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Archived News from September 2015

BELOW-STRENGTH STAGS KNOCKED OUT OF JPT
9th September 2015 0:31


Football League Trophy - Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, Northern Area, Round 1
Notts County 3 - 1 Mansfield Town
McLeod 52, Edwards 79, Stead 90. Westcarr pen 90+5
Attendance: 2,696 (754 from Mansfield)

Date: 1 September 2015

Martin Shaw at Meadow Lane

A below-full-strength Mansfield Town were comfortably beaten 3-1 by Notts County tonight in the first round of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy at Meadow Lane. The first half was goalless but Notts County were the better side, though Mansfield probably had the two best chances as Adi Yussuf missed a one-on-one chance and Adam Chapman forced a great save from keeper Scott Loach from a free-kick. Murray had experimented in the first half with Adam Chapman in a back three with Lee Collins and Krystian Pearce, and with Liam Marsden and Mal Benning as wing backs. The second half saw Murray switch back to four in defence. Notts County took a deserved lead on 52 minutes with a mistake by Lee Collins as he missed a ball forward allowing Notts County’s big money signing Izale McLeod through on goal and he finished brilliantly clipping the ball over Brian Jensen. Notts made it 2-0 on 79 minutes as Mike Edwards fired through Jensen’s legs from close range. Then on 90 minutes, it was 3-0 as Collins lost the ball, allowing Jon Stead to play the ball forward and Mal Benning conceded a free-kick on the edge of the D. Stead’s free-kick was deflected in. Mansfield got a consolation goal on 90+5 minutes as sub Craig Westcarr brilliantly controlled a ball over the top from Clements and was goalside of his marker Mike Edwards who clearly bundled him over from behind. It was a clear penalty. Westcarr despatched it just inside the left post. It was the first penalty Mansfield have converted since 5 October 2013 (by Sam Clucas, in a 4-1 home defeat against Hartlepool); a total of 98 league & cup games without scoring a penalty.

Stags boss Adam Murray rested the maximum players he could within the rules of the competition, including his players in top form, Matt Green and Ryan Tafazolli, plus Clements, Hunt, Lambe and Westcarr. Notts County boss Ricardo Moniz played his full strength side and desperately needed a result as he’s come under considerable pressure after a poor run of results. In addition, Notts County have got no game this coming weekend, so had absolutely no reason to rest players. Mansfield had several players tonight who looked rusty and lacking in match sharpness because they have not played games. Mansfield have no reserve team this season and have not been able to arrange reserve games because of the number of midweek first team games. Adi Yussuf, Liam Marsden, Lee Collins, among others, especially looked very rusty and it would be quite unfair to write them off based on this performance. Now Mansfield have some blank midweeks, boss Adam Murray will be organising reserve games to get game time into the players not playing in the first team, and as a result I’d expect to see much better match performances the next time these players are called upon.

For what it’s worth, in my opinion, Murray got it spot on with how he handled this game. Mansfield have given themselves the best chance of beating AFC Wimbledon on Saturday and climbing into the League Two play-off zone by resting players tonight, and interestingly AFC Wimbledon have done exactly the same thing in their JPT game tonight including resting Akinfenwa.

The attendance of 2,696 was only a quarter of that which attended the pulsating league game recently and reflected the relative lack of importance of early stage games in this competition. Only 754 travelled from Mansfield which was over 600 down on how many travelled to this game in the same stage of this competition last season, and over 2,000 down on how many travelled to the recent league game.

Back to the league on Saturday and the visit of AFC Wimbledon. A real chance for the Stags to force their way into the play-off zone. Come on Mansfield!

FULL REPORT ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT

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Tuesday, 1st September 2015, JPT Round One: Notts County 3, Mansfield Town 1
chad.co.uk report by John Lomas, Tuesday 01 September 2015

Mansfield Town made a first round exit in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy as Notts County gained some semblance of revenge for their League Two home defeat in last month’s derby with a 3-1 win at Meadow Lane tonight.

Stags boss Adam Murray chose to give a game to some of his squad players, two making full debuts, and their lack of match action this season showed as they tired on the night.

http://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/sport/local-sport/tuesday-1st-september-2015-jpt-round-one-notts-county-3-mansfield-town-1-1-7439257?

