Season 17/18 Stagsnet Match Report
|
|
|
||
|
Mansfield Town
|
|
Middlesbrough
|
||
|
Howson OG 13, Angol 18.
|
Soisalo19, Fry 28.
|
|||
|
Attendance: 1931 (419 from Middlesbrough)
|
||||
|
Date: 19 July 2017
|
||||
|
STAGS IMPRESS HUGELY AGAINST MIDDLESBROUGH
Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town put in a hugely encouraging performance to draw 2-2 with Middlesbrough, a team who were in the Premier League last season, at the One Call Stadium this evening. The Stags raced into a two goal lead. First on 13 minutes, Joel Byrom’s free kick from the right was knocked back into the middle by Mal Benning and Boro midfielder Johnny Howsen shanked an attempted clearance into his own net. Then 5 minutes later, Paul Digby, who continues to impress in midfield, played a great ball forward which Lee Angol ran onto and stroked a confident finish past keeper Konstantopolous. However Boro were back in the game just a minute later when the excellent Mikael Soisalo powered past Mal Benning down the right and thundered a shot into the roof of the net from a tight angle. And on 28 minutes, Boro were level, with a disappointing goal for the Stags to concede as Gaston Ramirez’s free kick from the left was headed in from 6 yards by Dael Fry, who rose above George Taft. Disappointing for Taft, with competition for a place in that starting XI against Crewe so intense among the central defenders. That was the end of the scoring on the night, but plenty of entertainment for the 1900 crowd. The Stags looked comfortable on the ball all night, despite the quality of the opposition. Plenty of players pushed their case forward to play in that game against Crewe. Bobby Olejnik had a good game in goal with a couple of good saves, including one perfectly timed dive at the feet of a striker, and it was great to see him come for, and catch, a high cross. Hayden White had another excellent game, with some timely interceptions, and three great runs forward. Mal Benning had a good game, despite being given the run around by Soisala on a couple of occasions including for the goal. In midfield, Paul Digby particularly impressed. Joel Byrom played well, and put in some good tackles. Up front Lee Angol scored a good goal and led the line well, while Omari Sterling-James showed some real promise and excited the crowd. Alex Baptiste played for Middlesbrough and got a rousing reception when he was subbed. Steve Evans had played 11 of his squad at Stocksbridge Park Steels the night before, and he played the other half of the squad here. Alex MacDonald missed out from both games through injury. Trialist Jordan Slew got another 20 minutes as substitute. Steve Evans has said that he will make a decision by Monday about Slew. Mansfield lined up in a 4-4-2 formation as: Bobby Olejnik; Hayden White, Zander Diamond, George Taft, Mal Benning; Joel Byrom; Paul Anderson, Will Atkinson; Paul Digby; Omari Sterling-James, Lee Angol. SUBS: Slew for (Sterling-James, 71) Thomas (for Digby, 85) Lewis Collins (for Byrom, 87) As against Sheffield Wednesday in the second half, it was a diamond midfield. Byrom sat deepest of the midfielders. Digby pushed forward in midfield and looks an outstanding box to box midfielder. On 2 minutes, Sterling-James intercepted a loose ball by Baptiste and had a shot blocked. Two minutes later, Hayden White drilled in a cross which Konstantopolous saved low down following a clever quick free kick from Byrom. On 10 minutes, Digby’s ambitious 25 yard shot nicked off a defender for a corner. At the other end, Patrick Bamford’s shot was saved by Olejnik above his head. On 13 minutes, Mansfield took the lead. Joel Byrom’s free kick from the right was knocked back into the middle by Mal Benning and Boro midfielder Johnny Howsen shanked an attempted clearance into his own net. Boro went close on 17 minutes. A corner from the right by Gaston Ramirez, and Anderson did well to clear Fry’s header off the line at the right post. The Stags increased the lead on 18 minutes. White made a great run and played the ball forward to Sterling-James who too long