Season 20/21 Stagsnet Match Report
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Scunthorpe United
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Mansfield Town
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Rawson OG 38, McAtee 70.
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Lapslie 16, Onariase OG 29, Bowery 60
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Attendance: behind closed doors
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Date: 26 December 2020
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STAGS PICK UP IMPORTANT WIN AT SCUNTHORPE
Martin Shaw at the Sands Venue Stadium, Glanford Park Mansfield Town picked up an important Boxing Day victory this afternoon with a 3-2 success at Scunthorpe United. The Stags started the day three points behind the home side and the win took the Stags above Scunthorpe in the table. It was just the third win in the league this season, all away from home, and was a very welcome Christmas present for Stags fans. The Stags could have taken the lead after just 4 minutes as captain Ollie Clarke did very well to pull back a cross from the byline on the left to Jamie Reid who swept a shot over the bar from 8 yards. But Mansfield were in front after 16 minutes as Kellan Gordon curled in a wonderful cross, left footed, from level with the edge of the area on the right, and George Lapslie glanced a header past the keeper from close range. Lapslie in the right place at the right time for his fifth goal since joining on loan. Poor defending from Scunthorpe. Two minutes later at the other end, Marek Stech made a good save at full stretch tipping away a header from Manny Onariase that was heading for the left corner of the net. The Stags doubled their lead after 29 minutes. George Maris found Mal Benning with a square ball half way inside the Scunthorpe half. Benning pushed forward to the edge of the area on the left and curled a good cross in which Onariase tried to clear but in stretching for it he turned it into his own net. Goalkeeper Mark Howard desperately tried to keep it out but could only claw it back from just over the line. Scunthorpe tried to pull a goal back after 37 minutes when Alex Gilliead sent in a powerful shot which Stech parried away. But a minute later, Gilliead tried another shot, from about 25 yards, miscued it so that it was going well wide of the left post. Aaron Jarvis might have got on the end of it at the far post so Farrend Rawson had to try to clear it at full stretch but only succeeded in diverting it into his own net. Two similar own goals at either end in the space of 9 minutes. Rawson’s second own goal of the season. The Stags might have re-established the two goal cushion after 53 minutes when Harry Charsley’s shot from close range was blocked by the keeper. But the Stags did make it 3-1 after 60 minutes. Mal Benning curled a fine free kick into the area from 40 yards out on the left, Rawson sent a great header towards the bottom left corner of the net. Keeper Howard did well to keep it out but could only parry it towards Jordon Bowery who knocked the rebound into the net with his stomach. Jacob Bedeau tried to clear it off the line but it was already just across the line. It was Bowery’s second goal in a week, and his third of the season. But as in the first half, the Stags couldn’t keep hold of the two-goal cushion for more than 10 minutes, and on 70 minutes, Scunthorpe made it 2-3. Ollie Clarke lost the ball in his own half, Scunthorpe substitute Ryan Loft got to the byline on the right and chipped the ball to John McAtee on the edge of the six-yard box on the left and he half-volleyed into the net via a deflection off Gordon which took it past Stech and Sweeney on the line. Stech saved from Loft who shot from a tight angle after 74 minutes, and at the other end, Stags substitute Andy Cook should have done better with a shot from the edge of the box which he put well wide. The Stags hung on for an important victory with very few late scares. The Stags have tossed away too many points this season conceding late goals and it was vital not to do so today. Some scrappy goals, at both ends, but they all count, and the Stags were certainly good value for the win. Mansfield’s Christmas programme continues on Tuesday night with the visit of Salford City to the One Call Stadium (7pm kick-off). With the last game of 2020, it would be great if the Stags could get the first home league win of the season. DETAILED REPORT Mansfield were unchanged for the fifth match in a row despite some hints from Nigel Clough in his most recent press conference that there might be some changes. Slightly surprising that Andy Cook didn’t get a start after he came on at half time against Southend and helped improve the performance markedly. Jamie Reid hadn’t played well against Southend, Carlisle and Grimsby in my opinion, but kept his place. James Perch, who had been playing well in defence before he got injured, was on the bench, as he was against Southend. No Nicky Maynard in the squad again and Nigel Clough said afterwards that his hamstring injury will probably keep him out for a couple more weeks. It was a 4-5-1 formation with Charsley on the right of midfield, and Bowery on the left, though at one point they changed over. It was Mansfield’s second visit of the season to Glanford Park. The Stags won 2-1 there in the EFL Trophy in November and that inflicted an 8th straight defeat on Scunthorpe in all competitions. But since that game, Scunthorpe had won 5 games out of 10 in the league, compared to Mansfield who had won 2 out of 8 (plus 4 draws), and that had taken Scunthorpe above the Stags in the table. It was a cold but pleasant day with little wind. The pitch was in good condition. The Stags could have taken the lead after just 4 minutes as Ollie Clarke did very well to pull back a cross from the byline on the left to Reid who swept a shot over the bar from 8 yards. Stech came very close to taking the ball outside his area on the right after 7 minutes but the referee adjudged that he was ok. Mansfield were in front after 16 minutes as Gordon curled in a wonderful cross, left footed, from level with the edge of the area on the right, and Lapslie glanced a header past the keeper from close range. Lapslie in the right place at the right time. Poor defending from Scunthorpe. Two minutes later at the other end, Stech made a good save at full stretch tipping away a header from Onariase that was heading for the left corner of the net following a Scunthorpe free kick from Mason O’Malley. Seven minutes later, a good block by Rawson from an Abo Eisa cross from the left. The Stags doubled their lead after 29 minutes. Maris found