Archived News from September 2015
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STAGS CLAIM DECENT POINT AGAINST PLYMOUTH
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Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Mansfield Town 0 - 0 Plymouth Argyle Attendance: 3185 (463 from Plymouth) Date: 26 September 2015 Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town drew 0-0 with high flying Plymouth Argyle at Field Mill this afternoon. It was a satisfactory point for the Stags who started the game slowly as the Pilgrims could have been three up in the first 20 minutes. First the talented Reuben Reid volleyed a magnificent effort from 15 yards against the crossbar, then Brian Jensen produced a good save from Graham Carey, and then Ryan Brunt headed wide from 3 yards after losing his marker Krystian Pearce. That was a rare error from Pearce who otherwise put in a top class display. In the second half, the Stags really got into the game and went close twice in three minutes midway through the half as first Mitch Rose’s shot was squeezed wide by keeper Luke McCormick, and then Matt Green clipped over the keeper onto the roof of the net. Both chances were provided by fine balls from Adam Chapman. At the other end, Jensen saved at the near post from two free kicks from Graham Carey and did very well to come out quickly at the feet of Jake Jervis to claim bravely. There was a very welcome return to the pitch for Matty Blair for the final 10 minutes following his 8 month absence through injury. Blair nearly had a dream start as his run to the byline and cross nearly provided a goal for Adi Yussuf who was wide from a difficult angle at the near post. As well as the return for Blair, Scott Shearer was back from illness and back on the bench. But on the negative side, Mitch Rose picked up his 5th yellow card of the season and will be suspended for the trip to Stevenage on Tuesday night. Good applause for Mansfield at the final whistle for claiming a decent point against a good side, very much earned by a good display across the back line including the keeper Jensen after a slow start to the game. The Stags have conceded only 6 goals in 9 games this season (with only Wycombe having conceded fewer in League Two), and are a point outside the play-off zone. The Stags have visits to Stevenage and Dagenham this week, two grounds where we have poor records. Time to put that right. Come on Mansfield! ------------------------------- Saturday, 26th September: Mansfield Town 0, Plymouth Argyle 0 chad.co.uk report by John Lomas, Saturday 26 September 2015 Mansfield Town survived some worrying moments to preserve their unbeaten home record against a highly impressive Plymouth Argyle in a 0-0 draw this afternoon. The Pilgrims had won three of their four away League games and sat third so were always going to provide a stiff test. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/mansfield-town-news/saturday-26th-september-mansfield-town-0-plymouth-argyle-0-1-7482435 They created most of the best chances with Brain Jensen winning a personal duel with Graham Carey, denying him three times. In front of Jensen, Krystian Pearce and Ryan Tafazolli were simply outstanding. Mitch Rose did force a good save from Luke McCormick after the break, but Stags will be happy to have come out of this one with a clean sheet and undefeated. The Stags started well enough but were rattled after Reuben Reid smashed a brilliant volley against the bar on five minutes after which the Pilgrims dominated the game and missed a couple of other golden chances, Ryan Brunt heading wide and Graham carey denied by Brian Jensen from close range. However, Stags survived and twice went close themselves late in the half after playing their way back into the contest. After the break Jensen twice denied Carey from free kicks while McCormick had to make a good stop to keep out Mitch Rose when he was put in on goal. But no one was able to make the breakthrough. Lee Collins was made Mansfield captain as he came in for his full League debut for the club, having a tough first half but growing into the game in the second. Collins replaced right back and skipper Nicky Hunt, who was serving a one-game ban. The only other change came in central midfield where Jack Thomas replaced the injured Chris Clements. There was a welcome return on the bench of goalkeeper Scott Shearer, fit again after the nasty infection