Season 21/22 Stagsnet Match Report
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Mansfield Town
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Carlisle United
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McLaughlin 6
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Attendance: 3,695 (133 from Carlisle)
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Date: 7 December 2021
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EARLY McLAUGHLIN GOAL THEN STAGS HANG ON
Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town continued their excellent run of results with an 8th win in 9 league and cup games last night after a 1-0 success over Carlisle United at the One Call Stadium. It takes the Stags into the top half of the table (albeit with some teams below them having a game in hand), and the gap to the play-off places is down to 5 points. Mansfield were without Oli Hawkins (suspended, but also with a bit of flu), Rhys Oates (with a dead leg) and Ollie Clarke (with a calf injury), as well as Danny Johnson. So Jordan Bowery, who so good at left wing-back at Doncaster in the FA Cup on Saturday, was moved up front on his own, and Harry Charsley came into the midfield. Stephen McLaughlin was fit to start having gone off at half time on Saturday. The Stags started the game very well, continuing with the excellent one touch football played at Doncaster. The only goal of the game came after just 6 minutes, with McLaughlin heading home his first goal of the season. It came on the end of a move involving 17 passes lasting fully 46 seconds without Carlisle touching the ball. Brilliant stuff. The 17 passes were Stirk, O’Toole, Forrester, Stirk, McLaughlin, Maris, Hewitt, Lapslie, Maris, Lapslie, Stirk, McLaughlin, Stirk, Forrester, Maris with a nice ball out to Charsley on the right, back to Hewitt, who chipped a delightful cross from the right to the far post where McLaughlin headed down into the left corner of the net. What a fine goal. The celebrations led straight into a minute’s applause on 6 minutes for 6 year old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes who was horrifically killed by his father and stepmother last year. Charsley and Maris could have added to the lead after 25 minutes. Great play by Charsley to nick the ball off Rod McDonald 40 yards from goal, and find Bowery. Bowery slid the ball forward to Charsley who continued his run forward and from 18 yards Charsley tried to find the bottom left corner of the net with a low shot but keeper Mark Howard tipped it away with his fingertips. The ball ran loose and as Maris tried to turn it into the net, McDonald recovered to slide in and deflect his shot over the bar. The Stags played some good football in the first half and following one good move, Stirk shot well wide from the edge of the area on 29 minutes. But the Stags were also guilty of being sloppy on several occasions and Carlisle nearly profited. On 13 minutes, Tristan Abrahams robbed Forrester on the right touchline, cut inside and curled a shot goalwards which Bishop saved comfortably. After 42 minutes, Maris gave the ball away with a loose pass, Brad Young surged forward to the edge of the area trying to tee up a shot for himself but Hewitt slid in with a brilliant tackle. The ball ran free to Abrahams who shot straight at Bishop from 20 yards. Carlisle went close on two other occasions in the first half. After 35 minutes, Brennan Dickenson’s corner from the right was headed up in the air by Charsley, Bishop tried to tip it over his own bar, but only succeeded in tipping it onto the top of the bar, it bounced down onto the goalline and there was no Carlisle player to turn it home as the relieved Bishop claimed it again. Then after 44 minutes, a short corner from Callum Guy, he received the ball back, cut across the edge of the area, and his low shot from 22 yards deflected off Forrester and rolled wide of the left post with Bishop on the floor having dived the other way. The Stags ahead at the break. The wind had been fairly light in the first half, and the Stags had elected to have it behind them in that first half. But it was to get a lot stronger in the second half and allow Carlisle to pin the Stags back on occasions. I asked Nigel Clough about this after the game. He told me that he usually thinks it’s best to have whatever wind there is behind you in the first half because it might drop later on. On this occasion it picked up! The wind wasn’t all bad for the Stags though because Carlisle frequently played balls forward that were overhit and ran out for a goalkick or through to Bishop. After 57 minutes, the Stags were forced into a change as Forrester limped off. Forrester had just kicked the ball forward, and went down with no-one else near him. I asked Nigel Clough about his injury after the game. Clough said he felt his ankle, but they were not sure how serious it was. The second half was one of