Season 12/13 Stagsnet Match Report
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Mansfield Town
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Tamworth
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Green (pen) 45+2, Jones 62.
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Attendance: 2105 (122 from Tamworth)
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Date: 4 September 2012
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IMPROVING STAGS COMFORTABLY BEAT TAMWORTH
Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium Mansfield Town are now really starting to look like the force they were last season, and a penalty on the stroke of half time, won and converted by Matt Green, and then a towering Luke Jones header from a wonderful Exodus Geohaghon cross in the second half, were enough to see off Tamworth. The first 45 minutes from the Stags was not particularly convincing, though Howell, Rhead and Meikle all had chances to put the home side in front. Then on 45+2 minutes, Matt Green did well to force his way into the penalty area under pressure from 3 defenders, and the back of Green’s heel was clipped by Duane Courtney. The referee Sebastian Stocksbridge was perfectly positioned and immediately pointed to the spot. Green confidently dispatched the penalty into the bottom left corner. At half time, I had a look at the incident on the match DVD and was aware of someone looking over my shoulder keen to see the incident. He was the referee’s assessor! We studied it, and he asked if we could study it again after the final whistle with his colleague from the FA, which we did. In the end we concluded that Duane Courtney did indeed clip Green’s heel and it was the correct decision. The Stags started the second half confidently, and Meikle, Rhead and Briscoe all had chances to extend the lead. The crucial second goal came on 62 minutes. An Exodus Geohaghon long throw from the left, was cleared back to Geohaghon, who chipped a fabulous cross, left-footed back into the middle, and Luke Jones rose highest to head into the net from 3 yards. After that the Stags continued to play some good stuff. Tamworth knocked the ball around all game in their own half really nicely, but when in the Stags half their final ball was consistently very poor. So a comfortable win. Exodus Geohaghon was an absolute colossus, superb at the back, and with the some missile long throws. His cross for the second goal was superb. Plenty of other impressive performances too, and it is starting to come together now for the Stags. The introduction of Geohaghon and captain fantastic Adam Murray has brought a confidence to the entire team. Manager Paul Cox named an unchanged side from Saturday, with just one change on the bench: Gary Roberts returning from suspension in place of Lee Stevenson. Tamworth broke quickly on 2 minutes and Marriott had to be out quickly to save after a mistake by Sutton. Scott Barrow sent a free kick two yards over the bar for Tamworth on 6 minutes. The Stags first chance came on 15 minutes. Murray’s corner came out to Howell, whose shot was blocked after he made room to shoot. At the other end, a great tackle by Jones on 20 minutes. On 25 minutes, Green headed over from a cross from Briscoe who cut in from the right. On 27 minutes, Green crossed and there was a poor shot by Rhead, then Briscoe crossed and Green headed at the keeper. Straight to the other end, and Marriott had to intercept a cross with his legs, it came out to Lloyd Kerry who fired just over with the outside of his right boot. A half chance for Green on 35 minutes, but with a sight at goal for a split second, he didn’t pull the trigger. On 36 minutes, Murray’s free kick came out to Meikle who smashed a shot over the bar. Good play from Rhead on 41 minutes, as he made his way forward down the right, and from 18 yards he skimmed a shot two yards past the left post. Then on 45+2 minutes, Matt Green did well to force his way into the penalty area under pressure from 3 defenders, and the back of Green’s heel was clipped by Duane Courtney. The referee Sebastian Stocksbridge was perfectly positioned and immediately pointed to the spot. Green confidently dispatched the penalty into the bottom left corner. Half time 1-0 A chance for Rhead on 49 minutes as he got down the right, chipped over a defender, and from a tight angle blasted over. Great approach play but poor final shot. On 51 minutes, Meikle cut in from the left and his shot was blocked. From the resulting Geohaghon long throw, Rhead headed wide. Another Geohaghon long throw on 57 minutes and Briscoe had a shot blocked for a corner. Tamworth’s first attack of note in the second half came on 58 minutes when a cross from the left was in front of everyone. The crucial second goal came on 62 minutes. An Exodus Geohaghon long throw from the left, was cleared back to Geohaghon, who chipped a fabulous cross, left-footed back into the middle, and Luke Jones rose highest to head into the net from 3 yards. Geohaghon’s low exocet long throw on 67 minutes was just out of the reach of Green. At the other end a great tackle by Sutton on 68 minutes as he tackled Jeffers in the box. A great turn by Briscoe on the byeline on the right on 70 minutes and his cross was cleared. A minute later, a Stags free kick forward was headed on by Rhead and just out of the reach of Green. A good shot by Kerry on 79 minutes and Marriott made the save look easy. Roberts replaced Briscoe on 85 minutes. Scott Barrow dragged a shot wide for Tamworth on 85 minutes. Speight replaced Green on 90 minutes and a minute later Clements replaced Meikle as the Stags comfortably saw out the win. Man of the Match: Exodus Geohaghon |
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Report by: Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium
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Line Up:
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Marriott 8 Man of the match from the supporters’ text vote. Faultless with some decent saves and fine handling, though it was far from his busiest match.
Sutton 7 Good game, solid defensively. One superlative tackle in the second half - look out for it in the video highlights. Jones 7 Defended well, and took his goal commandingly. Splendid tackle early on. Geohaghon 8.5 Absolute colossus, superb at the back, and with the some missile long throws. His cross for the second goal was superb. Daniel 7 Did well. Briscoe 7 Some good play down the right. One turn inside the defender in the second half was Briscoe at his best. Murray 7 Amazing fitness levels considering he is just back from injury. Really making a difference in the middle of the park. Howell 7 Improving game on game. Did well tonight, calm and assured on the ball. Meikle 7 Good game, though not at his best. One trademark cut in from the left and shot was blocked. Rhead 8 Won lots of ball in the air. Bullied the Tamworth defence. Some great flick-on’s. Missed a couple of decent chances. Green 7.5 Really fine play against 3 defenders to win the penalty which he dispatched confidently. Perhaps to be hyper-critical he is not quite at his sharpest, and had a half-chance in the first half when he should have pulled the trigger. But he is really some player now. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Roberts (for Briscoe, 85) -
Speight (for Green, 90) - Clements (for Meikle, 90+1) - Subs not used: Thompson, Wright. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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Breeden, Tait, Baldock (Girvan, 88), Marshall (Iver-Ward, 63), Kerry, Courtney, Gudger, Barrow, Collins (Llado, 71), Jeffers, Cunnington. Subs: Wren, Meer.
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Referee:
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Sebastian Stocksbridge 8 Had a very good game, and got the penalty spot on.
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