Archived News from November 2020
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VERY POOR STAGS BEATEN AT HOME BY HARROGATE
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English Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Mansfield Town 0 - 1 Harrogate Town Miller 26 Attendance: behind closed doors Date: 24 November 2020 Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town put in a very poor performance at home to Harrogate Town this evening and were deservedly beaten 1-0, a result which leaves the Stags level on points with second bottom Scunthorpe United, who have 2 games in hand. The Stags created just one shot on target in the entire 90 minutes, and that was an easy save for the keeper. Only once did Mansfield go close to scoring as Nicky Maynard headed wide from a good cross from Kellan Gordon half way through the second half. The lack of creativity from the Stags was extremely disappointing with the entire midfield of Harry Charsley, Ollie Clarke, George Lapslie and Stephen McLaughlin having really poor games. The first 25 minutes of the game had been quite even, but Harrogate took the lead after 26 minutes as Jack Muldoon outmuscled McLaughlin on the right, and crossed low across the six yard box and Calvin Miller bundled into the net from close range. Harrogate gained in confidence from the goal and were the better side for the rest of the game. The Stags had several set pieces but the quality of delivery from McLaughlin and Charsley was terrible, while from open play almost nothing was created for Maynard and Jordan Bowery to feed off. It was obvious that things were not working long before Nigel Clough made changes, bringing on Andy Cook for Maynard after 68 minutes, Jamie Reid for Charsley after 78 minutes, and Tyrese Sinclair for McLaughlin after 89 minutes. It was a worrying performance, but to keep it in context it was a first defeat in seven games since Richard Cooper took over as caretaker manager and then handed over the reins to Nigel Clough. The Stags do though remain perilously placed near the bottom of the table. Hardly anyone came out the game with any credit for Mansfield, with James Perch and Kellan Gordon the pick of the bunch in my opinion. Harrogate were well-organised and workmanlike, and were worthy winners in the first ever meeting between the two clubs. They put Mansfield under pressure with numerous long throws from Dan Jones, they were very direct, and pressed the Stags very effectively. Former Mansfield youngster Warren Burrell, who played one game for the club, as substitute in the defeat at Dagenham & Redbridge after we had already been relegated to the Conference in 2008, played very well for Harrogate at the heart of their defence. A break from the league now with the visit of Dagenham & Redbridge on Sunday (1.30pm kick) in the FA Cup with a place in the 3rd Round up for grabs. The game is available to watch free on the BBC Sport website and BBC Sport app (not the BBC red button) for viewers in the UK only. Meanwhile we will provide commentary as always for iFollow subscribers in the UK and overseas. FULL REPORT IN THE MATCH CENTRE --------------------------- Mansfield Town 0-1 Harrogate Town Miller (27'minutes) Assists Muldoon (27'minutes) Match report supplied by PA Media, by John Lomas https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54969287 Mansfield's first home win of the season continues to elude them after Harrogate ended the Stags' six-game unbeaten run in all competitions with a gutsy victory. Without a win in six league games, Harrogate made the breakthrough with a 27th-minute goal from Calvin Miller in the clubs' first ever meeting. Home keeper Marek Stech was left helpless as Jack Muldoon won a shoulder-to-shoulder challenge with Stephen McLaughlin and crossed low from the right for Miller to turn home from six yards. Stech kept out a Muldoon snapshot soon after while Dan Jones saw his header from a corner bounce off the top of the bar just before the break. Mark Beck then wasted a near-post chance, heading wide from a wonderful whipped-in cross by Jones on the hour. The Stags finally came close in the 65th minute as Nicky Maynard headed Kellan Gordon's cross wide while substitute Andy Cook aimed just too high six minutes later. Harry Charsley and Ollie Clarke also lifted efforts over while McLaughlin was just off target from a free-kick as the Stags pressed hard but failed to muster a shot on target while Stech had to save a low Muldoon effort. ----------------------- Mansfield Town's unbeaten run ended by Harrogate Mansfield Town 0 Harrogate Town 1 chad.co.uk, Tuesday 24th November 2020 Mansfield Town’s hopes of making it a magnificent seven were ended by Harrogate Town this evening. The Stags’ six-game unbeaten run came to an abrupt halt at One Call Stadium, Calvin Miller’s first-half goal proving the difference. It was the first time Mansfield have trailed since their 4-2 defeat to Barrow last month. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-towns-unbeaten-run-ended-harrogate-3046527 Nigel Clough suffered his first defeat in the Mansfield dug out in the process, his side now turning their attention to Sunday’s FA Cup clash against Dagenham and Redbridge as they dropped to 22nd in League Two. Miller’s 27th minute finish settled it, the Harrogate man forcing home Jack Muldoon’s cross. The opening 45 saw both teams create chances but neither keeper regularly tested. James Belshaw was called upon to deny Harry Charsley, while at the other end Stags stopper Stech kept George Thomson’s effort out. The second half saw both sides force headed efforts narrowly wide, Beck for the visitors and Nicky Maynard for the hosts. A late push from the hosts saw Charsley and Stephen McLaughlin fire off target and a Jordan Bowery effort blocked. --------------------- MANSFIELD 