Season 14/15 Stagsnet Match Report
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Mansfield Town
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Dagenham & Redbridge
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Lambe 46, Brown 83.
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Cureton 60
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Attendance: 2546 (122 from Dagenham)
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Date: 28 February 2015
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STAGS BEAT DAGGERS FOR THIRD HOME WIN OUT OF 4
Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town picked up another crucial three points with a deserved 2-1 win over Dagenham & Redbridge. It was the third home win from the last four home games and takes the Stags five points above the relegation zone, leapfrogging the Daggers in the process. On a windy day and on a bobbly pitch, the first 42 minutes of the game was devoid of goalmouth action before Dagenham could have gone ahead as Jakubiak scooped a good chance over the bar, and then at the other end Jack Thomas was just over with a close range volley. But a minute into the second half, the Stags were in front as Junior Brown’s low cross-shot from the right was too hot for keeper Mark Cousins to handle and Reggie Lambe was able to fire home from close range. Dagenham were level on 60 minutes as experienced striker Jamie Cureton fired into the corner of the net from the right after a rare Dagenham good move. Stags keeper Pidgeley was beaten by the bounce as the ball took a bobble over his outstretched hand into the net. After the game, Pidgeley told me that he only went with one hand as he was trying to push the ball away from any onrushing players which he would have found more difficult with two hands. Clearly in hindsight he made the wrong call as he probably would have kept it out with two hands. From that moment on, the Stags were the better side and had a few near misses especially through Vadaine Oliver before Junior Brown won the game on 83 minutes. A long throw from Elder from the left was headed on by Tafazolli to Billy Kee who laid the ball back perfectly into the path of Brown who belted it into the net from 12 yards. A great finish from Brown and a lovely lay-off from Kee. Despite nerves around the ground, the Stags rock solid defence prevented Dagenham from creating anything near the Stags goal after that, and indeed Dagenham only created the two chances of any note that I’ve already mentioned in the entire game. The Stags certainly deserved to win it. The final whistle brought great scenes of celebration, as did the winning goal from Brown. Some solid performances throughout the Stags side and it was great to score twice in a game - for only the second time since September in the league. The previous occasion saw defeat 3-2 at home to Exeter. This was an altogether happier affair. Now on to Newport on Tuesday night, and the Stags need to rectify the away form which has seen five consecutive defeats. Come on you Stags! Murray made two changes to the side that lost at Oxford. Clements was a welcome return from injury, in place of Heslop in central midfield. And Lambe came back in to start in place of Jeffrey Monakana. It was a continuation of the 4-1-4-1 formation with Ravenhill sitting in front of the back four, and Oliver on his own up front, with Lambe and Brown on the wings (Brown mostly on the right, Lambe on the left). Dagenham had put together a good run of form, but had lost their last game. They included Danny Carr on the bench, who had scored for Mansfield at York earlier in the season. In the first minute, Dagenham caught the Stags napping with a low corner from the left, which was scuffed by Hemmings, but found Doe at the near post and he flicked it straight at Pidgeley. At the other end on 3 minutes, a corner from the left by Clements was headed down towards goal by Riley, but the keeper pushed it away under pressure from Oliver. On 9 minutes, Boucard flighted a free-kick into the box, and Pidgeley dropped it before it went out for a corner. From the corner, taken from the right by Bingham, the Stags were napping again as it came to the edge of the box where Obileye was more or less unmarked but he miscued his shot. On 11 minutes, a Clements shot from 18 yards was blocked, after a good run towards goal from Oliver but he lost the ball. On 14 minutes, Oliver was penalised for shirt pulling in the Daggers box. On 18 minutes, Thomas sent in a good curling cross from the right and Tafazolli glanced a header wide of the left post. On 23 minutes, Oliver played the ball back to Thomas, 22 yards out, and he fired over the bar, following a Clements free kick. On 24 minutes, Thomas gave away a free kick 23 out, to the left of centre. Boucard’s free kick hit the wall. It came to Bingham whose shot was blocked by Riley. Then Pidgeley and Elder got in each other’s way and it went out for a corner. On 27 minutes, a good tackle from Clements in his own box. On 31 minutes, Lambe crossed from the left to Sutton who nodded down to Oliver but Oliver couldn’t control it. A minute later at the other end, Hemmings tried a shot from 25 yards but it bobbled as he shot and went well wide. It was a very poor game, in windy conditions on a bobbly pitch and neither keeper had been tested. On 40 minutes, the generally lenient referee lectured Ravenhill and Cureton, and then Oliver and Bingham who had squared up to the each other. The game burst into life on 42 minutes. Dagenham could have gone ahead as Ogogo pulled the ball back to an unmarked Jakubiak who scooped a good chance over the bar from 8 yards. After the game, Pidgeley told me he would have been in trouble there if the striker had made a good connection. On 43 minutes, Riley did well to hold off Cureton but then his backpass only just reached Pidgeley in a heart-stopping moment. The Stags came close on 45+2 minutes as Jack Thomas was just over with an acrobatic close range volley after Sutton’s long throw from the right was headed on by a Dagenham defender to Thomas at the far post. A poor half, with just one decent chance for either side, both in the last few