Archived News from February 2017
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FANTASTIC STAGS WIN AT PLAY-OFF CONTENDERS BARNET
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English Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Barnet 0 - 2 Mansfield Town Whiteman 37, Coulthirst pen 60 Attendance: 1859 (391 from Mansfield) Date: 4 February 2017 Martin Shaw at The Hive Mansfield Town produced a fantastic all round performance to comfortably beat play-off contenders Barnet at The Hive this afternoon. The Stags were well in control for almost all of the game and after going ahead in the first half, only one result looked likely. Barnet had marginally the better of the opening 15 minutes and Vilhete went close on 10 minutes when his cross-shot went just wide. The Stags were unlucky not to be in front on 22 minutes. Ben Whiteman played a 1-2 with Lee Collins on the right touchline, getting a great ball back from Collins, Whiteman moved forward into the area on the right and rolled a clever shot across the keeper and against the inside of the left post, and more or less back along the goal-line and away on the right. It was incredible how it didn’t go in. Jake Kean made a good save with his leg from Jamal Campbell-Ryce on 32 minutes, before the Stags went in front on 37 minutes through a fine team goal. The move was started off by Mal Benning, Danny Rose laid back to Benning, Benning’s low cross found Shaq Coulthirst, who laid the ball perfectly back into the path of Whiteman who fired past the keeper from 16 yards. Another great finish from Whiteman and his third goal for Mansfield, with all three finishes being similar. The Stags doubled the lead on 60 minutes when Coulthirst was brought down by Santos near the byline. It was an unnecessary foul by Santos but a clear penalty nonetheless. Just 6 minutes earlier, Coulthirst had gone down in the box again but this time it was no foul, and Coulthirst agreed after the game that the first one was not a penalty. Coulthirst grabbed the ball himself, with regular penalty taker Matt Green still on the bench at that stage, and rolled the ball down the middle as keeper Vickers dived to his right. Barnet were unlucky not to pull a goal back on 76 minutes when Ruben Bover’s free kick from the right smacked against the post with Jake Kean beaten. That evened up the woodwork count. New signing Alfie Potter, on as substitute, twice went close to extending the lead, before Barnet wasted their final chance to get back into the game on 83 minutes as John Akinde made a fantastic run from inside his own penalty area to the edge of the Stags area and Luke Coulson set up Nana Kyei for a free shot at goal with Jake Kean out of position, but Kyei sent his shot over the bar. A great win for the Stags cheered on by 400 jubilant fans who are sensing that the Stags push for the play-offs is gathering huge momentum after 5 wins and a draw in 6 games, including successive away wins at high-flying teams. Really good performances throughout the Stags side with everyone playing very well. FULL REPORT IN THE MATCH CENTRE ----------------------------- MATCH REPORT: Barnet 0 Mansfield Town 2 chad.co.uk, by SPORTS REPORTER (Agency), Saturday 04 February 2017 Mansfield’s surge towards the Sky Bet League Two play-off spots continued with a 2-0 victory at Barnet. Goals from Ben Whiteman and Shaquile Coulthirst, either side of the break, extended the Stags unbeaten run on the road to four games - and unbeaten league run to seven. Manager Steve Evans named an unchanged line-up, for the third league game in a row, at the Hive after last week’s win over Leyton Orient. Read more at: http://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/sport/football/match-report-barnet-0-mansfield-town-2-1-8371771 Mansfield mounted numerous attacks early on, but the Bees’ backline held firm to deny any clear-cut chances. In the 22nd minute Whiteman’s cross cannoned off the post with Coulthirst’s rebound well saved by Josh Vickers. Vickers had to receive treatment after injuring himself during the save. On the half hour mark the Stags continued to pepper the hosts’ goal. Krystian Pearce’s glancing goal-bound header was punched away by Vickers. Down the other end, Jake Kean - who has conceded just twice since joining the Stags on loan from Sheffield Wednesday - brilliantly denied Jamal Campbell-Ryce. With