Archived News from February 2007
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D`LARYEA STRIKE WINS 5 GOAL THRILLER
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Mansfield Town 3 - 2 Wycombe Wanderers
Mullins 21, Gritton 36, D'Laryea 87. McGleish 26, 37. Attendance: 2711 (308 from Wycombe) Martin Shaw at Field Mill Mansfield pulled off a tremendous 3-2 victory against high flying Wycombe Wanderers at Field Mill this afternoon. In a thrilling yet strange encounter, the Stags twice took the lead in the first half only to be quickly pegged back both times by Scott McGleish, but the Stags stepped up a gear in the second half and Jon D'Laryea's 20 yard bullet was too hot for the Wycombe keeper to handle in the 87th minute and his first ever senior goal proved a worthy winner. ----------------- To hear Stagsworld commentary of the winning goal, by Nigel Pinnick and Martin Shaw, click here ----------- D'Laryea sends Field Mill Delirious Observer report by Steve Hartshorn Mansfield Town 3 Wycombe Wanderers 2 A dramatic late winner by Jonathan D'Laryea ensured The Stags took all three points in a humdinger of a clash against promotion hopefuls, Wycombe Wanderers. Stags fresh from their hard won point at MK Dons in midweek came into the game with limited first team options for boss, Billy Dearden, lightened a little by the arrival on a month's loan of Bryan Hodge from Blackburn Rovers. It was guaranteed that the game was going to be entertainment all the way what with the confident brand of football that has returned to The Stags side since the arrival of Dearden and the Wycombe manager's, 'all out to win' attitude that has seen Lamberts side win 8 and lose 8, drawing only one of their previous trips on the road this season. Both sides made their intentions clear right from the start with Brown and Mooney getting in headed efforts for either side in the opening three minutes. Ainsworth, on loan from Derby County worked himself into space and forced White into action as the visitors pushed for the opening goal. Stags were trying to get their attacking game going, particularly down the left hand side where Hodge was linking well with the forward runs of Jelleyman but it was Wanderers who looked the more dangerous. So, it was somewhat against the run of play when Mansfield took a 21st minute lead. The visitors' defence had looked well on top of the game but were strangely absent when Brown's right-sided corner was met firmly by the head of an unmarked Mullins to score his first Stags goal. The delight on the defenders face was clear to see as Field Mill rose in celebration. However, the joy was short lived as just six minutes later, Wycombe were level. A tackle in midfield fell conveniently for McGleish who without hesitation fired the ball home from 25 yards. Rather than a goal from creativity it was a case of Stags once more shooting themselves in the foot. Stags though came bouncing back and after Dawson had won the ball in midfield, he fed Jelleyman who after beating one opponent on the left hand side, pulled the ball back perfectly for Gritton, who with placement rather than power, steered the ball home into the right hand corner of the net. It was a well-worked goal for Mansfield that was filled with good passing and confidence. Again though Stags were to be undone when battling Wycombe bounced straight back. A ball into the box was not effectively cleared by the Stags rear guard allowing Mooney from the by-line to clip the ball neatly onto the head of McGleish who made no mistake from close range to powerfully head the ball past White in the Stags goal. The game was still all action as Young in the Wanderers goal did well to stick out a foot and deny Gritton who's first time effort looked goal bound after good forward running by Buxton. Brown was next to go close for Stags but his chipped effort just clipped the roof of the net with the visiting keeper beaten. It had been a classic first half with both sides eager to record all three points. The 2nd half saw both sides again pushing for more goals, this time though it was Mansfield who looked the more dangerous. A Conlon ball over the back of the Wanderers defence almost found them wanting but Brown was denied by last second alertness. Stags made a change, bringing on Arnold for Conlon, who had earlier seemed to agitate an injury and it was he who almost set up Mansfield's 3rd. Arnold's through ball found the racing Brown but Brown's finish flashed across the face of goal from what was a difficult angle. On 75 minutes Easter came on for McGleish as Wanderers tried to get a foothold on a 2nd half were they were clearly second best. Two minutes later White had to be at his best to get behind a powerful shot from Palmer. The young Stags keeper was forced into further action when he smartly saved at his near post to deny Easter. On 83 minutes Danny Reet was introduced as a replacement for Gritton. Both sides were clearly intent on winning the game; thankfully that honour went to the Stags with another first for Billy Dearden's young stars, a first goal for midfielder, Jonathan D'Laryea. An Arnold cross was not cleared well and fell neatly for D'Laryea whose shot looked to be covered by Young in the Wanderers goal, but the ball squirmed away from his and nestled into the top corner of the net. 87 minutes gone and Stags in the lead, 3-2. Danny Reet received a yellow card after catching Young in the stomach as he raced out of his box to clear a Mansfield through ball. Stags held firm during a 4 minute added on time period to record a well deserved and somewhat entertaining three points. This weekend Stags face the tricky trip to high-flying Lincoln City. The promotion hopefuls have slipped up in the last couple of weeks but will offer a stern test for The Stags but after great displays against the top sides in League 2, Mansfield will feel they have nothing to fear. ---------- CHAD website report: D'Laryea bags late winner in thriller MANSFIELD TOWN 3 WYCOMBE WANDERERS 2 JONATHAN D'Laryea was the