Season 05/06 Stagsnet Match Report
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Macclesfield Town
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Mansfield Town
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Russell 36
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Birchall 49
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Attendance: 1576 (276 from Mansfield)
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Date: 27 September 2005
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Report by: Terry Hallam at Moss Rose
A determined second half performance deservedly earned Mansfield a point; disappointingly though the Stags slipped to bottom of the Championship 2 and face a real battle to haul themselves clear of relegation from the football league. The side showed two changes from Saturday’s defeat to Wycombe, with Jake Buxton recalled to left back in place of Talbot and Stephen Dawson taking over from Fraser McLachlan in the centre of midfield. Macc Town were first to threaten, with early breaks down both flanks as both Buxton and Peers were turned by the pacey wide men, the nearest effort was a skidding long range effort that was narrowly wide with the burly Pressman appearing to have it covered. Simon Brown provided Gareth Jellyman with the Stags first shooting chance as he whipped in a low cross from the right flank but the midfielders first time effort failed to test Fettis in the Macc goal. There was little to chose between the sides during the first 25 minutes with both sides struggling to create any real opportunities, Mansfield though were disappointing in the final third of the pitch with Barker well marshalled by the impressive Swailes and Birchall struggling to keep possession. Simon Brown posed the biggest threat with his pace down the right flank, but the Macc defence easily dealt with crosses from Peers and Brown while at the other end Day and Baptiste were in charge keeping danger away from Pressman’s goal. The best chance of the 1st half fell to out of sorts skipper Barker, Simon Brown battled his way to the byline and sent in a teasing cross that Fettis could only palm away from under the crossbar to the waiting Barker who off balance only managed to slice his shot wide from about 7 yards out. There were two wasted free kicks by Jellyman and Barker who both fired high and wide from dangerous positions The Stags were dominating possession, but once again pressed the self destruct button in the 38th minute as Buxton needlessly conceded the ball to Bullock who skipped away before finding ALAN RUSSELL who coolly beat Pressman from 12 yards, a lead that Macc hardly threatened or deserved. The second period started with Birchill and Brown appearing to swap roles, Brown moving alongside Barker, and Birchall attacking down the flanks. There immediately appeared to be more purpose and pace about the Stags as Birchall’s darting runs and skill unsettled the home defence, indeed it was from one of his runs that Stags fashioned an equaliser. Picking the ball up on the left hand side he ran at a back pedalling defence and picked out Richie Barker about 15 yards out, Barker failed to turn the defender, but laid the ball back into the path of BIRCHALL who rammed the ball high into the net. For 20 minutes, the Stags stepped up a gear with Brown and Birchall a constant menace, Macc were poor as Dawson and Coke started to control the centre of the park, it seemed only a matter of time before the Stags scored again, however shots were blocked and deflected by the desperate Macc defence, and a succession of balls into the box failed to fall kindly for the Stags, Barker was particularly anonymous and disappointing against his old club. For the final quarter Macc battled their way back into the game, although they only really tested Pressman once, Day failed to get his head to a right wing cross and the keeper brilliantly kept out, McIntyre’s goal bound header. Jake Buxton had a fine 2nd half tackling strongly after struggling in the first period, and Birchall too improved 100% on his first half effort. So the winless runs continues, and it looks like a long haul for the Stags to extricate themselves from this mess. On the evidence of tonight can they do it? My view…..I really don’t know Man of the match: Simon Brown |
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Report by: Terry Hallam at Moss Rose
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Line Up:
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Pressman 6 A fairly quiet night, but pulled off one vital save
Peers 6 Mixture of good and indifferent, he and Rhys had some communication problems Day 7 Generally very solid, but the occasional lapse Baptiste 7 Solid performance Buxton 6 rescued his mark with a gritty 2nd half display, at fault for the goal Brown 8 Constant threat with his skill and pace Coke 6 Prominent when Stags were on top, Dawson 6 had a good spell but faded Jelleyman 6 quiet, but easily turned when asked to defend Barker 5 disappointing, heavy legged and generally ineffective Birchall 7 very good 2nd half, lively and direct |
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Sub Line Up:
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Littlejohn (for Brown, 89) - Only on for 2 minutes.
Subs not used: Uhlenbeek, McLachlan, Lloyd, Rundle. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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A Fettis, M Briscoe, D Morley, D Swailes, A Smart, P Harsley, M Bailey, K McIntyre, D Beresford (76 J Miles), A Russell, M Bullock.
Subs not used: K Townson, T Barras, T Deasy, I Brightwell. |
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Referee:
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Ref: M Russell 6 got most things right
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