{ the news }
 
An independent supporters' website dedicated to Mansfield Town FC
Archived News from September 2016

STAGS EARN POINT IN DRAB GAME
9th September 2016 18:51


English Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Mansfield Town 0 - 0 Cambridge United
Attendance: 2981 (334 from Cambridge)

Date: 3 September 2016

STAGS EARN POINT IN DRAB GAME

Martin Shaw and Simon Chamberlain at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill

Mansfield Town and Cambridge United drew 0-0 this afternoon in a drab game that neither side deserved to win. Neither goalkeeper had to make a difficult save as chances at both ends were few and far between. I said during full match commentary on StagsPlayerHD that if you’re not going to win the game, make sure you don’t lose it, and that is what the Stags did with a fine display from the defence. Mal Benning made one outstanding last gasp challenge in the first half, and man of the match Krystian Pearce made a fine challenge in the second half. Rhys Bennett also played very well and George Taft came in for the injured Howkins and gave an assured display. Cambridge came into the game bottom of the league but with the quality of players in their team such as former Accrington pair Mingoia and Halliday, they surely won’t be there for long. The Stags created very few chances with the best falling to Mitch Rose with a shot on target in the first half, and Rhys Bennett with a header just over the bar in the second half. Cambridge could have won the game with a good chance for Pigott who volleyed wide from a good position in the second half. The Stags remain well-positioned in the table, in 5th place, two points behind the leaders. Barnet visit the One Call Stadium next week, and the Stags will be wary of the huge threat of Akinde, but it is a game Mansfield can win.

Mansfield made two changes from the last league game, at Leyton Orient last Saturday: Scott Shearer replaced Jensen in goal, and George Taft came in for the injured Howkins. It was a 4-4-2 formation with Chapman and Collins in central midfield, with Mitch Rose and Hurst either side. McGuire had recovered from his injury on Tuesday and was on the bench. Alex Iacovitti, signed on loan for the season from Nottingham Forest, was on the bench in place of Taft. Howkins has a hamstring injury and will be out for a while. Danny Rose, suspended for this game, fractured his eye socket against Doncaster in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday and will be see a specialist on Monday.

FULL REPORT IN THE MATCH CENTRE

--------------------------------

MATCH REPORT: Mansfield Town 0-0 Cambridge Utd
by John Lomas, chad.co.uk,Saturday 03 September 2016

For the second successive season, Mansfield Town and visiting Cambridge United battled out a drab 0-0 draw at One Call Stadium this afternoon.

On a day when Stags could have gone top and bottom side United were looking for a first League win, the game failed to catch alight in tough conditions, with a string wind and continual rain.

The visitors did have an early effort chalked off for offside and wasted the best chance of the game. Both teams enjoyed spells of possession, but chances were few and far between.

Stags’ star performer was Krystian Pearce, who was immaculate at the back, while Mitch Rose looked the most likely home player to break through with three good attempts on goal.

Pre-match, Mansfield had been dealt another injury blow when it was announced striker Danny Rose will be out for a few weeks with a fractured eye socket.

Rose was due to return from a three-game ban next weekend but was allowed to play against Doncaster in the EFL Trophy in midweek when he sustained the injury.

They already have Jack Thomas, Chris Clements, Kyle Howkins on the sidelines. New signing Alex Iacovitti was named on the bench this afternoon.

Otherwise the starting XI included six changes from the midweek side with returns for Mal Benning, Lee Collins, Matt Green, Kevan Hurst, Mitch Rose and Darius Henderson.

Jamie McGuire, who suffered a knock in midweek, was able to return to the bench.

The game began in the incessant rain that had been falling all morning.

There was a scare for Stags on four minutes as United skipper Berry headed home from six yards from a Pigott cross from the by-line, but an offside flag was already raised.

On 11 minutes Mitch Rose came up with Stags’ first goal attempt as he volleyed a clearance from a long Chapman throw over the bar from 20 yards.

On 24 minutes Rose came close with a snapshot from the edge of the box which Norris got down well to block.

Benning had to come up with a goal-saving tackle on 32 minutes as Newton raced into the box and looked set to pull the trigger, the full back sliding in to make the block and concede a corner.

An ambitious Rose also cracked in a dipping shot from over 35 yards on 41 minutes, but keeper Norris was well placed. Stags’ first corner of the game was cleared in the one added minute as a drab half ended goalless.

Taft was booked for a shoulder barge on Pigott on 52 minutes as the second half continued almost as uneventful as the first.

On 54 minutes Stags threw on the pace of Hamilton for the brawn of Henderson to try to liven things up.

Taft was lucky not to be sent off for a second silly foul as he flattened Mingoia on 57 minutes.

