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Archived News from December 2002

SUPER STAGS WIN AGAIN
26th December 2002 22:00


The Stags produced a superb display at Field Mill this afternoon and defeated Stockport 4-2 to move off the bottom. The Stags fell behind to an early own goal from Rhys Day but soon equalised when Iyseden Christie headed home his 14th league goal of the season, his 15th in total. The Stags fell behind again when Keith Curle was harshly adjudged to have fouled Beckett inside the area and Burgess scored from the spot kick. The Stags missed numerous chances to draw level, Wayne Corden firing over from 7 yards right on half time, and were very unlucky to go in behind at half time. The Stags soon drew level after Christie was felled by Clare inside the area, it was a goal scoring opportunity denied and Clare should have been dismissed but escaped with a yellow card. Wayne Corden put aside the Stags 0 out of 5 record to score. Just a few minutes later the Stags were ahead, Craig Disley ran through but hit a very weak shot which Stockport keeper Jones appeared to have covered, however, the ball bobbled past the keeper and into the net. The Stags had several more chances to make the game safe before Corden finished well for the Stags 4th and a thoroughly well deserved three points. See Match Centre for a full report.

BBC.co.uk

Mansfield made it three wins on the trot despite twice shooting themselves in the foot before beating Stockport in a thriller.

New player-manager Keith Curle rallied his troops after two early blows and in the end they were worthy winners.

Mansfield defender Rhys Day headed into his own goal after only three minutes, but Iyseden Christie headed his 15th of the season to equalise.

Curle then gave away a needless penalty which Ben Burgess tucked away.

The Stags wasted a string of chances but levelled just after the break from Wayne Corden's penalty after Rob Clare tripped Christie.

Then goalkeeper Lee Jones allowed Craig Disley's tame shot to creep through his fingers in the mud, and Corden fired home his second of the game to wrap it up.


TEXT COMMENTARY FROM THE BBC

Mansfield Town : Pilkington , Hassell , Curle , Day , Eaton , Lawrence ,
Curtis , Disley , Corden , Christie , White
Subs: White , Larkin , Gadsby , Williamson , Beardsley

Stockport County : Jones , Clare , Challinor , Tonkin , Gibb , Briggs ,
Lescott , Pemberton , Lambert , Beckett , Burgess
Subs: Jones , Fradin , Ross , Daly , Hardiker

Ref: R Beeby (Northamptonshire)

Attendance : 6,434 (817 from Stockport).

FIRST HALF

01:58 : Goal - Rhys Day (own goal) : Mansfield 0-1 Stockport.
Cross by Luke Beckett (Stockport), blocked by Keith Curle (Mansfield).
Inswinging corner from left by-line taken right-footed by Richard Lambert
(Stockport) to near post, clearance by Andy White (Mansfield). Inswinging
corner from left by-line taken right-footed by Richard Lambert (Stockport)
to centre, resulting in open play. Headed own goal by Rhys Day (Mansfield)
(bottom-right of goal) from own half (18 yards).

05:07 : Goal - Iyseden Christie : Mansfield 1-1 Stockport.
Cross by Liam Lawrence (Mansfield), headed goal by Iyseden Christie
(Mansfield) (top-left of goal) from centre of penalty area (6
yards).Mansfield 1-1 Stockport. Assist (cross) by Liam Lawrence (Mansfield)
from right by-line.

15:32 : Goal - Ben Burgess (penalty) : Mansfield 1-2 Stockport.
Foul by Keith Curle (Mansfield) on Luke Beckett (Stockport). Placed penalty
taken left-footed by Ben Burgess (Stockport) (bottom-left of goal), scored.

Half Time : Mansfield 1-2 Stockport

SECOND HALF

46:23 : Goal - Wayne Corden (penalty) : Mansfield 2-2 Stockport.
Foul by Robert Clare (Stockport) on Iyseden Christie (Mansfield). Robert
Clare (Stockport) booked for unsporting behaviour. Placed penalty taken
right-footed by Wayne Corden (Mansfield) (bottom-left of goal), scored.

53:50 : Goal - Craig Disley : Mansfield 3-2 Stockport.
Goal by Craig Disley (Mansfield) mishit right-footed (bottom-left of goal)
from right channel (30 yards). Assist (pass) by Colin Larkin (Mansfield)
from own half.

78:17 : Goal - Wayne Corden : Mansfield 4-2 Stockport.
Goal by Wayne Corden (Mansfield) curled right-footed (bottom-right of goal)
from centre of penalty area (18 yards). Assist (pass) by Iyseden Christie
(Mansfield) from right channel.

