Archived News from January 2013
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COMFORTABLE WIN FOR STAGS AT STOCKPORT
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Blue Square Bet Premier
Stockport County 1 - 3 Mansfield Town Meaney 81. Daniel 38, Stevenson 40, Green pen 45+3. Attendance: 2647 (139 from Mansfield) Date: 15 January 2013 Martin Shaw at Edgeley Park A very comfortable win for Mansfield Town at a poor Stockport County side on Tuesday night came thanks to a terrific spell of three goals in ten minutes at the end of the first half. The Stags cold have been behind early on as Hattersley sent a free header over, then on 8 minutes Stockport were awarded a penalty as Sutton tried to block a cross, and it deflected off his leg onto his hand. The hapless Hattersley pulled a soft shot wide of the left post. Marriott dived well and might have even saved it had it been going inside the post. The recalled Lee Stevenson had a shot blocked but Stockport were slightly the better side in the opening half hour. Two good corners from Adam Murray then created chances for Beevers and Dempster before the Stags took the lead on 38 minutes as Daniel powered in a free kick from inside the D outside the penalty area, exactly the same position from which Kidderminster scored on Saturday. The kick went straight through the wall and nearly took the net with it. Two minutes later it was 2-0 as Beevers' free kick reached Green on the right of the penalty area, he turned and his cross-cum-shot was deflected into the path of Stevenson who was poaching at the far post to tuck home on the volley and celebrate wildly with the Stags fans. In stoppage at the end of the first half, from another good corner by Murray, Dempster was blatantly and absurdly pushed over by the hapless Hattersley, who was having a game resembling Jonathan Walters for Stoke against Chelsea at the weekend. Green confidently stepped up and slammed the penalty into the top left corner. The game was clearly over and the Stags looked very comfortable in the second half though were unable to add to the lead. Stockport gained nothing more than a consolation on 81 minutes when Whitehead hit the inside of the right post and sub Meaney knocked in the rebound. A good night for the Stags, who have now won 3 away games on the trot in the league, whilst losing 2 home games on the trot in the league. And all that after having previously the equal best home record and one of the worst away records in the league. The Stags now desperately need a consistent spell after a spell of win one/lose one. Boss Paul Cox brought back Luke Jones for Geohaghon who was out with a tight hamstring. Sutton came in for Thompson, having replaced him at half time on Saturday. Lee Stevenson came in as an attacking midfielder, to bring more goals from midfield, with Clements having had three consecutive poor games in the league and not having scored all season. Daniel came in for Briscoe. Boss Cox described it as a 4-3-3 formation with Meikle and Daniel alongside Green. I would describe it as 4-1-3-1-1 with Murray in front of the back four, Stevenson behind Green, and Meikle and Daniel either side of Howell, but it's fluid and hard to capture in one description! Cox revealed before the game that Speight may have to have a knee operation, and that Luke O'Neill will not be joining the club on loan as Burnley want to use him, having put him on the bench at the weekend. The pitch was only playable thanks to the excellent job of the pitch covers that were only taken off at 6.30pm. It was so cold in the area that I nearly slipped over in the ice as I got out of my car in the car park when I arrived. Stagsnet player ratings on the Match Centre --------------------------- Stockport County 1 Mansfield Town 3 - 15th January, 2013 CHAD report by John Lomas A THREE-goal purple patch in the last 10 minutes of the first half secured Mansfield Town three crucial points at Stockport County last night. There had been little in the game in a scrappy first half until Colin Daniel's rocket free kick provided the big breakthrough on 38 minutes. Two minutes later Lee Stevenson prodded home the second from Green's attempted shot and, three minuets into stoppage time, Green tucked away a penalty to give County no way back and make it a miserable debut for on-loan Chesterfield keeper Richard O'Donnell. Sub Alex Meaney did pull one back with nine minutes to go, but the result extended Stockport's poor run to one win in nine. The visitors had a A THREE-goal purple patch in the last 10 minutes of the first half secured Mansfield Town three crucial points at Stockport County last night. There had been little in the game in a scrappy first half until Colin Daniel's rocket free kick provided the big breakthrough on 38 minutes. Two minutes later Lee Stevenson prodded home the second from Green's attempted shot and, three minuets into stoppage time, Green tucked away a penalty to give County no way back and make it a miserable debut for on-loan