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An independent supporters' website dedicated to Mansfield Town FC
Season 13/14 Stagsnet Match Report
Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Hartlepool United  
2 - 4
 Mansfield Town
Harewood 28, James 52. Harewood missed pen 45.
 
 Jennings 20, 72, Rhead 80, McGuire 90+2
Attendance: 2,976 (128 from Mansfield)
 
Date: 25 March 2014

STAGS PULL OFF MAGNIFICENT WIN FOR 3 CRUCIAL POINTS

Martin Shaw at Victoria Park

Mansfield Town pulled off a magnificent victory on Tuesday night with a 4-2 win at in-form Hartlepool United. It was Mansfield’s first evening win of the season in any competition, in the last evening match! Hartlepool had won 4 and drawn 1 of their last 5 home games scoring 12 and conceding 0 in the process. But Mansfield took the game to the home side, deservedly taking the lead with a poacher’s goal from wing-back James Jennings on 20 minutes as Beevers crossed into the middle, Rhead mis-kicked a stab at goal and it fell nicely for Jennings to poke home. The Stags were playing so well that the home fans were starting to groan at their own players. Hartlepool were all over the place but then levelled completely against the run of play through a goal from Marlon Harewood on 28 minutes after their first good move of the game, and then had a chance to take the lead just before half-time when a penalty was harshly awarded for a foul by Ritchie Sutton when it seemed that he got the ball as the ball changed direction. Alan Marriott came to the rescue diving to his left to save Harewood’s spot-kick. It was Marriott’s second penalty save out of the last three penalties, from a goalkeeper who is now in superb form. Hartlepool did take the lead early in the second half after the Stags missed opportunities to clear, the ball bounced off Anthony Howell just outside the box and the Stags defence left James unmarked to fire a good shot in off the left post. But the Stags were not dead and buried and introduced subs Clucas and Meikle who started to run at the home defence. Mansfield deservedly equalised with a stroke of luck as Jennings mis-kicked a free-kick from 28 yards and it sailed into the roof of the net over hapless keeper Scott Flinders, who looked in wretched form all night. The Stags sensed blood and went for the victory with a succession of chances including a tremendous shot from the industrious Ollie Palmer that smashed against the underside of the bar. But the third goal did come on 80 minutes as Palmer fed Clucas who put Beevers in space towards the byline and his delightful cross was headed into the bottom right corner of the net by Matt Rhead with the hapless keeper Flinders again making a weak effort to get to it. The Stags did not sit back and late sub Jake Speight looked lively. When a frightening 6 minutes of stoppage time was signified, you had to fear the worst thinking back to Plymouth (twice) and Accrington, but Mansfield’s determination was signified by a Clucas 75 yard run to earn a corner, and then McGuire battled to win the ball 45 yards from goal, pushed forward and his shot from 20 yards took a slight deflection to nestle in the net. It was a moment and a win that reminded me of the feeling at Hereford a year ago - absolutely massive for Mansfield. And news of other results just made the night even better.

The Stags are now 7 points clear of Northampton in the relegation zone and 5 clear of Wycombe and Portsmouth who are just outside the relegation zone, with 7 games left. Still much work to be done but a much better position than 3 games ago. On to the game against AFC Wimbledon on Saturday and another team in good form, but the Stags are playing very well themselves after these fine games against Northampton, Chesterfield and Hartlepool. Some great performances throughout the side and credit to Paul Cox and his management team again, who like on Saturday against Chesterfield, got the tactics spot on in my opinion, starting with a more solid looking three central defenders and two wing-backs to attempt to nullify the free-scoring Hartlepool, and then going for victory in the last half hour bringing on Clucas and Meikle to run at the defence and it worked perfectly.

Paul Cox made one change from the side that drew with Chesterfield, as Sutton replaced the injured Tafazolli (who should be available for the AFC Wimbledon game). Westlake was available after suspension and was on the bench. Clucas and Speight were also on the bench. Hartlepool included Marlon Harewood, who was linked with the Stags earlier in the season, and Jack Barmby, son of Nick Barmby, on loan from Manchester United.

The pitch was in superb condition, and was heavily watered before the game.

