Mansfield Town Football Club

Friday 14th September 2001 - Kick off 7.45pm

Nationwide League Division 3

Attendance: 4, 759

Not too many would have predicted this as a top three clash at the start of the season but both sides had made an excellent start to the season. The Stags welcomed back Danny Bacon and defender Allen Tankard but both had to be content with a place on the subs bench, Martin Pemberton keeping his place at left back. With large queues still outside the ground an impeccable minutes silence was held in memory of those tragically killed in the terrorist action in New York on Tuesday.

The Shrews began in confident fashion and early signs were not great for the home side. However, after a nervous opening 5 minutes the Stags seemed to have settled as a cross from Corden beat Cartwright and found Lawrence at the far post, however, the young winger had little time to see the ball and his reflex header was well wide. The Stags still looked nervous at the back and in the 8th minute gifted the visitors the lead. In no apparent danger Craig Disley headed the ball back towards his own goal but stood in horror as the ball only found Rodgers who finished superbly, Pilkington caught in no-mans land by the Stags midfielders inaccurate header. This unsettled the Stags yet further and more nerves were frayed when a Reddington header back to Pilkington was almost intercepted by the lively Rodgers. Rodgers again almost profited when he beat Robinson in a challenge but fired his low shot straight at Pilkington. On 20 minutes Greenacre tried his luck from 20 yards but the ball flew wide, five minutes later the Stags striker tried again, this time from close range, but from an acute angle hit his shot into the side netting. The Stags at last found their form and pushed the Shrews deep into their own half, Lawrence hit a neat cross to the far post, Corden headed it back across goal but Shrews keeper Cartwright intercepted just before White could pounce. Moments later Corden's 25 yard free kick was comfortably saved by the visitors keeper and White headed powerfully from Corden's corner but again straight at the keeper. On 41 minutes the Stags had the ball in the net but Greenacre was adjudged to have fouled the keeper in the air. Right on half time Lawrence was tripped at the edge of the box and Corden's quick free kick flew just wide.

Half-Time 0-1

The Stags again began slowly and within 5 minutes of the restart boss Bill Dearden brought off Andy White and brought on Danny Bacon, who had received an award prior to the match as leading scorer in the Reserve league last season. Immediately the Stags upped the tempo and Pemberton, having a fine game at left back, set off on a great run but in the end his right foot shot flew well wide. Just after the hour Bacon's headed flick put Greenacre through but Cartwright saved well and moments later a fine Corden cross was headed back by Lawrence and Greenacre's shot was again saved. However, the Stags got the goal their play had deserved on 69 minutes. Hassell crossed the ball from the right, the ball was flicked on by Lawrence and Bacon diving forward headed the ball home. The Stags poured forward but now looked vulnerable to the counter, Rogders almost skipping through but was thwarted by the alert Pemberton. Bizarrely the Shrews biggest threat Rodgers was withdrawn on 71 minutes, he certainly didn't look injured and this certainly helped the Stags defenders. On 83 minutes the Stags had large appeals for a penalty turned down, Lawrence the aggrieved party after falling under a Redmile challenge. Asher then replaced the tiring Disley. Lawrence was now getting into the game much more and a fine cross from the Stags right saw Greenacre flash his header wide. Indeed the Stags striker was not having his best night until a minute into injury time when he scored a fantastic winner. Corden was the supplier, his cross flicked on by Bacon and Greenacre was in the right place to overhead kick the ball past Cartwright to send the home fans delirious. Greenacre then even had another great chance in the final seconds but was thwarted when clean through on goal by the referee's final whistle - a very odd time to blow up from a poor referee.

Again the Stags showed that they can come back from behind, unlike last season. Despite gifting a strong Shrews side the lead goals from Danny Bacon, who was excellent as a 2nd half substitute and Chris Greenacre saw the Stags leapfrog the Shrews into 2nd place. All the more satisfying is the fact that this exciting match was played in front of a much larger than expected crowd. This can only be massively encouraging to the club to know that the support is out there and is dying for some success - this side looks like it has the potential to provide that success. For once man of the match is easy, Martin Pemberton was excellent as left back and Allen Tankard faces a battle to win his place back in the side. Special mention also for Danny Bacon, who scored a fine goal and really shook things up in the Stags attack.

Man of the Match: Martin Pemberton

Report by Rob Wheldon

Click here for Martin's report