Season 19/20 Stagsnet Match Report
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Crawley Town
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Mansfield Town
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Lubala 53
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Attendance: 2068 (292 from Mansfield)
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Date: 14 September 2019
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STAGS BEATEN AT CRAWLEY
Martin Shaw at Broadfield Stadium Mansfield Town were beaten 1-0 at Crawley Town this afternoon to drop to 16th place, 5 points outside the play-offs, and 7 points outside the top 3 after 8 games played this season. The only goal of the game was a fluke as Bez Lubala’s shot from outside the area took an outrageous deflection off first Matt Preston and then Krystian Pearce to loop over and wide of the stranded Conrad Logan and into the net after 53 minutes. It was tough luck on Logan who deserved to keep a clean sheet having superbly saved Lubala’s well-struck penalty in the first half, also saved another shot from Lubala with a firm hand in the first half, and then tipped yet another Lubala shot around the post in the second half. Logan also did well clearing outside his area when CJ Hamilton sold him short with a terrible backpass from the halfway line. The penalty was awarded after 26 minutes when Reece Grego-Cox went down far too easily as he and Krystian Pearce tussled for the ball just inside the area. The softest of penalties and a poor decision from the referee, with justice done as Logan saved the spot kick. The Stags’ defending has let them down previously this season, but today this was a decent display from the defence, coupled with a terrific goalkeeping display. Today, the Stags let themselves down in front of goal, creating several glorious chances but not making them count. Early in the game, Jacob Mellis laid a nice ball into the path of Nicky Maynard who fired across the keeper and wide of the left post. After 32 minutes, Mellis played a superb ball forward from the halfway line to set Maynard away into the area, Maynard unselfishly squared to Danny Rose inside the area and completely unmarked. Rose had just the keeper to beat and probably should have shot first time, but elected to take a touch before shooting, but his first touch was terrible taking the ball through to the keeper. Rose looked distraught with himself for missing an absolutely golden chance. CJ Hamilton then did well after 42 minutes cutting inside from the left and fired a right footed shot which Crawley keeper Glenn Morris did well to parry away. Into the second half, and just after Crawley took the lead, Kellan Gordon should have equalised when Alex MacDonald did superbly to get to the byline on the left and pull back into the middle creating a great chance for Gordon who fired just over the bar from 14 yards when he should have scored. Two minutes later, MacDonald crossed to Rose who knocked down to himself and fired in a shot which was blocked. Then brilliant play from MacDonald to win the ball inside his own half and slide a great ball forward into the path of Rose, who ran into the area and tried to fire into the bottom corner with a toe-poked shot but the keeper saved. A minute later, a double chance for Conor Shaughnessy as he turned a Mellis corner goalwards only for it to be cleared off the line by a defender, Mellis then crossed in again and Shaughnessy headed wide. And two minutes after that, MacDonald crossed from the right and Maynard got up well to head down but Morris saved low to his right. And finally, after 87 minutes, Omari Sterling-James’ free kick was blocked by the Crawley wall, but came out to Mal Benning whose piledriver volley produced a great save from Morris. Overall this was an even game but the Stags weren’t good enough in front of goal to come away with any points. Huge frustration for Mansfield and their 292 travelling fans. On to Tuesday night, as Cambridge United visit the One Call Stadium. The Stags need to start putting in performances where they mix a solid defensive display with being more clinical in front of goal. If that can happen, the Stags can start to climb the table. Mansfield were unchanged for the first time this season. There was a slight tweak in the formation, as Mellis dropped back alongside Shaughnessy so both Shaughnessy and Mellis were in front of the back three, with MacDonald behind the front two. Afolayan returned to the 18 after a niggle in his knee kept him out of the squad last week. Tomlinson was ill earlier in the week and did not travel. White was not included in the 18, as Dempster wanted to get a full week of training out of him before including him in the squad. Crawley made one change to their side bringing in former Stag Jamie Sendles-White for his Crawley league debut. Sendles-White has been beset by injury. Ollie Palmer was once again playing against his former side. It was a lovely sunny day in West Sussex. After 3 minutes, Mellis laid a nice ball into the path of Maynard who fired across the keeper and wide of the left post. At the other end, after 6 minutes, a brilliant block by Preston as Camara shot from 16 yards and Preston deflected it over the bar. From the corner, a cross from Lubala was turned goalwards by Palmer straight to Logan. Mellis was fouled by Ferguson 26 yards out after 13 minutes. Mellis took the resulting free kick himself, straight into the wall. After 19 minutes, a shot from Gordon from the right from 20 yards was deflected for a corner. From the resulting corner by Mellis, Rose shot well wide. Logan did well clearing outside his area when Hamilton sold him short with a terrible backpass from the halfway line after 20 minutes. Great keeping. After 21 minutes, Doherty was allowed to run all the way into the area but he skewed his shot wide from 16 yards from the left. Crawley were awarded a penalty after 26 minutes when Reece Grego-Cox went down far too easily as he and Krystian Pearce tussled for the ball just inside the area. The softest of penalties and a poor decision from the referee. Justice was done as Logan superbly saved Lubala’s well-struck penalty, diving to his right, and tipping it wide. After 29 minutes, Grego-Cox crossed from the right, Palmer rose above Preston and headed over the bar. Two minutes later, Camara found Lubala on the left and he sent a low shot in to the side netting. After 32 minutes, Mellis played a superb ball forward from the halfway line to