Season 13/14 Stagsnet Match Report
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Mansfield Town
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Dagenham & Redbridge
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Clucas 35, McGuire 47, Rhead 72.
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Attendance: 3015 (111 from Dagenham)
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Date: 31 August 2013
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STAGS THUMP DAGGERS FOR FIRST HOME WIN
Martin Shaw and Simon Chamberlain at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town convincingly saw off Dagenham & Redbridge this afternoon to record the first home win back in the Football League. After a dire opening 30 minutes from both sides, the Stags took the lead with a fine goal as Dempster headed across goal for Sam Clucas to head his first Stags goal. Two minutes into the second half, it was 2-0 when Jamie McGuire’s speculative effort from 30 yards somehow bounced over the keeper and into the net, an extraordinary howler from the Dagenham keeper. After Mansfield had chances to extend the lead, the game was finally sealed on 72 minutes as sub Calvin Andrew superbly back-heeled across the face of goal for other sub Matt Rhead to thump into the empty net from two yards, for his first football league goal. Some fine performances from the Stags with Rhead outstanding in the second half, Hutchinson impressive throughout, and the defence looking very solid. Dagenham failed to get a shot on target and looked every inch bottom six material. With 8 points from 5 games, the Stags are off to a decent start, with away games to Newport and York coming up. Mansfield made one change from the starting XI against Portsmouth as Ollie Palmer replaced Calvin Andrew up front. So Cox retained the three central defenders, with Beevers and Jennings as wing-backs. Anthony Howell replaced Adam Murray on the bench. The first 30 minutes was as bad a game as we have seen for a long time. The first half-chance came for the Daggers on 12 minutes as Elito crossed from the right and Woodall headed well wide of the left post. On 24 minutes, Dempster gave the ball away but did well to win it back. On 27 minutes, Woodall sent a free kick from 33 yards against the top of the Quarry Lane stand - quite a feat. And that was all there was to report from a terrible half hour. On 30 minutes, Dagenham were guilty of trying to walk the ball into the net as they got into the Stags box but didn’t want to shoot and eventually Riley stretched out a leg to clear Ogogo’s low ball from the left. The Stags burst into life a minute later as Clements fired in a great shot from 25 yards just wide of the left post. A minute after that, Jennings had a header on target cleared from a cross from Beevers. The Stags were in front on 35 minutes. Riley took a free kick from just inside his own half, perfectly weighted into the box, for Dempster to head across goal, and Clucas got in front of his marker, and headed into the bottom left corner of the net. The Stags had loud shouts for a penalty on 38 minutes as a cross from Beevers may have struck a hand in the box (inconclusive from the match DVD). Dagenham’s Ogogo had already been booked and was very late on McGuire on 40 minutes. The referee gave a free kick but didn’t even have a word with Ogogo. Half time 1-0 The Stags switched to 4-4-2 at the start of the second half, as Beevers was withdrawn, and replaced by Matt Rhead. Clucas moved to the left and Hutchinson moved to the right, with Palmer and Rhead were up front. Sutton moved to right back. On 46 minutes, a good cross from Jennings from the left, Hutchinson headed back across goal to Rhead who headed over from 3 yards. Rhead’s blushes were spared by an offside flag. A minute later, Clucas sent a snapshot just wide of the right post; a great effort. It was 2-0 on 47 minutes. McGuire’s speculative effort from 30 yards somehow bounced over the keeper and into the net, an extraordinary howler from the Dagenham keeper. It was just what the Stags needed early in the half. Dagenham went close on 51 minutes as Femi Ilesanmi got past Sutton on the left, Sutton seemed to try to pull him back but Ilesanmi didn’t go down and fired into the side netting, much to the relief of the Stags defence. The Stags went close on 54 minutes with great play. Hutchinson’s cross from the right was perfect for Rhead who headed back across goal and Palmer headed over the bar, under pressure. A minute later, Palmer got a little barge in the back in the box but the referee and assistant correctly ignored the appeals for a penalty. On 59 minutes, a shot from Clements was deflected inches wide of the left post. On 63 minutes, Zavon Hines miscued a shot miles over the bar from an Elito cross. Calvin Andrew replaced Ollie Palmer on 65 minutes, Palmer having twice gone down suffering from a head injury. The Dagenham keeper held a Rhead back-header from a Stags throw under his own bar on 68 minutes. On 71 minutes the Stags had another appeal for a penalty after Rhead headed on a Jennings throw-in, and it may have come off a hand. It was 3-0 on 72 minutes as Calvin Andrew superbly back-heeled across the face of goal for Rhead to gleefully thump into the empty net from two yards, for his first football league goal. On 76 minutes, Dagenham nearly pulled a goal back as Obafemi headed against the bar from a cross from the left. Meikle replaced Hutchinson on 80 minutes. Marriott, who had had little to do, then took a great catch from a powerful cross by Elito from the right. On 84 minutes, great play from sub Meikle, who found Clucas on the right wing, but Clucas’s cross was over everyone. On 85 minutes, a rare chance for Dagenham as Luke Howell shot wide of the right post from 25 yards. A minute later, Clements made a great challenge, something he is really adding to his game now. On 89 minutes, Josh Scott volleyed over the bar for Dagenham. So a very satisfactory afternoon for Mansfield, who were applauded off the pitch. The Stags will be looking to build on the decent start to the season with away games coming up at Newport and York. Come on Mansfield!! Man of the match: Matt Rhead |
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Report by: Martin Shaw and Simon Chamberlain at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill
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Line Up:
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Marriott 7 Quiet game with little to do as Dagenham failed to get a shot on target, though took one great catch from a powerful cross.
Sutton 7.5 Solid, good game. One mistake when Ilesanmi got past him and fired into the side netting. Dempster 7.5 Also solid and did well. Fine header across goal to set up the first goal. Showed determination in the first half when he gave the ball away and worked hard to win it back. Riley 7.5 Defended well, looked composed. Good free kick led to the first goal. Beevers 6 Good to see him recovered from last week’s shoulder injury. Replaced at half time. Jennings 6.5 Looked more comfortable at left back in the second half as the Stags moved to 4-4-2. McGuire 7.5 Very good game, put himself about and put in some good defensive work. Fortunate goal but if you don’t buy a ticket you don’t win the lottery, Clements 7.5 Two fine efforts at goal just wide; good to see him putting in some good challenges. Impressive. Hutchinson 8 Played very well throughout. A couple of superb crosses in the second half when he move to the right wing. Clucas 7.5 Great to see him score, and had another fine effort just wide. Sponsor’s man of the match. Palmer 6.5 Decent game. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Rhead (for Beevers, 46) 8 Tremendous performance and deserved his first football league goal.
Andrew (for Palmer, 65) 7 Superb back-heel to put Rhead’s goal on a plate. Meikle (for Hutchinson, 80) - One fine piece of play as he set up Clucas to put in a cross. Subs not used: Mitchell, Tafazolli, Howell, Stevenson. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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Lewington; Wilkinson, Doe, Saah, Ilesanmi; L. Howell, Ogogo, Bingham (Scott 52); Hines, Woodall (Obafemi 70), Elito. Subs not used: Seabright, Dennis, Hoyte, Shields, Connors.
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Referee:
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Richard Clark 4 Terrible. Pedantic while missing obvious fouls. Has not improved since his howler of sending off Matt Green in the play-off semi-final at York.
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