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Season 13/14 Stagsnet Match Report
Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Mansfield Town  
1 - 0
 Fleetwood Town
Rhead 31.
 
 
Attendance: 2759 (102 from Fleetwood)
 
Date: 22 February 2014

IMPRESSIVE STAGS DESERVEDLY BEAT FLEETWOOD

Martin Shaw and Simon Chamberlain at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill

Mansfield Town thoroughly deserved the three points against high-flying Fleetwood at the One Call Stadium this afternoon with one of the best performances of the season. It was Mansfield’s first ever victory over Fleetwood, a team who have put 5 past the Stags on 3 occasions, and who won the game 5-4 at Highbury earlier in the season. The only goal of the game came on 31 minutes as Matt Rhead headed home from a Chris Clements corner and enjoyed celebrating by putting a finger to his lips to silence the Fleetwood fans who had been chanting “You fat ba**ard!” Mansfield completely controlled the first half and “out-footballed” one of the best footballing sides in the league. In the second half, Fleetwood came much more into the game. But the Stags should have had a second on 81 minutes as a Clements corner dropped to Rhead 6 yards out but he could only scuff a free shot straight at the keeper. On 83 minutes, a free kick from Evans, from wide on the left just outside the area, was flicked onto the inside of the left post by Jon Parkin and cleared off the line by Ritchie Sutton, who said to me after the game “it was a good job I was there”! That was an understatement from Sutton and it was a crucial clearance. However the moment of the match, and possibly the tackle of the season, came a minute later when a low cross from the left reached Antoni Sarcevic near the penalty spot, who was just about to pull the trigger, as Daniel slid in at full stretch with a last gasp challenge. Magnificent from Daniel, a goal-saving tackle. After that, Fleetwood had no further clear attempts on goal as the Stags were roared home by a delighted crowd. The win puts Mansfield nine points clear of the relegation zone having played a game more. And incredibly, just four points behind 8th place. But there is still much more work to be done to achieve safety, starting with another crucial game against Bury on Tuesday.

The Stags made two enforced changes from the side that started at Oxford as Sutton replaced Riley in central defence, and Daniel replaced Jennings at left wing-back. The formation was 3-2-2-1-2 as we have seen for several weeks. New loan signing Michael Cain was on the bench. Fleetwood included the dangerous Antoni Sarcevic who was sensational against us earlier in the season. Pacey striker Jamille Matt was out injured.

It was breezy afternoon but bright and sunny. Before the game, there was a minute’s silence for Sir Tom Finney.

On 3 minutes, Dempster was lucky to get away without a yellow card for hacking down Marrow. The resulting free kick from 27 yards was straight into the wall. On 5 minutes, a shot from Jon Parkin was going wide and deflected further wide for a corner.

On 7 minutes, a good move from the Stags, and Clucas fed Daniel just to the left of centre, and Daniel’s low shot was straight at the keeper. On 9 minutes, Tafazolli blocked a Parkin snap-shot. A minute later, Tafazolli did well to rob Sarcevic and clear the ball.

It was a positive start from Fleetwood, but it was the Stags who were to control the rest of the first half.

On 11 minutes, Clucas got into the area on the left, but couldn’t get the ball under control or get a shot away. On 12 minutes, a good tackle from Sutton to rescue Clements from a poor ball towards his own goal.

On 15 minutes, Westlake shot from the edge of the box on the right, but it was easily cleared.

On 16 minutes, a good ball from Clements found Daniel who trapped it beautifully and made a good run down the left to the byline, and put a ball across the face of goal but no-one could get on the end of it.

The Stags were now in control, playing good football going forward.

On 27 minutes, Clucas sent a free kick from 29 yards over the bar. On 28 minutes, another good move from the Stags, but Daniel’s cross just floated out for a goal-kick. Then a great run from Daniel but he couldn’t get past Pond.

The Stags were in front on 31 minutes. It all started with a great tackle from Howell on Parkin on the edge of the Stags area. The Stags broke forward with a great move and a Clucas cross was put behind for a corner on the right. Clements took the resulting corner, to the far post where Rhead headed into the left corner of the net, despite keeper Chris Maxwell getting a hand to it at full stretch. Rhead enjoyed celebrating by putting a finger to his lips to silence the Fleetwood fans who had been chanting “You fat ba**ard!” It was a deserved lead for Mansfield.

On 32 minutes Howell picked up a yellow card for a foul after he had made a mistake in giving the ball away.

On 39 minutes, Westlake shot well wide from 25 yards. On 40 minutes, Daniel put a ball into the middle, and Stevenson’s attempt was blocked through to the keeper. On 41 minutes, a good move from the Stags on the left, but eventually Daniel was offside.

On 44 minutes, a deep Clements corner was headed forward by Sutton, the keeper flapped the ball away and finally Rhead sent an overhead kick out for a goal-kick.