he picked up in the first week of the season that left him hospitalised. Stags began the game well and drew applause from the stands for some neat possession football. But Argyle won a fifth minute corner from which they almost went ahead. Jack Thomas headed the first ball in away and then got a block in on a follow-up shot. But when Hartley launched a long cross over from the left, Reid shaped up for a superb 15 yard volley that zipped over Jensen and came back off the crossbar. Argyle came close again on 15 minutes as Collins stretched to clear and succeeded only in giving the ball to Carey on the left of the six yard box, Jensen getting down well to block his finish and spare his skipper’s blushes. Four minutes later Sawyer crossed to the near post where Brunt should have scored, his close range header bouncing just wide of the target. It was all Plymouth at this stage, Stags’ promising start rocked by that shot against their bar and the visitors clearly lifted. Mansfield survived and finally began to get the ball into the visitors’ box, Nathan Thomas inches away from a goal on 37 minutes after Green had rescued a ball that looked set to go out for a goalkick and set him up for a fierce low shot across the face of goal from a tight angle on the left. In the one added minute Westcarr flashed a shot narrowly wide from 25 yards as the sides went in all square. Plymouth were first to threaten after the break as Carey went for goal from a free kick just outside the box on the right. He whipped it in hard and low, but Jensen was down at his near post to block. A minute later Green got Stags’ first on-target effort away as he fired one from 20 yards straight at McCormick. Soon after Jervis floated in a long cross from the right that bounced off the top of the bar at the far angle. On 55 minutes Carey was again denied by Jensen, this time trying to bend in a cheeky free kick from almost on the by-line on the right, Jensen alert to block. After a lull in the action Stags were almost ahead on 64 minutes. Chapman’s pass slipped Rose in on goal and McCormick did well to keep out his powerful finish. Then we quickly had chances at both ends as Carey whipped a low shot wide from a great position, then Green latched onto a poor touch by Hartley, but saw his attempted chip end up in the side netting. Blair was given warm applause when he took over from Nathan Thomas with 12 minutes to go. Rose was booked for a foul on Mellor on 80 minutes and Carey saw his free kick brush the top of the netting as it flashed over. STAGS: Jensen, Benning, Rose, Pearce, Collins, Chapman, Green, Westcarr (Yussuf 52), Nathan Thomas (Blair 78), Tafazolli, Jack Thomas (Lambe 57). Subs not used: Shearer, Marsden, McGuire, Fitzpatrick. PLYMOUTH: McCormick, Mellor, Sawyer, Nelson, Hartley, Simpson, Reid (Tanner 65), Carey (Threlkeld 87), Jervis (Wylde 72), Brunt, Boateng. Subs not used: C. Harvey, Cox, T. Harvey, Purrington. REFEREE: Mark Brown of East Yorkshire. ATTENDANCE: 3,185 (463 away). CHAD STAGS MAN OF THE MATCH: Krystian Pearce. Tell us what you think by emailing sport@chad.co.uk or join the debate by using #ChadStags -------------------- Plymouth Argyle frustrated in goalless stalemate at Mansfield Western Morning News and Plymouth Herald, September 26, 2015 By Chris Errington Argyle could not come up with the finishing touch as they dominated against Mansfield but had to settle for a goalless draw at Field Mill. The Pilgrims started strongly and Reuben Reid hit the crossbar before Graham Carey and Ryan Brunt squandered good opportunities in the opening 20 minutes. Read more: http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Plymouth-Argyle-frustrated-goalless-stalemate/story-27873305-detail/story.html#ixzz3mskPutew and Read more: http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/Mansfield-Town-0-Plymouth-Argyle-0-Match-report/story-27873261-detail/story.html#ixzz3mskoqfdw Carey continued to be a threat after the interval as he had a couple of free-kicks well saved and also dragged a shot wide from a good position. Mansfield rarely troubled Argyle ‘keeper Luke McCormick, although he did make one excellent save from Mitch Rose. It was a strong defensive display from the Pilgrims and they played some good football at times, but they could not come up with a goal. So there will have been a sense of disappointment they did not return to Plymouth with maximum points. Midfielder