Archived News from November 2012
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STAGS EMBARRASED BY MATLOCK
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FA Trophy Round 1 replay
Matlock Town 2 - 1 Mansfield Town McMahon 51, McDonald 90+2. Daniel 21. Attendance: 758 (approx 350 from Mansfield) Date: 27 November 2012 Martin Shaw at Causeway Lane Mansfield Town were knocked out of the FA Trophy by Matlock Town, from the Northern Premier League, two leagues below Mansfield, in one of the most embarrassing results in the club's history. The Stags were awful on Saturday in the first game, and were much improved in the first half at Causeway Lane, thoroughly deserving a half time lead by a great free kick from Junior Daniel on 21 minutes. The first half superiority was highlighted by Mansfield's ten corners to Matlock's one. But the second half was poor from Mansfield, and Matlock equalised on 51 minutes through Lewis McMahon who bundled in a cross from Massiah McDonald. Neither side created a chance worthy of the name after that and the game was nailed on for extra time, until Gary Roberts, returning to the side, picked up a stupid second yellow card on 77 minutes. Matlock suddenly got the bit between their teeth, and hit the bar twice, on 85 and 89 minutes, before Massiah McDonald battled his way past Geohaghon in stoppage time and his soft shot somehow crept under Redmond into the net. Neither Geohaghon nor Redmond could be happy with that. Daniel nearly rescued Mansfield with a brilliant shot that flashed just wide shortly afterwards, but the final whistle brought jubilant celebrations from the home fans. Clearly the FA Trophy is not, and should not be, as high a priority as the FA Cup and Paul Cox's decision to rest key players like Lindon Meikle, Chris Clements and Adam Murray was justified ahead of the FA Cup tie at Lincoln on Saturday. However Cox will know that he cannot afford for his team to be as careless as this and go out of the FA Cup as well at Lincoln. Report and ratings when I've recovered from the six and a half hour journey that it took me to get to the game, arriving just ten minutes before kick off, thanks to a stray pig on the M1, followed by the embarrassment on the pitch. Man of the match: Junior Daniel ----------------- Matlock Town 2-1 Mansfield Town, FA Trophy 1st Round Replay chad.co.uk report by John Lomas MASSIAH McDonald was Matlock Town's late, late hero as the Gladiators produced another shock win over 10-man Mansfield Town in tonight's FA Trophy first round replay at Causeway Lane. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-fc/matlock-town-2-1-mansfield-town-fa-trophy-1st-round-replay-1-5173228 NLP minnows Matlock had won 5-2 at Mansfield in the FA Cup back in 1976 and the 1-1 draw at One Call Stadium on Saturday set them up for this latest famous win on a pitch that survived an afternoon inspection. Stags completely dominated the first 35 minutes and were 1-0 up through Junior Daniel's first goal for the club on 21 minutes, though McDonald missed two good chances to level late on. Stags won 10 corners in that first half. But the contrast with their second half display was astonishing as the Gladiators lived up to their nickname with a second half super show in which they levelled through Lewis McMahon within six minutes. Fading Mansfield's task was made harder when recalled Gary Roberts was sent-off for a second yellow card on 77 minutes and the part-timers twice hit the Mansfield woodwork before McDonald delivered the knockout blow two minutes into stoppage time. The night ended with angry scenes as stewards prevented furious Mansfield fans reaching besieged manager Paul Cox. It had all began so differently with the Stags going ahead deservedly through Daniel on 21 minutes. Roe brought down Roberts 25 yards from goal, just right of centre, and Daniel stepped up to arrow an unstoppable free kick low to the left of the rooted keeper. Matlock had barely been in the contest but should have levelled on 38 minutes. Cotton caught the visitors napping with a low ball down the centre that sent McDonald scampering into the box. But he scooped a hurried finish well over the bar. Jones headed Mansfield's ninth corner at Kennedy and was also too high from a Roberts free kick. Matlock defended Stags' 10th corner in stoppage time and then broke well, Roberts halting it by felling McMahon to earn a booking. When Stags failed to clear that free kick three minutes into time added on, the ball reached McDonald six yards in front of goal at the back post, but he somehow fired wide. The Gladiators came back out full of fire and won an early corner. And on 51 minutes they were level. McDonald won a tussle on the left by-line to get the ball into the path of McMahon's run towards the near post where he helped the ball on and, with no one able to halt him, simply poked it inside the post from three yards. It was an untidy and needless goal to give away and, from being so much on top for the first 35 minutes, Stags were faced with a repeat of the replay scenario at Slough two weeks earlier. Daniel set up Rhead five minutes later, but he screwed a poor finish well wide. With 25 minutes to go Green took over from Speight in the Stags' attack. But it was McDonald who threatened