Archived News from October 2015
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STUNNING GOALS SEND STAGS SOARING
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Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Mansfield Town 3 - 0 Newport County Westcarr 50, Benning 70, Yussuf 90+1 Attendance: 3278 (119 from Newport) Date: 10 October 2015 Martin Shaw and Simon Chamberlain at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town beat Newport County 3-0 this afternoon to move one point behind the leaders, with three second half goals. Mansfield had most of the possession in the first half but were unable to break through a stubborn defence. The Stags took the lead on 50 minutes when Craig Westcarr volleyed home from 5 yards after Jack Thomas knocked the ball into his path. On 70 minutes, Mal Benning brought the house down with his second stunning volley in a week, this time latching on to a deep cross from Jack Thomas that found Benning unmarked outside the box on the left, and Benning hit a crisp left footed volley into the top right corner of the net. It was simply a sensational strike that had Mansfield fans on their feet and still applauding after the game restarted. Substitute Adi Yussuf put the icing on the cake with a splendid clinical finish of his own in stoppage time as he turned his marker just outside the box and fired left-footed into the bottom right corner of the net from 19 yards. At the end of the game the Stags players left the pitch to a fantastic standing ovation. Plenty of very fine performances throughout the Stags side with Benning, Jack Thomas, Hunt, and Jensen, who made three good saves, worthy of special mention, but overall this was another fine team performance. Still only one club has conceded fewer goals than Mansfield this season in League Two, but now Mansfield have the best goal difference in League Two. FULL REPORT IN THE MATCH CENTRE ------------------------------------ Saturday, 10th October 2015: Mansfield Town 3, Newport County 0 chad.co.uk report by John Lomas Spectacular volleys from Craig Westcarr and Mal Benning kept in-form Mansfield Town in the play-off places in League Two as they saw off bottom club Newport County 3-0 this afternoon. Adi Yussuf was also on the scoresheet for the second successive week in stoppage time to round of a fine afternoon for the Stags. http://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/sport/local-sport/saturday-10th-october-2015-mansfield-town-3-newport-county-0-1-7508089? It was a third win on the bounce for Adam Murray’s men and reward for the patience they showed after a scoreless first half. Westcarr finally broke the deadlock with a superb goal five minutes after the break. But those at the ground will be talking for years about the second as Benning scored one of the best volleys you will ever see from outside the box on 70 minutes, a week after scoring a similar goal at Dagenham. Newport rarely threatened, but when they did, Brian Jensen was in fine form, his 68th minute block when Alex Rodman had gone clear particularly crucial with stags only 1-0 up at the time. Mansfield were unchanged for a third game on the trot, and there was a welcome return from injury on the bench for midfielder Chris Clements. Newport, playing away under new boss John Sheridan for the first time, included new loan signings Scot Bennett, from Notts County, and Zak Ansah, from Charlton. After a tentative start, Mansfield began to play some neat stuff and, from a clever Chapman pass, Benning zipped in a low shot that Day took at the near post. Lambe and Benning then had shots blocked after Newport struggled to clear a long Jack Thomas cross that was played back into the middle by Green. But the visitors won the game’s first corner on 16 minutes and when skipper Byrne sent it over from the left, Donacien rose well to flick a header just over the bar. On 20 minutes Taylor almost put through his own goal, stretching to cut out a dangerous Benning cross, Day having to dive to his right to keep out the stooping header. Newport continued to soak up the pressure though on 37 minutes Stags might have broken through. Tafazolli headed a long Benning free kick into the middle where Lambe met it from 10 yards but shot straight at Day. Then Hunt cut in from the right by-line and thundered in a low finish that was blocked as the home fans again raised the noise levels. Green almost broke the deadlock against his old club on 43 minutes as he sent a diving header on target at the far post, as he met a Jack Thomas cross from the left, only to see Day keep it out with his legs. Newport broke quickly from that and Ansah warmed Jensen’s hands from 20 yards. On 45 minutes Green leapt to meet a long Benning cross, but the ball skimmed off his head for a goalkick and Newport had survived the first 45 minutes. However, within five minutes of the restart the home side were finally ahead. Benning sent the ball in from left and Jack Thomas superbly cushioned the ball invitingly into the path of Westcarr who met it on the volley with a rising right foot rocket that gave Day no chance from five yards. Newport hit back with two corners, but they were soon under the cosh again as Day had to tip over a deflected Green shot on the turn, that almost dropped over him, and then claw away Tafazolli’s header from the corner. Klukowski was booked for a late lunge at Benning on 64 minutes at which point Newport made a double change with Klukowski and John-Lewis replaced by Boden and Rodman. The