Notts had the better of a scoreless first half, Adam Campbell hitting the post and the Magpies creating the better chances.

However, Adi Yussuf might have done better when he allowed Scott Loach to deny him in a one-on-one on 35 minutes while the keeper also saved well from an Adam Chapman free kick.

But Notts finally grabbed the lead through a high quality chipped finish by former Derby County and MK Dons striker Izzy McLeod on 52 minutes.

Stags rallied briefly but failed to seriously test Loach before home stalwart Mike Edwards popped up as an unlikely scorer during a scramble from a corner on 79 minutes.

Jon Stead’s deflected free kick in the final minute cheered the home fans, but there was still time for Stags to win a penalty, Craig Westcarr netting against his old club in the last of five added minutes - scant consolation on the night.

Stags had gone 86 games before being awarded a penalty and have now had two in three games. It was actually the first they had scored since 5th October 2013.

However, the night belonged to Notts, though Murray will have been far more pleased to have taken the League points from Meadow Lane last month and said afterwards he was delighted to see some of his fringe players get some much-needed game time.

Striker Yussuf and central defender Neil Collins were both given their first starts for Mansfield Town as two of six changes.

Collins was given the captain’s armband and they were joined in the side by Jamie McGuire, Liam Marsden, Chris Beardsley and Nathan Thomas.

Out for the night went Ryan Tafazolli, Matt Green Reggie Lamb, Chris Clements, Craig Westcarr and Nicky Hunt, though Lambe, Clements and Westcarr were on the five man bench.

Stags began the night with the derby bragging rights after a 2-0 League Two win at Meadow Lane less then three weeks ago.

Stags were also boosted by Saturday’s 2-1 win at York City while Notts were shot down 4-1 at Morecambe.

Notts started well and Jensen was involved three times in the opening exchanges, taking two dangerous crosses from the air and winning a race to the ball.

On eight minutes Burke had a shot blocked after McLeod had raced inside Marsden.

It took Stags 18 minutes to fashion a chance as Yussuf took the ball full in the face and went down, but play went on and Benning continued to chase the ball into the box, Loach just managing to drop on it as Benning tried to nick the ball to Beardsley in front of an open goal.

But the Magpies almost took a 21st minute lead as Campbell cut into the box on the left and curled a superb low shot across Jensen which came back off the far post. Stead tried to put the ball back into the danger zone and Jensen was safely there to intercept.

The Magpies were starting to look very dangerous and when Stead held off Collins’ challenge to reach a ball over the defence on 25 minutes, Jensen had to get down to make a save.

However, Stags survived the spell of pressure and wasted the chance of the night so far on 35 minutes as McGuire sent Yussuf through one-on-one with Loach only to see the keeper turn the finish round for a corner.

Rose then won Stags a free kick 25 yards from goal on 41 minutes which Chapman whipped over the wall on target, forcing Loach to block for a corner.

Notts found their second breath just before the break and a low Atkinson ball skidded right across the face of the Mansfield goal while, seconds later, Hollis nodded a long Atkinson cross just wide of the target.

Veteran Edwards replaced the injured Swerts for the second half, Jack Thomas taking over from Rose for Mansfield as the Stags changed formation.

But it was the Magpies who almost broke through on 47 minutes as the nimble Campbell played a one-two with Stead to burst into the box and, with only Jensen to beat, saw the keeper get a piece of it and force a corner.

When that came over Edwards was just too high with a powerful header.

Stags had a half-chance when Beardsley won the ball and sent over a cross that Pearce headed at Loach.

But the breakthrough arrived on 52 minutes. Collins failed to cut out a through ball and McLeod was away, showing all his class and quality as he dinked a clever chip over the helpless Jensen.

Nathan Thomas sent a vicious shot at the home goal which Loach was always behind, then soon after his low shot forced the keeper down the his left to turn away for the first of two corners.

Murray made his other two changes as Clements and Westcarr took over from Chapman and Beardsley, Westcarr soon testing Loach with a low 20 yard shot.

But Notts began to turn the screw and from the third of three successive corners, they grabbed the all-important second goal with 11 minutes to go, Edwards on hand to squeeze the loose ball between the legs of Jensen from eight yards amid a scramble.

Notts rubbed salt in the wounds on 90 minutes as they added a third from a 20-yard free kick, Stead seeing his effort deflect off the Mansfield wall and leave Jensen helpless.

