Season 14/15 Stagsnet Match Report
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Mansfield Town
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Leeds United
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Hearn pen 71, 83.
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Attendance: 3493 (923 from Leeds)
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Date: 22 July 2014
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HEARN DOUBLE ON DEBUT AS STAGS IMPRESS AGAIN
Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium Mansfield Town put in a cracking performance tonight against Championship side Leeds United and two goals from substitute Liam Hearn, in his first game for the Stags, completed a 2-0 win. It was the third time out of 3 pre-season friendlies that the Stags have received a standing ovation at the end. The Stags defended well throughout most of the game, and the three central defenders: Sutton, Dempster and Riley all coped well with the Championship strikers. Beevers did well at right wing-back in his first game of pre-season. In midfield, Fergus Bell again impressed, while new signing from Stevenage Simon Heslop started slowly but grew into the game. But it was the performance of Hearn that had the fans buzzing - he looked absolute dynamite, winning a penalty soon after coming on in the second half with a burst of pace, converting the penalty confidently, and then a clinical finish after Matt Rhead had done well to win a header. It looks like Paul Cox is going to have the sort of headache he would want in deciding who should play up front this season, with Fisher, Rhead and Palmer all doing well so far, in addition to Hearn. Stags team (3-2-2-1-2 formation): Trialist keeper (from Switzerland, LATER NAME AS SASCHA STUDER); Sutton, Dempster, Riley; Beevers, Trialist left wing-back (LATER NAMED AS ROB TAYLOR, who also played against Notts Co and Aston Villa); Murray, Heslop; Fergus Bell; Palmer, Fisher. Subs: Rhead (for Fisher, 46) Hearn (for Palmer, 63) Clements (for Heslop, 66) Marsden (for Beevers, 69) Amari’i Bell (for Trialist left wing-back, 69) Trialist midfielder (LATER NAMED AS ANTHONY GRIFFITH, for Murray, 78) Jack Thomas (for F.Bell, 78) On 5 minutes, Heslop’s free kick from 30 yards was well over the bar. Not the best way to introduce yourself to your new fans but he was to get a lot better. There was no goalmouth action at all at either end until 25 minutes when, from a Leeds corner, Walters headed wide from 6 yards. Poor defending from the Stags as Riley and Dempster argued about who should have picked him up. On 28 minutes, good play from Fergus Bell to find Fisher and Fisher’s cross was just over Palmer. On 31 minutes, Stags trialist keeper had his first meaningful touch as he punched a corner away. On 33 minutes, a cross from Fisher on the left hit a Leeds player. There were muted appeals for a penalty. The ball came back to Fisher whose cross-shot was punched away for a corner. From the resulting corner, Fergus Bell had a shot blocked. On 36 minutes, Riley made a good tackle on Austin at the edge of the area. The Stags were starting to play some nice football but without creating chances. On 40 minutes, a good move from the Stags: a good run from Fisher whose squared to the trialist left wing-back on the left who pulled the ball back to Fergus Bell whose shot whistled just wide of the right post. On 41 minutes, Palmer caused confusion just outside the Leeds box as the Leeds keeper came for the ball but didn’t get it, allowing Fisher a clear sight of goal, but he was slightly off balance and put it over the bar. On 43 minutes, a good tackle by trialist left wing-back to put the ball out for a corner for Leeds. From that corner, the ball was played into the middle and Bianchi flicked a good chance wide. On 45+1, the Stags trialist keeper made a great catch from a corner. A minute later, Heslop did well to intercept a Leeds break. An encouraging half from the Stags. There was a standing ovation for the team as they came off at half time. Fergus Bell looked very good. Fisher looked sharp apart from his missed chance. Heslop started slowly but ended the half well and the trialist looked good again at left wing back. Half time 0-0 At the start of the second half, Rhead replaced Fisher. On 49 minutes, a corner from trialist left wing-back from the right and Rhead headed over. Some strong defending from Beevers on 50 minutes. Then on 51 minutes, Rhead set up Fergus Bell who shot wide from a tight angle. A good challenge by Murray in the centre of the park. On 56 minutes, Leeds striker Matt Smith had a chance with a header but could only head up in the air. Straight away, Smith had a chance of a shot from the right and the Stags trialist keeper saved well