Season 06/07 Stagsnet Match Report
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Mansfield Town
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Torquay United
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M.Boulding 14, Gritton 39, 59, 76 pen, Baptiste 64.
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Attendance: 2573 (132 from Torquay)
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Date: 30 January 2007
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GRITTON HAT-TRACK AS STAGS THRASH HAPLESS GULLS
Martin Shaw at Field Mill Mansfield Town trounced bottom-of-the-table Torquay 5-0 at Field Mill this evening. Martin Gritton scored a hat-trick, the first by a Stags player since Liam Lawrence against Wycombe in the FA Cup. It was the Stags biggest win since beating Boston 5-0 last season. It was a fine all round display with most of the team looking impressive. The key moment of the game came on 39 minutes when Martin Gritton scored from 6 yards, looking fully 2 yards offside, to make it 2-0. This goal knocked the stuffing out of the visitors who crumbled feebly in the second half. Mansfield were forced into one change, with Micky Boulding replacing the suspended Barry Conlon. Jake Buxton was playing but will be suspended for the Shrewsbury game on Saturday. Torquay were without top scorer Jamie Ward but included former Stags target Lee Thorpe, who scored hat-trick on Friday. Torquay, something of a shambles at the moment despite that thumping win over Grimsby on Friday night, had to turn out in the Stags shorts as they hadn’t brought the right kit. Micky Boulding was straight into the action on 5 minutes. Jamal Easter tripped when trying to break for Torquay, allowing the Stags to counter-attack with Boulding running from the halfway line before cutting inside and firing against the outside of the post. On 13 minutes, Gritton’s fine overhead kick was tipped over the bar by Kevin Miller following a Hamshaw cross after Dawson’s industry. On 14 minutes the Stags made the breakthrough. Hamshaw’s fine corner was headed home from 6 yards by Micky Boulding who rose above his marker in the box. Miller got a hand to the ball but couldn’t keep it out. On 17 minutes, Brown cut inside but shot weakly. A minute later, Boulding had another chance when he met Hamshaw’s high cross with a header onto the roof of the net. Buxton headed high and wide of 26 minutes from Hamshaw’s corner and two minutes later Baptiste nearly scored when his close range shot beat the keeper but was cleared off the line by a defender. On 39 minutes it was 2-0 in bizarre circumstances. Boulding set up Dawson for a shot which was heading well wide, but Gritton standing fully two yards offside, diverted it into the net. Incredibly the linesman signalled a goal, amid protests from the befuddled Torquay defenders. No-one could quite believe it. Half time 2-0 After two more half chances for Gritton, it was 3-0 on 59 minutes. Miller’s attempted clearance hit Gritton and rebounded to Boulding, Boulding played the ball back to Gritton who eventually manoeuvred the ball onto his left foot, before shooting in off the right post. It was 4-0 five minutes later. Hamshaw played in the overlapping Baptiste who charged into the box and his shot took a wicked deflection off left back Robinson to squirm into the right corner of the net. Almost immediately Baptiste was replaced at right back by Mullins, returning from injury. On 71 minutes, another fine Hamshaw corner was met by Hjelde whose header was cleared off the line. Torquay had a rare chance on 75 as a free kick from Mansell was saved by White, who spilled the ball before retrieving it and was lucky that pacey striker Jamal Easter was off the pitch receiving treatment. A minute later, Micky Boulding was brought down in the box to earn a penalty. Gritton stepped up to try to complete the first hat-trick of his career. He struck it cleanly and curled a high shot down the left to give the keeper no chance. Straight away Arnold came on for a quiet Brown, and Rory Boulding came on for the hat-trick hero. Rory Boulding went up front so that we had the spectacle of the first two brothers playing up front together for Mansfield Town (as far as I can tell). Rory Boulding put in a couple of fine crosses from the right and from one of them Micky headed wide from the penalty spot. Then Mickey teed up Rory for a one-on-one but the keeper smothered his effort. With three minutes left. Hamshaw limped off and the Stags finished the game with ten men, but after the game assistant boss Paul Holland suggested that Hamshaw will be fine for Saturday. It was a night relatively free from chanting against the chief executive, despite the club’s appalling treatment of photographer Dan Westwell in the previous two games. However early in the second half, two banners were displayed in the trees in front of the fitness club next to the Bishop Street stand. The banners raised cheers from the West Stand and on one of them it said that Mansfield Town was for sale, asking potential bidders to ring Keith on 01623 482 482! So a thumping win to lift the Stags further away from trouble. More of the same on Saturday and we might start distant dreams of the play-offs. Man of the match: Martin Gritton |
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Report by: Martin Shaw at Field Mill
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Line Up:
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White 7 Very quiet game, but did what he had to do well.
Baptiste 7 Defended well throughout, pushed forward impressively on the right and scored his fourth career goal. Buxton 8 Another excellent performance, led the team well. Hjelde 7 Good all round, no frills. Jelleyman 7 Did well and pushed forward well with a few decent crosses. Hamshaw 8 Some excellent crosses including brilliant delivery from set pieces. D'Laryea 8 Won lots of 50:50 balls and used the ball well. Battled terrifically. Dawson 8 A tiger and powerhouse in midfield. Brown 6 Gave the ball away too often. M.Boulding 8 Nearly scored a hat-trick in the opening 18 minutes. Looked back at his best. Gritton 8 The first hat-trick by a Stags player since Liam Lawrence. Took his chances and held the ball like a stick of glue. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Mullins (for Baptiste, 66) 7 Good to see him back. Did well.
Arnold (for Brown, 77) 6 Not really involved. R.Boulding (for Gritton, 77) 7 Impressive cameo, with some good crosses. Subs Not Used: Muggleton, Lloyd. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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Miller, Andrews, Angus, Taylor, Robinson, Easter, Mansell, Hockley (Smith 45), Cooke (Jarvis 65), McPhee (Baxter 46), Thorpe. Subs Not Used: Horsell, Halliday.
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Referee:
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S Mathieson (Cheshire) 8 Handled the game well. His assistant had a great game for the Stags allowing the second goal.
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