Mansfield 2 Hartlepool 3
Mansfield
were rocked by the news at lunchtime that Lee Peacock had to miss the game due
to an ankle injury. Michael Boulding came into the side in his place. The other
change in the side was Craig Disley, who came into midfield for the injured
David Kerr.
In
an entertaining and end-to-end first half, Hartlepool took the lead after 15
minutes when a Hartlepool player was allowed too much time down the left hand
side to cross into the box for Sam Shilton to nip in front of the static Blake
and Williams to sweep the ball past Muggleton. It was a soft and sloppy goal to
concede especially as it was Hartlepool’s first serious attack. Mansfield
levelled on 20 minutes when Blake fed Williams who whipped in an excellent
cross which Tony Lormor attacked with his head to power the ball into the net.
It was a terrific goal and very similar to Lormor’s goal against Shrewsbury in
the previous home game, though this time he did not head the ball down into the
ground. Within a minute, Mark Blake nearly put the Stags in front with a
rasping drive from 20 yards. Stags midfield played reasonably well in the first
half though the team looked a little lightweight up front, badly missing the injured
Peacock. Stags best other chances fell to Boulding and Disley who both should
have done better. Disley panicked when a slip from a defender let him through
on goal and shot straight at the keeper when a pass to Boulding unmarked might
have been a better option. Hartlepool looked dangerous on a few occasions and
at half time it seemed the game could go either way.
Hartlepool
took the game by the scruff of the neck in the opening 20 minutes of the second
half. But not before Mansfield nearly took the lead just after half time. Young Craig Disley went on a fantastic 50
yard run into the box, but shot into the side netting when perhaps he should
have crossed for the unmarked Lormor. After 51 minutes, and following a
Mansfield corner, Williams gave the ball away, Hartlepool broke to the far end,
and Stephenson was allowed far too much time to shoot from 20 yards. But what
happened next stunned the home fans. The shot bobbled towards the net and just
as it seemed Carl Muggleton would make a routine save, the ball bounced up
wickedly off the surface, hit the keeper on the shoulder and bobbled into the
net. It was a shocking moment and terrible luck for the Stags keeper. However
he will surely feel he should have had his body fully behind the ball. This
moment knocked the stuffing out of the Stags and for a spell Hartlepool were
first to every loose ball, and it was no surprise when following another break,
Shilton surged into the box, leaving Williams stranded for pace. Muggleton was
never going to get to the ball first and felled the Pool player for a clear
penalty. Muggleton was surprisingly not booked, but could not keep out the
penalty from Miller, which was perfectly placed in the corner of the net. For a
while it seemed Hartlepool might even add to their lead.
With
12 minutes left, Stags pulled themselves back into the game with a goal out of
the blue. Substitute Bobby Hassell picked up a ball 20 yards from goal and
struck a wonderful left foot shot into the corner of the net for one of the
goals of the season. Suddenly Stags
believed they could rescue a point and poured forward. Clarke headed over and
then in injury time it seemed Stags must surely equalise. A long throw from
Hassell was flicked towards goal by Lormor but the keeper managed to touch the ball
onto the bar and as the ball came down, it was hacked off the line by a
defender.
So
Stags went down to a second successive defeat due to some poor defending
(especially for all 3 goals conceded) and due to losing control of the game for
a long spell in the second half. In addition the forward line badly missed the
injured Peacock. Hartlepool did defend better than Stags on the day and were
certainly one of the better teams Mansfield have faced this season. But overall
the Stags probably just about deserved a point even though they weren’t able to
grab it.
Man
of the Match: Darrell Clarke
Muggleton 5 Beaten by huge divot for second goal. Mis-timed
dive for third goal to give away penalty, and lucky not to be booked or even
sent off.
Asher
5 Not his best game. Replaced by Allardyce.
Richardson 6 Looked slightly dodgy on a poor day for the
Stags defence.
Linighan 7 Another solid performance, and could not be
faulted for the goals.
Williams 6 Good first half, and excellent cross for first
Stags goal, but partially responsible for all 3 Hartlepool goals. Often second
to the ball in the second half as Hartlepool took control.
Roscoe 6 Failed to make much of an impact on the game.
Disley 6 Started a game for the first time. Promising first
half performance but then lost control too often in the second half. Replaced
by Hassell.
Blake 6 Looked short of pace and fitness in the first half,
though improved in second half. Surprisingly chosen as sponsor’s man of the
match.
Clarke 7 Pick of the midfield, starting to look back to his
best. Looked good going forward.
Lormor 7 Held the ball up well but received little support
from Boulding. Great goal in first half.
Boulding 5 Plenty of endeavour but rarely looked like
causing danger. One poor shot in first half.
Subs
Hassell (for Disley) 7 Came on into midfield, and looked
class in just 20 minutes on the pitch. Scored a sublime goal.
Allardyce (for Asher) 6 Little chance to impress. Brought
on, according to Dearden, as a better option than Asher at set pieces.
Bacon (for Boulding) 6 Debut, coming on for the last 10
minutes. Worked hard and was full of enthusiasm.
Subs
not used:
Bowling,
Gibbons.
After
the game, Mansfield were drawn away to Bristol City in the first round of the
FA Cup. Within seconds of the names being drawn out, Lee Peacock, who had been
subject of a rejected bid from Bristol City 48 hours earlier, was interviewed
on Radio Nottingham. Peacock, was uncontrollable with laughter and garbled his
words saying he didn’t know what to make it, it was unbelievable and he didn’t
know what to say. After the Stags striker had recovered some composure, he said
it would be a tough tie and he would have preferred a lower team as the players
are on a good bonus to win matches in the FA Cup. On the subject of the offer
from Bristol City, Peacock said he came in on Friday for training, Dearden
pulled him into his office and told of the bid which had been rejected. Peacock
added that it was flattering but that he is getting paid by Mansfield, that
Dearden wants to keep him here, and that Peacock himself is enjoying the season
and is happy to stay at Field Mill.
By
a remarkable irony, Bristol City boss Tony Pulis was at the game at Field Mill
today, sitting just a few rows behind me in the West Stand. If he came to watch
Peacock, he would have been disappointed. As it was, he got a chance to watch
his opponents in the first round of the FA Cup!