to try to get in a shot. The ball was cleared, but Olejnik played the ball back into the Boro half and Digby played a great ball forward which Angol ran onto and stroked a confident finish past keeper Konstantopolous. However Boro were back in the game just a minute later when the excellent Mikael Soisalo powered past Benning down the right and thundered a shot into the roof of the net from a tight angle. On 23 minutes, Howson shot from the edge of the area, and Olejnik was down quickly to make a fine save low to his left. On 28 minutes, Boro were level, with a disappointing goal for the Stags to concede as Gaston Ramirez’s free kick from the left was headed in from 6 yards by Dael Fry, who rose above Taft. Disappointing for Taft, with competition for a place in that starting XI against Crewe so intense among the central defenders. On 30 minutes, Soisalo’s ball across deflected off a Stags player, and Olejnik did well to save. The competitive nature of the game was summed up on 40 minutes with White going in on a 50:50 ball. On 42 minutes, a great run from the inspired White again, after he intercepted a ball, and the Stags won a throw-in on the left side. Taft took it with a long throw, and Atkinson stabbed wide from 12 yards. A minute later, great play by Sterling-James to win a corner. A minute after that, good strong defending from Benning forcing Soisalo to put the ball out for a goal kick. Warm applause for the Stags at half time. And encouraging half, with the Stags looking really good going forward in patches. White was outstanding, while Digby impressed. Half time 2-2 On 49 minutes, Sterling-James crossed, and it came to Benning on the left, and his right foot shot was slightly miscued wide of the left post. A good move from Boro on 51 minutes, Soisalo cut back to Gaston Ramirez, who fired over. Great play by White on 57 minutes to win a free kick on the right. Two minutes later, Anderson put in a good cross from the left, Atkinson headed down but nowhere near enough power on it. On 63 minutes, Byrom’s free kick from the right, came out to Sterling-James, who sent a good effort from the edge of the area, just over the angle. Alex Baptiste was subbed to a great reception on 64 minutes. Olejnik was out quickly to claim the ball at the feet of Soisalo on 66 minutes. Great timing, in contrast to a couple of penalties conceded by Shearer last season. On 69 minutes, another great interception by White, though his ball forward afterwards wasn’t quite so good. Jordan Slew replaced Sterling-James on 71 minutes. Sterling-James had played well. A good challenge by White on Miller on 77 minutes. Olejnik made a great catch from a high ball in by Christie on 82 minutes. Nice to see. On 83 minutes, Slew took a couple of touches on the edge of the D and fired a powerful effort just over the bar. Good effort. An impressive sliding tackle from Byrom on 85 minutes. Jack Thomas replaced Digby on 85 minutes. Digby came off to a good round of applause. Then Lewis Collins replaced Byrom on 87. Benning sent a low shot into the side netting on 88 minutes from 25 yards, though he didn’t really get the right connection on it. On 90 minutes, Bamford’s low shot was easily saved by Olejnik. And with that the referee blew the full time whistle. A very encouraging performance from Mansfield, against a high class side. The Stags were solid and had a good shape in the second half, something that would have delighted Evans and Raynor, and the Stags looked comfortable. |
||||
|
Report by: Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill
|
||||
|
Line Up:
|
Bobby Olejnik;
Hayden White, Zander Diamond, George Taft, Mal Benning; Joel Byrom, Paul Anderson, Paul Digby, Will Atkinson; Omari Sterling-James, Lee Angol. |
|
Sub Line Up:
|
Slew for (Sterling-James, 71)
Thomas (for Digby, 85) Lewis Collins (for Byrom, 87) |
|
Opposition Line Up:
|
Konstantopoulos; Christie (Chapman 64), Baptiste, Fry, Friend (Mahmutovic 46); Soisalo, Forshaw, Howson, Leadbitter, Ramirez (Miller 74), Bamford. Subs not used: James, Hegarty, Wing.
|
|
Referee:
|
Ross Joyce
|
|
|