MANSFIELD TOWN

0-0

SOUTHEND UNITED

Martin Shaw at Field Mill

A disappointing result for Stags as they failed to turn possession and chances into goals in an exciting 0-0 draw at Field Mill.

Mansfield started the game very well and looked very dangerous for the opening 15 minutes, but fell away for the remainder of the half. Stags were completely in control in the second half and had numerous chances to win the game, but all were spurned as Southend keeper Darryl Flahavan made some excellent saves.

In the first half, Stags best chances fell to Greenacre, who missed from a tight angle, and White, who headed over from a good position. In the second half, Greenacre had two memorable efforts, firstly in a near-carbon copy of his goal against Sunderland, he shot from the right hand side of the area, only to see Flahavan brilliantly turn the ball over the bar, and then a terrific left footed bullet, that flew inches over the bar. But the best chances fell to White and Corden. White found himself in position to lob the keeper with the outside of his right boot from 20 yards, but his shot landed on top of an empty net. Then just 3 minutes from time, Corden brilliantly turned his marker to give himself a free shot at goal from just 5 yards, but Flahavan flung himself at the shot to pull of an incredible save, that had Corden, and other Stags players, holding their heads in anguish. It was just not be their day.

Overall this was another encouraging display from the young Stags side against an average Southend side, but the abiding memory will be of those missed chances.

Man of the Match: Wayne Corden.

Pilkington 6 Very little to do.

Hassell 6 Solid at right back.

Robinson 6 Gave the ball away a couple of times, but generally solid

Reddington 7 Fine performance in central defence. Won everything

Tankard 6 Not involved in the game that much

Lawrence 6 Lacked his usual inspiration, but gradually got better as the game wore on

Williamson 6 Gave the ball away in crucial places a couple of times

Disley 6 A little to negative today, often seemed to heading backwards.

Corden 9 In the best form of his Stags career currently. Started brilliantly in opening 15 minutes and continued to look dangerous. Unfortunately was starved of the ball towards the end of the first half.

Greenacre 7 A couple of terrific shots in the second half, but missed a couple of easy chances, a close range shot from a tight angle in the first ahlf, and a free header from a corner in the second half.

White 7 Did well in just his second start for Stags, but ran out of steam towards the end. Unlucky with lob over the keeper that landed on top of the net.

Subs:

Pemberton (for Tankard, 89)

Subs Not Used: Bingham, Asher, Jervis, Williams.

Click here for Rob Wheldon's report