with his legs. On 58 minutes, brave defending from Sutton as Poleon’s boot was high. On 60 minutes, a corner to Leeds, Bianchi came to the near post and headed over the bar. At that point, Leeds made 10 changes to their side with only Bianchi, the first half substitute, staying on. On 63 minutes, Hearn replaced Palmer, then Clements replaced Heslop, and on 69 minutes, Marsden replaced Beevers, whilst Amari’i Bell replaced the trialist left wing-back. The Stags took the lead on 71 minutes. Hearn and the Leeds keeper went for a loose backpass from Steve Morison. Hearn appeared second favourite but showed great pace to get there first and the keeper brought him down. A clear penalty. Hearn dispatched the kick down the right hand side. On 74 minutes, a Leeds cross from the right and Tonge headed wide. On 75 minutes, a great ball from Hearn for Fergus Bell but Bell slipped at the vital moment. On 76 minutes, Clements put in a good block from a shot. Two more substitutions on 78 minutes as trialist midfielder replaced Murray, and Jack Thomas replaced Fergus Bell. On 81 minutes, a free kick from Clements from 20 yards just flicked off the top of the wall and went wide. The Stags made it 2-0 on 83 minutes. Matt Rhead did well to win a header from a Dempster ball forward, and flick into the path of Hearn and a defender. The defender slipped, and Hearn produced a clinical finish to put the ball past the keeper. There was another standing ovation for the Stags players at the final whistle for the third game in succession. Man of the match: Liam Hearn |
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Report by: Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium
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Line Up:
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Trialist keeper (from Switzerland, LATER NAME AS SASCHA STUDER) 7.5 One good save with his legs; great catch from a corner, and one good punch from a corner. Kicking was mostly good. Otherwise had nothing to do. He would probably have appreciated more shots to save to show what he could do.
Sutton 7.5 Defended very solidly; brave defending putting his head into a high challenge. Dempster 7.5 Good game; one dodgy moment in the first half when Leeds striker had a free header in six-yard box and Dempster and Riley were arguing who should have picked him up. Riley 7.5 Great tackle on Austin on edge of area. Good game; one dodgy moment in the first half when Leeds striker had a free header in six-yard box and Dempster and Riley were arguing who should have picked him up. Beevers 7 Did well at right wing-back in his first game of pre-season. Trialist left wing-back (LATER NAMED AS ROB TAYLOR) (who also played against Notts Co and Aston Villa) 6.5 Two good tackles. Did give the ball away a few times. Murray 6.5 Occasionally gave the ball away, but generally did well and some good challenges. Heslop 7 Slow start with terrible free kick. Grew into the game. One excellent track back to intercept a Leeds break. Fergus Bell 8 Impressive. One great ball forward for Fisher. One shot whistled just past the post. Palmer 7 Did well to create confusion in Leeds back line to set up clear sight of goal for Fisher. Fisher 7.5 Looked sharp with some good runs; did fire over when he had a clear sight of goal albeit was perhaps off balance. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Rhead (for Fisher, 46) 7 Good strength with a header to set up second goal. Could have done better from a couple of corners.
Hearn (for Palmer, 63) 9 Looked absolute dynamite in the half hour he was on, winning a penalty soon after coming on in the second half with a burst of pace, converting the penalty confidently, and then a clinical finish after Matt Rhead had done well to win a header. Clements (for Heslop, 66) - One good block from a Leeds shot. Decent free kick that just flicked off the top of the Leeds wall. Marsden (for Beevers, 69) - Didn’t look out of place yet again. Amari’i Bell (for Trialist left wing-back, 69) - Lost the ball a couple of times and won it back. Did ok. Trialist midfielder (LATER NAMED AS ANTHONY GRIFFITH) (for Murray, 78) - Looked strong and powerful. Jack Thomas (for F.Bell, 78) - Did well in brief appearance. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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Leeds:
First 60 Minutes: S Taylor, Byram, Pearce, Wootton, Warnock, Austin, Murphy, White, Hunt (Bianchi 15), Walters (Poleon 25), Smith. Final 30 Minutes: Silvestri, Thompson, Lees, Killock, C Taylor, Bianchi, Tonge, Cook, Norris, Morison, Doukara. |
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Referee:
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Gary Sutton.
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