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Season 18/19 Stagsnet Match Report
English Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Colchester United  
2 - 3
 Mansfield Town
Eastman 14, Senior 30.
 
 Ajose 51, Walker 64, Hamilton 79.
Attendance: 3546 (426 from Mansfield)
 
Date: 19 January 2019

WHITE INJURY MARS INCREDIBLE COMEBACK AT COLCHESTER

Martin Shaw at the Community Stadium

A bad injury to Hayden White in stoppage time marred an incredible comeback from Mansfield Town who were 2-0 down at half time, but won 3-2 thanks to a fantastic second half performance. Hayden White was on crutches after the game with what manager David Flitcroft described as a “99% chance broken ankle”. I’m sure all Stags fans are hoping beyond hope that the news is not as bad as feared and that it might not be broken.
The injury came from a challenge by Frank Nouble. I haven’t seen the main camera video footage yet. From the pitchside footage (which is from the far end of the ground), in my opinion it was not a red card tackle by Nouble, though it was a foul for which Nouble was booked, and it was unlucky that White’s injury looks so serious. Whether it looks different on the main camera footage, I don’t know.
UPDATE: from the main camera footage, it looks more of a lunging challenge from Nouble, and perhaps could be argued to be a red card challenge.
As for the game, well wow what a comeback from Mansfield! It was the first time Mansfield had come from two goals down to win a game since the 4-3 at Dagenham in October 2015.
The Stags were poor in the first half as Colchester roared into a 2-0 lead. Colchester took the lead on 14 minutes. Senior’s ball into the box was headed up in the air by a combination of the leaping Mikael Mandron and Krystian Pearce. As the ball came down, Pearce didn’t know where it was and then he and Benning got in each other’s way as Tom Eastman nipped in to poke it into the net from 3 yards. I was initially critical of the defending but I think it was also a little bit unlucky. Colchester made it 2-0 on 30 minutes as Courtney Senior danced into the box on the right past Mal Benning and Jacob Mellis and fired a shot under Jordan Smith from 12 yards. It was a superb goal from Senior. Smith got a hand on it but not enough to keep it out. I think it would be harsh to blame the keeper.
It could have been worse for Mansfield in the first half, and could have been 1-0 after 10 minutes when Jordan Smith made a fantastic one-handed save from Sammie Szmodics’ shot from 10 yards after good play on the left from Nouble. And Smith made another great save on 19 minutes, when Brennan Dickenson tried an audacious shot to the near post from wide on the left and Smith turned it behind for a corner.
Mansfield’s best chance of the first half came when Hamilton made a great run to the byline on the right on 12 minutes and delivered a sensational cross to the far post where Nicky Ajose headed down from 4 yards and against the outside of the post. Then on 42 minutes, great play by the Stags outside the box on the left involving Benning, Bishop and Mellis, and Benning fired a wonderful shot with the outside of his left boot from 24 yards which was heading for the top corner before keeper Rene Gilmartin tipped it over the bar.
Colchester were good value for the two goal lead at the break.
The Stags pulled a goal back after 51 minutes. White slid a nice ball inside to Walker on the edge of the area on right. Walker steadied himself and put in a magnificent cross, across the six yard box to the far post where Ajose chested it into the net from close range. Majestic from Walker, and Ajose made sure he was in the right place to score. Walker had put in a majestic cross for Ajose against Crawley as well but Ajose had missed that one. It was a great moment for Ajose with his first Mansfield goal. If that was good, the second goal was even better, on 64 minutes. Walker slid a ball forward on the right for Jorge Grant to run on to towards the byline, Grant pulled the ball back and across for Walker to run on to it to simply place it left footed into the bottom left corner of the net from 12 yards. What quality and almost telepathic instinct between Walker and Grant. And Mansfield’s third goal, the eventual winner, on 79 minutes, was just as good. Ajose turned 30 yards from goal, and chipped a magnificent ball into the box which CJ Hamilton gambled on with the defence static and turned it past the keeper from 6 yards. What a moment as the Stags players celebrated in front of the joyous travelling fans. After that, Colchester put the Stags under some pressure but created only one chance as Smith comfortably saved Pell’s header on his line.
Great celebrations from players, management and fans at the full time whistle. But everyone with a Stags connection was absolutely gutted to learn moments later of the likely extent of White’s injury.


DETAILED REPORT:

The Stags came into the game in 3rd place, 2 points ahead of Colchester in 5th, and the Stags had a game in hand. It had been built up as a big game by the home side and understandably so as they could have leap-frogged the Stags.

