Season 16/17 Stagsnet Match Report
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Grimsby Town
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Mansfield Town
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Clements 40, Dyson 61, pen 73.
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White sent off 73
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Attendance: 5550 (1246 from Mansfield)
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Date: 18 February 2017
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STAGS BEATEN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2017
Martin Shaw at Blundell Park Mansfield Town were beaten in the league for the first time in 2017, going down 3-0 at Grimsby in an afternoon to forget. In front of a fantastic away following of over 1200, the Stags didn’t deserve anything from the game as Grimsby produced what was, according to their experienced centre half Shaun Pearson, their best home performance of the season. Grimsby were not outstanding by any means in my opinion but were the better side. The first half was very even but Grimsby led at the break with Chris Clements bundling home from close range after his initial shot was well wide and then headed back across goal to him on 40 minutes. Not enough quality from Mansfield going forward in that first half and the best chances were a couple of Matt Green headers straight at the keeper. In the second half, Shaq Coulthirst came close to equalising on 55 minutes when his header from Hayden White’s fine cross was saved on the line by the keeper. Then Matt Green missed a chance when he miscued a shot inside the area. But Grimsby doubled their lead on 61 minutes and it was a brilliant goal from Calum Dyson, on loan from Everton and with his first senior goal, as he pushed forward down the right, cut inside Rhys Bennett who slipped over, along the edge of the area and fired a great left-footed shot into the bottom left corner. A superb individual goal, though Bennett should have done better. Steve Evans was sent to the stand on 70 minutes. He came and sat a few seats to the left of the press box and was getting verbally abused by the home fans around him. Then Mansfield conceded a penalty as Mal Benning tripped Tom Bolarinwa in the area, a clear penalty, and unnecessary from Benning. From looking at the video, Hayden White said something to the referee before the penalty was taken and he was shown a second yellow card and a red card. None of the Mansfield media saw the red card as our attention was diverted to Steve Evans over our left shoulder as he was left totally exposed in amongst the home fans and Michael Merriman appeared from the touchline to be with him. There were no stewards anywhere to be seen. Dyson converted the penalty. Seconds later with Evans and Merriman surrounded by home fans and home fans trying to get at Evans, they disappeared down the stairway with some fans going after him. Evans said afterwards he went to the dressing room. So a 3-0 defeat for the Stags. Not enough quality going forward from Mansfield. The brilliant goal from Dyson, when Bennett could have done better, and Benning’s concession of the penalty, killed the Stags off. Mansfield remain in 7th place and in the play-off places, though could be overtaken by either Colchester or Wycombe who play each other on Tuesday. The gap to 3rd place is 9 points with 14 games to go and 3rd place looks unattainable. The Stags have had a great 2017 but need to bounce back against Newport next Saturday after poor performances against Accrington and Grimsby. Mansfield made two changes to the side that drew with Accrington. Joel Byrom and Danny Rose were replaced by Alfie Potter and Matt Green. Evans explained that both Byrom and Rose have played a lot of football this year and both were looking a bit tired. It was a 4-4-1-1 with Whiteman and Collins in central midfield, Coulthirst right midfield, MacDonald left midfield, and Potter behind Green. However, Coulthirst and MacDonald rotated later in the first half with Potter. The Grimsby Telegraph had stoked up the home fans hatred of Steve Evans on Friday with a headline “Make things tough for Stags boss”. They also noted that he has “always been cast in the role of pantomime villain on his previous visits to Blundell Park and was infamously ejected from the ground during his time as Boston United manager in 2006.” Grimsby, who had not won in 4 games, brought Chris Clements back into the side after he didn’t play in the last game. Micky Moore is assistant manager at Grimsby now and he was telling Charlie and me before the game that Clements needs to bring more