minutes of the half. Half time 0-0 But a minute into the second half, the Stags were in front. Oliver chased down a ball over the top from Riley, and keeper Cousins could only blast his clearance off Oliver. Lambe did well to keep the ball in on the left touchline. Clements played the ball to Thomas then Thomas to Oliver and on to Lambe who from a central position just outside the area, fed Junior Brown on the right inside the area and his low cross-shot from the right was too hot for keeper Mark Cousins to handle and Lambe was able to fire home from close range. On 48 minutes, from a Clements corner, Riley headed goalwards but it was easily cleared. On 54 minutes, Oliver made a run down the left, and played it across to Clements, who fired over from 25 yards. Dagenham were level on 60 minutes as experienced striker Jamie Cureton fired into the corner of the net from the right after a rare Dagenham good move. Stags keeper Pidgeley was beaten by the bounce as the ball took a bobble over his outstretched hand into the net. After the game, Pidgeley told me that he only went with one hand as he was trying to push the ball away from any onrushing players which he would have found more difficult with two hands. Clearly in hindsight he made the wrong call as he probably would have kept it out with two hands. On 64 minutes, following a Daggers corner, Boucard shot straight at Pidgeley. On 66 minutes, the Stags came close to regaining the lead. Lambe crossed a high ball from the right, Oliver headed it down towards the left post, and the keeper saved with his leg. Murray brought on Kee to replace Thomas on 66 minutes and switch to a 4-4-2 formation with Kee alongside Oliver up front, and Ravenhill moving into central midfield. Kee was straight into the action, but in the wrong sort of way, as he dived in two-footed to a challenge on Boucard. He got the ball, but he was very lucky the referee did not deem it a straight red card offence. The referee decided it was a fair challenge. On 71 minutes, Brown teed up Kee for a shot which was blocked, it came back to Oliver, who had a free shot and that was well saved by Cousins. What a chance! On 74 minutes, Oliver crossed low for Lambe, who cut onto his right foot and curled a shot well wide. On 76 minutes, Brown tried to beat three men in his own half, and was robbed, allowing to Dagenham to break into the Stags box but it came to nothing. On 78 minutes, Ravenhill’s high ball into the box was punched away by keeper Cousins to Lambe who shot into the ground but Doe was able to clear off the line. Lambe was replaced by Monakana on 78 minutes. The Stags came close again on 81 minutes. A spot of head tennis in the box following an Elder throw, and Oliver did well to leap above the keeper and head over him but it was cleared off the line. Poor goalkeeping. On 82 minutes, Kee teed up Oliver on the edge of the box, and his shot was blocked. Oliver put his hands on his hips in despair. But within seconds the Stags were in front. A long throw from Elder from the left was headed on by Tafazolli to Billy Kee who laid the ball back perfectly into the path of Brown who belted it into the net from 12 yards like a tracer bullet. A great finish from Brown and a lovely lay-off from Kee. Great celebrations as Brown headed off to the Stags dugout. And Kee pushed Murray too hard in the celebrations and Murray hurt his ankle. Danny Carr came on for Dagenham on 85 minutes. On 88 minutes, Oliver back-heeled to Brown 10 yards out but he couldn’t get a shot in. The Stags rock solid defence prevented Dagenham from creating anything near the Stags goal in those final few minutes as Mansfield recorded a precious victory. Man of the match: Junior Brown - mainly for setting up the first goal and scoring the second |
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Report by: Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill
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Line Up:
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Pidgeley 5 Could have done better with the goal by his own admission though he was unlucky that it took a bobble. Dropped a cross and had a misunderstanding with Elder. Cannot play at Newport so Studer will come in and needs to put in a solid performance.
Sutton 8 Very solid. Just the sort of performance we want to see. Riley 8 Very solid. One back-pass was too risky in my opinion. In good form at home. Tafazolli 8 Dominant. Won a header in the build-up to the winning goal. Battled on despite his shoulder popping out. Elder 7 Some good long throws. One misunderstanding with Pidgeley. Ravenhill 8 Protected the back four well and later did well in central midfield. Lambe 8 Involved in the build-up twice for his goal. Some good crosses. Thomas 7 Did well without the surging runs of previous home games. Nearly scored with his acrobatic volley from close range. Clements 7 Good to see him back. Some good corners and nice passes. Brown 8 Scored the winner with a missile, and made the first goal. Put his team in big trouble when trying to get past 3 Dagenham players in his own half and got away with it. My man of the match for his involvement in the critical moments. Oliver 7 Worked tirelessly as he always does. Got into some good positions and went very close three times. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Kee (for Thomas, 66) 7.5 Did very well. Lovely set up for Brown’s goal. Also teed up Oliver, and had one shot blocked. Held the ball up well. Was lucky though not to get a straight red soon after coming on and needs to be careful.
Monakana (for Lambe, 78) - One promising run. Subs not used: Studer, Beevers, McGuire, Bingham, Rhead. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(4-4-2): Cousins; Ogogo, Doe, Obileye, Widdowson; Howell (Carr 85), Bingham, Boucaud, Hemmings; Cureton, Jakubiak (Fenelon 80). Subs not used: O’Brien, Saah, Labadie, Raymond, Gayle.
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Referee:
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Brendan Malone 7 Very lenient with no yellow cards. Fortunately for Mansfield made a mistake with the Kee incident.
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