But Mansfield had some late consolation as Edwards brought down Westcarr in the last of five added minutes and Westcarr stepped up to drill home a low finish fromt the penalty spot.

NOTTS COUNTY: Loach, Hollis (Jenner 88), Snijders, Campbell, Burke, Swerts (Edwards HT), Atkinson, Stead, Audel, Aborah (Smith 75), McLeod. Subs not used: Spencer, Pilkington.

STAGS: Jensen, McGuire, Marsden, Benning, Rose (J. Thomas HT), Pearce, Collins, Chapman (Clements 61), Beardsley (Westcarr 65), N. Thomas, Yussuf. Subs not used: Lambe, Shires.

REFEREE: Richard Clark of Northumberland.

ATTENDANCE: 2,696 (754 away).

CHAD STAGS MAN OF THE MATCH: Brian Jensen.

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twitter Sean Taylor @seantaylorpress
#nottscounty 3 @mansfieldtownfc 1
my report from last night as Izale McLeod opened his @Official_NCFC account
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11750/9975885/notts-county-3-1-mansfield-town-magpies-win-local-derby #stags

Notts County 3-1 Mansfield Town: Magpies win local derby

Izale McLeod's first goal for the club set Notts County on their way to a 3-1 victory against neighbours Mansfield in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

In a repeat of last season's first-round tie, which the Magpies won en route to reaching the Northern Section semi-finals, Ricardo Moniz's men gained some revenge for their 2-0 league loss to the Stags at Meadow Lane last month.

McLeod, who arrived from Crawley for a six-figure fee 10 days ago, opened his account shortly after half-time before goals from substitute Mike Edwards and Jon Stead ensured that Notts would progress.

Former Magpie Craig Westcarr netted a consolation goal for Mansfield from the penalty spot in injury time.

After a slow start the game livened up as the midway-point of the first half approached. Adam Campbell curled a shot against a post and Stead worked Brian Jensen in the Mansfield goal.

It took 35 minutes before the Stags' first effort on goal. Adi Yusuf went through one-on-one with Scott Loach but the goalkeeper blocked his lofted finish. Loach, making his debut, then had to push away 25-yard free-kick from Adam Chapman.

Good link up play between Stead and Campbell almost provided the breakthrough at the start of the second half but Jensen was out well to block Campbell's effort.

McLeod did open the scoring after 52 minutes, latching on to Hollis' pass and clipping the ball over the advancing Jensen from the right side of the area.

Yusuf flashed a 20-yard shot narrowly wide as Mansfield sought an immediate response while just after the hour mark Nathan Thomas was denied by a fingertip save from Loach.

After a period of pressure from the hosts, Edwards capitalised on a scramble in the penalty area to shoot through Jensen's legs to make it 2-0 after 79 minutes.

Jensen did well to twice thwart McLeod when he was through one-on-one but there was little he could do to keep out Stead's deflected free-kick in the final minute.

That was not the end of the scoring though, as Edwards tussled with Westcarr and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. The former Mansfield striker tucked away the spot-kick with virtually the last kick of the game.

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REPORT: Notts 3-1 Mansfield
nottscountyfc.co.uk
by Notts Media Team

Goals from Izale McLeod, Mike Edwards and Jon Stead gave Notts County a deserved victory in their local derby as they beat Mansfield Town 3-1 at Meadow Lane.

McLeod's deft lob over Brian Jensen - his first goal for the club - seven minutes into the second half opened the scoring and that strike was supplemented by Stead's deflected free-kick on top of Edwards' fine turn and finish were enough to put the Magpies into the second round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

Read more at http://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/news/article/report-notts-3-1-mansfield-2663869.aspx#jbkOESjuGY7ppwqv.99

Adam Campbell had hit the post in the first half, but McLeod and Edwards made no mistake with their chances before Stead added a third late on.

Former County striker Craig Westcarr won and scored a penalty in stoppage time but it was a goal in vain as County gained a modicum of revenge for their 2-0 loss to the Stags in the league 18 days earlier.

Manager Ricardo Moniz made a hat-trick of changes to his starting line-up following Saturday's 4-1 defeat at Morecambe. Roy Carroll and Mawouna Amevor were away on international duty, which allowed Scott Loach and Wesley Atkinson to come in for their Notts County debuts whilst Stanley Aborah returned from suspension to take his place in the centre of midfield with Civard Sprockel dropping out of the matchday squad.