consistency to his game but everyone knows he has enough quality when he is on his game. Adi Yussuf, also signed from Mansfield last month, was on the bench, and was to come on for the final few minutes. Danny Andrew, another former Stags player, was at left wingback. They also included Sam Jones in their side, a player I saw play for Alfreton a couple of times last season. Grimsby employed their usual formation of three centre halves and two wingbacks. With top scorer Omar Bogle having left in January, Grimsby have no-one in the squad with more than two goals this season. It was a lovely sunny day, milder than of late. There was a great atmosphere and fantastic noise from the 1200 Stags fans. The first chance of the game came when Osborne was fouled 27 yards from goal to the right of centre. Clements took the resulting free kick and sent it around the wall but straight at Kean. The first chance for the Stags came on 7 minutes. A good move as White found Whiteman who crossed well and Green headed straight at the keeper. Not an easy chance for Green as he was a long way out. A minute later, MacDonald tried an audacious shot from a free kick from the halfway line but it was easily caught by keeper McKeown. White was booked on 11 minutes. He had committed a bad foul on Sam Jones on the halfway line and the referee played advantage but later returned to book White. That yellow card was to become significant in the second half. On 12 minutes, Whiteman lost the ball on the corner of his own area and Jones fired wide. On 16 minutes, Benning’s attempted clearance hit Whiteman and flew just past their own post for a corner. That corner was just cleared by Mansfield and then came out to Andrew who fired wide. On 17 minutes, a half chance for Green on the left side of the area and his shot was blocked. Then on 19 minutes, Potter got into the area and found MacDonald who tried to set up Coulthirst but didn’t find him and the ball was cleared. On 25 minutes, a great move from Mansfield which started with a surging run by Benning after he intercepted a loose ball, culminated with MacDonald putting in a good cross from the right to Green who headed down straight to keeper McKeown again. A poor header from Green. On 28 minutes, a good move from Grimsby ended with Sam Jones firing well over the bar. On 30 minutes, the Stags broke forward with really good interplay between Benning and Potter and created a half chance but it was cleared. Grimsby went close on 35 minutes. Firstly Osborne’s shot hit Bennett’s arm in the area but the referee rightly decided it was not a penalty. The ball came back to Osborne who fired in another shot which Kean saved low down. On 37 minutes, a free kick from MacDonald was headed away as far as Whiteman who headed wide from 18 yards. Whiteman was booked for a foul on Jones 30 yards out to the right of centre, on 39 minutes. Grimsby took the lead following the resulting free kick on 40 minutes. Chris Clements free kick was cleared back to him, he put in another cross, that was again headed back to him, then his attempted shot was so far wide that it went straight to Bolarinwa whose attempted header went across goal back to Clements who bundled it goalwards and Kean couldn’t stop it going over the line. From the video, perhaps Kean could have done better and a firmer hand would have kept it out. Clements celebrated right in front of the Stags fans by pointing to the name on the back of his shirt. Clements explained to me on Sunday that this was in response to being booed before and at the start of the game, which he was surprised about. On 43 minutes, Coulthirst crossed from the left, it deflected off Potter and hit Green, looping into the air to McKeown. On 45 minutes, Gunning shot straight at Kean from 20 yards. Really nothing in it between the two sides in the first half but Grimsby had the crucial lead. Green was isolated on his own up front, with Potter ineffectual floating behind him. Plenty of possession and movement from Mansfield going forward, but not enough quality, and Whiteman was having another quiet game as he did on Tuesday. Half time 1-0 On 53 minutes, Jones got past Kean who came out with a rush of blood and had a free shot at an open goal but Bennett did well to get back and block. The Stags could have been level on 55 minutes. A fine move ended with a great cross from White from the right, Coulthirst headed goalwards and it was well saved on the line by McKeown. Two minutes later, another chance as Whiteman crossed from the left and it was headed out to Green who had a chance but miscued his volley. It fell to Coulthirst who sent a soft header at the keeper. Arquin