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Archived News from November 2016

GOOD PERFORMANCE BUT STAGS OUT OF FA CUP
10th November 2016 19:33


The Emirates FA Cup - Round One
Mansfield Town 1 - 2 Plymouth Argyle
Hemmings 58. Slew 14, Fox 80
Attendance: 2318 (439 from Plymouth)

Date: 5 November 2016

Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill

Mansfield Town put in a good performance against high flying Plymouth Argyle but were beaten 2-1 to exit the FA Cup in the first round. You have to go back nearly 9 years, to January 2008, against Brighton at the Withdean Stadium, for the last time Mansfield defeated a football league club in the FA Cup. And that run continued today, but it could so easily have ended, as the Stags had more than enough good chances to have won the game. Plymouth arrived on a superb run, unbeaten for 13 games, with 11 wins and 2 draws, including of course the 2-0 win over the Stags at Home Park in August, when Mansfield were completely outplayed, mostly by midfielder Graham Carey. Today was a totally different game as Mansfield gave at least as good as they got. Plymouth found themselves 1-0 ahead at the break with their only chance of the first half, and that came from a Mansfield free kick well inside the Plymouth half. From that Stags free kick, Jordan Slew picked the ball up well inside his own half, and ran fully 70 yards with Jamie McGuire unable to catch him, before firing past Brian Jensen in the Stags goal. The Stags meanwhile went close five times in the first half, as Matt Green was put through on goal by a brilliant ball from James Baxendale and fired straight at the keeper, Baxendale brought a good save from the keeper who tipped just wide from a curling shot from the left, Ashley Hemmings fired in a fine shot from 25 yards which the keeper just about pushed wide, Mitch Rose fired wide from 20 yards, and a cross from Chris Clements from the right was caught by the wind, completely misjudged and missed by the keeper, and nearly ended up creeping in at the far post. Good applause for Mansfield at the break. It was, however, the 11th first half out of 11 this season in which the Stags have failed to score. The second half continued in the same vein. Hemmings knocked a good chance over the bar before Mansfield were deservedly level on 58 minutes as Hemmings emphatically belted a shot into the top right corner of the net from 8 yards and celebrated with a double somersault. It was his first goal for Mansfield. Then twice more he came close as he sent a shot straight at the keeper, before he fired in a great shot from 22 yards that looked destined for the corner of the net until the keeper tipped it onto the post. So unlucky for Hemmings. Mansfield had a goal disallowed for offside on 79 minutes through Green, but were hit by a sucker punch on 80 minutes as David Fox fired home for the visitors from the 16 yards. The goal was highly controversial as there was a blatant handball by Songo’o in the build-up, badly missed by the officials but not by our pitchside video footage, and then Jamie McGuire appeared to be wrestled to the ground off the ball just before the ball was put into the net but that incident is missed by both the main camera and our pitchside footage. The Stags were unable to find another equaliser and it was gutting to lose. Tough to take for Mansfield, but at least the players were rightly applauded off the pitch for a good performance. Some good performances from Mansfield players, particularly pleasing the see from the midfield, with Jamie McGuire, Chris Clements, Ashley Hemmings, and James Baxendale all contributing plenty to the game.

FULL REPORT IN THE MATCH CENTRE

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MATCH REPORT: Mansfield Town 1 Plymouth Argyle 2
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Saturday 05 November 2016

Despite dominating for long spells and having the best of the chances, Mansfield Town stumbled at the first FA Cup hurdle as they were beaten 2-1 at home by in-form League Two leaders Plymouth Argyle in this afternoon’s first round tie.

On a cold and windy afternoon, Stags gave a good account of themselves against a very good Argyle side that have now only lost once in 16 games.

But it wasn’t enough as they twice fell behind and David Fox’s 80th minute winner proved a bridge too far.

Stags will be annoyed to have conceded from a counter-attack from within the opposition half for the second successive game as Jordan Slew put Argyle ahead on 14 minutes.

But Mansfield persisted and were rewarded on 58 minutes as Ashley Hemmings levelled the tie. Hemmings also rattled a post soon after.

But the day belonged to Fox as his first goal in the Pilgrims’ colours booked their place in the hat for Monday’s draw.

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/match-report-mansfield-town-1-plymouth-argyle-2-1-8221141?

Boss Adam Murray made five changes. Out went Scott Shearer, Pat Hoban, Kyle Howkins, Kevan Hurst, and Alex Iacovitti.

Forest loanee Iacovitti was not permitted to become cup-tied while Howkins had suffered a family bereavement and not trained all week.

