Season 20/21 Stagsnet Match Report
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Newport County
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Mansfield Town
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Twine 78, Amond pen 88.
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McLaughlin 69
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Attendance: behind closed doors
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Date: 3 October 2020
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STAGS LOSE AT NEWPORT AFTER LEADING AGAIN
Martin Shaw at Rodney Parade Mansfield Town were beaten 2-1 at Newport County yesterday afternoon after taking the lead on 69 minutes through a wonderful 20 yard rocket-shot from Stephen McLaughlin, who was starting his first game for the club. But for the third game running after taking the lead, the Stags were unable to complete their first victory of the season. The Stags were made to pay for sloppy defending 9 minutes later as Jordan Bowery miscued a clearance from a cross, straight to Scott Twine who side-footed into the corner of the net from 13 yards. It was poor play from Bowery, who was only just on as a substitute and perhaps caught cold. Worse was to follow as Newport scored a winner on 88 minutes from the penalty spot. This time the Stags were unlucky to be on the wrong end of a poor refereeing decision. Outside the left side of the penalty area, Padraig Amond lifted the ball and it struck Rollin Menayese’s left arm from less than a yard away. Menayese’s arm was in a natural position by his side, and also because the ball was struck from less than a yard away, it clearly should not have been given as a penalty or a free kick in my opinion. Whether it was inside or outside the box is difficult to tell from the TV angles we have (I've checked our pitchside footage which doesn't help). From my position in the ground, I thought it was outside, but we haven't got the right angle to say definitively. Matt Dolan, who scored the winning penalty in the penalty shoot-out in the play-off semi-final between the two sides the season before last, stepped up and sent keeper Aidan Stone the wrong way to complete the victory. It was a bitter pill to swallow and tough luck on Mansfield, who certainly deserved a point in my opinion. The first half had seen the best chance fall to the Stags as a great break from Nicky Maynard sent George Maris away and his shot was saved at full stretch by the keeper. At the other end, Aidan Stone made a good save from a deflected Mickey Demetriou shot. Newport had plenty of possession in the first half, knocking the ball around confidently, but rarely troubled the Stags who looked solid. The second half saw the Stags play some good football and create some good chances. Jamie Reid nicked the ball off Josh Sheehan just outside the area and fired in a good shot which was palmed away by the keeper. Then Reid put in a great cross from the right which Maynard turned goalwards and was saved by the keeper with his legs, though Maynard should have buried it. Newport created little apart from a shot from Brandon Cooper into the ground which was deflected up and over the bar by Menayese. But in the end, Newport were able to come from behind to claim the points. Newport go top of the league, which coupled with their excellent Carabao Cup run, constitutes a tremendous start to the season. The Stags on the other hand, are languishing without a win in any competition. The Stags have a game in the EFL Trophy against Lincoln City on Tuesday (note kick off is 7pm). A win, in any competition, might do the Stags a power of good. Mansfield made five changes to the side that lost to Exeter. Only one was enforced, with keeper Marek Stech out through illness. As a result of Stech’s illness, the whole squad had been tested for Covid-19 on Thursday, and all came back negative including Stech. In game Aidan Stone for his first game of the season. The other changes saw McLaughlin come in for Benning at left wing-back, James Perch replaced Harry Charsley in midfield, and up front Reid and Maynard came in for Bowery and Cook. Perch played in front of the back three in a defensive midfield role. Coughlan explained he had brought him in for his experience and he is a fighter and a battler. Coughlan explained that he had brought in Reid and Maynard to provide freshness and legs up front. Benning, Charsley, Bowery and Cook dropped to the bench. Young keeper Maison Campbell was also on the bench. The players who travelled with the squad but were not in the 18 were James Clarke, Gordon and Sinclair who all watched the game from in front of the commentary position. There had been plenty of rain in South Wales on Friday and Saturday morning but the pitch was in surprisingly good condition, unlike many occasions when we have played there before. It was certainly benefitting from no rugby being played on it so far this season. Newport made a bright start in the opening minutes. They won a free kick after 7 minutes, and Twine’s effort was deflected up and away off the wall. At the other end a minute later, McLaughlin ballooned a shot over the bar after a square ball from Reid. On 9 minutes, Maynard collected a throw-in, the ball sat up for him and he tried a dipping shot but it was well over the bar. Good defending by Sweeney after 10 minutes as he closed down a Demetriou shot. After 12 minutes, Clarke pushed forward and tried a shot which was deflected twice and dribbled through to the keeper. The best chance of the first half came on 17 minutes as a great break from Maynard sent Maris away and his shot was saved at full stretch by the keeper. This stemmed from a Newport corner where they tried to tee up a shot on the edge of the area, similar to a goal Newport scored against us through Willmott in February 2019. At the other end after 22 minutes, Aidan Stone made a good save from a deflected Mickey Demetriou shot. After 33 minutes, Stone parried away a long range shot from Twine. Then on 38 minutes, Stone did well to catch a cross from the left from the dangerous Haynes after he got past O’Keeffe. After 40 minutes, Labadie screwed a shot well wide after clever set up play by Newport. Maynard had the final chance of the half on 45 minutes as he cut inside from the left and shot over the bar, A fair scoreline at the break. Newport had made a bright start, the Stags then had several long range shots, and Maris had the best chance of the