Season 14/15 Stagsnet Match Report
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Mansfield Town
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Bury
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Cameron 21
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Attendance: 2868 (411 from Bury)
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Date: 14 March 2015
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DISAPPOINTING STAGS BEATEN BY BURY
Martin Shaw and Simon Chamberlain at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town put in a disappointing performance to lose 1-0 at home to high-flying Bury this afternoon, thanks to a headed goal from a free-kick. The Stags rarely threatened the Bury goal with Reggie Lambe’s shot from 6 yards saved by the goalkeeper’s legs the closest they came to an equaliser. It was a bad day at the office and the Stags need to bounce back at home to AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday. Murray made one change to the side that drew at Cheltenham, with Jack Thomas returning to the starting line-up in place of Heslop. Junior Brown was able to take his place in the side despite comments during the week that he would be out until the Hartlepool game with a hamstring injury. It was a continuation of the 4-1-4-1 formation, with Ravenhill in front of the back four, and Oliver on his own up front. Billy Kee was on the bench despite his fine performances against Cheltenham, Newport and Dagenham. Bury also employed a 4-1-4-1 formation, as Cheltenham had done last week, with Tom Eaves signed on loan from Bolton on Friday, on his own up front. It was a cold, windy afternoon. The pitch was less bobbly than it was against Dagenham and away to Cheltenham. It was a poor start to the game. Tafazolli made a mistake in the opening six seconds gifting the ball to Eaves, who fortunately overhit the ball forward straight to Pidgeley. On 14 minutes, a Bury free kick from the left, and Cameron headed over, under pressure from Tafazolli. On 21 minutes, the Stags were guilty of giving away another free kick in a dangerous position. It was Ravenhill the guilty party. Hussey took the free kick from 22 yards out, on the left, and his fine ball in was met by Cameron who headed into the right corner of the net. Poor defending from the Stags. Initially I (and others in the press box) thought it was an own goal from Tafazolli, but review of the DVD suggests it was Cameron who headed it in. Certainly it was Tafazolli at fault for allowing Cameron the header. At last the Stags got the ball into the Bury box on 22 minutes with Brown cutting inside from the right but sending a soft shot straight at the keeper. At the other end a minute later Joe Riley cut inside from the right and scuffed a shot wide of the right post. On 26 minutes, Tafazolli was dispossessed by Eaves, and Bury broke into the box but were caught offside. Poor again from Tafazolli who was having a disappointing game. Something to cheer the home crowd on 31 minutes as Clements played a great ball out to Brown on the right who won a corner. Moments later, Brown was in a position on the right to try a shot but tried to take on his man and set up a better position for himself and lost the ball. Frustrating. On 36 minutes a good cross from Adams from the right found Eaves offside who found the net, but the flag was up. Straight to the other end and Beevers played a good 1-2 with Oliver, and got into the area but shot wide. Much better from the Stags. On 39 minutes, another free kick given away by the Stags, this time by Beevers, in a similar position to the earlier ones. Hussey took it and it went over everyone for a goal-kick. Jack Thomas was booked on 41 minutes for pulling back Soares. Thomas is an exciting prospect but is picking up too many bookings. On 45 minutes, a good ball forward from Brown for Lambe but Lambe lost out to Cameron. On 45+1, Clements was caught in possession and Adams fired wide of the right post. Poor from Clements. A minute later at the other end, Thomas’s attempt from 40 yards took a deflection and bounced in front of the keeper and with top spin the keeper had to tip it over the bar. A few boos from home fans at the break. It was a terrible half of football. The Stags offered virtually nothing going forward, whilst conceding some silly free-kicks at the back in dangerous positions, one of which Bury scored from. Half time 0-0 At half time, we thought the Stags needed to make changes to have more of a threat going forward to get back into the game. We would have brought on Kee at half time, and also replaced Brown who looked out of sorts, albeit not the only one. But it was a surprise that the Stags were unchanged as the teams kicked off. On 49 minutes, Murray did make a change, bringing on Kee for Thomas. Kee went up front and Ravenhill moved into