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Season 14/15 Stagsnet Match Report
The FA Cup - Round One replay
Concord Rangers  
0 - 1
 Mansfield Town
 
 Palmer 61
Attendance: 1537 (approx 100 from Mansfield, note unsegregated)
 
Date: 25 November 2014

STAGS DESERVEDLY THROUGH AT CONCORD RANGERS

Martin Shaw at the Aspect Arena , Thames Road

Mansfield Town came through a potentially tricky replay in the FA Cup at Conference South side Concord Rangers this evening with a goal from Ollie Palmer earning a deserved victory. On a heavy pitch and often in lashing rain, it was hard work for both sides, and impossible for the Stags to repeat their passing game shown on Saturday. In an even first half there were few chances for either side, with Studer making a fine early save, then confusion between Studer and Tafazolli as Studer came out of his area and didn’t get there, allowed Taaffe to get in a shot which Marsden cleared off the line, while Ollie Palmer had a good chance for the Stags with a shot on target deflected for a corner. The Stags made a change at the break with Fergus Bell coming on as an attacking midfielder in place of Sendles-White as a defensive midfielder and it worked superbly for caretaker manager Murray as the Stags got right on top. Bell was terrific, first creating a chance for Palmer whose shot on target brought a superb save from Arsenal loanee keeper Josh Vicars, then Bell brilliantly controlled and fired against the post, and then another great run from Bell set up another chance for Palmer who fired just over. But the goal that looked inevitable came on 61 minutes and it was brilliant play from Rob Taylor who burst towards the byline on the left and put in a wonderful low cross that Palmer slotted in at the right post under pressure from a defender. Palmer should have made victory comfortable when he was clean through on goal with no defender within 20 yards but he couldn’t beat keeper Vicars who blocked his shot. Then sub Bingham put a cross-shot across goal and sub Rhead just missed it at the far post. The Stags were nearly made to pay for missed chances on 82 minutes as the dangerous Jordan Chiedozie, only released by Bournemouth this year, and scorer of the wonderful goal at Field Mill last week, fired over from a great chance 12 yards out. That turned out to be Concord’s only real chance of the second half and so a deserved victory for the Stags thanks to a really fine second half display. Some solid performances throughout the team. My man of the match is Fergus Bell, who changed the game with a scintillating display coming on as a half time substitute. Close behind were central defenders Riley and Tafazolli who very dominant, Heslop who had a fine game in the middle, and matchwinner Palmer who worked tirelessly and thoroughly deserved his goal. A word also for Rob Taylor for a magnificent run and cross for the goal. The Stags through to the second round to face Cambridge at the Abbey Stadium in 11 days and who knows what rewards could follow if we can win there, but before that the little matter of a visit to Luton on Saturday, a game that means a lot to the fans! Come on Mansfield!

Caretaker manager Adam Murray made two changes to the side that beat Plymouth and both were enforced. Loanees Keiron Freeman and Vadaine Oliver (signed on loan for two more months this afternoon) were not eligible to play, and were replaced by Marsden and Palmer. It was the same 4-1-2-2-1 formation as Saturday with Sendles-White playing just in front of the back four, and Palmer on his own up front. Tafazolli was again playing against the club he once played for on loan. Concord made one change from the game at Field Mill 7 days ago as Taaffe replaced Stokes up front.

The pitch was muddy and after the game some of the players told me it was hard work. The grass was also long. I had visited the ground in the afternoon and spoke to the groundsman who told me that the pitch was so wet he had not been able to cut the grass and so it was longer than he wanted.

The atmosphere was more muted than you might expect. I can only put this down to most of the people there to support Concord not being genuine Concord fans. It was quite different to the atmosphere at Slough two years ago where the home fans were vociferous in their support. Slough is a club with a much longer and prouder history.

The game started in pouring rain. The first chance fell to Concord on 6 minutes, with a corner from the right, and Studer made a fine save from a shot by Fry, diving low to his left.

On 10 minutes, Taylor crossed from the left and Heslop missed an attempted header. On 12 minutes a free kick from Clements was just over the angle. Two minutes later, a low cross from Marsden, Lambe stretched for it at the near post and put it wide of the post.

Real danger for the Stags on 14 minutes. A long ball over the top was left by Tafazolli thinking it would run through to Studer. The ball didn’t bounce properly as Studer came to clear, he couldn’t get to it, Taaffe took the ball past him, Studer was careful not to bring him down, and Taaffe’s deflected shot was cleared off the line by Marsden. A bit of a misjudgement by Studer, but as much down to the conditions as anything and he learnt his lesson from the Accrington game by not bringing the player down.

On 16 minutes, Palmer got down the left, cut inside and sent in a shot on target that was deflected for a corner.

On 18 minutes, a Concord cross from the left, and Cawley headed well wide of the right post. On 20 minutes, a good header away by Riley.

On 23 minutes, Tafazolli passed back to Studer, whose clearance was poor allowing Chiedozie a shot from 25 yards which he sent over the bar.

On 27 minutes, Heslop fired wide from 25 yards, with Clements in acres of space on the left.

Sendles-White was booked for his second foul on 32 minutes, after an earlier lecture.

A Concord free kick from the right touchline on 33 minutes flicked off Tafazolli’s head for a corner.

On 38 minutes a good ball forward from Clements for Palmer, who got into the area, but there was a great challenge from him as he was about to shoot. He could have done with being a fraction quicker to get his shot in, but great defending.

A good move from the Stags on 40 minutes as Palmer did brilliantly to win the ball on the halfway line, played the ball to Lambe, who fed Taylor but Taylor shot well wide.