few chances until the final minutes. After 64 minutes, Maris did well to win the ball inside the Carlisle half with a great tackle, then some great football followed with Quinn backheeling the ball to Stirk, who found McLaughlin on the left. McLaughlin played a great 1-2 with Quinn, getting to the byline and pulling the ball back. It was just behind Bowery, but Hewitt found Bowery with the loose ball and Bowery’s shot from 12 yards was blocked. McLaughlin played another great 1-2 with Quinn on the left after 74 minutes, and he fired a fabulous low ball across the edge of the six yard box but it was just in front of Lapslie sliding in. However it was Carlisle with the better chances in the second half. After 71 minutes, Dickenson curled a corner from the right into towards the goal, with wind assistance and it was headed off the line. I thought in real time that it was Hewitt who headed it away, but from the replay it looks like it was Morgan Feeney who headed it away from goal after Carlisle sub Sam Fishburn had flicked it on! Then a minute later, another Carlisle sub Kelvin Mellor fired in a shot from 25 yards that was going wide before Dickenson turned it over the bar with his knee from six yards. Into the last few minutes, Charsley shot wide after 88 minutes for the Stags. Five minutes were added on. The Stags were on the back foot with the wind now very strong in their faces, but the superb Stags fans were doing their best to drag the side over the line. A minute into stoppage time, a scramble in the Stags box and Rawson did really well to block Fishburn’s shot from 10 yards. At the other end, Stags sub Sinclair’s cross-shot from a tight angle went wide. Within seconds at the other end, Jordan Gibson turned away from Hewitt and unleashed a magnificent shot from 25 yards that crashed against the Stags bar. Wow, what a moment of fortune for Mansfield. The drama wasn’t over. With the five minutes of stoppage time played, O’Toole clumsily brought Jon Mellish down just outside the area on the right, pretty much on the corner of the area. Dickenson, who normally has good delivery from set pieces, curled his free kick straight at Bishop. And with that, the Stags had held on. The Stags certainly had the luck in the final few minutes with that shot against the bar, to grind out the victory. Indeed in this run of victories, the Stags have had the luck with them, as Sunderland, Stevenage, Crawley, and now Carlisle have each been denied by the woodwork. During the Stags’ run of 14 games without a win, the Stags were not getting the rub of the green, but they are now. This was a battling performance from Mansfield. The win at Doncaster had taken a lot out of the players it seemed. Hewitt and O’Toole stood out in defence while McLaughlin scored the only goal (from Hewitt’s cross), and combined well with Quinn on the left on a few occasions to put in some decent crosses. The Stags will be back in action on Saturday as Salford come to the One Call Stadium. Salford are playing at Barrow this evening so the Stags should arguably be the fresher of the sides on Saturday. Salford will welcome back their best player (in my opinion) Ash Hunter from a three game suspension on Saturday. UPDATE: Barrow vs Salford was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. So Hunter will still be suspended, but Salford will now be fresher than the Stags! Mansfield will be hoping that Hawkins and Oates are fit, however neither are certain to be so. DETAILED REPORT: It had been forecast to be a very wet day in Mansfield, but far less rain arrived than predicted. It was windy though as storm Barra hit the country. Mansfield were without Oli Hawkins (suspended, but also with a bit of flu), Rhys Oates (with a dead leg) and Ollie Clarke (with a calf injury), as well as Danny Johnson. So Jordan Bowery, who so good at left wing-back at Doncaster in the FA Cup on Saturday, was moved up front on his own, and Harry Charsley came into the midfield. Stephen McLaughlin was fit to start having gone off at half time on Saturday. Kellan Gordon remained out injured and there is no timeframe for his return. Richard Nartey was back in the squad for the first time after his injury. The Stags started with three at the back, with McLaughlin at left wing-back, Charsley at right wing-back, but as Nigel Clough said after the game, he switched formations several times during the game, to four at the back. Stephen Quinn was captain for the first time. Carlisle had won their previous league game, and their local newspaper reporter Jon Colman told me before the game that they had improved under new manager Keith Millen since previous manager Chris Beech was sacked. They sat one point and one place above the relegation zone. He told me that they are badly lacking any decent strikers and that must be a huge priority to sign one in the January transfer window. I said in my opening piece to the broadcast on iFollow