Menz, Azeez. Att: 828 ---------------------- Ebbsfleet United 3 Mansfield Town 1 http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentonline/sport/2012/september/9/ebbsfleet_v_mansfield.aspx Ebbsfleet United won for the first time since the opening day of the season when they came from behind to beat 10-man Mansfield 3-1 on Saturday. Having lost three of their previous four games, the Fleet got a break on 33 minutes. Matt Green was shown a straight red card after throwing an elbow into the face of Paul Lorraine. However, three minutes before the break, Mansfield were in front. Liam Bellamy tripped Lindon Meikle in the box after failing to clear his lines and Louis Briscoe smashed home the resulting penalty. Ebbsfleet had penalty shouts waved away at the other end when Nathan Elder (pictured) appeared to be shoved over. Two goals in as many minutes, just before the hour mark, turned the game on its head. Patrick Ada proved the catalyst for Ebbsfleet's equaliser, surging forward and feeding Joe Howe, whose cross was headed in by the unmarked Elder. It was 2-1 almost immediately, Lorraine heading a corner kick back across the crowded goalmouth and Phil Walsh managing to scramble the loose ball into the net. Liam Daish's side made sure of the points nine minutes from time. Elder was needlessly pushed in the back as he burst into the box and Liam Enver-Marum sent Mansfield keeper Alan Marriott the wrong way from 12 yards. Frustration got the better of Mansfield manager Paul Cox late in the game and he was sent to the stands. Enver-Marum had another goal ruled out for offside as Ebbsfleet put a turbulent fortnight behind them in the best possible fashion --------------- Match report: Ebbsfleet 3 Mansfield Town 1 Nottingham Post report by freelance PAUL Cox hoped to be making the long journey back from Ebbsfleet with three points in the bag and Mansfield Town's form really starting to hot up. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/story-16865371-detail/story.html In the end, after a frustrating afternoon in the sweltering September sun, the manager left Stonebridge Road burning with rage. Stags' return to form had been well and truly stopped in its tracks and, on this occasion, it wasn't a disjointed performance that had done it, a fragile side exposed. In Cox's opinion, the officials needed to take a long hard look at themselves. Matt Green's 32nd-minute dismissal for violent conduct left ten-man Mansfield with it all to do as they looked to make it three wins on the spin. And despite Louis Briscoe putting them ahead from the spot before half-time, there was too much to do for the visitors. In blistering heat, playing for more than an hour with ten men, it was understandable his side would wilt and the fact the killer third goal that made it 3-1 in the 81st-minute came from a penalty that Cox felt should never had been given, simply rubbed salt into the wounds. His frustration was clear, as he was sent to the stands for his protests and even this morning, he will no doubt still be red faced. Not from the sun but from the fury he is still feeling. And given the opening half hour passed without any real concern, you could understand why he felt so aggrieved. Stags striker Matt Rhead had been roughed up by defender Paul Lorraine, only for the Ebbsfleet skipper to be given no more than a stern word from referee Chris Knowles. Yet when striker partner Green clashed with Lorraine shortly afterwards, it was a red card, but not before the man in the middle had taken his time and consulted with his fourth official regarding an alleged elbow being thrown. "We were under no pressure and then had Matt Green sent off," fumed Cox. "But at pitch level it was 30 degrees and the referee makes a decision that he did not see. The fourth official stepped forward and made the decision, even the linesman did not see it. I am totally embarrassed by the officials. "The two lads have gone up for a header and fallen to the ground. Five minutes earlier, the same lad ssemed to put two or three punches into Matt Rhead and the referee called him across and just gave him a talking too. There has to be a consistency to refereeing." The incident certainly kicked the game into life and it was Mansfield who had their noses in front three minutes before half time. Winger Lindon Meikle skilfully dribbled inside the area and was chopped down before Briscoe, in place of regular penalty taker Green, fired the resulting spot-kick home. But it was always going to be an uphill task for the ten men in the heat and they came unstuck in the second half as Ebbsfleet capitalised on sloppy defending. In the 58th minute, the unmarked Nathan Elder headed home from six yards before two minutes later, Phil Walsh put the hosts in front from close range. Cox had named an unchanged starting 11 for the third game running but after going behind, made a triple substitution with Jake Speight, Gary Roberts and Nick Wright coming on, Meikle, Briscoe and Rhead making way. The fresh legs almost paid off when Speight cut in from the right of the box before firing left-footed only to find the side netting. But with ten minutes remaining, all hope had gone as Elder went down under a challenge from Sutton and Cox was left seething. Liam Enver-Marum netted from the resulting penalty and Cox was sent to the stand, furious at the decision as his side's hopes of any points were extinguished. Could he take positives? Cox praised his team's work ethic and refused to be down on them. As far as he was concerned, referee Knowles had killed the game and it was 90 minutes to be consigned to the dustbin, a game to forget. "We ended up chasing a result and for me the officials need to be made aware and sanctioned for their decisions because it changes football matches, changes outcomes," said Cox. "I don't normally call referees but in this game, we had a bad one." Now all attention turns to a home match with Braintree on Saturday, when the Stags will look to make it four wins from five on home soil. Cox added: "I said right from the start it is not where we are come the end of August or September. It is about where we are in December, at Christmas time. We have had a little run and I do not think we were bad in this game, we looked in control. The officials ruined it. "We will look at this, close the door on it and move on to Braintree." By the time Saturday comes, Cox might just have calmed down, although the heat will still be on the Stags to get back to winning ways. Ebbsfleet: Edwards, Lorraine, Ada, Blake, Barrett, Marwa (Phipp, 72), Howe, Bellamy (Folkes, 46), Elder (Williams, 87), Enver-Marum, Walsh. Subs not used: Menz, Azeez Mansfield: Marriott, Sutton , Jones, Geohaghon, Murray, Daniel, Howell, Briscoe (Speight, 64), Green (s/o 33), Meikle (Roberts, 64), Rhead (Wright, 64). Subs not used: Thompson, Clements. Referee: Chris Knowles (Northamptonshire) Attendance: 828 ------------ |
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