half on the break, testing the keeper. Newport had plenty of possession and looked impressive, knocking the ball around confidently with patient build-up play, but rarely troubled the Stags who looked solid, apart from down the Newport left where Haynes was allowed to get in too many crosses. Half time 0-0 A chance for the Stags after 48 minutes as McLaughlin pulled a cross back to Maynard who missed his kick. It was a decent chance. Great play from McLaughlin after 50 minutes with a surging run, he found Reid who got into the area but the ball was cleared. Four minutes later, a good low cross from McLaughlin which was cleared. After 55 minutes, Cooper sent in a left-footed shot which was going just over the bar, but Stone couldn’t take any chances and tipped it further over. A mistake by McLaughlin after 57 minutes as he tried to shepherd the ball out, but was caught out by Liam Shephard who nipped in along the byline, but his cross was cleared. On 60 minutes, good play from Clarke, who played forward for Reid, Reid turned well on the edge of the box but his shot was always rising over the bar. After 61 minutes, a shot from Brandon Cooper into the ground was deflected up and over the bar by Menayese after Shephard got to the byline and crossed. The Stags were playing some good football. After 63 minutes, Jamie Reid nicked the ball off Josh Sheehan just outside the area and fired in a good right-footed shot which was palmed away by the keeper. A minute later, Reid put in a great cross from the right which Maynard turned goalwards and was saved by the keeper with his legs, though Maynard should have buried it. Perch was booked for a clumsy challenge and perhaps an accumulation of fouls, on 65 minutes. Twine shot from 20 yards straight into Stone’s midriff after 67 minutes. The Stags took the lead on 69 minutes through a wonderful 20 yard rocket-shot from McLaughlin. Perch played the ball out to McLaughlin on the left touchline, halfway inside the Newport half. McLaughlin cut inside, as Perch made a run to his left keeping a Newport player (Twine) occupied, which gave McLaughlin more space to push inside and forward and unleash his right footed shot. What a goal. Maris volleyed well wide from 20 yards after 71 minutes. Newport were awarded a soft free kick 26 yards out after 74 minutes. Twine took the free kick which was deflected for a corner. The Stags made a change after 75 minutes. Bowery came on for Maynard. This was probably pre-planned with Maynard not having completed a full 90 minutes yet after not having a proper pre-season. The Stags were made to pay for sloppy defending after 78 minutes, as Bowery miscued a clearance from a cross, straight to Scott Twine who side-footed into the corner of the net from 13 yards. It was poor play from Bowery, who was only just on as a substitute and perhaps caught cold. Great play from Reid after 82 minutes as he turned away from his man Demetriou and got in a shot from 20 yards which was blocked by Haynes. Ollie Clarke limped off with cramp after 84 minutes. He was replaced by Alistair Smith. Worse was to follow for Mansfield as Newport scored a winner on 88 minutes from the penalty spot. This time the Stags were unlucky to be on the wrong end of a poor refereeing decision. Outside the left side of the penalty area, sub Padraig Amond lifted the ball and it struck Menayese’s left arm from less than a yard away. Menayese’s arm was in a natural position by his side, and also because the ball was struck from less than a yard away, it clearly should not have been given as a penalty or a free kick in my opinion. Whether it was inside or outside the box is difficult to tell from the TV angles we have (I've checked our pitchside footage which doesn't help). From my position in the ground, I thought it was outside, but we haven't got the right angle to say definitively. Matt Dolan, who scored the winning penalty in the penalty shoot-out in the play-off semi-final between the two sides the season before last, stepped up and sent keeper Aidan Stone the wrong way to complete the victory. The incident came after a poor header from Rawson, who rather than head the ball away, headed it backwards, for Amond to latch on to. O’Keeffe and Smith were booked in the aftermath, for protesting. On 90 minutes, Labadie fired well over the bar. Cook replaced O’Keeffe on 90+2 minutes. So defeat for the Stags, and the game turned on that poor clearance for the Newport opening goal. And then of course there was that penalty. Gutting for the Stags who deserved a point. Man of the match: Stephen McLaughlin |
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Report by: Martin Shaw at Rodney Parade
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Line Up:
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(3-5-2)
Stone 7 Good save from deflected Demetriou shot, and one very good catch from a cross. Menayese 7 Very unlucky to concede the penalty. Plenty of tackles and headers. Rawson 6 Poor header in the build-up to the penalty. Sweeney 7 Some good defending, solid. O'Keeffe 6 Allowed Haynes to get in too many crosses from the left in the first half. Perch 7.5 Good game in a defensive midfield role. Rarely wasted the ball. Played a part in McLaughlin’s goal. O.Clarke 6.5 Good play to set up Reid for a chance. Maris 7 Good break and his shot was saved at full stretch by the keeper. McLaughlin 8 Great second half with several dangerous runs, culminating in his wonderful goal. Reid 7 Impressive second half including a good shot well-saved and a great cross for Maynard’s chance. Maynard 6.5 Great break to set Maris away in the first half. Should have scored from Reid’s cross in the second half. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Bowery (for Maynard, 75 mins) - Crucial error with a terrible clearance to set up Newport’s equaliser, just three minutes after he came on.
Smith (for O.Clarke, 84 mins) - Cook (for O'Keeffe, 90+2 mins) - Subs not used: Campbell, O'Driscoll, Benning, Charsley. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(3-5-2): Townsend; Cooper, Dolan, Demetriou; Shephard, Labadie, Sheehan, Twine (Bennett 90), Haynes; Taylor (Janneh 65), Abrahams (Amond 83). Substitutes not used: King, Baker, Willmott, Ellison.
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Referee:
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Samuel Allison 5 Bad error to award Newport the penalty.
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