Chesterfield keeper Richard O'Donnell. Sub Alex Meaney did pull one back with nine minutes to go, but the result extended Stockport's poor run to one win in nine. STAGS boss Paul Cox made four changes for tonight's game at Stockport County. Exodus Geohaghon was suffering with a tight hamstring while Chris Clements, Louis Briscoe and John Thompson were dropped to the bench from the side beaten 2-0 at home by Kidderminster on Saturday. Into the defence came Ritchie Sutton at right back and Luke Jones at centre half with Lee Stevenson getting a rare outing in midfield and Junior Daniel on the left of a front three. The visitors had an early let-off. Stockport won a fifth minute corner, curled in by Whitehead from the left which saw Hattersley meet it with a firm free header that missed the target from seven yards. And they had an even bigger let-off when County wasted an eighth minute penalty kick. Halls powered his way down the right, shrugging off the challenge of Murray and curling in a dangerous cross which struck the hand of Sutton. The referee immediately pointed to the spot and Hattersley stepped up to send his kick just wide of the left hand post. It took Mansfield 16 minutes to fashion a chance as Daniel drilled in a low cross-cum-shot from the left which Newton stopped, the ball then played from Murray to Stevenson whose point blank range finish was blocked by the keeper. From another Mansfield raid, Stags found themselves caught four on three on the counter and were relieved to see Whitehead choose the wrong final pass and allowing Dempster to clear. Mansfield almost grabbed the lead on 34 minutes. Murray floated in a corner from the right, which Beevers met with a looping header that looked destined for the top corner until Newton headed it off the line. But a screaming free kick from Daniel did break the deadlock on 38 minutes. Conceded by Stockport 20 yards out on the right of the D, Daniel struck it with his trusty left boot and it screamed through the wall and into the centre of the goal. Mansfield then helped themselves to a second goal on 40 minutes. Green drilled the ball in low from the right of the goal, and it took a slight deflection on its way to the far post where Stevenson prodded it over the line to make sure. The visitors were then gifted a third three minutes into stoppage time. From a Murray corner, Hattersley clearly shoved over Dempster and Green coolly crashed the penalty high down the centre to leave the home side booed off. The desperate home side made a double change for the second half, Collins and Mainwaring on for Hattersley and Halls. And they almost stole one back as Kenyon glanced a header wide across goal from a Newton corner on 55 minutes. Howell almost made it four for Mansfield on 66 minutes from a Jones nod-down, but, from a great position, poked just wide of the far post. Some sublime footwork by defender Dempster saw him work his way to beyond the halfway line and find Meikle with a superb pass, the winger's low ball in just too hard for Stevenson coming in at the far post. Sub Meaney was booked inside two minutes of coming on, but he did pull one back on 81 minutes. Whitehead played a one-two with Jennings before seeing his finish come back off the post where Meaney turned it home from close range. But it was too little too late for the home side. n early let-off. Stockport won a fifth minute corner, curled in by Whitehead from the left which saw Hattersley meet it with a firm free header that missed the target from seven yards. And they had an even bigger let-off when County wasted an eighth minute penalty kick. Halls powered his way down the right, shrugging off the challenge of Murray and curling in a dangerous cross which struck the hand of Sutton. The referee immediately pointed to the spot and Hattersley stepped up to send his kick just wide of the left hand post. It took Mansfield 16 minutes to fashion a chance as Daniel drilled in a low cross-cum-shot from the left which Newton stopped, the ball then played from Murray to Stevenson whose point blank range finish was blocked by the keeper. From another Mansfield raid, Stags found themselves caught four on three on the counter and were relieved to see Whitehead choose the wrong final pass and allowing Dempster to clear. Mansfield almost grabbed the lead on 34 minutes. Murray floated in a corner from the right, which Beevers met with a looping header that looked destined for the top corner until Newton headed it off the line. But a screaming free kick from Daniel did break the deadlock on 38 minutes. Conceded by Stockport 20 yards out on the right of the D, Daniel struck it with his trusty left boot and it screamed through the wall and into the centre of the goal. Mansfield then helped themselves to a second goal on 40 minutes. Green drilled the ball in low from the right of the goal, and it took a slight deflection on its way to the far post where Stevenson prodded it over the line to make sure. The visitors were then gifted a third