again as, fro a split second, it seemed he may run clear onto a through ball. But Stags got back quickly and Thompson slid in to dispossess him in the box. However, Roberts brought down McDonald on 77 minutes and the referee booked him for a second time and the midfielder was shown his second red of the campaign. And the shock was complete when McDonald battled his way goalside of the defenders and managed to get into the box and poke a finish under the dive of Redmond two minutes into stoppage time. Daniel was just over with a rocket shot in stoppage time as a Stags fan threatened manager Cox leaning over his dug out and had to be dragged away by stewards as Matlock began to celebrate another famous win over the Stags. MATLOCK: Kennedy, Harcourt, Roe, Cotton, Yates, Lukic, Grayson (Foster 90+4), Ashmore, McDonald, McMahon, Davies. Subs: , Leesley, Dennis, Laight, Buxton. MANSFIELD: Redmond; Thompson, Geohaghon, Jones, Sutton; Todd, Roberts, Howell, Daniel; Rhead, Speight (Green 65). Subs: Stevenson, Murray, Pilkington, Wright. REFEREE: Mr C. Ward SCORELINE: Matlock - McMahon (51 mins), McDonald (90+2mins). Stags - Daniel (21 mins) ATTENDANCE - 758 Stags man of match: Luke Jones ------------- Match report: Matlock 2, Mansfield 1 Nottingham Post reprt by Stevie Roden MATLOCK Town's Massiah McDonald dumped Mansfield Town out of the FA Trophy in dramatic fashion last night as his injury-time goal sealed the fightback and a 2-1 replay win. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/story-17446940-detail/story.html ? The Stags were in control for the first half and went in at the break in the lead in this first round replay thanks to Colin Daniel's free kick. But Lewis McMahon levelled just after the break and McDonald caused the cup upset in the second minute of stoppage time as the former Carlton Town striker squirmed a shot underneath Shane Redmond to seal a place in the second round and dump 2011 finalists Mansfield out of the competition at the first hurdle. After the poor showing from a tired Mansfield side in the 1-1 draw on Saturday against the Gladiators, manager Paul Cox made six changes to his starting line-up as he freshened things up and gave a few players a rest for this replay. In came Anthony Howell, Andy Todd, Colin Daniel, Matt Rhead and Jake Speight, as did midfielder Gary Roberts, who had been frozen out but was back for the first time in over month. Adam Murray and Matt Green dropped to the bench, while Ben Hutchinson, Lindon Meikle, Chris Clements and Louis Briscoe left out altogether. And Todd was played in by Daniel on the right of the box and after twisting and turning onto his right foot, he thundered his shot into the advertising boards behind the near post. On 21 minutes, Mansfield were in front. Roberts was chopped down on the edge of the box by Phil Roe and from the right of centre, Daniel struck a stunning low free kick that went beyond the wall and into the far corner at pace, giving goalkeeper Jon Kennedy no chance. It was all Stags but then Matlock's McDonald floated an effort just over from 18 yards but the hosts were looking a shadow of the side from the weekend which held Mansfield to force this replay. A great move almost saw Stags double their lead as Rhead played it to Speight, who laid it to Todd before getting the return but somehow Kennedy got down low to palm over Speight's curling shot. Speight forced Kennedy down low at his front post to keep out a 20-yard effort as Stags continued to dominate. But they had a let off on 38 minutes when Cotton threaded McDonald inside the box but with just Redmond to beat, he fluffed his lines with a poor shot over the bar. Stags had another let off deep in first-half stoppage time, after a free kick hit the wall, as Matlock fired in the rebound and McDonald beat the offside shout. But just a few yards out, he somehow put it over the bar with the goal at his mercy. But six minutes after the restart, Matlock were level. McDonald, guilty of two bad misses, turned the ball in from the left for the onrushing McMahon and he bundled onto it, into the six-yard box and then poked it beyond Redmond. Stags were again on the back foot and James Ashmore curled a free kick from right on the edge of the box just inches wide of the far post with Redmond sprawling across. McDonald was then played clean through by McMahon but inside the box, tried to cut back onto his favoured right foot but saw his shot blocked by John Thompson. Roberts was then sent off on 77 minutes when he brought down McDonald, his second yellow card of the game, and he saw red. Seven minutes from time, Stags survived again as Micky Harcourt swung in a free kick from the left and Adam Yates rose to meet it. But his header cannoned back of the crossbar with Redmond beaten. Then in the first minute of stoppage time, Bradley Grayson fired against the post but a minute later, McDonald scored the winner for Matlock. After a few spurned chances, he made amends as he wrestled his way beyond the Stags defence before poking the ball underneath Redmond and in to seal a dramatic win for the Evo-Stik Premier side. And the fury boiled over as one Mansfield supporter tried to lean over the dugout to vent his fury at boss Cox before being escorted away by the police. Matlock: Kennedy, Harcourt, Roe, Cotton (Leesley, 88), Yates, Lukic, Grayson (Foster, 90+4), Ashmore, McDonald, McMahon, Davies. Subs: Dennis, Laight, Buxton. Mansfield: Redmond, Thompson, Sutton, Geohaghon, Jones, Todd, Roberts, Howell, Daniel, Speight (Green, 65), Rhead. Subs: Stevenson, Murray, Pilkington, Wright. Referee: Darren Handley (Lancashire) Attendance: 758 -------------------- Matlock Town 2-1 Mansfield Town – FA Trophy First Round Replay http://www.matlockmercury.co.uk/sport/football/matlock-stun-stags-with-cup-victory-1-5173939 by Ian Richardson Tuesday night's FA Trophy replay had the Reynolds Stadium rocking as Massiah McDonald struck a stoppage time winner to give Matlock a well deserved win over their Blue Square Conference Premier neighbours. Matlock like playing Mansfield in cup competitions.Remember 1976 anyone? While this one was not as clear cut as their FA Cup triumph at Field Mill, in the scheme of things it was up there on merit. The Gladiators found it difficult to match the Stags direct style in the opening half hour and this was probably where they were going wrong. But once the more free flowing football from their draw at the one call Stadium on Saturday returned in the final ten minutes of the opening period and in the entire second half, another shock always looked on, particularly after the visitors had midfielder Gareth Roberts sent for an early bath thirteen minutes from time. Mansfield made a number of changes to freshen up their line up, but still fielded a side worthy of Conference Premier standard. They took the game to the hosts who fielded the eleven who finished Saturday's 1-1 draw. Matlock had to defend a succession of high balls into their box, being forced to concede a number of corners. But goalkeeper Jon Kennedy's handling was immaculate in spite of a painful bang in the kidneys early on. Andy Todd fired wide in the 13th minute after cutting in from the right before the visitors drew first blood seven minutes afterwards. Phil Roe caught Roberts with a mistimed challenge and from the free kick COLIN DANIEL rifled an unstoppable low 22 yard effort into the corner of the net to Kennedy's right. Lewis McMahon curled a shot a yard wide within two minutes as Matlock sought a response but the 29th minute would prove to be crucial to both sides' asprirations. For once Paul Cox's side played some neat football opening Matlock up but a breathtaking fingertip save from Kennedy to push Jake Speight's shot overthe bar kept the Gladiators in contention. McMahon looked to be pushed in the box but Bolton referee Darren Handley aggressively waved away penalty appeals before a good equalising chance went begging on 38 minutes. Smartbuild up play initially from McMahon and then Cotton ended with McDonald firing too high. Then on the stroke of half time, McMahon sliced wide from a few yards out, just after Roberts received his opening yellow card for bringing down Cotton. Matlock were on fire after their half time refreshment and were level inside five minutes. As was the case when McMAHON scored on Saturday, McDonald was the provider , holding off John Thompson with his strike partner pushing home his pass from three yards. From the Stags viewpoint it was a sloppy goal to concede and one from which they never recovered. Matlock swarmed forward with the crowd behind them and might have had a penalty when Roe was pulled back by Luke Jones, but a free kick right on the edge of the box was awarded. Although this free kick came to nothing, James Ashmore was a great deal closer with another on 58 minutes, his low shot scraping past the outside of a post. Full time Mansfield were being outfought and outplayed by the part-timers who might have gone in front when McDonald broke clear, but a moment's hesitation saw the chance disappear as Jones madean important block. Roberts tripped McDonald and was off to add to the Stags' woes before they two huge let-offs ahead of mcDonald having the final say. Adam Yates thumped a header against the bar from Micky Harcourt's 84th minute free kick and four minutes later Bradley Grayson left Ritchie Sutton labouring, the fierce drive crashing off a post with Shane Redmond helpless. But it just had to be, most emphatically, Matlock's Messiah, the new Gladiators hero, who would make the ground erupt. Chasing a ball down the centre he left Exodus Geohagan for dead before burying his shot past Redmond a minute into stoppage time. A snap shot from Matt Rhead nicked the outside of a post to force a corner which was headed out and Matlock were home and dry. It had been another wonderful Matlock effort. Mark Atkins and Nick Buxton joined the players for a celebratory group hug on the pitch before the Matlock heroes were cheered off by their ecstatic fans. Mansfield could have no complaints, quite simply the better side in both games had won. MANSFIELD TOWN: 1. Jon Kennedy 2. Micky Harcourt 3 Phil Roe 4 Glyn Cotton ( 14 Joe Leesley 87) 5 Adam Yates 6 James Lukic 7 Bradley Grayson 12 (Martin Foster 90+2), 8 James Ashmore 9 Massiah McDonald 10 Lewis McMahon 11 Gareth Davies Other subs: 15 Will Dennis 16 Ryan Laight 17 Nick Buxton REFEREE: D Handley–Bolton ATTENDANCE: 758 STAR MAN: Adam Yates ------------------------ |
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