Mansfield were unchanged from the side that started the victory over Crawley. So Matt Preston, who was suspended for the Crawley game, had to be content with a place on the bench, replacing Omari Sterling-James in the only change to the 18. It was the same 3-4-1-2 formation that started against Crawley. Mansfield were to switch to 4-4-2 before half time though (with Grant, Mellis, Bishop and Hamilton across midfield).

Colchester were unchanged from the side that beat Port Vale 3-0 away from home last week.

It was a sunny afternoon in north Essex but the coldest game of the season so far I think.

On 3 minutes, a Colchester free kick came to Eastman who shanked a shot well over the bar. A great tackle by White on 5 minutes after Hamilton gave the ball away. A minute later, Pearce dwelt on the ball for too long, it was nicked away from him and Smith blocked a shot from a tight angle by Szmodics almost on the byline, for a corner. At the other end on 8 minutes, good play from Benning to win a corner but Grant’s cross following the corner was cleared.

It could have been 1-0 to Colchester after 10 minutes when Jordan Smith made a fantastic one-handed save from Sammie Szmodics’ shot from 10 yards after good play on the left from Nouble. The ball then hit Benning on the chest with some calls for a penalty but correctly ignored by the referee.

Mansfield’s first chance of the game came when Hamilton made a great run to the byline on the right on 12 minutes and delivered a sensational cross to the far post where Ajose headed down from 4 yards and against the outside of the post.

Colchester took the lead on 14 minutes. Senior’s ball into the box was headed up in the air by a combination of the leaping Mandron and Pearce. As the ball came down, Pearce didn’t know where it was and then he and Benning got in each other’s way as Eastman nipped in to poke it into the net from 3 yards. I was initially critical of the defending but I think it was also a little bit unlucky.

Smith made another great save on 19 minutes, when Dickenson tried an audacious shot to the near post from wide on the left and Smith turned it behind for a corner.

On 27 minutes, Mandron played inside to Szmodics who fired high and wide. A great move from Colchester on 28 minutes as Mandron got down the left and shot into the side netting.

Colchester were really impressing and deservedly swept into a two goal lead on 30 minutes. Senior danced into the box on the right past Benning and Mellis and fired a shot under Smith from 12 yards. It was a superb goal from Senior. Smith got a hand on it but not enough to keep it out. I think it would be harsh to blame the keeper.

The Stags switched to a 4-4-2 formation with Hamilton in left midfield and Grant on the right of midfield, and White at right back.

On 42 minutes, great play by the Stags outside the box on the left involving Benning, Bishop and Mellis, and Benning fired a wonderful shot with the outside of his left boot from 24 yards which was heading for the top corner before keeper Gilmartin tipped it over the bar. Following the resulting corner, Grant whipped in a good cross which Sweeney headed well wide.

Colchester good value for the two goal lead at the break. Smith had pulled off two good saves and, although the Stags had gone close twice, it was a poor performance and a massive improvement would be needed if the Stags were to get anything from the game. The Stags had given the ball away too many times with Grant particularly at fault.

Half time 2-0

On 46 minutes, Nouble got past White on the left and put in a good cross for a free header for Szmodics which he sent over the bar.

The Stags came close to pulling a goal back in fortunate circumstances on 49 minutes as Hamilton’s cross from the left had to be tipped over the bar by the keeper.

Grant’s frustration continued on 51 minutes as he put a loose ball straight into touch. He was close enough to us that we could see he was furious with himself.

The Stags pulled a goal back after 51 minutes. White slid a nice ball inside to Walker on the edge of the area on right. Walker steadied himself and put in a magnificent cross, across the six yard box to the far post where Ajose chested it into the net from close range. Majestic from Walker, and Ajose made sure he was in the right place to score. Walker had put in a majestic cross for Ajose against Crawley as well but Ajose had missed that one. It was a great moment for Ajose with his first Mansfield goal.

On 54 minutes, Colchester keeper Gilmartin came out of his area to clear but got it all wrong, Ajose picked up the loose ball but, with the keeper out of his area, couldn’t get a shot in. Moments before that, White had to have treatment on his right ankle, and got the all clear from physio Tom.

Bishop was fortunate not to be booked on 59 minutes for a foul. It looked a clear yellow card but he escaped. He is only one yellow card away from a two game suspension so it was a let off.

On 60 minutes, Grant played the ball forward to Hamilton on the left. Hamilton powered into the area but his shot from a tight angle was blocked by Prosser.

Good defending by Sweeney on 62 minutes as Senior broke forward.