three minutes into stoppage time. From a Murray corner, Hattersley clearly shoved over Dempster and Green coolly crashed the penalty high down the centre to leave the home side booed off. The desperate home side made a double change for the second half, Collins and Mainwaring on for Hattersley and Halls. And they almost stole one back as Kenyon glanced a header wide across goal from a Newton corner on 55 minutes. Howell almost made it four for Mansfield on 66 minutes from a Jones nod-down, but, from a great position, poked just wide of the far post. Some sublime footwork by defender Dempster saw him work his way to beyond the halfway line and find Meikle with a superb pass, the winger's low ball in just too hard for Stevenson coming in at the far post. Sub Meaney was booked inside two minutes of coming on, but he did pull one back on 81 minutes. Whitehead played a one-two with Jennings before seeing his finish come back off the post where Meaney turned it home from close range. But it was too little too late for the home side -------------------- Mansfield Town: Stags cruise to fine away win Nottingham Post report by STevie Roden IT is hard to believe that, half an hour into this match, there would have been a few fearful Mansfield Town fans. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/story-17871038-detail/story.html After defeat to Kidderminster at the weekend, the Stags were hardly giving much reason for optimism as they escaped twice in the first ten minutes, as struggling Stockport missed a penalty and an easy chance from a few yards out. Keeping possession was proving tough yet, within less than ten minutes, the Stags were going in at the break 3-0 up, game over, the win in the bag, and despite Stockport pulling back a late goal, the rest of this affair was pretty comfortable as they sealed a much-needed victory. It left many inside Edgeley Park somewhat shell-shocked at the interval, but Colin Daniel's fierce free-kick on 38 minutes, Lee Stevenson's tap-in and then Matt Green's penalty on the stroke of half-time turned the game on its head. They say football is a funny old game and even ex-Stags boss Billy Dearden, watching from the stands, was offering a wry smile at the break, like many, wondering how the visitors had a three-goal advantage at that stage. But, on a freezing evening, the 3-1 victory meant the pressure the Stags had piled on themselves, with two defeats in their three previous league games prior to this match, thawed a little by winning their first game in hand – of many. And, in the end, once they did hit their stride, the points came comfortably. The frost covers were not rolled off the pitch until 90 minutes before kick-off, enabling the game to get the green light. Stags boss Paul Cox made four changes from the side that lost 2-0 to Kidderminster at the weekend, with Luke Jones and Stevenson getting rare starts and Ritchie Sutton and Daniel also coming in. John Thompson, Louis Briscoe and Chris Clements dropped to the bench, while Exodus Geohaghon missed out with a hamstring problem. On five minutes, Mansfield had a huge let off when a corner was swung in from the left and unmarked, less than six yards out, Danny Hattersley was allowed to meet it – but somehow put his header over. The towering frontman held his head in disbelief as the Stags players sighed with relief but, two minutes later, Stockport had a penalty. Danny Whitehead broke down the right and fired in a low ball which Sutton, swooping low, accidentally handled and the referee pointed to the spot. Hattersley had a chance to make amends for his miss but his nightmare continued, as he pulled a poor spot kick wide of the post to give Mansfield another let off. On 16 minutes, Mansfield finally threatened. A superb ball by Beevers released Matt Green down the left of the box and his ball across the six-yard box caused problems, dropped invitingly for Stevenson but, from point-blank range, he was denied by Richard O'Donnell in the Stockport goal. A cross swung in from the left by Sean Newton did cause problems for the visitors as Hattersley rose inside the box, somewhat unorthodoxly, but he still managed to direct it towards the bottom corner – although Alan Marriott got down to make a comfortable save. Stags went close ten minutes before the break when Lee Beevers met a corner from the right but, as it looped under the crossbar, Newton was on hand to head clear. But, on 38 minutes, the visitors took the lead. After Anthony Howell was fouled on the edge of the area, in a central position, Daniel struck the free-kick with real venom, through the wall, giving the goalkeeper no chance as it rifled into the back of the net. And, less than two minutes later, it was 2-0 as Green fired in a shot from a tight angle across goal, it took a deflection and despite looking to be going in the far corner, Stevenson ran on and tapped home to make sure. Just before the break, Marriott had to get down to his right to turn Whitehead's low shot around his post before