Season 20/21 Stagsnet Match Report
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Mansfield Town
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Morecambe
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Bowery 41
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Attendance: behind closed doors
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Date: 27 February 2021
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STAGS BEAT MORECAMBE TO GET BACK ON WINNING TRAIL
Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town beat Morecambe 1-0 this afternoon to get back on the winning trail after 5 games without a win. It was much-needed. Morecambe arrived in 4th place and just 3 points off top spot but the Stags were much the better side today and deserved the win. Mansfield were very tight defensively allowing the visitors hardly any chances at all in the 90 minutes, and the clean sheet was vital having conceded three in each of the last two home games. The only goal of the game came after 41 minutes. Stephen Quinn rose above John O’Sullivan on the edge of the area to head the ball down to Jamie Reid. Reid laid the ball off to Quinn. And Quinn showed a lovely piece of skill on the left to get past O’Sullivan before crossing into the middle where Jordan Bowery got nearside of his marker Harry Davis to knock the ball first time past the keeper into the left corner of the net from 6 yards. It was high quality play from Quinn and a good finish from Bowery. The Stags had other good chances in the first half. They should have been in front after 3 minutes. Good play outside the area from Quinn, Reid and Jason Law set up a shot from Bowery from 20 yards which was struck well and parried by keeper Kyle Letheren straight to Reid 8 yards from goal with an open goal in front of him, but Reid headed over the bar. He should have scored though it came at him quickly. The returning Kellan Gordon, who had a good game, won a free kick 25 yards out after 11 minutes. Mal Benning, also back in the starting XI, took the free kick which deflected off the wall but keeper Letheren was able to save on his line. And then three minutes after the goal, Quinn fed the ball forward for Law to retrieve on the byline, Law pulled the ball back perfectly into the path of Quinn to shoot over the bar from the edge of the area. Morecambe had only one real chance in the first half as a long throw from Kelvin Mellor after 18 minutes was cleared to Toumani Diagouraga who volleyed over the bar via a deflection. The second half saw fewer chances for the Stags. A shot from George Maris after 55 minutes gave Letheren an easy save, Reid cut inside from the right and his shot was blocked after 83 minutes, and Bowery headed straight at the keeper from a Law corner after 88 minutes. Mansfield were very solid, but a minute into stoppage time Morecambe had their only chance of the second half. Carlos Mendes-Gomes lifted a superb ball over the Stags defence for Morecambe substitute AJ Leitch-Smith to run on to but from 9 yards out with the ball having come over his shoulder, he missed his kick and the chance was gone. It was a rare moment on the afternoon where Ryan Sweeney and Farrend Rawson were just caught on their heels for a split second as Leitch-Smith ran into space but they got away with it. Sweeney and Rawson both had fine games after being below par in the last couple of games. So a thoroughly deserved victory for Mansfield who were so tight and solid and there many good performances through the side. George Maris was outstanding in a defensive midfield role winning numerous tackles and headers. Stephen Quinn and Ollie Clarke also played well in midfield, with Quinn providing that all-important moment of quality for the goal. Jason Law had another good game, this time on the right, setting up shooting chances for Bowery and Quinn and taking some good corners, as did Maris. Bowery took his goal well, his 8th of the season, he also had a good shot that the keeper could only parry out to Reid, and one great run down the left. Sweeney and Rawson played well in central defence as mentioned, and the returning full backs, Gordon and Benning, both played well. Keeper Aidan Stone did not have a single shot to save but his handling was good and his kicking was good after being below par in the last 2 games. Mansfield’s good run of form against Morecambe continues, it is now 9 games without defeat. The Stags move 11 points above the all-important relegation zone, and are 10 points below the play-offs. The games continue to come thick and fast, with a visit to in-form Bradford City on Tuesday night (7pm kick-off, join us from 6.50pm on iFollow Stags). Bradford will be without Andy Cook, on loan from Mansfield, who is not allowed to play according to the terms of the loan deal. He scored again today in Bradford’s win at Walsall. DETAILED REPORT: Mansfield made three changes from the side that lost at Harrogate. Gordon replaced Perch at right back, Perch dropped to the bench. Benning replaced the injured McLaughlin at left back. And Quinn replaced Charsley, who was rested. Law moved to the right of the front three in the position Charsley has been playing lately. Jake Wright, experienced central defender who was signed as a free agent yesterday, took his place on the bench. No Oli Sarkic on the bench though with Nigel Clough explaining that he felt his thigh during the warm-up at Harrogate on Tuesday, but it’s “just a slight niggle” and he should be available for the Bradford game, or failing that, next Saturday at Barrow. Morecambe made one change from the their remarkable 2-1 win over Salford, with both goals coming deep in stoppage time, as Harry Davis replaced former Histon centre half Nathaniel Knight-Percival. It was a sunny day in Mansfield with no wind. The best weather conditions on a matchday for months. The Stags should have been in front after 3 minutes. Good play outside the area from Quinn, Reid and Law set up a shot from Bowery from 20 yards which was struck well and parried by keeper Letheren straight to Reid 8 yards from goal with an open goal in front of him, but Reid headed over the bar. He should have scored though it came at him quickly. The Stags won some early corners. Then Gordon won a free kick 25 yards out after 11 minutes. Benning took the free kick which deflected off the wall but keeper Letheren was able to save on his line. After 15 minutes, Quinn played inside to Law 30 yards from goal, Law pushed forward to the edge of the D and his shot was