Season 19/20 Stagsnet Match Report
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Port Vale
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Mansfield Town
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Port Vale win 4-2 on penalties. Brown 64, Taylor 82.
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Hamilton 50, Sterling-James 90+2
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Attendance: 1164 (104 from Mansfield)
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Date: 3 December 2019
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STAGS OUT OF EFL TROPHY ON PENALTIES
Martin Shaw at Vale Park Mansfield Town exited from the EFL Trophy (now named Leasing.com Trophy) on penalties last night at Vale Park after a 2-2 draw with Port Vale. Omari Sterling-James had drawn the Stags level at 2-2 with a terrific goal in stoppage time, but for the fourth time out of four this season, Mansfield lost a penalty shoot-out, as CJ Hamilton’s powerful penalty was brilliantly tipped onto the post by Vale keeper Scott Brown and then Mal Benning’s dreadfully weak spot kick was easily saved by the keeper, while Bobby Olejnik dived the wrong way each time as Vale converted all four of their spot kicks. The Stags have therefore been knocked out of the FA Cup and EFL Trophy in the space of 3 days on top of the disappointing league form which has the Stags just two points above third bottom place approaching the halfway point in the season. The first half of the game was dismal. Mansfield repeatedly gave the ball away cheaply and created just one chance as CJ Hamilton, Mansfield’s best player on the night, crossed for Andy Cook who headed down but straight to the keeper. Port Vale weren’t much better in the first half but did create a few chances, though their finishing was mostly very poor while Olejnik made a couple of decent saves, from Scott Burgess and Mark Cullen. The midfield of MacDonald, Bishop and Smith did little, while Cook was mostly left isolated up front. Into the second half and the Stags started it well. In the opening minute, Hamilton nicked the ball off a Vale player and set Cook away to the edge of the area where he shot straight at the keeper. Then Otis Khan shot wide. And Mansfield were in front after 50 minutes. Cook intercepted a poor backpass from former Stag Will Atkinson and laid the ball square to Hamilton who fired into the net right footed from 12 yards. It was Hamilton’s first goal of the season, in stark contrast to the 14 goals he netted last season. Rhys Browne made a great run and forced Olejnik into a great save after 56 minutes, but Vale were level after 64 minutes thanks to some horrific defending. David Worrall crossed low from the byline on the right, it came straight to Alistair Smith who had plenty of time to clear, but tried to control it and Browne nicked it off him before firing past Olejnik from 12 yards. It was a schoolboy error from the youngster who has promised so much when he has played this season but has to learn quickly to play in the right areas and clear your lines when you need to. Vale took the lead after 82 minutes, as Worrall crossed from the right again, to Jake Taylor who, despite the attentions of Smith again, was allowed to fire into the corner of the net from 14 yards. Smith could have done better, as could James Clarke who failed to block the shot, and Mal Benning who could have stopped the cross come in. Conor Shaughnessy headed wide from a Mal Benning corner after 85 minutes, while at the other end after 89 minutes Jake Taylor should have sealed the game when Jacob Mellis and the out-of-sorts Neal Bishop conspired between them to give the ball away and Taylor fired wide from a great position. I had said during commentary around half time that the Stags performance had cried out for more oomph from the likes of Omari Sterling-James who was on the substitute’s bench, but his introduction was delayed far too long until 86 minutes. And within 6 minutes, on 90+2 minutes, a moment of brilliance from Sterling-James had drawn the Stags level. Mellis played a wonderful ball out to the right wing where Sterling-James teased his way into the area and fired a fabulous shot across the keeper and into the net. It was the 4th goal for Sterling-James in a season when he has had very few minutes on the pitch. And so to the penalty shoot-out which Mansfield lost 4-2. In the four penalty shoot-outs this season, involving three different Stags keepers, the Stags have only saved one penalty. Indeed the Stags have not actually won a penalty shoot-out since knocking out Slough Town in the FA Cup in 2012, a game in which current manager John Dempster was sent off, on the way to facing Liverpool. Overall this was a poor performance from Mansfield, something which is becoming increasingly common. In my opinion, the performances are generally getting worse rather than better. The second half of this game was certainly better than the first from Mansfield, but Port Vale did deserve to go through. I would excuse the poor performances from youngsters such as Smith and Clarke, but some of the more experienced players were very poor and are not doing enough to dig their under-pressure manager John Dempster out of a hole. After 5 consecutive away games, 3 cup games and 2 