A standing ovation for the Stags at the break. The Stags had controlled the game and played some impressive football and quite simply been the better side.

Half time 1-0

Fleetwood made a change at the break bringing on Matty Hughes for one-time Stags target Alan Goodhall. I don’t know if we’re getting old, but Matty Hughes looked about 12 years old.

On 54 minutes, a great move from the Stags, and eventually Clucas got into the area, but lost the ball.

A ridiculous decision from the referee on 58 minutes as Howell put in a great tackle on the edge of his own area, only for the ref to give a free kick. Evans chipped the resulting free-kick straight into Marriott’s midriff.

On 59 minutes, Marriott did well to tip over a Sarcevic dipping shot from 20 yards.

On 60 minutes, a good tackle from Dempster after a mistake from Tafazolli, and the ball went for a corner. From the resulting corner, no-one cleared the ball and eventually Marriott laid on the loose ball. On 65 minutes, Marriott punched away a cross.

Fleetwood were putting the Stags under pressure.

On 67 minutes, a good break from Westlake down the right, he put the ball into Clucas, who turned and shot inches past the left post. On 68 minutes, a mistake from Dempster, Hughes nearly got through but the ball ran through to Marriott.

On 71 minutes, a shot from Mandron from 22 yards was blocked for a corner. From the resulting corner, sub Taylor sent in a shot that was always going well wide. On 74 minutes, a Fleetwood corner from the right found Liam Hogan who headed at Marriott who saved well.

On 76 minutes, a great run by Daniel down the left to win a corner. From the resulting corner taken from the left by Clements, the Stags were nearly 2-0 in front as Sutton headed it goalwards and keeper Maxwell made a superb reaction save. So close for Sutton to his first ever Stags goal.

On 78 minutes, a Clucas cross from the left couldn’t quite reach Rhead.

On 80 minutes, a great run from Daniel down the left, and his cross was headed by Clucas and deflected onto the roof of the net for a corner. From the resulting corner, the ball dropped to Rhead 6 yards out but he could only scuff a free shot straight at the keeper.

On 83 minutes, a free kick from Evans, from wide on the left just outside the area, was flicked onto the inside of the left post by Jon Parkin and cleared off the line by Ritchie Sutton, who said to me after the game “it was a good job I was there”! That was an understatement from Sutton and it was a crucial clearance.

However the moment of the match, and possibly the tackle of the season, came a minute later when a low cross from the left reached Antoni Sarcevic near the penalty spot, who was just about to pull the trigger, as Daniel slid in at full stretch with a last gasp challenge. Magnificent from Daniel, a goal-saving tackle.

On 86 minutes, a low shot from Evans was easy for Marriott.

A welcome return for Ben Hutchinson on 87 minutes, as he replaced Stevenson.

On 89 minutes, Marriott claimed a Fleetwood corner. On 90+1 a Mandron shot was well over the bar from distance.

Palmer replaced Clucas on 90+2.

After 4 minutes of stoppage time, the referee blew the final whistle and the Stags went off to a rapturous ovation.

Man of the match: Colin Daniel


Report by: Martin Shaw and Simon Chamberlain at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill



Line Up:
Marriott 7 Two good saves in the second half.
Sutton 7.5 Crucial goal-line clearance, good tackle to rescue Clements, and close to his first Stags goal.
Dempster 7 Steady game with one very good tackle .
Tafazolli 7 Excellent first half but not as assured in the second half. Good block on a Parkin shot and did well to rob Sarcevic in the first half.
Westlake 7 Got forward well. A couple of shots. Defended solidly.
Daniel 8 Involved in a lot with several fine runs, one superb trap, but most importantly one of the tackles of the season to prevent a shot from Sarcevic.
Howell 8 Worked tirelessly to break up Fleetwood’s passing game. One great tackle which the ref decided was a foul.
Clements 7 Some good corners, including for the goal. Didn’t get into the game otherwise as much as he has done recently.
Stevenson 7 Linked up well with Clucas and Rhead as the Stags put Fleetwood under pressure.
Rhead 7 Got the winner. Missed a great chance in the second half.
Clucas 7 Involved in a lot. Went close with one shot
Sub Line Up:
Hutchinson (for Stevenson, 87) - A welcome return.
Palmer (for Clucas, 90+2) -
Subs not used: Beevers, Meikle, McGuire, Dyer, Cain.
Opposition Line Up:
Maxwell; Hogan, Roberts (Taylor 69), Pond, Jordan; Evans (Allen 87), Goodall (Hughes HT), Marrow; Sarcevic; Parkin, Mandron. Subs not used: Davies, Murdoch, Cresswell, Cartwright.
Referee:
Brendan Malone 5 Gave a couple of free kicks for fair challenges, one of which was on the edge of the box; yet failed to spot on Stevenson who had boot ripped off.


Season 13/14 Reports