An early corner for the Stags inside the first minute and Palmer just got a touch on it but it was cleared. Straight to the other end and a good tackle by McGuire on the edge of the box. On 7 minutes, Harewood turned 30 yards out and sent a ferocious shot just over the bar. On 9 minutes, a strange incident occurred as Riley booted the ball straight against Murray and it rebounded to Marriott. There was a good move from Hartlepool after 11 minutes as James played a one-two with Barmby and pushed the ball past Marriott but it just ran out of play and Marriott did very well to avoid bringing him down. On 14 minutes, Howell played a good ball down the left for Palmer who cut inside on to his right foot and his shot was blocked but unluckily rebounded back off him for a goal kick.

On 17 minutes, a good spell for the Stags culminated in a great ball from Jennings out to Beevers on the right and his first time ball into the middle was straight to the keeper. On 19 minutes, Duckworth sent a speculative effort from 25 yards nearer to the corner flag than the goal.

The Stags were in deservedly front on 20 minutes with a poacher’s goal from wing-back James Jennings, as Beevers crossed into the middle, Rhead mis-kicked a stab at goal and it fell nicely for Jennings to poke home.

On 22 minutes, James did well to put a cross in and Harewood’s weak header made for an easy save for Marriott.

On 24 minutes, keeper Flinders dropped the ball as he was about to kick it upfield but Palmer had already turned his back and couldn’t take advantage. On 26 minutes, Hartlepool just managed to clear one of their own back passes and they were by now looking all over the place and getting jeered by some of their own fans. On 27 minutes, keeper Flinders punched clear under pressure from Palmer straight to McGuire 35 yards out who volleyed over the bar.

On 28 minutes, Hartlepool were level, completely against the run of play through a goal from Marlon Harewood after their first good move of the game, Harewood left to sweep the ball in from 6 yards after the ball ricocheted to him.

On 29 minutes, a good break from Compton down the left and his shot across goal which went for a throw in. On 30 minutes, Rhead nodded down to himself and volleyed well wide from 25 yards.

Dempster was booked for a foul on Compton on the left on 32 minutes. On 33 minutes, a good block from Riley from a James shot.

On 39 minutes, Harewood had McGuire in a headlock. A foul was given but no action taken against Harewood.

On 43 minutes, great pace from Palmer to run forward from the halfway line after winning the ball and earning a corner. The resulting corner from Jennings was high into the box, Palmer went down and there were strong appeals for a penalty.

On 45 minutes, it was Hartlepool who were awarded a penalty, harshly awarded for a foul by Ritchie Sutton when it seemed that he got the ball as the ball changed direction. Alan Marriott came to the rescue diving to his left to save Harewood’s spot-kick. It was Marriott’s second penalty save out of the last three penalties, from a goalkeeper who is now in superb form.

On 45+1, Jennings was booked for dissent, probably through frustration at the penalty being awarded even though Marriott had saved it. From a Stags free kick from the halfway line, Rhead knocked the ball down but it ran straight through to the keeper. On 45+2, a free kick from Richards from 25 yards was straight at Marriott.

As the players came off for half time, Cox rushed on to the pitch to usher Jennings and Sutton away from the referee, presumably both of them still furious about the penalty incident. The Stags had had the better of the early stages and deserved to be ahead with Hartlepool looking all over the place but after Hartlepool’s equaliser, they had looked good going forward with real pace. Marriott’s penalty save could prove to be crucial. Palmer had been the stand-out player for the Stags.

Half time 1-1

After a quiet opening to the second half, Hartlepool took the lead on 52 minutes after the Stags missed opportunities to clear, the ball bounced off Anthony Howell just outside the box and the Stags defence left James unmarked to fire a good shot in off the left post.

On 55 minutes, great defending from Jennings from a Hartlepool break. On 57 minutes, a Hartlepool shot from 22 yards out deflected off Rhead for a corner.

Cox made a double change on 58 minutes bringing on Clucas and Meikle for Howell and Dempster and switched to a 4-4-2 formation with Clucas on the right and Meikle on the left.