league games, the Stags are back at home on Saturday, as Cheltenham visit the One Call stadium. (amendment: I said earlier that 5 consecutive away games is the longest run of competitive away fixtures in the club’s history, that was not correct. Thanks to Paul Taylor for correcting me, the club played 6 consecutive away games between November to December 1947). Mansfield made six changes from the FA Cup defeat at Shrewsbury. Kellan Gordon is having a scan on his back. Krystian Pearce was ill with a bug but should be available for Saturday. Matt Preston was suspended in this competition. The players staying the team from Saturday were Shaughnessy, Sweeney, Smith, Hamilton and Cook. The players coming in were Olejnik, Clarke, Benning, Bishop, MacDonald and Khan. I had expected Sterling-James and Afolayan to get a start, but they didn’t. It started off as a 4-4-2 formation with Khan up alongside Cook. Then Hamilton up alongside Cook. But very quickly it became Cook on his own up front and isolated. Port Vale made seven changes from their FA Cup win at Cheltenham which set up a plum tie at Manchester City. They included former Stag Will Atkinson in their side. Robbie Williams was at the game, the first game he has attended at Vale Park for several years apparently. Earlier in the day he had held a press conference at the ground to publicise his concert at Vale Park next summer. I literally got to eat the crumbs from his table as I was offered some spring rolls and samosas left over from the press conference! After 3 minutes, Olejnik spilled a cross from Worrall but got away with it. Two minutes later, a cross from Worrall from the right, and Cullen knocked it over the bar as Smith didn’t get close enough to him. Olejnik put Benning in trouble after 7 minutes with a ball to him, Benning lost it, and Olejnik made amends by saving from Worrall low down. The first semblance of an attack from Mansfield came after 17 minutes. Hamilton and Khan broke 2-on-1 but Khan got the ball stuck under his foot and stumbled. After 18 minutes, Browne got to the byline on the left and pulled back to Cullen who sliced his shot well wide. The Stags were being wasteful with the ball. Clarke gave it away twice. After 24 minutes, Worrall put in a high cross, and Cullen headed wide with Clarke giving him too much space for the header. Two minutes later, Clarke did well to stop Browne getting a cross in. After 27 minutes, a low shot from Browne was easily saved by Olejnik. Olejnik’s kicking was poor though as several times he sent kicks well over Cook’s head. A better move from the Stags after 30 minutes, but it was wasted as Bishop put his pass out for a goal kick. A Vale player, Brisley, went down with a hamstring injury after 32 minutes. With the Stags now in possession the referee stopped play, even though it was not a head injury. And to compound matters the referee then restarted play with a drop ball for Vale. A good move from the Stags after 33 minutes but Clarke gave the ball away and Vale broke quickly. Bishop and Cook conspired to give the ball away again after 35 minutes. The Stags had created literally nothing in 35 minutes. After 36 minutes there was a chance to put a free kick into the box. Instead the Stags played it sideways and backwards and lost the ball. Another chance for Vale after 38 minutes as a low ball was played in and Lloyd swept a shot over the bar from 17 yards. Finally something more positive from Mansfield after 38 minutes as Hamilton got away down the right and put a decent ball across the six yard box but it was just in front of MacDonald. Then after 39 minutes, Hamilton crossed for Cook who headed down but straight to the keeper. Mansfield’s first effort on goal. MacDonald shanked a cross over the bar after 41 minutes. Olejnik made a good save from a powerful strike from Cullen after 43 minutes. Cullen was left unmarked. From the resulting corner, Cullen headed on and Nathan Smith headed wide. After 45 minutes, MacDonald did well to block a shot from Lloyd over the bar. Then on 45+1 minutes, another save from Olejnik as Burgess fired in and Olejnik just about pushed it away. A dismal first half. Mansfield repeatedly gave the ball away cheaply and created just one chance. Port Vale weren’t much better but did create a few chances, with Olejnik making a couple of decent saves. Half time 0-0 Into the second half and the Stags started it well. In the opening minute, Hamilton nicked the ball off a Vale player and set Cook away to the edge of the area where he shot straight at the keeper. Then on 49 minutes Otis Khan shot wide from 25 yards. And Mansfield were in front after 50 minutes. Cook intercepted a poor backpass from Will Atkinson and laid the ball square to Hamilton who fired into the net right footed from 12 yards. It was Hamilton’s first goal of the season, in stark contrast to the 14 goals he netted last season. MacDonald gave away a free kick just outside his own D after 52 minutes. Worrall curled the free kick over the bar. Benning was booked after 55 minutes as Sweeney played a terrible ball to him and Benning was late trying to win the ball. Rhys Browne made a great run and forced Olejnik into a great save after 56 minutes, pushing his shot wide. Vale were level after 64 minutes thanks to some horrific