Hattersley's nightmare first-half continued in stoppage time when he shoved John Dempster to the ground and Green hammered home the spot kick to put the Stags 3-0 up. It was a remarkable spell but the confidence, after that first goal, began to ooze through the Mansfield players. Stockport's Alex Kenyon flashed a header wide from a corner early in the second half before, at the other end, Howell shot inches wide when it could easily have been a fourth for Mansfield midway through the half. Daniel tried his luck with a free-kick from an identical position to his opening goal, but this time blasted against the wall with 14 minutes of the match remaining, before Whitehead curled one just over for the hosts and Stags substitute Louis Briscoe also drilled wide. Whitehead then hit the post on 81 minutes, with substitute Alex Meaney prodding home the rebound to pull a goal back. Green tried to counter that for Mansfield but, after twisting and turning inside the Stockport box, saw his effort blocked. But the truth was, Mansfield were able to cruise to the win in the second half, the pressure off. The victory had been earned in those crazy last ten minutes of the first period. They might have ridden their luck in the early exchanges but the Stags got there in the end, and quite comfortably too. Paul Cox's men are back up and running and after seeing off Stockport last night, they will hope to beat the predicted big freeze later in the week as they look to build further momentum at Southport this Saturday. Man of the match: Colin Daniel. The winger came back into the side and showed his attacking threat throughout the game. It was Daniel's fierce free-kick that got the ball rolling for Mansfield, when his thunderbolt put them 1-0 up on 38 minutes and ultimately changed the course of the game. Referee: Darren Handley (Lancashire). The man in the middle had a solid game and called both penalty decisions correctly as well as letting the game flow. But later on he seemed to even a couple of decisions up for either side when he could have shown cards. Stockport: O'Donnell, Halls (Mainwaring, 46), Newton, Connor, Tunnicliffe, Whitehead, Kenyon, Hattersley (Collins, 46), Nolan (Meaney, 77), Fagbola, Jennings. Subs: Ormson, Collins, Hobson, Mainwaring. Mansfield: Marriott, Sutton, Beevers, Dempster, Jones, Meikle (Briscoe, 70), Murray, Howell, Daniel, Stevenson, Green. Subs: Rhead, Wright, Clements, Thompson. Attendance: 2,647 (139 away) Other results: Telford 0 Luton 0, Cambridge 1 Nuneaton 3, Dartford 2 Macclesfield 0 --------------------- Mansfield defeat spells end for Gannon http://www.stockport.vitalfootball.co.uk/matchrep.asp?a=305740 A defeat at the hands of Mansfield made the alarm bells ring in the ears of Spencer Fearn and Lord Snape as Jim Gannon was dismissed just hours after another defeat for Stockport County. Many fans were unhappy with the dismissal of Jim Gannon, most reacting by calling for Lord Snapes' head to roll. County had a 10 day rest since a defeat at Cambridge United and came into the match with a considerably lighter squad after more budget slashing meant Jim Gannon had a squad of around 18 professionals to work with. A new loan keeper, paid for by the fans, came in from Chesterfield and made his debut in goals. Andy Halls returned from injury, whilst Sean Newton came back into the team at full back following suspension. Joe Connor kept his place in midfield despite calls for the skipper to be dropped. Danny Hattersley returned upfront. County started the brighter of the two teams and Hattersley missed an early chance to give County the lead with a close range header going over the bar from a Whitehead corner. And when County broke, Andy Halls recovered well to gain advantage of an earlier foul and put in a great cross which the Mansfield defender could only deal with by using his hands, the referee awarded a penalty. Unusually Sean Newton did not take the spot kick, with striker Danny Hattersley stepping up to take it instead. Hattersley had to replace the ball on the spot as it rolled forward due to the state of surface, and many could see little confidence in Hattersley putting the ball in the back of the net. He stepped up with purpose but struck straight wide of the left hand side of the post. Junior Daniel made County pay on 38 minutes as he struck home a free kick, giving Mansfield a 1-0 lead. Lee Stevenson prodded home from close distance to make it 2-0, and then at the end of a devastating ten minute spell Mansfield got a penalty and Green fired home to make it 3-0 and pretty much game over. Many County fans had enough and left at half time, but this was no reflection on Jim Gannon for many who are not happy with the backing and support he receives from the board. County got a consolation late on through Alex Meaney but in reality not much matters about last night now, it is all about the next few days as far as Stockport County fans are concerned --------------- |
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