Benning with a square ball half way inside the Scunthorpe half. Benning pushed forward to the edge of the area on the left and curled a good cross in which Onariase tried to clear but in stretching for it he turned it into his own net. Goalkeeper Howard desperately tried to keep it out but could only claw it back from just over the line. Scunthorpe tried to pull a goal back after 37 minutes when Alex Gilliead sent in a powerful shot which Stech parried away and grabbed at the second attempt. Stech probably should have taken the ball more cleanly, but the most important thing was to keep the shot out and he got lucky that no-one was following in. But a minute later, Gilliead tried another shot, from about 25 yards, miscued it so that it was going well wide of the left post. Aaron Jarvis might have got on the end of it at the far post so Rawson had to try to clear it at full stretch but only succeeded in diverting it into his own net. Two similar own goals at either end in the space of 9 minutes. Ollie Clarke fired a powerful shot well over the bar from 18 yards after 39 minutes. Four minutes later, a terrible cross from Maris was over everyone and out for a goal-kick. A strange first half with own goals at either end, and the Stags 2-1 ahead. Half time 1-2 Abo Eisa fired well over the bar from the edge of the area after 50 minutes, after he couldn’t find enough space to get in a clear shot at goal. The Stags might have scored after 53 minutes when Charsley’s shot from close range was blocked by the keeper. But the Stags did make it 3-1 after 60 minutes. Benning curled a fine free kick into the area from 40 yards out on the left, Rawson sent a great header towards the bottom left corner of the net. Keeper Howard did well to keep it out but could only parry it towards Bowery who knocked the rebound into the net with his stomach. Jacob Bedeau tried to clear it off the line but it was already just across the line. Ollie Clarke made a brilliant tackle just outside his own area after 63 minutes. But as in the first half, the Stags couldn’t keep hold of the two-goal cushion for more than 10 minutes, and on 70 minutes, Scunthorpe made it 2-3. Ollie Clarke lost the ball in his own half, Scunthorpe substitute Ryan Loft got to the byline on the right and chipped the ball to John McAtee on the edge of the six-yard box on the left and he half-volleyed into the net via a deflection off Gordon which took it past Stech and Sweeney on the line. Bowery shot straight at the keeper after 71 minutes after Reid had back heeled it to him. Two minutes later, the Stags won a free kick on the byline on the left just outside the area. Benning took it and Rawson met it with a header well over the bar. Stech saved from Loft who shot from a tight angle after 74 minutes, after Reid lost the ball and Loft surged down the left. From the resulting corner, Eisa shot well wide. Andy Cook replaced Reid after 80 minutes. Reid had not had a good game. Cook should have done better with a first-time shot from the edge of the box which he put well wide after 82 minutes. Gordon was booked for an attempted tackle from behind after 88 minutes. Stech got a good punch away from a corner after 90 minutes. Four minutes were added on. After two of those, a gift for the Stags as Eisa put a corner straight out of play into the side-netting. Then in the final minute, Scunthorpe sub Jake Taylor, on loan from Nottingham Forest, sent a shot against the roof of the stand. An important victory and a deserved victory. Some good performances. Jordan Bowery deserved his second goal in a week for another hard-working performance including some great defensive work. Both Kellan Gordon and Mal Benning did well going forward, each putting in a good cross that led to a goal, and Gordon did well to keep the dangerous Abo Eisa quiet. Ryan Sweeney was pretty solid in defence while Farrend Rawson mostly did ok, though did concede an own goal, while his fine header at the other end led to the third goal. In midfield, Ollie Clarke had a good game, though dropped a clanger losing the ball in his own half in the build-up to Scunthorpe’s second goal. It was great see George Lapslie on the scoresheet again, getting in where it mattered in the six yard box. Man of the match: Kellan Gordon |
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Report by: Martin Shaw at the Sands Venue Stadium, Glanford Park
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Line Up:
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(4-5-1)
Stech 7 No chance with the two goals. Good save at full stretch from Onariase header. Parried away powerful shot from Gilliead and grabbed at the second attempt when he probably should have taken more cleanly, but the most important thing was to keep the shot out and he got lucky that no-one was following in. Good punch away from a corner late on. Gordon 8.5 Curled in a wonderful cross for Lapslie’s goal. Did well going forward, and did well to keep the dangerous Abo Eisa quiet. Rawson 7 Mostly did ok, though did concede an own goal, while his fine header at the other end led to the third goal. Sweeney 7.5 Pretty solid in defence. Benning 8 Did well going forward, putting in a good cross that led to the own goal. Good free kick that led to the 3rd goal too. Charsley 6 Did ok. O.Clarke 7.5 Had a good game, though dropped a clanger losing the ball in his own half in the build-up to Scunthorpe’s second goal. Great early play to set up a chance for Reid. Lapslie 7 Great see him on the scoresheet again, getting in where it mattered in the six yard box. Maris 7 Involved in the build up to the first two goals and played the ball forward to Reid that won the free kick for the 3rd goal. Bowery 8.5 Deserved his second goal in a week for another hard-working performance including some great defensive work. Reid 5.5 Won the free kick that led to the 3rd goal. Lost the ball on occasion, and gave the ball away as Loft’s shot was saved by Stech, and he was subbed shortly afterwards. Did not have a good game. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Cook (for Reid, 80 mins) -
Subs not used: Stone, O’Keeffe, Perch, Menayese, McLaughlin, Sinclair. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(4-4-1-1): Howard; Jordan Clarke, Onariase (Cordner 56), Bedeau, O'Malley; Gilliead, Spence (Taylor 66), Beestin (Green 82), Eisa; McAtee; Jarvis (Loft 66). Subs not used: Watson, Hippolyte, Rowe.
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Referee:
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Graham Salisbury 7 Handled the game well. His assistants did well in calling two of the Stags goals as just over the line.
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