Mansfield hero this afternoon as he bagged an 87th minute winner to complete a satisfying week. Despite the Matt Hamshaw bereavement, various injuries and an illness big sweeping through the camp, that is four points in five days against two of the division's big guns after the midweek draw at MK Dons. The Wycmbe clash was an absolute thriller from start to finish with both sides trying to play good football on a difficult surface and the only surprise was that there were not more goals in the end. D'Laryea's first ever goal was aided by a bad error from keeper Jamie Young who allowed it to slip through his grasp from 20 yards. But it was the icing on the cake after Stags, without w in in four games, had twice allowed Wycombe back into the game through Scott McGleish goals after John Mullins - with his first League goal - and Martin Gritton had put them ahead =- all four coming in a 16 minute purple patch. Even more important was that Wycombe are one of Mansfield's bogey sides and this was only their second ever league win over the Chairboys, coming 13 years after the first. That bodes well as Stags travel to Lincoln to face another of their bogey sides next weekend. The game also marked a suerb debut for on-loan Blackburn Rovers youngster Bryan Hodge who shone in midfield with his excellent passing. Hodge replaced Michael Boulding who was at home ill along with brother Rory. But Gritton had shaken off the same illness and played as did Conlon, despite a badly infected toe. Gareth Jelleyman also played despite feeling the effects of the bug. Club chaplain Tim Mitchell said a prayer for Matt and Kerry Hamshaw on the loss of their baby last weekend as the players and crowd stood silent. Stags created the first chance on three minutes as Hodge's deflected cross found Brown at the near post and he got in a back header on target that Young had to grab. A minute later Ainsworth got the ball over from the right and Mooney had to readjust to get in an awkward header on target that White comfortably took diving to his left. White made a better stop two minutes later as Ainsworth found space in the box and drilled in a low shot that White blocked with his foot. A half cleared Palmer cross reached Mooney. Again it came to him at an awkward angle but he still managed to bundle in a shot on target to force White into another stop. The young Stags keeper also had to slide into the way of a close range poked McGleish effort as the visitors piled on the early pressure. Young was down bravely at the feet of Gritton as he tried to get on the end of an excellent Jelleyman cross. And it was Mansfield, against the early run of play, who went ahead on 21 minutes. Brown sent over a right wing corner and full back Mullins popped up with a firm close range header that Young could only parry into the net. Wycombe were straight back on the attack and Bloomfield had a low shot blocked. And they were level on 27 minutes as Grant's tackle saw the ball run invitingly for McGelish who blasted home an unstoppable finish from 25 yards. However, Stags hit back with a second on 36 minutes. Dawson won the ball on the left, Jelleyman took over and raced forward, beating one defender before pulling the ball back into the path of Gritton who expertly flicked home his first time finish. But before the celebrations had died down, Wycombe were level within a minutes. Mullins was muscled out of possession by Mooney in the box and he crossed to the near post where McGleish buried a close range header. Soon after there was a lengthy break as McGleish was treated for an injury, but was eventually able to continue. Buxton threaded a great pass towards Gritton in the box and keeper Young just managed to get in the way of his first time finish. And just before the break a reverse pass from Dawson picked out an intelligent run into space in the box by Brown who tried to ship the keeper and saw the ball end up dropping onto the roof of the net. That left a thrilling first half finish all square at 2-2 but it could easily have been six-all, such were the number of chances at both ends. Young cut out a dangerous Hodge cross after a short free kick just after the break. Williamson was lucky not to be booked for bringing down Dawson. And Dawson was even more aggrieved when he was then yellow carded for the slightest of touches on Bloomfield. Another superb pass from Hodge almost put Brown in. The ball ricoched off a defender towards Mullins who got his shot on target and Young did well to parry. Brown almost put Stags back in front on 71 minutes as he ran onto Arnold's through ball only to blast his finish wide of the far post from a difficult angle. Young was safely behind a tame low Gritton effort from the edge of the box as Stags continued to look the side most likely to edge a win. Easter rook over from two-goal hero McLeish on 75 minutes. White had his first save to make of the second half on 77 minutes as Palmer cut inside to unload a ferocious drive straight at the keeper. On 81 minutes White made a fine save, getting in the way of a close range Mooney finish at the far post after an Easter pass had picked him out in space. Reet replaced Gritton for the last seven minutes. Arnold tested Young from 25 yards but he was well placed. Within a minute White made another great block at his near post to keep out an Easter piledriver. Reet almost found a winner when he turned at the near post and found Young in the way. But a Young clanger on 87 minutes saw Mansfield go ahead for the third time. An Arnold cross was cleared to D'Laryea who let fly from 20 yards and Young, who seemed to have it covered, let the ball spin from his grasp and into the net. Young won a chase for the ball outside his box with Reet chasing it and the Stags striker was lucky only to be booked after kicking the keeper in the midriff after he had cleared. There were four minutes of time added on but Mansfield were not in the mood to let their lead slip a third time. ------------ |
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