central midfield in a 4-4-2 formation. The Stags gave away two more free kicks in their own half, this time given away by Ravenhill and Clements. Both came to nothing. On 57 minutes, a Hussey corner from the right, Cameron headed the ball up and Pidgeley claimed. Then Ravenhill gave the ball away, Bury broke forward and Eaves fired at Pidgeley. Ravenhill was booked for an accumulation of fouls on 60 minutes. On 62 minutes, a good ball from Kee to Brown, but Brown lost it. Monakana replaced Brown on 65 minutes. Brown had looked out of sorts all game, and we thought he was left on too long. The Stags had a big chance to equalise on 66 minutes. Oliver backheeled the ball, and Lambe had a sight of goal from 6 yards but his side-footed shot was saved by the keeper’s legs. He should have buried it. On 69 minutes, a great tackle from Martin Riley to dispossess Eaves in the penalty area as Eaves looked through on goal. On 71 minutes, a great cross from Kee from the right, and the keeper pushed it away one-handed. Bingham replaced Lambe on 73 minutes. Bingham slotted in on the left wing. On 74 minutes, Adam drove forward and shot from 22 yards, Pidgeley did well to push away for a corner. It was a good save. Two corners followed, and from the second, the ball came out to Adams who volleyed well over. On 76 minutes, Monakana crossed from right, Oliver and Kee both got a touch, before Oliver scooped a shot goalwards that was easily saved. A minute later at the other end, Adams got the ball onto his right foot and shot wide from 20 yards. On 79 minutes, Monakana crossed to Kee, whose shot was blocked. Then Elder crossed from the left and Kee couldn’t get his header in goalwards. Then Clements played a 1-2 with Kee and shot from 22 yards and it was deflected wide. This was so much better from Mansfield, finally putting Bury under pressure. On 83 minutes, Bingham got in a left-footed shot but couldn’t get enough power on it and it was easy for the keeper. On 87 minutes, another good tackle from Martin Riley, as Hope was about to shoot. The Stags threw Tafazolli up front in an attempt to rescue something. On 90+1 minutes, Tutte had a chance from the right and fired wide. A final chance for the Stags on 90+2 minutes with a ball down the line for Oliver on the right, the keeper came out, Oliver clipped it over him but it was wide from a tight angle. Bury ran the clock with a series of throw-ins and free kicks in the Stags half. Classic game management. The full time whistle brought more boos from some home fans. It was certainly disappointing performance and a poor spectacle all round. Too many players were off their game, and it wasn’t until the final quarter of the game that Mansfield attacked with any intent. The defeat brings to an end an excellent run of 10 points from the previous 4 home games. And it’s important that the Stags bounce back on Tuesday. Man of the match: Billy Kee |
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Report by: Martin Shaw and Simon Chamberlain at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill
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Line Up:
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Pidgeley 6 Not at fault for the goal in our opinion, and didn’t make any errors.
Beevers 6 Did ok, put himself about, one good run forward and tried to create. Riley 5.5 Not at his best, though did put in two very good tackles in the second half. Tafazolli 4 Made a mistake in the opening 6 seconds. At fault for the goal. Dispossessed on more than one occasion. Elder 6 Did ok. Sponsor’s man of the match. Ravenhill 5 Poor. Unnecessary free kick given away from which Bury scored the only goal. Gave the ball away on occasion. Brown 4 Looked out of sorts. Wasted two good positions in the first half. Thomas 5 Unable to really get into the game. Picked up another yellow card. Has picked up five bookings in his 6 appearances. Clements 5 One great ball in the first half, but generally a poor game. Lambe 5 Caused Bury very few problems and wasted the Stags’ best chance. Oliver 5 Got very little service and suffered from playing on his own. But overall, pretty ineffective. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Kee (for Thomas, 49) 6.5 Looked the only bright spark up front. Good movement. We would be starting him.
Monakana (for Brown, 65) - A couple of crosses. Bingham (for Lambe, 73) - Subs not used: Studer, Sutton, Heslop, Rhead. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(4-1-4-1): Pope; Riley, Cameron, McNulty, Hussey; Etuhu; Soares, Tutte, Adams (Sedgwick 80), Mayor (Jones 59); Eaves (Hope 84). Subs not used: Lowe, O’Brien, Lainton, Shaw.
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Referee:
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Darren Sheldrake 7 No major errors.
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