deflected for a corner. Law’s corner was cleared behind by Songo’o for another corner. Maris took the next corner to the near post and it was headed wide by Ollie Clarke. Morecambe had only one real chance in the first half as a long throw from Mellor after 18 minutes was cleared to Diagouraga who volleyed over the bar via a deflection. The long throw came after Sweeney gave the ball away with a loose pass but as Morecambe broke forward Gordon did well to clear into touch. Sweeney was booked for a foul on O’Sullivan after 21 minutes, after Clarke sold him short with a pass. After 33 minutes, Quinn won a free kick. Benning’s free kick into the area found Rawson but he couldn’t direct his header anywhere near the goal. Then a minute later, a good run down the run by Gordon and a good cross but Reid headed well wide. At the other end on 37 minutes Bowery was caught out trying to shepherd the ball out for a goalkick, Wildig kept it in play but Benning did well to clear. The only goal of the game came after 41 minutes. Reid did well to hold onto the ball under pressure and tee up Gordon for a shot from 20 yards which was deflected for a corner. From the corner, Quinn rose above O’Sullivan on the edge of the area to head the ball down to Reid. Reid laid the ball off to Quinn. And Quinn showed a lovely piece of skill on the left to get past O’Sullivan before crossing into the middle where Bowery got nearside of his marker Davis to knock the ball first time past the keeper into the left corner of the net from 6 yards. It was high quality play from Quinn and a good finish from Bowery. Three minutes after the goal, Quinn fed the ball forward for Law to retrieve on the byline, Law pulled the ball back perfectly into the path of Quinn to shoot over the bar from the edge of the area. Mansfield much the better side in the first half with several chances, plenty of corners, and deservedly in front. Half time 1-0 A good sweeping move down the left from the Stags after 55 minutes. From the resulting throw-in, a shot from Maris from an angle on the left gave Letheren an easy save. After 59 minutes, Reid flicked on a long goal-kick to Bowery, who in turn found Law. Law pushed forward to the edge of the area and his shot was blocked by Lavelle. Seconds later, a great tackle by Maris on Wildig to win the ball back in the Stags half. Stone was out from his area quickly to clear after 69 minutes. More good play from Maris two minutes later to pick the pocket of Stockton on the edge of the Stags area. He surged forward to the halfway line and found Quinn who in turn found Bowery. A great run down the left from Bowery forcing his way past Mellor and Songo’o and then along the byline but his attempted pull-back to Law was intercepted by Davis. Great strength and power by Bowery. Reid cut inside from the right and his shot was blocked for a corner after 83 minutes. Then Bowery headed straight at the keeper from a Law corner after 88 minutes. Four minutes of stoppage time were added, and Mansfield had been very solid throughout the second half, but a minute into stoppage time Morecambe had their only chance of the second half. Mendes-Gomes lifted a superb ball over the Stags defence for Morecambe substitute AJ Leitch-Smith to run on to but from 9 yards out with the ball having come over his shoulder, he missed his kick and the chance was gone. It was a rare moment on the afternoon where Sweeney and Rawson were just caught on their heels for a split second as Leitch-Smith ran into space but they got away with it. Sweeney and Rawson both had fine games after being below par in the last couple of games. Nigel Clough made his first change of the game as Charsley replaced the tiring Law after 90+2 minutes. And almost immediately, Charsley was alert to win the ball and win a free-kick which wasted at least 30 precious seconds as the Stags ran down the clock. I don’t think a tiring player would have been quick enough to win that free-kick. So a vital win for the Stags to halt the losing streak. In truth, Morecambe were poor, but Mansfield made them look poor with a solid display. On to Valley Parade. Man of the match: George Maris |
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Report by: Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill
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Line Up:
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(4-3-3)
Stone 7 Did not have a single shot to save but his handling was good. His kicking was good after being below par in the last 2 games. Gordon 7 Good game, some good defending and some good runs forward. Rawson 7.5 Fine game winning plenty of headers, after being below par at Harrogate. Just caught on his heels for a split second as Leitch-Smith ran into space in stoppage time but got away with it. Sweeney 7 Good game and generally very solid, after being below par at Harrogate and against Cambridge. As Rawson, caught on his heels for a split second as Leitch-Smith ran into space in stoppage time but got away with it. One loose pass gifted possession to Morecambe. Benning 7 One good clearance. One very good free kick. Did well on his return to the starting XI. Maris 8.5 Outstanding in a defensive midfield role winning numerous tackles and headers. Some good corners. O.Clarke 7 Played well. Sold Sweeney short on one occasion which led to a booking for Sweeney. Quinn 8 Played very well in midfield, providing that all-important moment of quality for the goal. Law 7 Had another good game, this time on the right, setting up shooting chances for Bowery and Quinn and taking some good corners. Reid 6.5 Did well in the build-up to the goal. Should have done better with the early header. Bowery 8 Took his goal well, his 8th of the season, he also had a good shot that the keeper could only parry out to Reid, and one great run down the left. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Charsley (for Law, 90+2 mins) - Won an important free-kick in stoppage time to wind the clock down.
Subs not used: Stech, O’Keeffe, J.Clarke, Perch, Wright, Sinclair. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(4-2-3-1): Letheren; Mellor, Lavelle, Davis, Gibson (Hendry 56); Diagouraga (Lyons 65), Songo’o (Leitch-Smith 81); O’Sullivan (McAlinden 81), Wildig, Mendes-Gomes; Stockton. Subs not used: Halstead, Cooney, Slew.
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Referee:
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Anthony Backhouse 7 Handled the game well.
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