Stags that while Mansfield were on a high from the magnificent win at Doncaster in the FA Cup and the incredible atmosphere generated by the 3,300 travelling fans, it was important that Mansfield made sure this game was not a case of “after the Lord Mayor’s Show”. The Stags started the game very well, continuing with the excellent one touch football played at Doncaster. The only goal of the game came after just 6 minutes, with McLaughlin heading home his first goal of the season. It came on the end of a move involving 17 passes lasting fully 46 seconds without Carlisle touching the ball. Brilliant stuff. The 17 passes were Stirk, O’Toole, Forrester, Stirk, McLaughlin, Maris, Hewitt, Lapslie, Maris, Lapslie, Stirk, McLaughlin, Stirk, Forrester, Maris with a nice ball out to Charsley on the right, back to Hewitt, who chipped a delightful cross from the right to the far post where McLaughlin headed down into the left corner of the net. What a fine goal. The celebrations led straight into a minute’s applause on 6 minutes for 6 year old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes who was horrifically killed by his father and stepmother last year. After 9 minutes, Maris fired well wide from 35 yards. On 13 minutes, Tristan Abrahams robbed Forrester on the right touchline, cut inside and curled a shot goalwards which Bishop saved comfortably. The Stags had a particularly sloppy couple of minutes giving the ball away several times. Charsley and Maris could have added to the lead after 25 minutes. Great play by Charsley to nick the ball off Rod McDonald 40 yards from goal, and find Bowery. Bowery slid the ball forward to Charsley who continued his run forward and from 18 yards Charsley tried to find the bottom left corner of the net with a low shot but keeper Mark Howard tipped it away with his fingertips. The ball ran loose and as Maris tried to turn it into the net, McDonald recovered to slide in and deflect his shot over the bar. The Stags played some good football in the first half and following one good move, Stirk shot well wide from the edge of the area on 29 minutes. After 35 minutes, Brennan Dickenson’s corner from the right was headed up in the air by Charsley, Bishop tried to tip it over his own bar, but only succeeded in tipping it onto the top of the bar, it bounced down onto the goalline and there was no Carlisle player to turn it home as the relieved Bishop claimed it again. Both sides were still being sloppy, Forrester and McLaughlin gave the ball away for the Stags, several players did the same for Carlisle. After 39 minutes, Hewitt gave the ball away, and Abrahams shot straight at Bishop. Then after 42 minutes, Maris gave the ball away with a loose pass, Brad Young surged forward to the edge of the area trying to tee up a shot for himself but Hewitt slid in with a brilliant tackle. The ball ran free to Abrahams who shot straight at Bishop from 20 yards. Then after 44 minutes, a short corner from Callum Guy, he received the ball back, cut across the edge of the area, and his low shot from 22 yards deflected off Forrester and rolled wide of the left post with Bishop on the floor having dived the other way. The Stags ahead at the break. Mansfield had been the better side for half an hour, but Carlisle had done much better in the final ten minutes of the half. Half time 1-0 The wind had been fairly light in the first half, and the Stags had elected to have it behind them in that first half. But it was to get a lot stronger in the second half and allow Carlisle to pin the Stags back on occasions. I asked Nigel Clough about this after the game. He told me that he usually thinks it’s best to have whatever wind there is behind you in the first half because it might drop later on. On this occasion it picked up! The wind wasn’t all bad for the Stags though because Carlisle frequently played balls forward that were overhit and ran out for a goalkick or through to Bishop. After 57 minutes, the Stags were forced into a change as Forrester limped off. Forrester had just kicked the ball forward, and went down with no-one else near him. I asked Nigel Clough about his injury after the game. Clough said he felt his ankle, but they were not sure how serious it was. Rawson came on and slotted in at centre half as the Stags reverted to four at the back. There had been no goalmouth action at either end in the opening 19 minutes of the second half. After 64 minutes, Maris did well to win the ball inside the Carlisle half with a great tackle, then some great football followed with Quinn backheeling the ball to Stirk, who found McLaughlin on the left. McLaughlin played a great 1-2 with Quinn, getting to the byline and pulling the ball back. It was just behind Bowery, but Hewitt found Bowery with the loose ball and Bowery’s shot from 12 yards was blocked. Bowery was booked for a foul after 64 minutes. Then O’Toole was booked for stopping a quick throw-in after 70 