Season 10/11 Stagsnet Match Report
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Mansfield Town
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Bath City
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Higginson 62, Nix 74
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Attendance: 2026 (59 from Bath)
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Date: 14 April 2011
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IMPROVED STAGS COMFORTABLY BEAT BATH
Martin Shaw at Field Mill A much improved performance from Mansfield Town saw a comfortable win over Bath City at Field Mill on Thursday night in the Stags' third game in 5 days. Youngster Conor Higginson, an early substitute for Luke Medley, put the Stags in front following a corner, and Kyle Nix added a second with a great free kick after he had been brought down himself just outside the box. podcast of StagsPlayer Bath City commentary, by Martin Shaw and David Jackson with Steve Hartshorn 1st half ---> http://www.stagsnet.net/interviews/BathH1sthalf_StagsPlayer_Martin+David+Steve_14Apr11_32K.wma 2nd half ---> http://www.stagsnet.net/interviews/BathH2ndhalf_StagsPlayer_Martin+David+Steve_14Apr11_32K.wma The Stags made just one change to the side that drew with Barrow 48 hours earlier. Kevin Sandwith had limped out of Field Mill on Tuesday night with a knee injury which according to Duncan Russell will unfortunately keep him out of Wembley. Sandwith was replaced at centre back by Steve Foster. The Stags started brightly and in the first minute Murray’s ball down the right found Medley who cut along the byeline brilliantly and his cross was just nicked away from Briscoe inside the six-yard box. Bath’s first chance came on 7 minutes when a corner from the right found Burnell who shot goalwards from 10 yards but Grof made a good reaction save to keep it out. Medley pulled up with what appeared to be a hamstring injury and he was replaced by Higginson on 15 minutes. Medley came and sat behind us in the commentary box in the second half and told my co-commentator David Jackson that he thought it was a hamstring injury but was hopefully not too serious. A great flick on by Mitchley put Higginson through on goal down the left hand side on 17 minutes but Higginson couldn’t quite capitalise on it and a good tackle by a Bath defender appeared to put the ball behind for a corner though the referee surprisingly awarded a goal kick. Good build up play from the Stags on 26 minutes and eventually Briscoe shot wide of the left post. A minute later a neat free kick from Bath and a cross into the box appeared to be just about to be put into the net by a Bath player when Naylor did brilliantly to hook it away. Grof misjudged a corner on 31 minutes but just managed to recover and tip the ball away. On 41 minutes Connolly curled an effort for Bath on to the top of the net. A minute later, a chance at the other end for Higginson but he tried to square it instead of shoot and the chance was gone. Briscoe did well to power his way to the by line on 44 minutes and his cross was behind Mitchley but Mitchley improvised and managed to get an effort in with a back flick but it was well over the bar. Half time 0-0 Grof came out of his goal on 54 minutes and missed the ball but got away with it. Moments later at the other end, Murray’s attempted shot ran to Briscoe who made space for himself to shoot but fired over. On 55 minutes, Naylor headed over the bar from a Nix corner. Then on 61 minutes, there was a brilliant turn and cross from Briscoe across the face of the goal which evaded everyone. The Stags deservedly took the lead on 62 minutes. Nix’s corner from the right was headed back across goal by Foster and Higginson turned it into the right corner of the net off the outside of his right boot from close range. The Stags were causing Bath more problems than in the first half as wingers Briscoe and Cain were getting in behind the Bath defence. On 67 minutes, Higginson created a chance for himself from the edge of the box but his shot was deflected wide. A minute later, a Stags free kick by Cain was rolled to Briscoe and his low shot was well saved by Bath keeper Robinson. The Stags made it 2-0 on 74 minutes, Good build up play and eventually Kyle Nix tried to cut inside, just outside the box, to make a shooting chance for himself but he was cynically brought down. The free kick, 20 yards out and just to the left of centre, was taken by Nix himself who curled it beautifully into the left of the net. The Stags took a clever, quick free kick on 78 minutes and Cain’s good ball in was headed wide by Briscoe. On 87 minutes, a run and shot over the bar from Higginson. Grof made a save low down from a shot from a tight angle on 89 minutes and then had to make another save low down from Lennox 2 minutes into stoppage time. Hearty applause in the West Stand upper at the end of the game, though I gather there was some Russell Out chants from the Quarry Lane end. Fight and desire from the Stags in the second half, a solid defensive display throughout, and a thoroughly deserved victory which was pleasing to see. Bath didn’t have the fire in the belly that Barrow and Hayes did in the Stags previous two games with Bath having little to play for, unlike Barrow and Hayes. Nevertheless this was much better from the Stags. Less than 48 hours til the next one, with the third home game in 5 days, this time Luton the visitors at Field Mill. Come on Mansfield! Man of the match: Tom Naylor |
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Report by: Martin Shaw at Field Mill
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Line Up:
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Grof 6 One good early save from Burnell. Got away with a couple of dodgy moments such as misjudging a corner and a couple of misunderstandings at the back.
Silk 7 Solid game. Naylor 8 Fine game yet again, oozed class, and one superb clearance off the line. Foster 7 Good game. Good header from corner to set up Higginson's goal. Stonehouse 7 Improved performance. Some good balls forward down the left channel. Cain 6.5 Poor first half. Did get into the game in the second half and got behind the defence a few times. Murray 7.5 Started the game really well, and worked extremely hard throughout. Nix 7 Some neat touches. Good play to earn the free kick from which he scored. Briscoe 7 Not at his best, but still made things happen, with a few shots and good crosses. Mitchley 5 One great flicked header to set Higginson away, but far too quiet generally. Medley 7 Started the game very well, but went off with a hamstring injury after 15 minutes. Hopeful he should be fit for Wembley though. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Higginson (for Medley, 15) 7.5 Lively game and deserved his goal. Showed a bit of inexperience with a couple of runs but looks promising. Higginson and Mitchley are not an ideal strike pairing though.
Subs Not Used: Collett, Smith, Preece, Istead. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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Robinson, Simpson, Jones, Clough, Jombati, Mackie (Murray 63), Connolly (Lennox 75), Burnell, Canham (Harris 78), Watkins, Phillips. Subs Not Used: Henry, Webb.
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Referee:
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Jermaine Simpson (Carnforth) 7 Handled the game well.
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