The visitors should have gone ahead on 61 minutes as Berry crossed from the right and an unmarked Newton somehow placed his finish wide of the far post from eight yards with Shearer at his mercy.

On 64 minutes Stags made a second change with Hemmings on for Hurst.

Mingoia cut in from the right to curl an effort over the angle on 71 minutes, and a minute later Bennett headed over from a corner for the home side.

United enjoyed a good spell of pressure as Stags struggled to clear the ball against the strong wind, but Mansfield cleared two corners and survived.

Then Hamilton had a shot blocked for a corner by Dunne, but the United man stayed down and eventually was stretchered off with a brace on his leg.

With ten minutes to go Stags went for broke and withdrew midfielder Rose for striker Hoban.

Pearce was booked on 86 minutes for a foul on Berry, who went down very theatrically.

Five minutes were added at the end but no one could produce a breakthrough on an afternoon to forget.

STAGS: Shearer, Bennett, Benning, Collins, Pearce, Taft, Chapman, Green, Hurst (Hemmings 64), M. Rose (Hoban 80), Henderson (Hamilton 54). Subs not used: Jensen, Baxendale, McGuire, Iacovitti.

CAMBRIDGE: Norris, Halliday, Legge, Dallison, Taylor, Dunne (Clark 81), Newton (McGurk 69), Berry, Mingoia, Pigott (Williamson 62), Elito. Subs not used: Gregory, Coulson, Gosling, Ikpeazu.

REFEREE: Dean Whitestone of Northants.

ATTENDANCE: 2,981 (334 away).

CHAD STAGS MAN OF THE MATCH: Krystian Pearce.

Read more at: http://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/sport/local-sport/match-report-mansfield-town-0-0-cambridge-utd-1-8104002?

-----------------

MATCH REPORT: MANSFIELD TOWN 0 CAMBRIDGE UNITED 0
cambridge-united.co.uk, 3rd September 2016

Cambridge United produced a solid away performance against Mansfield Town at the One Call Stadium, in a goalless draw in Sky Bet League Two.

The U’s looked like the side more likely to clinch the win, with Conor Newton unfortunate not to score the decisive goal with a pair of chances either side of the half time break.

Read more at http://www.cambridge-united.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/match-report-mansfield-town-0-cambridge-united-0-3289348.aspx#LhiY1rTR3sefz3wy.99

Piero Mingoia, James Dunne and captain Luke Berry returned to the starting line-up having been rested in the midweek Checkatrade Trophy clash with Shrewsbury Town, whilst Manager Shaun Derry handed new signing his first start for the U’s.

Skipper Luke Berry found the back of the net early in the match when he headed past Scott Shearer in the Stags goal on four minutes, but the effort was chalked off by referee Dean Whitestone with the ball adjudged to have ran out of play in the build upbefore Joe Pigott had crossed to the U’s skipper in the build-up.

Half chances fell to Mitchell Rose and Darius Henderson for Mansfield but neither could find the target, from two attempts outside of United’s 18 yard box.

Rose did however force a save from Will Norris midway through the first period, when the striker’s low drive at goal looked destined for the bottom corner until the U’s keep interjected with a smart stop down his right.

The best chance of the half fell at the feet of Conor Newton, after good interlinking play between Berry and Joe Pigott sent the midfielder through one-on-one. He had the opportunity snatched away though with an excellent covering tackle by Mal Benning before the former Rotherham man could pull the trigger.

United returned after the break as the outfit in the ascendency, with Elito causing problems down the left flank and Halliday and Mingoia showing signs of an exciting partnership from their days together at Accrington on the opposite wing.

Newton was again unable to find the back of the net on the hour mark, when a cross field ball from Tom Dallison was cleverly played inside by Mingoia for Berry to cross to the far post where the midfielder’s volley skidded fractionally wide.

Shaun Derry introduced more fire power midway through the second half as the U’s looked to clinch the win, adding Ben Williamson and the returning Adam McGurk for his first League appearance for United.

A worrying injury to James Dunne meant the U’s boss was forced to play his final substitution, with Max Clark stepping in at centre mid. Despite strings of positive play and against shaky Mansfield defence the U’s had to settle for a good away point.

Mansfield Town: Shearer, Bennett, Benning, Collins, Pearce, Taft, Chapman, Green, Hurst (Hemmings, 64 mins), Rose (Hoban, 79 mins), Henderson (Hamilton, 54 mins)

Cambridge United: Norris, Halliday, Legge, Dallison, Taylor, Mingoia, Dunne (Clark, 80 mins), Newton (McGurk, 67 mins), Berry, Pigott (Williamson, 60 mins), Elito

-----------------

 

Latest | September 2016