replaced Green, and Byrom replaced Potter, on 59 minutes. Whiteman moved to the right and Coulthirst and Arquin went up front. Grimsby doubled their lead on 61 minutes and it was a brilliant goal from Calum Dyson, on loan from Everton and with his first senior goal, as he pushed forward down the right, cut inside Rhys Bennett who slipped over, along the edge of the area and fired a great left-footed shot into the bottom left corner. A superb individual goal, though Bennett should have done better. On 68 minutes, Hamilton replaced McDonald. Steve Evans was sent to the stand on 70 minutes. He came and sat a few seats to the left of the press box and was getting verbally abused by the home fans around him. A chance for Mansfield to reduce the deficit came on 71 minutes. From Byrom’s free kick from the right, Bennett headed towards the top left hand corner and McKeown tipped wide. A couple of disappointing Byrom corners didn’t beat the first man. On 73 minutes, Mansfield conceded a penalty as Benning tripped Bolarinwa in the area, a clear penalty, and unnecessary from Benning. From looking at the video, White said something to the referee before the penalty was taken and he was shown a second yellow card and a red card. None of the Mansfield media saw the red card as our attention was diverted to Steve Evans over our left shoulder as he was left totally exposed in amongst the home fans and Michael Merriman appeared from the touchline to be with him. There were no stewards anywhere to be seen. Dyson converted the penalty. Seconds later with Evans and Merriman surrounded by home fans and home fans trying to get at Evans, they disappeared down the stairway with some fans going after him. Evans said afterwards he went to the dressing room. With White now off, Whiteman moved to right back. On 78 minutes, Coulthirst pushed forward to the edge of the area but his shot was blocked. On 80 minutes, Bolarinwa was gifted the ball by Hamilton, he pushed forward and fired high and wide. On 86 minutes, Arquin’s shot from 30 yards was deflected for a corner. On 90+3 minutes, Coulthirst did well on the left. His low cross found Arquin who swivelled and fired straight at McKeown. It summed up Mansfield’s day, putting a number of efforts straight at the keeper. A bad day at the office and disappointing for the large Stags following. But we’re still in the play-off positions, for now. On we go on the roller coaster, and Mansfield’s next 3 games are against teams in the bottom eight. Man of the match: Hayden White, though no-one really deserved the award. Everyone had a poor game (though no-one was abysmal in my opinion), apart from White, but White let himself down with the sending-off. FURTHER REFLECTIONS (MY WEEKLY COLUMN FOR THE CHAD NEWSPAPER): Mansfield Town were beaten in the league for the first time in 2017, putting in a poor performance to lose at Grimsby Town on Saturday. There was a fantastic away following of over 1200, which gave the team tremendous support. But sadly the team carried on from the poor showing against Accrington last Tuesday, and this time didn’t deserve anything from the game. Grimsby produced what was, according to their experienced centre half Shaun Pearson, their best home performance of the season. Grimsby were not outstanding by any means in my opinion but were the better side. Everyone in the Stags side produced a 5 out of 10 performance, in my opinion, whilst no-one was abysmal. Ironically the only exception was Hayden White, who was my man of the match, despite letting himself down by getting sent-off. He was involved in Mansfield’s best moments going forward, including one great cross for Coulthirst, and he generally defended well. He was sent off for two yellows, the first was a bad foul, the second was for something he said and that was irresponsible when he was already on a yellow. The first half was very even but Grimsby led at the break with Chris Clements scoring against his former club as he bundled the goalwards from close range and Kean couldn’t stop it going over the line. Actually Kean could have done better and a firmer hand would have kept it out. Clements celebrated right in front of the Stags fans by pointing to the name on the back of his shirt. Clements sent me a note on Sunday after reading my match report on Stagsnet, to explain that this was in response to being booed before and at the start of the game, which he was surprised about. We had chatted to Micky Moore before the game, he was formerly a coach at Mansfield and is now assistant manager at Grimsby. He had told us that Clements needs to bring more consistency to his game but everyone knows he has enough