If the first goal was good, the second goal was even better, on 64 minutes. Walker slid a ball forward on the right for Grant to run on to towards the byline, Grant pulled the ball back and across for Walker to run on to it to simply place it left footed into the bottom left corner of the net from 12 yards. What quality and almost telepathic instinct between Walker and Grant.

Grant was thrown to the floor off the ball on 66 minutes. It was right in front of us and in front of Flitcroft and Futcher who were furious but the officials either didn’t see it, or ignored it.

Walker fired over the bar from 30 yards on 66 minutes.

Benning was booked for a foul on Lapslie on 71 minutes, the correct decision.

A great move from the Stags on 72 minutes as Grant played the ball out to Walker on the right and Walker tried to find Ajose in the middle with his cross. Ajose may have been impeded but no foul was given.

Bishop made a great tackle on 73 minutes.

Mansfield’s third goal, the eventual winner, on 79 minutes, was just as good as the second goal. Ajose turned 30 yards from goal, and chipped a magnificent ball into the box which Hamilton gambled on with the defence static and turned it past the keeper from 6 yards. What a moment as the Stags players celebrated in front of the joyous travelling fans.

Preston replaced Ajose on 82 minutes as the Stags put more numbers in defence.

On 86 minutes, Nouble got in a great cross from the left and a header from Pell was comfortably saved low on his line by Smith.

Rose replaced Grant on 86 minutes. Grant had had a superb 30 minutes after a poor first half.

Tempers started to boil over as we moved into stoppage time after White held on to the ball to slightly delay a free kick. The referee got the two captains together presumably to tell them to calm the players down.

And then 90 seconds into stoppage time that injury to White that came from a challenge by Frank Nouble. I haven’t seen the main camera video footage yet. From the pitchside footage (which is from the far end of the ground), in my opinion it was not a red card tackle by Nouble, though it was a foul for which Nouble was booked, and it was unlucky that White’s injury looks so serious. Whether it looks different on the main camera footage, I don’t know.
UPDATE: from the main camera footage, it looks more of a lunging challenge from Nouble, and perhaps could be argued to be a red card challenge.

Atkinson came on for the unfortunate White after the long stoppage with the clock now on 90+6 minutes.

The referee finally blew the whistle and I think he was a minute short given the time taken out of the game in stoppage time but the Stags weren’t complaining. Great celebrations from players, management and fans at full time. But everyone with a Stags connection was absolutely gutted to learn moments later of the likely extent of White’s injury.

Mansfield had lost on the last 5 visits to Colchester and you had to go back to 1995 for the Stags last win at Colchester (at the old Layer Road ground). Quite a result then. The Stags are back in action next Saturday at home to Tranmere. Make sure you get there if you possibly can.

Man of the match: Nicky Ajose

Report by: Martin Shaw at the Community Stadium



Line Up:
(3-4-1-2)
Smith 7.5 Fantastic one-handed save from Szmodics and another great save from Dickenson. Even though he got a hand on the second goal, I think it would be harsh to blame him for the goal.
White 7 Absolutely gutting news about his likely broken ankle. Get well soon Hayden.
Pearce 6.5 A little bit unlucky that he didn’t know where the ball was for the second goal. Good second half.
Sweeney 6.5 Good second half.
Hamilton 8 Great work for the third goal as he gambled in the area. Sensational cross for Ajose’s header against the post.
Mellis 7 Some good play particularly just outside the area on several occasions.
Bishop 7 Solid game. One great tackle in the second half.
Benning 7 Wonderful shot with the outside of his left boot tipped over the bar by the keeper.
Grant 7 Was clearly frustrated with himself for a below par first half performance, giving the ball away on occasions. But what a superb comeback in the second half, and what a magnificent pass for Walker’s goal. Stunning.
Walker 8 Majestic cross for Ajose’s goal. Such a calm finish for his goal.
Ajose 8.5 Headed against the post in the first half. Good awareness to be in the right place for his goal, chested in. Magnificent ball into the box for Hamilton’s goal.
Sub Line Up:
Preston (for Ajose, 82 mins) -
Rose (for Grant, 86 mins) -
Atkinson (for White, 90+6 mins) -
Subs not used: Logan, Khan, Alistair Smith, Graham.
Opposition Line Up:
(4-5-1): Gilmartin; Jackson, Eastman, Prosser, Dickenson (sub Vincent-Young, 66); Lapslie (sub Ogedi-Uzokwe, 81), Pell, Senior (sub Comley, 72), Szmodics, Nouble; Mandron. Subs not used: Barnes, Wright, Gondoh, Kensdale.
Referee:
Brett Huxtable 6 Probably could have done more to stop things from boiling over. Got most decisions right though I think.


Season 18/19 Reports