subs almost made an immediate impact as om 68 minutes Boden sent Rodman through one on one and Jensen did well to get down and block his finish. However, Stags settled the nerves with another stunning Benning volley on 70 minutes. Jack Thomas saw him in space 20 yards from goal and picked him out with a long ball from the right that Benning met to perfection and crashed a superb finish under the far angle with Day helpless. Jensen did have another stop to make on 76 minutes as he saw a deflected Ansah shot come at him through a defender’s legs late but still managed to push the ball away for a corner. Ansah then tried his luck from 25 yards with a powerful shot that Jensen was happy to tip away. Clements was given the last six minutes in place of Jack Thomas to big applause, then Yussuf came on for Green in the final change and soon drilled a low finish across the face of goal. But he was on the scoresheet again in the first minute of added time as Rose found him with a square pass and Yussuf turned 18 yards out to slot a low finish inside the right post. STAGS: Jensen; Hunt, Pearce, Tafazolli, Benning; Lambe (Rose 77), McGuire, Jack Thomas (Clements 84), Chapman, Westcarr; Green (Yussuf 87). Subs not used: Shearer, Collins, Nathan Thomas, Blair. NEWPORT: Day, Holmes (Ofori-Twumasi 26mins), Barrow, Matt Taylor, Elito, Klukowski (Rodman 65), Ansah, John-Lewis (Boden 65), Donacien, Bennett, Byrne. Subs not used: Rhys Taylor, Blackwood, Partridge, Parselle. REFEREE: Stephen Martin of Staffordshire. ATTENDANCE: 3,278 (119 away). CHAD STAGS MAN OF THE MATCH: Mal Benning. --------------------- MATCH REPORT: Mansfield Town newport-county.co.uk County come undone by an exhibition of fine finishing at Mansfield… Exiles manager John Sheridan bought both midweek loan signings, Zak Ansah and Scot Bennett, into the starting line-up for the clash at the One Call Stadium, with Arron Collins and Scott Boden dropping to the bench. http://www.newport-county.co.uk/news/article/match-report-mansfield-town-2738407.aspx? Early chances were few and far between, as both teams took the opening exchanges to interpret each others setup, with the majority of the play taking place in the middle of the pitch. The host began to enjoy more possession inside the County half and the first opportunity of the game fell to Matt Green, who managed to find space to fire a volley towards goal that was thankfully blocked by Matt Taylor, who threw himself at the ball. County responded soon after with a chance from a corner, as Mark Byrne delivered the set-piece from the left and found the leaping Janoi Donacien, who glanced his header over the crossbar. Malvind Benning was beginning to cause the County back-four problems, with his dangerous crosses from the left-wing. A curled delivery by the left-back was met by Matt Taylor, who's header looked like it may potentially creep past Joe Day, but the County 'keeper was able to gather the ball with ease, after a heart-in-mouth moment for the travelling County fans behind this goal. After a scramble inside the County area, Danny Holmes went down injured, clutching his ankle and was forced to depart the game early. Seth Nana Twumasi replaced him and was tasked with limiting the crossing opportunities for Malvind Benning down the left-wing. County's best opportunity of the first period game when Yan Klukowski was able to release Zak Ansah, who advanced with purpose towards goal and was allowed to continue his run into the Mansfield area. Zak opened his body and sent a curling effort towards goal, that has seen all the way by veteran 'keeper Brian Jensen and was at such a height he was able to gather the ball comfortably. The deadlock was broken early in the second period, when a interchange between Matt Green and Craig Westcarr, allowed the hosts to split the County defence and allow Westcarr the space to fire his volley home from close range. Mansfield were encouraged by the goal and almost added a second soon after. Matt Green had an effort deflected and the ball looked to be creeping just underneath the crossbar, but the back-pedaling Joe Day was able to tip the ball over the crossbar, and keep the deficit at one-goal. County made two changes in an attempt to get back into the game. Alex Rodman and Scott Boden were introduced and immediately provided the creative catalyst to produce chances. Both substitutes combined when Scott Boden played a delightful through ball to Rodman, to play him clean through on goal. Rodman advanced towards the goalmouth and and attempted to place his effort past the gigantic frame of Brain Jensen, but the ‘keeper smothered his shot and the chance went amiss. Immediately after County had the chance to draw level, the hosts added a second, with a stunning volley from Malvind Benning flying into the top corner, with little Joe Day could do to prevent it. County rebuffed and responded with two decent chances coming via the returning striker Zak Ansah. His first effort, a deflected shot from inside the area, was denied by the legs of the hosts ‘keeper. Zak’s second chance was a long-range effort that forced Jensen into a parrying save to his left, and the duo of chances exhibited the best chances County had to clutch a goal back. Deep into the three minutes of added time, substitute striker Adi Yussef was allowed the space turn on the edge of the area and fired a precision strike into the bottom corner, to complete the scoring. -------------------- |
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