quality when he is on his game. Grimsby doubled their lead with a brilliant goal from Calum Dyson, on loan from Everton and with his first senior goal, as he pushed forward down the right, cut inside Rhys Bennett who slipped over, along the edge of the area and fired a great left-footed shot into the bottom left corner. A superb individual goal, though Bennett should have done better. Steve Evans was sent to the stand on 70 minutes. He came and sat a few seats to the left of the press box and was getting verbally abused by the home fans around him. Moments later, Mansfield conceded a penalty as Mal Benning tripped Bolarinwa in the area, a clear penalty, and unnecessary from Benning. Hayden White said something to the referee before the penalty was taken and he was shown a second yellow card and a red card. None of the Mansfield media had seen the red card at the time, as our attention was diverted to Steve Evans over our left shoulder as he was left totally exposed in amongst the home fans and Michael Merriman appeared from the touchline to be with him. There were no stewards anywhere to be seen. Dyson converted the penalty. Seconds later with Evans and Merriman surrounded by home fans and home fans trying to get at Evans, they disappeared down the stairway with some fans going after him. Evans said afterwards he went to the dressing room. So a 3-0 defeat for the Stags. There was not enough quality from Mansfield going forward. The best chances were a couple of Matt Green headers straight at the keeper, and a volley that he miscued, plus a header from Shaq Coulthirst that was saved on the line by the keeper. Green was isolated on his own up front, with Alfie Potter ineffectual floating behind him. Ben Whiteman, so outstanding in his first few games, was having another quiet game as he did on Tuesday against Accrington. But everyone was poor in the Stags team, apart from White. Mansfield remain in 7th place and in the play-off places, though could be overtaken by either Colchester or Wycombe who play each other on Tuesday. The gap to 3rd place is 9 points with 14 games to go and 3rd place looks unattainable. The Stags have had a great 2017 but need to bounce back against Newport on Saturday. |
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Report by: Martin Shaw at Blundell Park
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Line Up:
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(4-4-2)
Kean 5 Could have done better with the first goal when a firmer hand would have kept it out. Came out of his area with a rush of blood early in the 2nd half and presented Sam Jones with a chance which Bennett did well to get back and block. White 6 Involved in Mansfield’s best moments going forward. One great cross for Coulthirst. Generally defended well. Sent off for two yellows, the first was a bad foul, the second was for something he said and that was irresponsible when he was already on a yellow card. Bennett 5 Should have done better for the second goal. Got Kean out of jail with a good block. Pearce 5 Part of a poor defence. Benning 5 A couple of decent surging runs. But his defending wasn’t good, and his mistake for the penalty was poor. Coulthirst 5 Poor game. One good cross for Arquin in stoppage time. One header brought a good save, but he should have buried it. Collins 5 Poor game. Whiteman 5 Quiet game. One good cross for Green header. Gave the ball away in dangerous position giving Sam Jones a chance. MacDonald 5 One great cross for a Green header, but otherwise contributed very little. Potter 5 Ineffectual floating behind Green. Two good moments in the first half, but both came to nothing. Green 5 Two poor headers gave the keeper easy saves, and miscued a volley. Poor game and didn’t take his chance on his first start in the league since the Notts County game, but wasn’t helped by being isolated. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Arquin (for Green, 59 mins) -
Byrom (for Potter, 59 mins) - Hamilton (for MacDonald, 68 mins) - Subs not used: Shearer, McGuire, Lewis Collins, D.Rose. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(5-3-2): McKeown; Mills, Pearson, Gunning (Maxwell 83), Collins, Andrew; Osborne (Comley 83), Clements, Jones; Dyson, Bolarinwa (Yussuf 87). Subs not used: Davies, Disley, Boyce, Asante.
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Referee:
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Seb Stockbridge 6 Got the penalty right. Probably got the sending off right, depending on what White actually said of course. Evans was sent to the stand on the say-so of the 4th official.
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