Season 11/12 Stagsnet Match Report
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Mansfield Town
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Kettering Town
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Briscoe 11, Green 51, Dyer 64
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Attendance: 2,051 (112 from Kettering)
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Date: 27 August 2011
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SUPER STAGS PICK UP FIRST WIN
Martin Shaw at Field Mill Mansfield Town picked up their first three points of the season with a comfortable 3-0 win over Kettering Town at Field Mill. Louis Briscoe scored the first from close range on 11 minutes, and after Kettering had the better of a 20 minute spell in the first half, the Stags put the game beyond the Poppies as Ross Dyer set up the the excellent Matt Green to score on 51 minutes, and then Green returned the favour for Dyer on 64 minutes. The Stags are starting look a powerful unit, but will be really tested with a difficult trip to Stockport County on Monday lunchtime. Commentary of the Stags 3 goals against Kettering, from StagsPlayer full match commentary, by Martin Shaw, Steve Hartshorn and Nigel Pinnick. The Stags were unchanged from the side that played so well against Luton. One change on the bench as Ritchie Sutton replaced Nick Wood. Martin Riley tweeted before the game that he was playing with an injection in his big toe (and after the game he tweeted: “Wow! My toe is in a world of hurt! Injection started wearing off in the second half and I was limping around like a pigeon with a gammy leg”). The Stags made a positive start. On 2 minutes, Kendrick’s second corner in quick succession was headed wide at the left post by Riley. The Stags took the lead on 11 minutes. After a bit of pinball in the Kettering box, Lindon Meikle got the ball across via a deflection to Briscoe at the right box, who gleefully fired home from close range. On 14 minutes, Futcher headed wide from Kendrick’s free kick taken from the left. But after that Kettering came right back into it. Poor defending from the Stags on 23 minutes as a scramble in the Stags box ended with a shot blazed wide by Marna. Then on 25, a Kettering corner from the right and Futcher had to clear a shot off the line. On 27, Jerel Ifil headed wide from 6 yards. The Stags suddenly looked all over the place, with mistakes creeping in (even Futcher gave the ball away twice). The Stags began to get a grip again, and on 41 minutes Green got in a low shot from the edge of the box but it was easily saved. Then brilliant play from Briscoe down the right and he put in a an inch-perfect cross for Dyer in the middle who stretched out his right leg and diverted the ball goalwards, but keeper Walker made a fine save. But Kettering nearly equalised a minute into stoppage time, as a free kick from the left bounced up and was heading into the top corner before Marriott tipped it away. From the resulting corner, Marriott made another fine save blocking a shot. Half time 1-0 The Stags must have had a rocket at the break, after the way they surrendered the impetus in the first half. On 51 minutes came the crucial second goal that was badly needed. A Marriott long kick upfield was headed on by Dyer into the path of Green, slightly left of centre, and Green did superbly to fire underneath the keeper into the net with his right foot. Kettering had a chance to get back in it on 53 minutes but Meechan got his shot from the edge of the box horribly wrong and it spooned into Marriott’s arms. A brilliant long range effort from Briscoe on 56 minutes was arrowing into the top corner from fully 25 yards, but the keeper made a terrific save to tip it away. Moments later Green headed wide - it seemed he thought he was offside, but actually he wasn’t. A good chance missed. On 59 minutes, Green was nearly through on goal, but the ball was taken off his toe. It was 3-0 on 64 minutes. O’Neill’s ball forward was steered into the path of Green by Briscoe. Green showed terrific pace to outpace his marker and powered down the right. He spotted Dyer unmarked at the left post and his cross was perfect precision for Dyer who couldn’t miss from 6 yards. It was Dyer’s first goal for the Stags. On 67 minutes, Dyer was barged over in the box. The ref waved away penalty appeals and viewing of the DVD suggests it was the correct decision. Kettering were very unlucky not to pull a goal back on 70 minutes as Ashikodi smashed a fabulous shot onto the underside of the bar from 22 yards. On 72 minutes, Marriott got down well to gather a low cross from the left. Sutton replaced Riley on 74 minutes. Great trickery from Meikle on 76 minutes as he nearly wove his way into the box, and he tried to find Dyer but the ball was cleared away. Worthington then replaced Murray and Connor replaced Dyer. No other chances of note for either side as the game ended with a very comfortable victory for the Stags. Man of the Match: Adam Murray |
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Report by: Martin Shaw at Field Mill
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Line Up:
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Marriott 7 Good save to tip away a free kick that bounced awkwardly. Good handling throughout.
O'Neill 7 Defended well and broke forward well. Riley 7 Defended solidly, and played despite a painful toe. Futcher 7 Marshalled the defence well again, and cleared one off the line. Developing a good understanding with the rest of the defence. Kendrick 7 Set pieces decent. Defended well. Briscoe 7.5 Some powerful running at the defence. Scored a tap-in and nearly scored a pearler from 25 yards Murray 9 Captain fantastic. Tried to drag the team out of a 20 minute rut in the first half. Worked so hard throughout. Great vision and distribution, and tough tackling. Howell 7 Solid in midfield. Meikle 7.5 Plenty of good running and made better use of the ball today. Works hard to track back. Green 9 Great game. Took his goal well, and superb play set up the third for Dyer. Great pace throughout. Dyer 8 In the right place at the right time to finish the third goal from close range. Unlucky not to score in the first half when he got on the end of Briscoe's outstanding cross. Lots of good flick-on's, one of which created the second goal for Green. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Sutton (for Riley, 75) - On for his debut.
Worthington (for Murray, 78) - Connor (for Dyer, 81) - Subs Not Used: Redmond, Stevenson. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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Walker, Phil Ifil, Jerel Ifil, Taft, Davis, Ashikodi, Williams (Kelly 55), Navarro (Thomson 55), Verma, Meechan, Marna. Subs Not Used: Haxhia, Clapham, Noubissie
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Referee:
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Richard Clark (Northumberland) 8 Handled the game extremely well.
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