Mansfield Town Football Club

Tuesday 24th July 2001

Pre-Season Friendly

Attendance:

Stags met neighbours Matlock Town at Causeway Lane for the second time in 12 months, last pre-season the Stags won the fixture with a Jamie Lomas goal, after all his injury problems it was nice to see Jamie on the bench for this game.

The first half was evenly contested though the best of the early chances fell to the Stags, both Andy White and Shayne Bradley guilty of missing good chances. Indeed Bradley almost made the perfect dummy when mis-kicking in front of goal, the surprised Matlock keeper just managing to keep the ball out. Stags also had a very strong penalty claim denied, probably because of the theatrical fall by Bradley, though contact was clearly made. However a dreadful keeping error from Kevin Pilkington gifted the opening goal to Matlock. The ball came over from the Matlock left and Pilkington, stretching badly, could only palm the ball to Gary Sucrowitz who converted with ease. Stags then fell further behind when old boy Kevin Noteman slotted home from close range.

Stags were much better in the 2nd half and completely dominated, Pilkington a mere spectator in the Stags goal. Within 5 minutes of the restart, Wayne Corden pulled a goal back on 50 minutes, after a weaving run he curled a right foot shot into the far corner. Sadly, despite a series of great chances the Stags failed to draw level, not helped by some very poor refereeing. The misery was completed by one of the strangest disallowed goals ever, sadly for the Stags Shayne Bradley was on the end of the incredible decision. Following the award of a Stags free kick the Assistant Referee attempted to get the referee's attention for a substitution to take place before the Stags took the free kick. The referee didn't see the linesman so play restarted, however, for some reason the Assistant carried on flagging and as Bradley headed in Williams' fine cross home the referee thought he was flagging for off-side. Now rather than tell the referee that in fact he wasn't flagging for off-side the linesman kept his quiet, the referee gave a free kick for off-side (Bradley was at least 5 yards on side) and play carried on.

The Stags were very poor in the opening half, however totally dominated in the 2nd half and created more than enough chances to have won the game. I'm quite sure Stags Assistant boss Stuart Watkiss gave the players a deserved rocket at half time as they were a different side after the break. However, the home side will feel that their first half display and determined 2nd half display was justly rewarded with the victory. Finally, Causeway Lane is a terrific spot to watch football!!

Stagsnet Man of the Match: Lee Williams