On 60 minutes, from a Jennings corner, the ball was headed out to Meikle on the edge of the box and he sent in a good first time shot which was saved by the keeper. On 67 minutes, a great cross-field pass from Meikle found Clucas who got to the byline on the right but his right-footed cross was far too hard and over everyone. Moments later, a good run from Meikle into the box and his shot was cleared. A good move from Hartlepool came on 68 minutes as Barmby shot wide of the left post. On 70 minutes, a good block by McGuire from a James’ shot. On 71 minutes, Hartlepool sub Sweeney put in a low cross along the six yard box that was cleared by Riley.

The Stags deservedly made it 2-2 on 72 minutes with a stroke of luck as Jennings mis-kicked a free-kick from 28 yards and it sailed into the roof of the net over hapless keeper Scott Flinders, who looked in wretched form all night. The free kick had been earned by a trademark Palmer long run with the ball, though Hartlepool felt it was not a foul.

On 75 minutes, a Jennings’ free kick was recycled back to Meikle who put the ball back in and Rhead had a volley which was saved but he was given offside. Moments later, Meikle did superbly to get into the area and had a shot which was saved, then Palmer cracked a thunderbolt against the underside of the bar and finally Murray had a shot from the edge of the box saved.

On 76 minutes, Marriott made a great save from a Sweeney shot. On 78 minutes, Clucas got into the area on the right, got the ball on to his left foot and shot low but straight at the keeper. On 79 minutes, Marriott was clearly fouled in the area from a Hartlepool corner and the ball ended up in the net but the whistle had already gone.

The Stags made it 3-2 on 80 minutes, as Palmer fed Clucas who put Beevers in space towards the byline and his delightful cross was headed into the bottom right corner of the net by Matt Rhead with the hapless keeper Flinders again making a weak effort to get to it.

On 81 minutes, James volleyed wide of the left post.

Speight replaced Palmer on 82 minutes for his first appearance for the Stags since November after a long injury.

On 85 minutes, a Hartlepool shot was deflected wide of the right post. As the clock ticked on to 90 minutes and a frightening 6 minutes of additional time was signalled, Clucas made a tremendous 75 yard run to earn a corner.

On 90+2, the Stags made it 4-2, as McGuire battled to win the ball 45 yards from goal, pushed forward and his shot from 20 yards took a slight deflection to nestle in the net.

Tremendous celebrations from the Stags players and fans behind the goal.

The Stags still have work to do to avoid relegation, with 5 or 6 points needed from the final 7 games, in my estimation.

Man of the match: James Jennings


Report by: Martin Shaw at Victoria Park



Line Up:
Marriott 8 Critical penalty save, his second from the last 3 penalties, from a goalkeeper who is now in superb form. Made another great save at 2-2. Did well not to give away a penalty in the first half.
Beevers 8 Some good crosses, including for the third goal. His cross to Rhead led to the first goal. Defended well too.
Sutton 7.5 Very solid. Perhaps unlucky to concede the penalty.
Riley 7.5 Some good clearances and blocks.
Dempster 7 Good game.
Jennings 8 Two goals, the first a real poacher’s effort, the second a bit lucky. Some great defending. Will be suspended for the next two games after picking up his 10th yellow card.
Howell 7.5 Did well.
Murray 7 Led the team well.
McGuire 7.5 Great tackle in the second minute set the scene on a fine performance. Deserved his goal, albeit with a slight deflection.
Palmer 8 Very good game. Industrious. So unlucky when he crashed a shot against the underside of the bar.
Rhead 7 Crucial goal to put the Stags back in front. Won plenty of headers as usual. The home fans took a real dislike to him, but he played well.
Sub Line Up:
Clucas (for Howell, 58) 8 Some superb running at the Hartlepool defence.
Meikle (for Dempster, 58) 8 Some great runs into the box.
Speight (for Palmer, 82) - Looked lively. Great to have him back even if he can only play 20-30 minutes in a game.
Subs not used: Westlake, Daniel, Clements, Stevenson.
Opposition Line Up:
Flinders; Richards, Collins, Burgess, Holden (Jones, 64); Walker, Duckworth, Compton (Poole, 62), Barmby; James, Harewood (Sweeney, 62). Subs Not Used: Rafferty, Rowbotham, Hawkins, Franks.
Referee:
Gary Sutton 5


Season 13/14 Reports