nine minutes left before the break, the Stags struck through Whiteman’s third goal in five games. The youngster, who joined in January, slotted home from inside the box after being played in by Coulthirst. Just before the hour the Stags were awarded a penalty. Coulthirst was hauled to the ground by Ricardo Santos on the right-hand of the box. And Peterborough United loanee Coulthirst stepped up to dispatch his sixth goal of the season by hitting the spot kick down the middle. Substitute Ruben Bover almost pulled one back for the Bees as he curling free-kick crashed against the post, before the Stags scrambled to clear the danger. First goalscorer Whiteman almost turned provider as he set Alfie Potter on his way, only for the latter to be superbly thwarted by Vickers late on. Deadline day signing Alex MacDonald came off the bench to make his debut with a few minutes left. Barnet: Vickers, Clough, Almeida Santos (Coulson, 73), Nelson, Johnson, Vilhete, Champion (Bover, 45), Weston, Kyei, Campbell-Ryce (Mason-Clark, 45), Akinde. Unused subs: McKenzie-Lyle, Dembele, Sweeney, Taylor. Mansfield: Kean, White, Pearce, Bennett, Benning, Collins, Whiteman, Byrom (MacDonald, 88), Hamilton, Coulthirst (Potter, 77), Rose (Green, 68). Unused subs: Shearer, Arquin, McGuire, Baxendale. Referee: Lee Collins (Surrey) Attendance: 1,859 (391) ------------------ Report: Barnet 0-2 Mansfield Town barnetfc.com, 4th February 2017 Barnet lose ground on EFL League Two play-off places with Mansfield Town 2-0 winners at The Hive London... A goal in each half saw Barnet go down 2-0 at home to Mansfield Town in a tetchy game punctuated consistently by referee's whistle. The Bees came closest to reducing the arrears when debutant Ruben Bover gave a glimpse of what he could do, crashing a free-kick off the crossbar. But in the end goals in either half from Ben Whiteman and Shaq Coulthirst, from the penalty spot, won it for Steve Evans' men. Read more at http://www.barnetfc.com/news/article/2016-17/report-barnet-0-2-mansfield-town-3555690.aspx#GqsIWTqWHtXhFUzd.99 Rossi Eames and Henry Newman made two changes from the side which battled back to earn a point at Carlisle United on Saturday. Curtis Weston returned from injury and Nana Kyei was reinstated on the left-hand side of midfield with Luke Coulson and Simeon Akinola (suspension) making way. In a niggly first half, dominated referee Lee Collins, it took until the 17th minute for either side to get a proper sight of goal. When the moment arrived the chance was spawned from fine build-up play which saw Charlie Clough and Campbell-Ryce combine to release Weston into the box with a backheel. Tom Champion took over and found John Akinde with a low cross but he could not spin inside the box. Whiteman came agonisingly close to putting Mansfield ahead in the 22nd minute, drifting into the box and hitting the inside of the post. Bees keeper Josh Vickers got up smartly the block the rebound, injuring himself in the process. Substitute Bees keeper Kai McKenzie-Lyle was quickly readied to come on but Vickers made a full recovery and continued between the sticks. By now tempers were fraying in the two technical areas and the game was becoming increasingly disjointed. And, nine minutes before half time, Mansfield opened the scoring against the run of play. Shaq Coulthirst laid the ball off the edge of the box and Whitman fired home first time through a crowd of bodies. The Bees had their best chance just after the half-hour mark when Vilhete cut back for Campbell-Ryce. But his low shot was blocked by Stags stopper Jake Kean from inside the six-yard box. Barnet huffed and puffed for the rest of the half but were unable to build the momentum required to break down the stubborn visitors. There were two half-time changes for the Bees with Ruben Bover on for his debut and Ephron Mason-Clark also introduced. Champion and Campbell-Ryce gave way. Those changes lifted the Bees but they could not find a way through Mansfield's solid rearguard. Just before the hour mark the visitors doubled up when Ricardo Santos brought down former Peterborough United teammate Coulthirst on the right-hand side of the box. The former Tottenham Hotspur youngster took the spot kick himself and stroked down the middle to make it 2-0. Having been shackled well by the Mansfield back four Akinde almost wriggled free midway