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Season 02/03 Stagsnet Match Report
Division 2
Mansfield Town  
4 - 2
 Colchester United
Christie 19, 25, 29, 64.
 
 Keith 25 (pen), Rapley 31.
Attendance: 3,414 (183 from Colchester)
 
Date: 1st November 2002

The Friday night game saw Colchester appear at Field Mill.
Mansfield started the first half the stronger but just after five minutes Stags lost influencial midfielder Scott Sellars through injury to be replaced by Neil MacKenzie.
The first half action saw Stags draw first blood with a cross come shot by Disley and Christie on the end of it to provide the headed finish.
But six minutes later Stags came under more pressure when for some reason the referee Mr Webb seemed to think that Neil Moore had tripped Scott Mcgleish where all the Stags fans saw him fall over trying an over head kick. Up stepped Joe Keith to slot home the spot kick. Straight from the kick off Christie was put through by MacKenzie’s long ball and Christie’s looping header could only be helped on into the net by the Colchester keeper.
Four minutes later Christie completed his 10 minute first half hat trick with a super volley from MacKenzie’s corner. Stags then conceded again 2 minutes later when a lapse in concentration by MacKenzie let Rapley through to slot past Pilkington.
For the last 13 minutes of the half, the play was a bit scrappy and the fans were pretty quiet, hoping Stags didn't concede again, and they didn't, but it did see loan defender Tony Vaughan being replaced by player of the month Jamie Clarke, Vaughan heaping more injury worries on the Stags.
Half Time Stags 3 - 2 Colchester
The second half saw Stags come under fire and Jamie Clarke come to help the Stags cause with a stunning goal line clearance, but soon after that Stags had killed off any hope of a Colchester revival with Disley’s through ball putting Christie through for his fourth, even though it took a bit to force the ball over the line after the keeper had saved his first shot. Stags kept on pressing on for a fifth but couldn't beat the already breached defence, which was then reduced on 81 minutes when Alan White was sent of for a second bookable offence, for numerous bad tackles. Christie was replaced by Danny Bacon on 90 minutes to a standing ovation.
Full time Stags 4-2 Colchester

My man of the match has to be Christie for his performance, but the midfield really played well with Lawrence, Disley and MacKenzie really impressing; Williamson is also getting back to his best.


Report by: mansfield_smooth at Field Mill



Line Up:
Pilkington 8 Another great performance from Pilks and made 2 cracking saves that kept us in the match.
Moore 6 Not his best game but harsh penalty awarded against him.
Lever 7 Strong performance from Lever and I think he is now the right man with Moore at the back.
Vaughan 7 Only on for 36 minutes but still made a brilliant last ditch tackle and looks a good acquisition.
Lawrence 9 Excellent again from Liam; he has proved his critics wrong in the last couple of weeks, well done Liam.
Disley 9 Ran himself into the ground and tackled and battled all the way through; back to his best tonight, well done Craig.
Williamson 8 Good performance today; held the ball up and started some good moves.
Corden 8 Good game from Corden and found some confidence again, and that’s what he needs to have to play well.
Little 8 Battled hard and got kicked up in the air a few times; looking a good signing.
Sellars 6 Hardly touched the ball in the 6 minutes he was on the pitch.
Christie 10 Super all round from Izzy today and showed by his tiredness at the end; well done Izzy.
Sub Line Up:
MacKenzie (for Sellars, 6 mins) 9 Class game by Macca today he created 2 goals; also a lapse of concentration cost a goal, but turned the game for us today.
JClarke (for Vaughan, 36 mins) 8 Super goal-line clearance today saved the match.
Bacon (for Christie, 90 mins) - Not enough time to get into the game.
Subs not used: JWhite, Holyoak.
Opposition Line Up:
Brown, Keith, Stockwell, White, Baldwin, Pinault, Bowry, Odunsi (Steele), Izzet, McGleish (Richards), Rapley (Morgan). Subs: McKinney, Canham.
Referee:
H.Webb, South Yorkshire


Season 02/03 Reports