Saturday 8th September 2001

Nationwide League Division 3

Attendance:  3,878

Well what a turnout. I would guess at there only being some 800 from Lincoln (very disappointing) which makes just over 3000 Stags fans. Now this will never write any headlines but compared to the 2400 mark we have been hitting this makes pleasant reading. This has to be down to the magnificant performances by the young team so far this season and also the superb viewing platform that the new ground, and from a biased point of view, inparticularly the NEW West Stand provides.  Anyhow onto the game. The Stags made only one change to their unbeaten starting line-up with Pemberton replacing Tankard at left back a decision which worried me slightly by me preference to Jervisio at Left Back but one which Billy has to be praised for having watched the game. Lincoln lined up with ex-County man Battersby in attack, ex-Forest winger Kingsley Black on their right wing and ex-Stag Ben Sedgemore in the heart of their midfield.

The game began again with the Stags as in every game I have seen this season competantly passing the ball about and making inrodes into the Lincoln half. Indeed in the early minutes a Disley header was cleared off the line by Barnett when was not to be the only time that afternoon Pettinger, the Lincoln keeper, was left stranded. This was shortly followed by a curling, dipping effort from Williamson who almost had Pettinger in trouble again but this time the keeper just managed to fingertip the ball over the bar. Then as the Stags fans celebrated a goal following a chip over the keeper by the prolific man that is Greenacre, Morgan got back and acrobatically cleared the ball before it crossed the line. However the goal-scoring machine was not to be denied again and on 28 minutes he began and started a smart move by drilling the ball out to Lawro on the right hand side, he then produced his usual high quality cross onto White's head which he magnificantly knocked down for Greenacre to power a shot past the keeper and a man on the line - 1-0 - and fully justified and deserved. After this up to half time the Stags continued to pressurise the Imps defence although they came back into the game more and more as half time approached. It left you wishing over a pie and bovril that we had put away at least one other chance because 1-0 always seems a fragile scoreline.

Half Time 1-0

The Stags second half began well with a long Dis ball straight from the kick-off onto the towering head of White, straight to Greenacre's feet and a shot was drilled in but just to close to the keeper. This had everyone thinking we were in for another second half like the one against Macc. How wrong can you be??? Lincoln came back with what was by far and away their best spell of the game. After a couple of close chances the equalised when a daisy cutter ball from defence went straight through the midfield and caught the Stags defence square. Cameron (a half-time substitute for the ineffective Battersby) picked up the ball after playing Owenesque on the shoulder of the last defender out paced Robbo and slotted the ball past the outstretched right hand of Pilkington - 1-1. Billy said Robbo complained after the match Cameron was pulling his shirt. This was followed by a period of sustained Imps pressure with them having several chances the most memorable of which was a long cross from Black on their right to the far post and a strong shot was brilliantly stopped by the impressive Pilks in a Schmeichel style chest block. Eventually the Stags attacking reasserted itself and 3 times Corden and Dis had their right back and right winger in trouble near their own box only for the ref to give a freekick Lincolns way each time - all were very very poor decisions. As the game came into its final stages White had an effort which was, for the second time in the game, cleared off the line by Barnett. And as the Stags excerted more and more pressure on the Imps defence the decisive moment came. On 86 minutes a ball from Dis to Corden - he toyed with Black and the Lincoln right-back turning them inside out - carried out his trademark cut inside dummied another defender - then cracked a superb right foot shot past Pettinger into the bottom right hand corner of the goal - 2-1 - and the goal the Stags had on balance richly deserved. GET IN!!!!! The final minutes, and 4 minutes of added time??, saw a couple of Lincoln efforts being scrambled away but the Stags have more chances to add to the score. When the final whistle went Field Mill erupted (well apart from the QLE!!) for a deserved yet hard worked victory.

So in summary a game which the Stags just about deserved to win even though they did their up most of 15 minutes of the second half to give the game to local rivals Lincoln. Both sides played some superb football which as Billy said after the match "was a great advert for the 3rd division and indeed you would struggle hard to find a better game of football in the 1st Division". However the Stags always seemed to have the greater understanding and cutting edge. The attendance and performance were most encouraging. If we kind, what was eventually, grind out results like that against good sides like Lincoln then we have our chance to go up this season but we still need to find some depth for the squad from somewhere (Hello Mr H!!!).

MOM - Williamson - not a lot of mention in the match report but ran and ran and ran.......etc. He had some nice touches and even to an extent out shone Dis today. What a pairing those two are becoming. Some intelligent runs, good passing.

Report by Richard Evans

Ratings

Pilkington 8 - Some excellent handling, save and kicking. Looks a great signing.

Hassell 7 - Another accomplished performance from Bobby. Gave very little away.

Pemberton 7 - Great game by Pembo got caught a couple of times but filled Tankards boots admirabley.

Robinson 7 - An improvement by Robbo on recent games. Got caught flat-footed for the goal but some solid tackling.

Reddington 7 - Another towering performance. Almost slipped a couple of times after the rains fell which would have been tragic but recovered well.

Lawrence 7 - Some good runs although not always penetrative but excellent passing and combines well with Bobby down the right.

Disley 8 - Does he ever stop running?? Passes and tackles effectively as in every game so far this season.

Williamson 9 - Like Dis ran everywhere, some clever runs, excellent passing and good hard midfield tackling.

Corden 8 - Billy said afterwards any right back at the moment wont want to face Wayne I think that says it all. Great goal too!

Greenacre 8 - Sign a contract please Chrissy!!! He leads the line, links in the midfield and fed off Whitey brilliantly.

White 7 - Improving with every game. I'm becoming a big fan of his. Puts in loads of effort for the team. The amount of fouls on him shows that he worries defenders.

Subs Not Used:  Jervis, Asher, Clarke (J), Williams, Bingham

Referee: Mr G R Hegley 5 - Some terrible decisions for alleged fouls by Stags players on Lincoln players who had played them into trouble. Seemed to get in the way of play too often as well.