Archived News from September 2016
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POINT FOR HARD-WORKING STAGS AT HARTLEPOOL
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English Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Hartlepool United 0 - 0 Mansfield Town Attendance: 3775 (203 from Mansfield) Date: 17 September 2016 Martin Shaw at Victoria Park Mansfield Town earned a point in a 0-0 draw at Hartlepool United this afternoon with a hard-working performance. The first half was low on entertainment with the Stags creating nothing going forward, but some good defending limiting Hartlepool to 2 or 3 chances despite some good wingplay from former Stag Nathan Thomas. Mansfield made a change at the break bringing on new signing Oscar Gobern in midfield. Gobern was a free agent after leaving QPR following injury and previously played 70 times for Huddersfield. He has good pedigree having come through the Southampton academy where he knew Ryan Tafazolli, and he has signed for the Stags until January. He immediately provided some more quality in midfield with some good skills though will need to time to get more match sharpness. The second half was much more entertaining and both sides could have won the game. Hartlepool had the ball in the net on 55 minutes when Nathan Thomas knocked in following a corner, but the offside flag was up before Thomas put the ball in the net. Then brilliant play from Mal Benning on 59 minutes as he beat two defenders before bending a right foot shot just wide of the right post. The two best chances of the game came in a two minute spell on 72 minutes. Brilliant play from Nathan Thomas, surging forward from the halfway line and laying a perfect ball into the path of Billy Paynter, who lifted his shot over Scott Shearer and over the bar. Then at the other end, Mitch Rose slid a brilliant ball forward into the path of Matt Green in the area to give him a one-on-one with Hartlepool keeper Trevor Carson and I expected the net to bulge but Carson made himself big and blocked Green’s shot with his left leg. A satisfactory point for Mansfield, with some good performances, notably from Alex Iacovitti, rock solid in central defence, Bennett and Benning at full back, and Collins and McGuire in front of the back four. Gobern also impressed enough with some good skills and class to suggest he could become an important player. After the game it was announced that Adam Chapman had left the club by mutual consent. Mansfield made two changes from the side that lost to Barnet. Taft was missing through injury. Hemmings was also left out. In came Jamie McGuire and CJ Hamilton. The Stags started with a 4-4-2 formation. Collins and McGuire were alongside each other in central midfield, with Mitch Rose and Hamilton either side. New signing Oscar Gobern, 25 years old, was on the bench. Young Lewis Collins, from the U21 squad, travelled with the squad and warmed up before the game, though was not on the bench. After the game it was announced that Adam Chapman had left the club by mutual consent. Adam Murray also revealed after the game that Matt Green is about to sign an extended contract, which is very good news. FULL REPORT IN THE MATCH CENTRE -------------------------------- chad.co.uk REPORT by Agency: Hartlepool United 0-0 Mansfield Town Battling Mansfield earned themselves a welcome point on the road having been under the cosh for much of this contest. The out-of-sorts Stags have now not won in their last four matches in all competitions, but this spirited performance shows there’s plenty of life in the camp. Adam Murray’s side soaked up plenty of pressure, but some resolute defending - and some poor finishing from the home side - meant this one ended in a stalemate. The visitors found themselves under pressure from early on as Lewis Alessandra saw his goalbound shot deflected wide by defender Krystian Pearce in the 11th minute. A few minutes later striker Danny Rose had an ambitious overhead kick blocked as the Stags went in search of the opening goal. Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/report-hartlepool-united-0-0-mansfield-town-1-8131995?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter But at the other end former Sheffield United and Doncaster Rovers striker Billy Paynter had a shot blocked. Midfielder Josh Laurent should have scored for the Pools, but he blazed over from close range. A nd then seven minutes before the break midfielder Lewis Hawkins had a powerful shot blocked as the home side threatened to score once again. Laurent tried his luck with a shot from distance, but his powerful 25-yard flew wide of the target. Pools’ were pressuring and Paynter then had a goal disallowed for offside. It was a lucky escape for the visitors. Rhys Benning went close with a curling shot just before the hour mark, but then Scott Shearer was forced to pull off a fine save to thwart Laurent. Paynter was proving a nuisance and he rifled wide with a right-foot shot in the 72nd minute. But despite all the