Josh Simpson made his full debut for Argyle after three previous substitute appearances this season. He had got a run-out when the Pilgrims lost 4-1 away to Swindon Town in the Final Third Development League Cup on Tuesday. Simpson came into the midfield in the absence of Carl McHugh, who was ruled out by a hamstring injury. There was one other change to Argyle’s team from the 1-1 draw with Bristol Rovers at Home Park. Brunt came into the side at the expense of Craig Tanner and played in an attacking role wide on the left in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Argyle almost opened the scoring in only the fifth minute as Reid volleyed against the crossbar. Centre-back Peter Hartley found Reid with a diagonal cross and Reid struck the ball crisply and with plenty of power. His shot flew past Mansfield’s 40-year-old ‘keeper Brian Jensen but hit the underside of the bar. There was another good opportunity for Argyle in the 15th minute when Reid and Brunt linked up and set up Carey. He tried to beat Jensen with a low shot from inside the box but the ‘keeper made a good save. Argyle continued to take the game to Mansfield and Brunt should have put them ahead in the 19th minute. Brunt was picked out by an excellent cross from left-back Gary Sawyer and had a free header. However, with the goal at his mercy, Brunt sent the ball wide of the far post, which was a real let-off for the Stags. Argyle had to defend a series of long throw-ins from Mansfield’s Adam Chapman but did so effectively. Mansfield did not threaten for the first time until the 37th minute when ex-Pilgrims’ winger Nathan Thomas drove the ball wide of the far post. Craig Westcarr then shot wide for the Stags shortly before half-time after Simpson was robbed of the ball by Jack Thomas. Argyle had the first chance of the second half after they were awarded a free-kick for a foul on overlapping right-back Kelvin Mellor. The set piece was taken by Carey and his curling free-kick from a tight angle was well saved by Jensen. There was a similar scenario a couple of minutes later when Carey’s free-kick from an even tighter angle was pushed away by Jensen. It had been a good start to the second half from the Pilgrims and Mansfield responded with two substitutions to try to turn the game in their favour. Reggie Lambe and Adi Yussuf were both sent on before the hour mark and it was the home team who had the next chance. Rose got in behind the Argyle defence but his shot was pushed wide for a corner by McCormick. Carey had another good chance for the Pilgrims but dragged the ball wide of the far post before Tanner was sent on as a 66th minute substitute for Reid. Mansfield striker Matt Green could then not hit the target from a narrow angle after breaking into the Argyle box. Green did not have much time to steady himself as McCormick came racing off his line and the ball went wide. The Pilgrims made their second substitution in the 72nd minute as Gregg Wylde replaced Jake Jervis. Brunt was now leading the attack for Argyle with Tanner and Wylde in the wide attacking positions as the visitors continued to have the better of the contest. Carey tried his luck from yet another free-kick in the 81st minute and this time from 25 yards out the ball clipped the top of the net. Yussuf shot narrowly wide for Mansfield after a low, near post cross from Matty Blair, who had also come off the bench. Carey was substituted in the 87th minute after taking a heavy challenge, with Oscar Threlkeld replacing him. Rose sent a speculative shot over the bar for Mansfield in the closing seconds as Argyle drew for the second successive match. MANSFIELD: Brian Jensen; Lee Collins, Krystian Pearce, Ryan Tafazolli, Malvind Benning; Mitch Rose, Adam Chapman, Jack Thomas (Adi Yussuf 57 mins), Nathan Thomas (Matty Blair 79 mins); Craig Westcarr (Reggie Lambe 52 mins), Matt Green. Substitutes (not used): Scott Shearer (gk), Liam Marsden, Jamie McGuire, Joe Fitzpatrick. ARGYLE (4-2-3-1): Luke McCormick; Kelvin Mellor, Curtis Nelson, Peter Hartley, Gary Sawyer; Josh Simpson, Hiram Boateng; Jake Jervis (Gregg Wylde 72 mins), Graham Carey (Oscar Threlkeld 87 mins), Ryan Brunt; Reuben Reid (Craig Tanner 66 mins). Substitutes (not used): Lee Cox, Tyler Harvey, Ben Purrington, Cory Harvey (gk). REFEREE: Mark Brown (East Yorkshire) ATTENDANCE: 3,185 (463 away) ------------------- |
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