Striker Darius Henderson passed a late fitness test to be on the bench but had not trained all week.

In goal was Brian Jensen with returns to the side for Mitch Rose, Ashley Hemmings and Jamie McGuire plus James Baxendale, who has made just two starts in cup games all season.

League Two leaders Plymouth, only beaten once in 15 games, were unchanged.

With the wind at their backs, Stags began the game kicking towards an empty Quarry Lane stand, kept shut to maximise revenue from the tie.

There was a minute’s silence for Remembrance Day with Last Post played on the bugle before kick-off.

Mansfield began well, winning two corners in the first five minutes.

And on seven minutes Baxendale released Green down the centre only to see the striker prod a tame finish at the keeper.

Stags had enjoyed all the early pressure, but fir the second goal in a row were caught out on the break as Argyle snatched a 14th minute lead from their first real attack.

As a Stags attack broke down, Slew sped away from just inside his own half and left the chasing McGuire in his wake as he raced into the box and slotted home across Jensen and off the inside of the far post.

On 22 minutes a Clements corner was half-cleared and when he launched the ball back in towards the far post, it caught on the wind and gave the keeper a scare as it floated wide.

Benning then sent a half volley wide of the near post from the left of the box on 26 minutes.

Fox tried an ambitious shot from inside his own half with Jensen out his goal, but it was never likely to trouble the keeper being hit against the wind.

On 28 minutes Benning was on target with a free kick, but it was straight at McCormick.

Baxendale tried to beat the keeper with a curling 20-yard effort on 32 minutes, but it was turned away for a fourth home corner.

It took Plymouth 39 minutes to win their first corner but, after a scramble, it was finally hooked clear by Clements.

On 42 minutes McCormick was forced to make his best save of the day as Hemmings let fly from over 25 yards and the keeper got down to block.

In the one added minute Mitch Rose was too high from 20 yards as Stags went in a goal behind.

Carey fired over the far angle from distance in the first raid of the second half. Hemmings came close to levelling the game on 52 minutes as he sent a volley over the bar from 12 yards after Bennett had risen well to nod down a Benning free kick.

Benning then gave the ball away cheaply and Spencer was able to turn and fire a firm shot at Jensen.

But Stags were level on 58 minutes.

Mitch Rose crossed from the right, Green got a flick-on and the ball reached Hemmings at the far post from where he drilled an unstoppable rising shot under the far angle.

Soon after Hemmings again tried his luck, this time down the centre from 20 yards but straight to the keeper.

On 64 minutes Green ran at the Pilgrims’ defence and, unable to get a shot away, poked the ball to his left where Hemmings saw a vicious low shot come back off the far post.

Carey was well over for Plymouth in their next attack as we reached 77 minutes and the tie perfectly poised.

Stags sent on Thomas for Mitch Rose on 72 minutes to inject new life into their bid for round two.

On 79 minutes an offside flag was already up as Collins picked out the of Bennett and his low ball was turned home by Green.

However, with 10 minutes to go, Argyle were ahead again.

Slew played the ball to Fox, who controlled and looked up to crash a fine shot past Jensen from 18 yards with McGuire down on the turf holding his head, but the officials seeing no foul.

Almost immediately Hemmings crashed a shot across the face of the away goal after sub Henderson had used his muscle to make the space.

There was a big shout for a penalty as Thomas seemed to be held and went down, but nothing was given.

Danny Rose was then sent on for Collins and a minute later Spencer was booked for persistent fouling.

But time ran out on the Stags as they exited the competition in the first round for the second season on the trot.

STAGS: Jensen, Bennett, Pearce, Collins (Danny Rose 87), Benning; McGuire, Mitch Rose (Thomas 73), Baxendale (Henderson 81), Clements, Hemmings; Green. Subs not used: Shearer, Hamilton, Hamilton, Hoban.

PLYMOUTH: McCormick, Miller, Bulvitis, Bradley, Purrington, Songo’o, Fox, Tanner (Donaldson 61), Carey, Slew (Ijaha 83), Spencer. Subs not used: Goodwillie, Jervis, Osborne, Dorel.

REFEREE: Dean Whitestone of Northants.

ATTENDANCE: 2,318 (439 away).

CHAD STAGS MAN OF THE MATCH: Chris Clements.

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Mansfield Town 1 Plymouth Argyle 2: David Fox seals FA Cup triumph for Pilgrims
By Chris Errington, November 06, 2016, plymouthherald.co.uk

MIDFIELDER David Fox scored his first goal for Plymouth Argyle to send them into the second round of the FA Cup.