defending. Worrall crossed low from the byline on the right, it came straight to Alistair Smith who had plenty of time to clear, but tried to control it and Browne nicked it off him before firing past Olejnik from 12 yards. It was a schoolboy error from the youngster who has promised so much when he has played this season but has to learn quickly to play in the right areas and clear your lines when you need to. After 68 minutes a free kick for the Stags from 28 yards. Benning took it and was just over the bar. Given the Stags’ appalling record from free kicks this season, this was one of the better efforts. Five minutes later, Khan’s corner was cleared to Benning who shinned a shot well wide. Mellis replaced Khan after 74 minutes. Khan had contributed very little. A good move from the Stags after 78 minutes as Hamilton played across to MacDonald who fired over the bar. Shortly afterwards at the other end, a backpass from Bishop put Olejnik under pressure. Vale took the lead after 82 minutes, as Worrall crossed from the right again, to Jake Taylor who, despite the attentions of Smith again, was allowed to fire into the corner of the net from 14 yards. Smith could have done better, as could James Clarke who failed to block the shot, and Benning who could have stopped the cross come in. After 85 minutes, Hamilton played forward to Smith whose shot was deflected for a corner. Shaughnessy headed wide from the resulting corner taken by Benning. After 86 minutes, Knowles replaced MacDonald and Sterling-James replaced Alistair Smith. I had said during commentary around half time that the Stags performance had cried out for more oomph from the likes of Sterling-James, and his introduction was delayed far too long in my opinion. After 89 minutes Jake Taylor should have sealed the game for Vale when Mellis and the out-of-sorts Bishop conspired between them to give the ball away and Taylor fired wide from a great position. So many basic errors from the Stags. On 90+2 minutes, a moment of brilliance from Sterling-James drew the Stags level. Mellis played a wonderful ball out to the right wing where Sterling-James teased his way into the area and fired a fabulous shot across the keeper and into the net. It was the 4th goal for Sterling-James in a season when he has had very few minutes on the pitch. And so to the penalty shoot-out. Hamilton steps up first and his powerful penalty is brilliantly tipped onto the post by Vale keeper Scott Brown. 0-0 Joyce sends Olejnik the wrong way as Olejnik dives to his right. 0-1 Mellis fires in off the underside of the bar. 1-1 Evans sends Olejnik the wrong way as Olejnik dives to his right. 1-2 Benning’s dreadfully weak spot kick is easily saved by the keeper. Terrible penalty. 1-2. Burgess sends Olejnik the wrong way as Olejnik dives to his right. 1-3 Knowles squeezes his penalty under the keeper. 2-3 Former Stag Will Atkinson sends Olejnik the wrong way as Olejnik dives to his right again, and it’s all over. 2-4 Port Vale pick up the £20,000 prize money and progress to round three. Man of the match: CJ Hamilton |
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Report by: Martin Shaw at Vale Park
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Line Up:
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Olejnik 6 Made a couple of good saves. Could save any of the penalties, going the wrong way for all of them. Distribution was poor.
Clarke 5 Gave the ball away several times in the first half. Could have done better with the second goal when he failed to block the shot. Gave Cullen too much space for a first half header. Shaughnessy 6.5 Did ok at centre half. Headed wide from a good position. Sweeney 6 Cost Benning a booking with a poor ball. Otherwise did ok. Benning 5 Could have done better stopping the cross come in for the second goal. Dreadfully weak spot kick. MacDonald 5.5 Didn’t do enough. Smith 4.5 Schoolboy error for the first goal from the youngster who has promised so much when he has played this season but has to learn quickly to play in the right areas and clear your lines when you need to. Could have done better for the second goal too. Bishop 5 Out-of-sorts. The Stags need him to regain form quickly. Hamilton 8 Good cross for Cook’s header in the first half. Set Cook away in the second half. Finally scored his first goal of the season and deserved it on the night. Although he missed in the shoot-out, his penalty wasn’t bad and was a fantastic save. Khan 5 Contributed very little. Cook 6 Mostly left isolated up front. Got an assist for Hamilton’s goal. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Mellis (for Khan, 74 mins) -
Knowles (for MacDonald, 86 mins) - Sterling-James (for Smith, 86 mins) - On far too late, and made an immediate impact with a great goal. Subs not used: Logan, Tomlinson, Afolayan, Maynard. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(4-3-3): Brown; Atkinson, Brisley (Legge, 35), Smith, Evans; Joyce, Burgess, Lloyd (Taylor, 74); Worrall, Cullen, Browne. Subs not used: Campbell-Gordon, Amoo, Taylor, Bennett, Archer, Morrison.
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Referee:
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Marc Edwards 6 One or two odd decision but mostly ok.
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