minutes. It was Carlisle with the better chances in the second half. After 71 minutes, Dickenson curled a corner from the right into towards the goal, with wind assistance and it was headed off the line. I thought in real time that it was Hewitt who headed it away, but from the replay it looks like it was Morgan Feeney who headed it away from goal after Carlisle sub Sam Fishburn had flicked it on! Then a minute later, another Carlisle sub Kelvin Mellor fired in a shot from 25 yards that was going wide before Dickenson turned it over the bar with his knee from six yards. It was so windy now that Bishop had trouble spotting the ball for a goal kick as the ball rolled away. McLaughlin played another great 1-2 with Quinn on the left after 74 minutes, and he fired a fabulous low ball across the edge of the six yard box but it was just in front of Lapslie sliding in. Sinclair replaced Maris after 86 minutes. Into the last few minutes, Charsley shot wide after 88 minutes for the Stags. Five minutes were added on. The Stags were on the back foot with the wind now very strong in their faces, but the superb Stags fans were doing their best to drag the side over the line. A minute into stoppage time, a scramble in the Stags box and Rawson did really well to block Fishburn’s shot from 10 yards. At the other end, Stags sub Sinclair’s cross-shot from a tight angle went wide. Within seconds at the other end, Jordan Gibson turned away from Hewitt and unleashed a magnificent shot from 25 yards that crashed against the Stags bar. Wow, what a moment of fortune for Mansfield. The drama wasn’t over. With the five minutes of stoppage time played, O’Toole clumsily brought Jon Mellish down just outside the area on the right, pretty much on the corner of the area. Dickenson, who normally has good delivery from set pieces, curled his free kick straight at Bishop. And with that, the Stags had held on. The Stags certainly had the luck in the final few minutes with that shot against the bar, to grind out the victory. Man of the Match: Elliott Hewitt Here’s a running tally of various stats this season: Goals: Johnson 7, Hawkins 5, Lapslie, Oates 4, O.Clarke 3, O’Toole 2, Bowery, Caine, Forrester, Hewitt, Maris, McLaughlin, Quinn, Sinclair, Stirk 1 Assists: Charsley, Johnson, McLaughlin, Oates, Quinn, Sinclair 3, Bowery, O.Clarke, Hawkins, Stirk 2, J.Clarke, Gale, Hewitt, Lapslie, Maris, Rawson 1 (note: in the case of a penalty, the player who earns the penalty gets an assist. In the case of a solo goal, such as Maris against Newport, nobody gets an assist. In the case of the scorer scoring from the rebound after a shot is saved, the player who had the shot saved gets an assist.) |
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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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(3-6-1 initially, then switched formation several times)
Bishop 7 One mistake in the first half which he got away with. Good handling apart from that. Some comfortable saves. Hewitt 8 Stood out in defence, with one brilliant tackle. Lovely cross for the goal for his first assist of the season. O’Toole 8 Also stood out in defence, apart from one clumsy foul in stoppage time to concede a dangerous free kick. His introduction to the side has had a very big impact on the upturn in results. Forrester 6 A bit sloppy in the first half. Had to go off when he felt his ankle. Clough said afterwards they were not sure how serious it was. Charsley 7 Had a good chance to score in the first half after great play to win the ball. Worked very hard. Stirk 7.5 Good game. Maris 7 Nice ball in the build-up to the goal. One bad mistake in the first half, gifted the ball away. Lapslie 7 Worked hard. Quinn 7.5 Captain for the first time. Involved in some good interplay on the left. Clough said afterwards they would have to carry him to his car as he had worked so hard in the last two games. McLaughlin 8 Scored the only goal, and combined well with Quinn on the left on a few occasions to put in some decent crosses. A little bit sloppy in the first half at times. Bowery 6 Up front on his own, after impressing at left wing-back on Saturday. Good ball to set Charsley away for a chance. Did ok. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Rawson (for Forrester, 57 mins) 7.5 Slotted in very well. Great block in stoppage time.
Sinclair (for Maris, 86 mins) - Subs not used: Shelvey, Burke, Nartey, Law, Gale. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(4-4-2): Howard; Whelan, Feeney, McDonald, Armer; Gibson, Guy (Mellor 64), Mellish, Dickenson; Young (Devine 78), Abrahams (Fishburn 64). Subs not used: Norman, Dinzeyi, Charters, Mampala.
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Referee:
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Neil Hair 7 Handled the game well. Got the bookings right. No controversy.
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