set Maynard away into the area, Maynard unselfishly squared to Danny Rose inside the area and completely unmarked. Rose had just the keeper to beat and probably should have shot first time, but elected to take a touch before shooting, but his first touch was terrible taking the ball through to the keeper. Rose looked distraught with himself for missing an absolutely golden chance. After 38 minutes, Ferguson sent in a low shot from 30 yards but Logan knew his angles and let it go wide. After 40 minutes, a good break by Mellis. He found Gordon who was overlapping. His low ball across found Rose whose cross-shot was saved by the keeper. On 42 minutes, Hamilton then did well, cutting inside from the left and firing a right footed shot which Crawley keeper Glenn Morris did well to parry away. From the resulting corner from Mellis to the far post, Preston headed just over the bar. Then Logan saved another shot from Lubala with a firm hand. On 45+1 minutes, Lubala’s corner from the right found Palmer who scooped a first time shot over the bar. Logan’s penalty save kept it all square at the break. At the other end, Danny Rose missed a great chance. Not a great half from Mansfield, with Mellis the pick of the midfield. Half time 0-0 Brilliant skill by Palmer after 48 minutes chesting down a long ball from the keeper, and Sweeney had to bring him down just outside the area. Sweeney was booked. Palmer took the resulting free kick from 20 yards which was deflected straight to Logan. After 52 minutes, a Crawley throw-in sent Ferguson away down the left. He shot from the tightest of angles and it was blocked by Sweeney. The only goal of the game came after 53 minutes and was a fluke as Bez Lubala’s shot from outside the area took an outrageous deflection off first Matt Preston and then Krystian Pearce to loop over and wide of the stranded Conrad Logan and into the net. It was tough luck on Logan who deserved to keep a clean sheet Kellan Gordon should have equalised after 55 minutes when MacDonald did superbly to get to the byline on the left and pull back into the middle creating a great chance for Gordon who fired just over the bar from 14 yards when he should have scored. Two minutes later, MacDonald crossed to Rose who knocked down to himself and fired in a shot which was blocked. After 59 minutes, Hamilton was fouled just outside the area on the left. MacDonald took the resulting free kick but sent it over the bar. Then brilliant play from MacDonald to win the ball inside his own half and slide a great ball forward into the path of Rose, who ran into the area and tried to fire into the bottom corner with a toe-poked shot but the keeper saved. A minute later, a double chance for Conor Shaughnessy as he turned a Mellis corner goalwards only for it to be cleared off the line by a defender, Mellis then crossed in again and Shaughnessy headed wide. Benning replaced Sweeney after 63 minutes. Sweeney had been booked earlier. After 64 minutes, MacDonald crossed from the right and Maynard got up well to head down but Morris saved low to his right. After 67 minutes, good play by Hamilton to win a corner. Mellis took the corner to beyond the far post where Maynard headed tamely into the side netting. Afolayan replaced MacDonald after 70 minutes for his Stags debut. MacDonald had had a good second half after a quiet first half. Sterling-James replaced the injured Maynard after 73 minutes. Sendles-White was booked after 75 minutes for fouling Sterling-James. Mellis’ resulting free kick into the area was met by a little glance from Rose but the keeper saved easily. Three minutes later, Benning crossed from the left and Rose glanced on to Afolayan who blasted over the bar but the offside flag was up against Afolayan anyway. After 81 minutes, Allarakhia cut back to Camara whose shot was deflected for a corner. From that corner, Camara sent a terrible effort well wide. Logan made a another fine save after 84 minutes, as he tipped yet another Lubala shot around the post. Sterling-James won a free kick with quick feet after 87 minutes. He took the free kick himself, from 23 yards, into the wall. It came out to Mal Benning whose piledriver volley produced a great save from Morris. After 90+2 minutes, Afolayan did well to win a corner but Preston and Rose got in each others’ way from that corner. Great disappointment. Nowhere near as bad a performance as the last away game at Exeter, but still more improvement needed. Man of the match: Conrad Logan |
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Report by: Martin Shaw at Broadfield Stadium
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Line Up:
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(3-2-3-2)
Logan 9 Deserved a clean sheet with a string of super saves, including the excellent penalty save. Beaten by an outrageous deflection. Preston 7 One brilliant block. Part of a decent defensive display. Pearce 6.5 Unlucky to concede the harshly awarded penalty. Sweeney 6.5 One good block. Shaughnessy 6 Had a double chance to score as he turned a corner goalwards only for it to be cleared off the line, then moments later headed wide. Mellis 7 Two great balls forward in the first half to set up chances for Maynard and Rose, and two good deliveries in the second half to set up chances for Shaughnessy. The pick of the midfield. Gordon 6 Should have equalised with a great chance. MacDonald 6.5 Did nothing in the first half, but a few decent pieces of play before he was subbed in the second half. Hamilton 5.5 Sold Logan short with a poor backpass. One good effort at goal in the first half. Maynard 5.5 Great ball to set up a chance for Rose. Fired wide in the first half. Went off injured in the second half. Rose 5.5 Distraught with himself for missing an absolutely golden chance. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Benning (for Sweeney, 63 mins) -
Afolayan (for MacDonald, 70 mins) - On for his Stags debut. Sterling-James (for Maynard, 73 mins) -. Subs not used: Stone, Smith, Bishop, Khan. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(4-2-3-1): Morris; Sesay (Young 69), Sendles-White, Tunnicliffe, Doherty; Camara, Bulman; Grego-Cox, Ferguson (Bloomfield 62), Lubala; Palmer (Allarakhia 80). Subs not used: Luyambula, Francomb, Nathaniel-George, Galach.
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Referee:
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Scott Oldham 5 Poor decision to award Crawley the penalty.
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