pressure the home side just couldn’t find a way past the Stags. The visitors broke and nearly scored against the run of play. Mitch Rose played in Matt Green, but keeper Trevor Carson denied the striker with an excellent block. Laurent nearly scored with four minutes remaining, but he dragged his volley inches wide of the target. Hartlepool: Carson, Donnelly, Nsiala, Featherstone, Magnay (Carroll 45), Hawkins (Deverdics 80), Harrison, Alessandra, N Thomas, Paynter (Amond 74). Subs: Bartlett, Richards, Fewster, Heardman. Mansfield: Shearer, Rose, Benning, Pearce, Bennett, Collins, Lacovitti, Green, McGuire, D Rose (Hemmings 71), Hamilton (Gobern 49). Subs: Hoban, Baxendale, Jensen, Hurst, Henderson. Referee: Darren Handley ------------- All-Square Between Pools And Mansfield hartlepoolunited.co.uk, Sat 17 Sep 2016 It was a frustrating afternoon for Pools who had to settle for a point in the EFL League Two game with Mansfield Town. There were no goals in the game at The Northern Gas and Power Stadium as Pools failed to find that killer touch to take the win. There was early promise from Pools as former Mansfield man Nathan Thomas twice escaped down the left to send danger balls into the box for Billy Paynter and Lewis Alessandra to battle for. Alessandra showed some fancy footwork of his own to push in from the right, nipping between two yellow shirts to send a shot at goal but his effort was deflected onto the roof of the net. Read more at http://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/pools-v-mansfield-town-match-report-3312256.aspx#J8PJPrp617bzMEZR.99 Pools did go on to dominate much of the first-half play but there was little else in terms of real threats on goal at either end of the pitch. Alessandra remained a problem for the visitors, using his quick feet to find pockets of space around the box but Mansfield kept things tight at the back and his efforts were frustrated. Liam Donnelly was another who impressed for Pools, both in his starting position of left back and then at right back when he switched to replce the injured Carl Magnay. The Northern Irish defender was solid at the back and offered another option for Pools going forward, with decent running down the flanks. Nicky Featherstone set Alessandra running down the left and again he did well to create space for himself but, after taking time to pick his shot, his final strike was blocked out. Featherstone then picked out Billy Paynter with a well-placed ball over the top and the Pools skipper then showed great strength to keep possession. Paynter shrugged off his man to get enough space to square for Josh Laurent but his shot from close range went high over the bar. At the other end, Trevor Carson had little to do but when he was called on to deal with a freekick in from the right of the box, he did comfortably. Pools had the ball in the back of the net ten minutes into the second half but the assistant’s flag proved the spoiler, bringing Nathan Thomas’s celebrations to a sharp halt. Lewis Alessandra sent a corner in from the right which picked out Donnelly who powered a header at goal. His effort was blocked but Thomas picked it up to send it home only for the linesman to spot an offside and rule it out. Alessandra was involved again just after, this time pushing forward down the right before squaring infield for Laurent who’s first shot was blocked back out to him before his second was tipped over the bar by Scott Shearer. With some questionable challenges and an official who featured heavily this afternoon, the game had a real edge to it in spells as both sides - and in particular Pools - were left feeling aggrieved. Malvind Benning took on two Pools defenders to get through on goal in a rare chance for the hosts but his curled effort went wide of the far post. Billy Paynter had a great chance to give Pools the lead when Thomas set him up to the left side of the box but the striker sent his effort just high of the bar. At the other end, Matt Green broke through to go in one-on-one with Trevor Carson but the Pools keeper made himself big to close down and did well to block the chance. Nathan Thomas was left wondering what more he could do after sending a perfectly-placed corner in from the right which sailed across the front of goal, grazing the head of Josh Laurent as it went out at the far post. There were five minutes of added time in the game but, despite plenty of endeavour from Pools, they just lacked that spark this afternoon and could not find that winning goal. Full Time: Pools 0 Mansfield Town 0 Pools: Carson, Magnay (Carroll 45), Nsiala, Harrison, Donnelly, Featherstone, Laurent, Hawkins (Deverdics 80), Alessandra, Paynter (Amond 73), Thomas. Subs Not Used: Bartlett, Richards, Fewster, Heardman. Mansfield Town: Shearer, Bennett, Benning, Collins, Pearce, Green, M Rose, Hamilton (Gobern 46), McGuire, Iacovitti, D Rose (Hemmings 70). Subs Not Used: Jensen, Hoban, Baxendale, Hurst, Henderson. --------------- |
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