Full Time : Mansfield 4-2 Stockport
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Stags 4 Stockport County 2
CHAD website
Christmas Day may have been yesterday. But there is no doubting who Mansfield Town fans believe is the new messiah right now.
New player manager Keith Curle is tonight celebrating his third successive win since joining the club as Stags finally got off the bottom of Division Two.
They certainly did it the hard way with an own goal and a penalty conceded, twice giving Stockport the advantage.
But in the end Stags were deserved winners after three second half goals without reply, helped by a penalty conceded by Robert Clare and a goalkeeping gaffe by Lee Jones.
And all this came on a very muddy pitch in a game which may not have taken place at all if any more rain had fallen.
Twice Stags shot themselves in the foot early in the game as first Rhys Day headed Rickie Lambert's corner into his own goal on three minutes.
And then after Iyseden Christie had headed his 15th goal of the season to level three minutes later from Liam Lawrence's cross, Curle proved he is human as he needlessly fouled Luke Beckett in the box on 17 minutes and the outstanding Ben Burgess confidently tucked home the spot kick.
The first half was an end to end affair with both sides wasting good chances. But Mansfield took command as the half wore on and Stockport were relieved to still be ahead at the break.
Stags stepped up a gear after the break and always looked the more likely winners from the moment Clare tripped Christie on 48 minutes as he sped past him to go clear on goal.
Clare should have been given a red card for a professional foul as the last defender. But referee Richard Beeby's Christmas cheer extended an extra day and he was only booked.
However, Wayne Corden was not so charitable and sent keeper Lee Jones the wrong way as Mansfield celebrated finally scoring from the penalty spot this season after five straight misses!
Craig Disley then put Stags ahead for the first time on 55 minutes with a bizarre goal.
Put clear by Colin Larkin, who replaced the injured Andy White at half-time, he tried to burst clear but couldn't shake off Aaron Lescott who seemed to have done enough to put the midfielder off.
Disley's low shot from 15 yards was a poor one without any pace and comfy for Jones. But as the keeper bent down to grab the ball it somehow crept through his fingers in the mud and over the line.
It was all Mansfield from then on and Jones twice saved from Christie before Corden finally buried Stockport with a low shot on 79 minutes after a square ball from Christie found him unmarked on the left of the box.
Kevin Pilkington was a virtual spectator for much of the second half. But deep in stoppage time he superbly parried a seven yard blast from Beckett to deny the former Spireite a consolation.
Keith Curle can do no wrong right now. A tough trip to Brentford awaits on Saturday - but who would bet against the cock-a-hoop Stags getting something out the game right now?
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BBC.co.uk:
Mansfield made it three wins on the trot despite twice shooting themselves in the foot before beating Stockport in a thriller.
New player-manager Keith Curle rallied his troops after two early blows and in the end they were worthy winners.
Mansfield defender Rhys Day headed into his own goal after only three minutes, but Iyseden Christie headed his 15th of the season to equalise.
Curle then gave away a needless penalty which Ben Burgess tucked away.
The Stags wasted a string of chances but levelled just after the break from Wayne Corden's penalty after Rob Clare tripped Christie.
Then goalkeeper Lee Jones allowed Craig Disley's tame shot to creep through his fingers in the mud, and Corden fired home his second of the game to wrap it up.
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footymad:
Mansfield's third successive victory under new player-manager Keith Curle moved them out of the bottom four - and dragged his close friend Carlton Palmer's side into the relegation mire.

The Stags were given a helping hand, however, by Stockport keeper Lee Jones's 55th minute howler.

With the game in the balance at 2-2, the keeper somehow allowed Craig Disley's weak finish to slip through his hands and just trickle over the line.

A now rampant Mansfield then sealed their fifth home win - and each time they have scored at least four goals - when Wayne Corden curled his 20-yard drive into the bottom corner to complete the Stags' second half fightback.

County, minus the suspended Palmer, got off to the perfect start when home defender Rhys Day headed Rickie Lambert's corner into his own net.

But within three minutes the home side were level.

Corden and Liam Lawrence worked a clever short corner and Iyseden Christie headed in his 15th goal of the season, his 11th in the last nine games.

In a thrilling opening, chances continued to come thick and fast at both ends, one of them fell to Christie who sidefooted wide from six yards after another fine run by Lawrence.

County punished him by regaining the lead just 30 seconds later when Luke Beckett was fouled in the area by Curle and Ben Burgess tucked away the 16th minute penalty.

Jones denied Corden a second equaliser with a brave save at the winger's feet and, in first-half injury time Corden, blazed over an empty net.

But within three minutes of the restart Corden made amends by tucking away another penalty after Robert Clare chopped down Christie.

It was Mansfield's first successful penalty in six attempts.
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Match Statistics (Stags/Stockport)
18 Goal Attempts 9
10 On target 6
8 Off target 3
0 Woodwork 0
10 Corners 2
14 Fouls 17
7 Offside 7
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