The 32-year-old struck in the 80th minute to settle a closely contested tie between League Two rivals at Field Mill on Saturday.

Jordan Slew had opened the scoring for Argyle in the 14th minute as they played into a strong wind in the first half.

But Mansfield drew level shortly before the hour mark with a fine finish from former Pilgrims' loan signing Ashley Hemmings.

The game could have gone either way after that, but it was Fox who came up with an excellent finish from outside the box to seal the victory for the visitors.

Read more at http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/mansfield-town-1-plymouth-argyle-2-david-fox-seals-fa-cup-triumph-for-pilgrims/story-29870903-detail/story.html?#sHdWwRPlp8U5wfkm.99

Argyle manager Derek Adams showed how seriously he viewed the FA Cup by naming an unchanged team for the tie at Field Mill.

Goalkeeper and captain Luke McCormick played in his first cup match of the season.

His French understudy, Vincent Dorel, had appeared in the Pilgrims' previous three EFL Cup and EFL Trophy games this season.

Argyle's starting line-up included left-back Ben Purrington who had been named as the PFA Fans' Player of the Month for October in League Two earlier on Saturday.

Mansfield boss Adam Murray made five changes to his team from the 2-1 home League Two defeat by Stevenage.

Among the players who were called up was Hemmings, who was on loan to Argyle in the 2011/12 season.

On a cold but clear afternoon in Nottinghamshire, the Pilgrims played into a string wind in the first half.

Mansfield forced a couple of early corners and striker Matt Green had one shot comfortably saved by McCormick.

But, from their first attack of the contest, the Pilgrims opened the scoring in the 14th minute.

Slew counter-attacked at pace on the left after a Mansfield free-kick and went past midfielder Jamie McGuire before firing home.

It was an excellent low finish from Slew, with the ball beating Mansfield 'keeper Brian Jensen and finding the far corner of the net.

The Stags almost came up with an equaliser in the 22nd minute when the strength of the wind almost played a decisive part in the game.

Midfielder Chris Clements swung in a hopeful cross from the left which McCormick decided to leave.

However, the ball was caught in the wind and went narrowly wide of the far post.

McCormick safely held onto a 28th minute free-kick from Mansfield left-back Mal Benning after a foul 25 yards out by Yann Songo'o.

There was another opportunity for Mansfield shortly after the half-hour mark.

James Baxendale unleashed an angled shot which was destined for a far corner of the net but McCormick managed to touch it wide.

There was another good stop from McCormick in the 42nd minute.

Hemmings was allowed far too much time to line up a 25-yard shot and his powerful strike was pushed away by the Argyle captain.

Mansfield had one last chance to capitalise on the wind at their backs before the break.

It came in stoppage time when, after a period of pressure, midfielder Mitch Rose went close to scoring with a powerful 20-yard drive.

Argyle's Graham Carey wasted little time to try a wind-assisted shot in the second half as he fired off target from outside the box.

Mansfield had a decent opportunity in the 52nd minute following a free-kick into the Pilgrims' penalty area.

Right-back Rhys Bennett nodded the ball down for Hemmings, who swivelled and shot over.

Argyle striker Jimmy Spencer forced Jensen into a good save with a powerful first-time drive before the Stags equalised.

A cross from the right reached Hemmings and he fired the ball high into the net before celebrating with a back flip.

Mansfield were buoyed by that goal and took the game to Argyle, who replaced Craig Tanner with Ryan Donaldson in the 61st minute.

It took an excellent save from McCormick to prevent the hosts taking a 2-1 lead soon afterwards.

Again it was Hemmings who had the chance as he unleashed a left-foot drive which McCormick did extremely well to push onto his left post.

Carey had a good shooting opportunity in the 67th minute but sent the ball high over the bar.

That came from a rare Argyle attack as Mansfield continued to press forward.

Adams responded to this by switching to a 4-4-2 system, with Carey and Donaldson in the wide midfield positions.

Carey put in one very threatening cross from the left but it was put behind by Benning for a corner.

Argyle started to gain more control of the game and came up with a second goal in the 80th minute.

After good hold-up play from Slew, Fox took a good first touch of a pass inside and then fired past Jensen from 20 yards for his first Pilgrims' goal.

Mansfield had appeals for a penalty in the 87th minute when Fox challenged substitute Jack Thomas but referee Dean Whitestone allowed play to continue.

The Stags replaced centre-back Lee Collins with striker Danny Rose in the closing stages as they desperately chased an equaliser.

But Argyle were determined to book their place in round two and came away with another win on their travels.

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