On 45 minutes, a Clements corner from the right, and Tafazolli met it cleanly with a stooping header but wide of the right post. A minute later Taylor went down right in front of us from a nasty challenge and there was a horrible scream of pain from Taylor. It looked like that would be the end of his night. But he was able to continue in the second half.

Nothing in it at half time. The Stags were not getting the ball on the floor like on Saturday, but this wasn’t a pitch that made it easy. Few chances for either side.

Half time 0-0

The Stags made a change at the break with Fergus Bell coming on as an attacking midfielder in place of Sendles-White as a defensive midfielder. The formation switched from 4-1-2-2-1 to 4-2-1-2-1. Surprisingly Taylor was able to continue.

The rain, having stopped during the first half, was now lashing down again.

45 seconds after the restart, Taylor found Bell who dinked a beautiful ball into the path of Palmer for a one-on-one and Palmer’s shot on target brought a superb save from Arsenal loanee keeper Josh Vicars, who was out quickly.

On 49 minutes, a Clements free kick into Bell who brilliantly controlled on his chest and fired against the post.

On 53 minutes, another Clements free kick was headed out as far as Heslop 25 yards out who sent a volley just wide of the left post.

On 56 minutes, a great run down the right from Bell and a super ball into the middle to set up a chance for Palmer who fired just over powerfully.

A minute later, a Stags cross from the right, Lambe headed the ball across goal and Bell tried to get in the end of it, but fouled his man in the process.

At the other end on 59 minutes, Collins got to the byline on the left but his cross missed everyone.

But the Stags goal that looked inevitable came on 61 minutes and it was brilliant play from Rob Taylor who burst from the middle towards the byline on the left and put in a wonderful low cross that Palmer slotted in at the right post under pressure from a defender.

On 64 minutes, a short free kick from Clements to Lambe, and in to Bell but his shot on target was blocked. On 67 minutes, a great effort from Bell from 22 yards was straight at keeper Vicars.

Bingham replaced Taylor on 68 minutes. Taylor had had a great second half following his injury at the end of the first half.

On 70 minutes, a ball down the line for Lambe who got to the byline and cut inside but his cross was blocked.

On 72 minutes Chiedozie got into the box and went down under pressure from Riley. Some thought it was a good shout for a penalty but to me it looked like a dive.

On 73 minutes, Palmer should have made victory comfortable when he was clean through on goal with no defender within 20 yards but he couldn’t beat keeper Vicars who blocked his shot. Great goalkeeping but Palmer shouldn’t have given him a chance.

A minute later, a snapshot from Bingham from 22 yards and Vicars saved low to his left. Bingham must be so sick of this keeper. I spoke to Bingham after the game and he told me he couldn’t believe how Vicars had saved that one on the line a week ago.

On 77 minutes, Tafazolli got away with a terrible ball.

Rhead replaced Palmer on 81 minutes.

Within seconds, Bingham put a cross-shot across goal and Rhead just missed it at the far post. So close.

The Stags were nearly made to pay for the missed chances on 82 minutes as the dangerous Chiedozie fired over from a great chance 12 yards out.

On 85 minutes, Lambe to Bingham on the edge of the area who tried to find a yard of space but his shot was blocked.

A Concord corner from the left on 86 minutes and a great header away by Tafazolli.

Another Concord corner on 90+1 minutes though Tafazolli was furious arguing that it should have been a goal-kick. Concord keeper Vicars came up for it but it was cleared by Heslop.

A yellow card for Lambe on 90+3, but the incident that caused it was out of my view with fans now standing in front of us.

No more chances and a professional performance from the Stags who certainly deserved the win with a fine second half performance.

Man of the match: Fergus Bell


Report by: Martin Shaw at the Aspect Arena, Thames Road



Line Up:
Studer 7 Made one fine save early on. Came out of his area and didn’t get one ball and Marsden got him out of jail with a goalline clearance. One bad kick. But otherwise solid game with good handling. Was not happy with his performance when I spoke to him after the game.
Marsden 7 Did well at right back, no mistakes in tricky conditions down the wing, and one clearance off the line.
Riley 7.5 Very solid game.
Tafazolli 7.5 Dominant against his former side.
Beevers 7 Good game, no mistakes, solid.
Sendles-White 6 Booked for a couple of fouls. Didn’t really get into the game, though did ok with no mistakes.
Clements 7 Some good balls forward.
Heslop 7.5 Fine hardworking game, up and down the field.
Lambe 6 Not quite his game in difficult conditions.
Taylor 7 Outstanding run and cross to set up the only goal. Looked to pick up a bad injury at the end of the first half but carried on for half of the second half.
Palmer 8 The matchwinner who worked tirelessly and thoroughly deserved his goal. Should have sealed it when clean through one-on-one.
Sub Line Up:
Bell (for Sendles-White, 46) 9 Changed the game with a scintillating display pushing forward coming on as a half time substitute.
Bingham (for Taylor, 68) - Looked sharp and did well. Unlucky with a snapshot well saved by Vicars and a cross-shot across goal that just evaded Rhead.
Rhead (for Palmer, 81) -
Subs not used: Adam Bishop, Waterfall, Thomas, Murray.
Opposition Line Up:
Josh Vickers, Jeremy Walker, Danny Glozier (Taylor Miles 79 mins), Alex Woodyard, Jack Lampe, Matt Fry, Lewis Taaffe (Joe Gardner 71 mins), James White, Jordan Chiedozie, Sam Collins, Steve Cawley (Tony Stokes 75 mins). Subs not used: Steve King, Cheye Alexander, Gary Ogilvie, Riggers Kabashi.
Referee:
Andy Davies 7 Competent game.


Season 14/15 Reports