The first chance of the game fell to Notts as McLeod embarked on a mazy run down the left before pulling the ball back for Graham Burke, who saw his shot blocked by the face of Adam Chapman.

Burke floated in a free-kick which was cleared to Aborah 20 yards out, but his first-time volley couldn't replicate Genaro Snijders' goal from the weekend and sailed wide of Brian Jensen's net.

At the other end, an under-hit back-pass from Snijders almost let Malvind Benning in on goal but Loach was quick off his line to meet the Mansfield man and smother the danger.

Superb work from Campbell saw him harry former Magpie Krystian Pearce into giving away possession in the final third. The attacker advanced into the area and was desperately unlucky not to score with a low curling shot which hit the far post.

A long ball forward from Loach gave Stead a physical tussle with Lee Collins which saw the striker shrug off his marker and work enough space to get a shot away which rolled tamely to Jensen.

Notts continued to press for an opening goal. Campbell found space on the left-hand side of the penalty area but couldn't find a man in a black and white shirt with his pull-back.

Mansfield had their first clear-cut chance when Adi Yusuf broke clear of the Notts defence but former England under-21 goalkeeper Loach prevented the visiting striker from scoring the opener by saving with his chest.

Textbook hold-up play by McLeod led to the next opportunity for Moniz's men as the striker bided his time and kept a defender at bay before laying the ball off for Snijders to blast across the face of goal and wide from just inside the area.

A foul by Gill Swerts gave Mansfield a free-kick in dangerous territory 25 yards out which Chapman fired towards the bottom corner, only for Loach to plunge to his right and palm it away.

Debutant Atkinson's low cross flashed across the six-yard box with Snijders a couple of inches away from making contact and giving Notts a deserved lead and Hollis headed wide from a corner as County continued to probe with no success as the sides went into the break at a stalemate.

An injury sustained in an accidental collision during the first half meant Swerts had to be substituted at the start of the second period with Mike Edwards taking the Belgian's place at the heart of the defence.

Campbell's quick one-two with Stead put the former Newcastle striker one-on-one with Jensen but the goalkeeper thwarted the effort, saving with his legs. From the corner, Edwards headed narrowly over the top from Burke's cross.

Pearce's header from 15 yards was collected by Loach at the end of a rare Mansfield attack.

Notts got the goal their dominance deserved and it was McLeod who got it, bagging his first in Notts colours. The six-figure purchase from Crawley Town broke the offside trap and calmly lifted the ball over the onrushing Jensen into the far corner.

Yusuf immediately fired wide in retaliation to the opening goal, though it was never in danger of troubling Loach whilst Campbell curled into Jensen's midriff at the Kop End.

Nathan Thomas had two efforts, first firing straight down the throat of Loach then forcing the Notts goalkeeper into a smart save with a grass-cutter which had to be tipped around the post.

Westcarr, on as a substitute for the visitors, tried to make an impact with a shot from 25 yards but it was a routine stop for a goalkeeper of Loach's quality.

Hollis was denied a certain goal by the slightest of touches which took the ball off his head two yards out but Notts doubled the lead from the resulting corner as Edwards turned on the six-yard line to slam a shot through the legs of Jensen.

McLeod could have doubled his tally for the evening, but was denied by a fine recovery tackle from Collins after surging past the visiting defence. The striker then got the ball stuck under his feet following a superb solo run down the left from Thierry Audel.

Notts had two goals ruled out for offside with McLeod and Stead unfortunate not to add to the lead in the latter stages of the game.

Stead, though, was not to be denied and got his goal with a deflected free-kick from 25 yards. The ball cannoned off the wall and wrongfooted Jensen to find the back of the net.

Westcarr won a penalty in injury time after going down under a challenge from Edwards. The striker picked himself up and crashed his penalty into the bottom corner, but it was merely a consolation as Notts sailed into the second round.

Notts: Loach; Atkinson, Swerts (Edwards, 45), Hollis (Jenner, 88), Audel; Aborah (Smith, 75), Burke; Snijders, Stead, Campbell; McLeod.
Subs not used: Pilkington, Spencer.

Attendance: 2,696 (754 away)

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