through the second half. Having made enough room to shoot he found Rhys Bennett in his way, blocking with a fine sliding challenge. The Bees came closest in the 75th minute when Bover whipped a free-kick against the apex of post and bar from 25 yards leaving Kean with no chance. With eight minutes remaining it became apparent it was not Barnet's day. Substitute Coulson escaped down the right, drew Kean and cut back for Kyei to fire over the empty net. Next up for the Bees is a trip to play-off rivals Colchester United next weekend. Barnet: Vickers; Clough, Nelson (C), Santos (Coulson 71), Johnson; Vilhete, Weston, Champion (Bover HT), Kyei; Campbell-Ryce (Mason-Clark HT); Akinde. Subs: McKenzie-Lyle (GK), Dembele, H. Taylor, Sweeney. Mansfield Town: Kean; White, Pearce, Bennett, Benning; Whiteman, Collins (C), Byrom (MacDonald 87), Hamilton; Coulthirst (Potter 76), Rose (Green 66). Subs: Shearer (GK), Baxendale, Arquin, McGuire. Referee: Lee Collins Attendance: 1,859 (391 Mansfield Town fans). ---------------- Lack of cutting edge costs Barnet in Mansfield Town defeat Barnet Times Mansfield Town emerged comfortable 2-0 winners of the clash between two play-off contenders at The Hive and with a goal in each half they always had the edge over a Barnet team that rarely hit their stride. http://www.times-series.co.uk/sport/barnet_fc/15071518.Bees_suffer_Mansfield_setback/ The Bees made just two changes to the side that had earned a creditable 1-1 draw at high-flying Carlisle United the week before; Curtis Weston returned from injury and after impressing as a substitute at Brunton Park Nana Kyei kept his place. The duo replaced the suspended Simeon Akinola and Luke Coulson was dropped to the bench. The game began in a very scrappy fashion, with both sides having difficulty producing coherent football. The versatile Mauro Vilhete was Barnet’s best hope of making a breakthrough in the first half. Playing further forward than usual, operating just behind John Akinde, he showed invention and a willingness to surge forward. Midway through the first period Ben Whiteman’s shot hit the post with Barnet keeper Josh Vickers requiring treatment after the resulting goalmouth melee. Shortly afterwards Akinde broke clear of the defence but his advance was soon thwarted. Barnet’s top scorer was well shackled by the Mansfield defence who used all manner of means to keep the home side’s main goal threat quiet. Barnet should have taken the lead in the 32nd minute when Jamal Campbell-Ryce was set-up by Vilhete, who had made a positive run down the left. Campbell-Ryce’s effort was blocked and within five minutes the visitors themselves went ahead. Former Tottenham Hotspur forward Shaq Coulthirst made inroads before providing an opportunity from close range that Whiteman eagerly accepted. Barnet made brave changes to their formation during the interval. They opted for a three-man defence and introduced Ephron Mason-Clark and new-signing Ruben Bover at the expense of Campbell-Ryce and Tom Champion. Mason-Clark played in a central attacking role and he impressed with his work rate and skill on the ball. Bover, a talented midfielder, showed a desire to get on the ball and dictate the play. Mansfield’s Coulthirst was increasingly causing the Barnet rearguard problems with his direct style and Ricardo Santos was guilty of a rash challenge on the striker in the penalty area on the hour mark. Coulthirst regained his composure and duly despatched the resulting spot kick without further ado to put his side 2-0 up. Mansfield, now in pole position, retreated, content to defend their lead with the home side now looking increasingly unlikely to find a way back into the match. A glimmer of hope did come when Bover hit the woodwork with an audacious free-kick in the 74th minute and Kyei should have done better after Akinde had burst into life down the left flank with ten minutes of normal time remaining. Had either of these chances been converted into goals there may well have been a grandstand finish, but Barnet’s lack of a cutting edge is currently costing them dear. Barnet: Vickers, Clough, Santos (Coulson 73), Nelson, Johnson, Vilhete, Champion (Bover 45), Weston, Kyei, Campbell-Ryce (Mason-Clark 45), Akinde. Unused substitutes: Dembele, H. Taylor, McKenzie-Lyle, Sweeney. -------------------- |
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