Season 04/05 Stagsnet Match Report
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Mansfield Town
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Wycombe Wanderers
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Barker 54. McLachlan disallowed goal 55
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Claridge 59 (pen), 90+1, Stonebridge 62, Uhlenbeek 87
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Attendance: 2,497 (91 from Wycombe)
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Date: 22nd February 2005
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The Stags crashed to a heavy defeat at snowbound Field Mill to dent any play-off aspirations they might have had after the win at Bury over the weekend. Not surprisingly, the Stags began with the same side victorious at Gigg Lane. Wycombe included veteran duo Steve Guppy and Steve Claridge.
Wycombe just shaded the opening half, playing the more controlled football on a light snow covered surface. The Stags though managed to create the first meaningful chance, the impressive Rundle forcing a save out of Talia following a neat move involving Murray and Barker. At the other end, Wycombe forced three quick corners after first Baptiste, then Jellyman had made good challenges to prevent a cross. The Stags centre halves, as they have done recently, defended the set pieces well. A long range effort from Senda failed to test Pilkington whilst Murray just failed to get onto a Barker flick as the game flowed well considering the poor conditions under foot. Wycombe missed the best chance of the half when Guppy's low cross from the left was side footed wide by Claridge, with the Stags defence caught square. Indeed, Wycombe's best moments came down their left, where it is fair to say Alex Neil didn't have his best game at right back. The Stags best chance came just a few moments after the Claridge miss, when great pass by Murray found McLachlan in space with Rundle unmarked to his left - however, the Stags midfielders touch was poor and the chance was lost. It was a decent half's football from the two sides, given the conditions, with Wycombe just shading possession and certainly having the best chance of the half. Half-Time 0-0 The Stags took the lead ten minutes into the 2nd half, a great move saw McLachlan play the ball to Barker who hit a low shot past Talia. The Stags thought they were two up when McLachlan stabbed home from 6 yards but was adjudged offside - hard to say from where we sit, but he did look a yard off and may not have been the only Stags player infringing. However, one the referee definitely got wrong was the penalty which got Wycombe back into the game. The ball came over from the Wycombe right, deflected off a Wycombe player and hit Neil either on the arm or chest, Neil wasn't even looking at the ball, he had no idea where it was, but clearly the referee is unaware of the rules of football and awarded a spot kick, much to the digust of the Stags players. Claridge converted the kick and from being up against it, Wycombe were back in control. The 2nd goal was extremely fortunate, the ball stuck in the snow inside the Stags area and Stonebridge's weak shot somehow crept in at the far post. From then on the Stags were poor, even the introduction of the lively Asamoah for McLachlan did little and two late goals compounded the Stags misery, although giving an unfair look to the scoreline. First hesitation in the Stags defence saw Uhlenbeek nip just ahead of Pilkington to stab the ball home and in injury time Claridge netted his 2nd with most of the sparse home crowd already on their way home. Once again the Stags have failed to deliver at home. The usually solid Buxton and Baptiste had a terrible last half hour on a tricky surface, but that can be no real excuse as Wycombe defended solidly for almost the whole game. But for a spell after the Stags goal and before the penalty decision, which was a shocker, Wycombe were the better side and deserved the points, though the 4-1 scoreline without doubt flatters the visitors. The Stags main threat came down the left, with Jellyman and Rundle very effective - however, Rundle's good display was spoiled by poor delivery from corners, hence Jelleyman is my man of the match. Man of the Match: Gareth Jellyman |
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Report by: Rob Wheldon
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Line Up:
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Pilkington 5 Error lead to third goal
Neil 5 Not as assured as in recent games, often out of position Buxton 5 Poor game from Jake, littered with errors Baptiste 6 Reasonable defensive performance let down by poor distribution - why was he taking set pieces? Jelleyman 7 Best of the defence and got forward well McLachlan 5 Did well to create the Stags goal, but very quiet otherwise Curtis 5 Not a good night for Tom, very poor distribution Murray 6 When involved looked likely to create, not involved enough Rundle 7 Very sharp, linked well with Jellyman Larkin 7 Again looked good on the right Barker 6 Took his goal well but not as imposing as usual |
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Sub Line Up:
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Asamoah (for McLachlan, 65) 7 Very lively
Subs not used: White, Smeltz, Dimech, Lloyd. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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F Talia, C Easton, R Johnson, S Nethercott, D Senda, S Guppy, M Bloomfield, K Ryan, G Uhlenbeek, S Claridge, I Stonebridge
Subs: J Dixon, G Silk, D Perpetuini, M Philo, R Martin |
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Referee:
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F Graham 4 - Went home on the Wycombe bus
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