0-1 TOWN - MILLER'S STRIKE GETS TOWN BACK TO WINNING WAYS https://www.harrogatetownafc.com/news-media/mansfield-v-town/ Calvin Miller's first league goal in English football was enough for Town to end their recent winless run away at Mansfield. Miller provided the finishing touch to Jack Muldoon's cross in the 27th minute, with the Town backline holding firm to keep their opponents out under heavy pressure in the closing stages. Simon Weaver returned to the dugout having missed the previous two fixtures due to a positive Covid-19 test and made three changes from Saturday's trip to Orient, recalling Warren Burrell, Mark Beck and Miller. In the home dugout, Nigel Clough selected the same starting XI and substitutes that drew with Colchester on Friday night. Town started on the front foot, with some clever interplay down the left leading to Dan Jones trying a snapshot, before George Thomson forced Marek Stech into the first save of the evening. The hosts soon reminded Town of the threat they posed though with Burrell hooking Kellan Gordon's cross away from under the bar and James Belshaw denying Harry Charsley at his near post. With 27 minutes gone, Miller put Town ahead after Jack Muldoon had outmuscled his marker and provided a teasing low cross, the former Celtic man was on hand to bundle home his first EFL goal. The Stags went straight on the attack after conceding, but another piece of important defending from Burrell got in the way of George Lapslie's shot. Jones had the last goalmouth action of the half, heading Thomson's corner onto the roof of the net as Town entered the break level. Beck had the chance to make it two on the hour mark as Jones crossed from deep, but could only head wide on the stretch after his initial touch under pressure had almost taken the chance away. Nicky Maynard's last action before being replaced by veteran striker Andy Cook was to spurn the hosts' best chance of the game so far, heading wide after escaping the attention of Burrell. Cook was straight into the thick of things sending a powerful drive a fraction over Belshaw's goal as Mansfield started to pile on the pressure going into the final ten minutes. The hosts were met by a committed defensive display though, as Fallowfield and Burrell made crucial blocks to secure a first clean sheet since 28th October and first win in seven League Two fixtures. Town: Belshaw, Fallowfield (Lawlor 88), Jones, Falkingham, Burrell, Thomson, Beck, Kerry, Muldoon (Martin 82) Miller (Kiernan 67), Hall Subs not used: Cracknell, Kirby, Walker Goals: Miller 27 Booked: Jones Mansfield Town: Stech, Gordon, Rawson, Perch, Benning, Charsley (Reid 78), Clarke, Lapslie, McLaughlin (Sinclair 89), Maynard (Cook 68), Bowery Subs not used: Stone, O'Keeffe, Sweeney, O'Driscoll Referee: C Boyeson ---------------------- Advertiser player ratings harrogateadvertiser.co.uk, By Rhys Howell, Tuesday 24th November 2020 Here's an assessment of how Simon Weaver's men performed on the night. James Belshaw 6 - Wasn't overly busy between the sticks, which is credit to the defensive showing in front of him. Will be delighted to keep a first clean-sheet since October. Ryan Fallowfield 7 - Had to put in a disciplined performance and not bomb on quite as much as he would like as Town looked to hold on to the win. Made one key covering challenge in the first half, plus a number of blocks before being replaced in the 87th minute. https://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-0-harrogate-town-1-advertiser-player-ratings-3046711 Dan Jones 8 - Delivery was much better than at the weekend, with one particular deep cross almost resulting in Beck making it 2-0. A few wayward passes and clearances, but defensively solid and a threat with his long throw-ins. Warren Burrell 8 - ADVERTISER STAR MAN. An impressive display back at centre-half against his former club. Made countless blocks and clearances to deny the hosts, including three crucial interventions in the opening 45. Pretty dominant in the air as well. Connor Hall 8 - One moment where Jordan Bowery got the better of him out wide at the end of the first half aside, he looked assured next to Burrell. Won the majority of aerial battles, including two important second-half headers from a pair of dangerous-looking deliveries. Josh Falkingham 7 - Got through his fair share of work in midfield and ensured his teammates remained on the boil at all times. Passing wasn't as accurate as it usually is, but he dropped off to very good effect to protect his back-four. Lloyd Kerry 6 - An energetic display alongside Falkingham, helped his side not get overwhelmed by the Stags pressure. A few loose moments in the first 45, better in the second. George Thomson 6 - Back on the right after forming part of a midfield three on Saturday. Had a couple efforts on goal without looking like scoring. His set-pieces caused some problems and he looked after the ball well late on as Town attempted to see them game out. Connor Miller 7 - A couple of bright bits of play down the left and claimed the all-important winning goal - his first in the EFL - by making sure he was in the right place at the right time to convert Jack Muldoon's cross. His arrival inside the six-yard-box is something which will no doubt please the management team. Mark Beck 8 - An excellent performance from the big man which will surely be enough to keep his place in the team. Won plenty in the air in both boxes, though did squander a good chance to make it 2-0. Some nice bits of link-up with strike partner Muldoon. Jack Muldoon 8 - Ran his socks off up until being replaced in the 81st minute. Worked well with Beck and delivered some useful crosses into the box, most notably for Miller's winner. Saw a couple of strikes saved by Marek Stech. --------------------- |
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