Season 18/19 Stagsnet Match Report
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Mansfield Town
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Macclesfield Town
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Grant 8, Pearce 57, Walker 89.
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Evans 42
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Attendance: 5642 (236 from Macclesfield)
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Date: 2 February 2019
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STAGS BEAT MACCLESFIELD 3-1
Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town overcame second bottom Macclesfield Town in a tight game at the One Call Stadium this afternoon thanks to two second half goals both coming from corners. Getting goals from corners is something the Stags haven’t been good at in recent times and it was great to see. It was 1-1 at half time, with an early goal from Jorge Grant, his 4th in the last 3 games, placing the ball into the net after great work from Nicky Ajose to get in a shot from the right that was parried by the keeper. Macclesfield cancelled out that lead on 42 minutes as Callum Evans fired into the net from 10 yards after a corner was cleared to him. And Macclesfield could easily have been in front at the break as three minutes later Scott Wilson was unlucky to see his shot across Jordan Smith cannon off the post, with Matt Preston doing superbly to block the follow-up shot from Reece Cole. And then two minutes after that, Mal Benning cleared a header off the line following another Macclesfield corner. Mansfield had earlier gone close to scoring when Grant’s free kick from 31 yards was just wide of the post, hitting the back stanchion on 35 minutes, and a minute later Tyler Walker’s shot was deflected wide with the keeper completely wrong-footed. Into the second half and great goalkeeping from Jordan Smith kept the Stags level on 54 minutes when Scott Wilson was through one-on-one but Smith was out to block superbly. And just three minutes later on 57 minutes, the Stags were in front. Jorge Grant’s corner was controlled beautifully by the groin of Krystian Pearce to send the ball goalwards, Callum Evans tried to clear off the line, his clearance hit Fiacre Kelleher and rebounded back towards the net. Pearce claimed the goal, his first goal of the season, and if we’re being generous, which of course we are to “The Chief”, it might have flicked off him as it went in! Macclesfield remained in the game after that playing some good football and could have equalised when Tyrone Marsh was completely unmarked on the edge of the area but fired straight at Smith. At the other end, Tyler Walker’s great shot from 20 yards was superbly tipped over the bar by Macclesfield keeper O’Hara. But Mansfield sealed the game after 89 minutes with another goal from a corner. Mal Benning’s corner from the right was headed down and goalwards by Matt Preston, it was half-blocked by sub Ryan Lloyd and might have been going in, but Tyler Walker took no chances and stabbed it over the line from 2 yards. Keeper O’Hara tried to save it but it was already a foot over the line before he pulled it back and the linesman immediately signalled the goal. Mansfield had a little bit of bad luck at Forest Green with a refereeing decision, but had a bit of good luck here, because Walker was a fraction offside as Preston headed the ball goalwards and therefore the goal should have been ruled out. No matter, it was Walker’s 20th goal of a fabulous season for him. So a vital victory for Mansfield on a day when the two-goal margin was flattering, but it’s all about getting results. The Stags weren’t at their best today, but ground out the result. Neal Bishop was my man of the match for an all-action display best summed up when he continued to surge forward despite being held back for a good 15 yards by powerful Macclesfield substitute Brice Ntambwe. Jordan Smith made some vital saves at big moments, Krystian Pearce had a fine game and deserved his goal, Matt Preston also had a good game with a great block at a crucial time at the end of the first half and that header which led to the third goal. Mal Benning also had a very fine game with a great clearance off the line at the end of the first half and the fine corner for the third goal. The Stags remain in second place, and are now 7 points ahead of 4th place, albeit having played a game more. On a day when plenty of games were postponed, credit to groundsman Mez Merriman and his team for getting the game on, with thanks also to local company Thermokil who used some form of heat system to keep the area of the pitch in front of the West Stand warm that sometimes gets frozen. As I arrived at the ground two hours before kick off, the system which appeared to pump hot air under covers, was being put away. Also great credit to the club for the initiative of letting under 18’s in for free. There was an extra thousand Stags fans on the gate over the Tranmere game a week ago. Not clear how many of those were under 18, but a good percentage certainly would have been, and hopefully many of these will come back. They are of course potentially the fans of the future. After the game it was announced that Mansfield have signed central defender Ben Turner. His contract was ripped up by Burton on transfer deadline day enabling him to join another club outside the transfer window and he is a superb signing. He is carrying an injury and will be fit in a couple of weeks. The injury to Hayden White, who had covered two positions, meant the Stags needed an extra right wing back AND central defender, and they now have both with Gethin Jones having signed earlier in the week. It was particularly important to strengthen the central defence with David Mirfin clearly not going to be ready for first team action in the foreseeable future and being sent out on loan to Conference North York City, while hugely promising youngster Lewis Gibbens, who could potentially have been recalled from his loan spell at Conference North Boston United, has dislocated his shoulder while playing for Boston and will be out for some time. Mansfield were unchanged from the side that drew at Forest Green. The bench was also unchanged. Gethin Jones was again on the bench. CJ Hamilton started at right wing back in a 3-4-1-2 formation. The Stags switched to 4-3-3 for the last 15 minutes of the first half with Preston at right back and Hamilton up front on the left, but then reverted to 3-4-1-2 at half time. Macclesfield, managed by Sol Campbell, had Nathan Cameron at centre half. Cameron was on trial at Mansfield in pre-season and did very well but unfortunately got injured and Mansfield couldn’t offer him a contract. He got himself fit and earned a contract at Macclesfield where he’s been doing very well and earning rave reviews. He was sent off at Cheltenham a week ago and would have missed this game, but the red card was correctly rescinded and so he was available. Striker Harry Smith, who scored against the Stags earlier in the season, was out through injury. I had a long chat with my counterparts from iFollow Macclesfield before the game. They noted that Sol Campbell has done a good job improving Macclesfield’s results but his recruitment in January has been poor. That’s a good point, as he’s brought in the likes of Samir Mullings, who was released by Maidstone United(!) and others, none of whom have solid League Two or above experience. Macclesfield played quite well in the game at the One Call Stadium, but I fear they will go down as other clubs around them have made good acquisitions in the transfer window. That was also the view of the iFollow Macclesfield commentators. We’ll see. It was a cold crisp day played under blue skies. Inside the first two minutes Tyrone Marsh chipped over Jordan Smith and wide from 30 yards. Two minutes later a good clearance from Sweeney for a corner from a good cross by Welch-Hayes. At the other end on 6 minutes, a good move from the Stags into the area but Grant fouled his man. The Stags were ahead after 8 minutes with a goal from Jorge Grant, his 4th in the last 3 games, placing the ball left footed into the bottom right corner of the net from 11 yards after great work from Nicky Ajose to get in a shot from the right that was parried by the keeper. “One Johnny Radford” chanted the Stags fans. John Radford stood up to applaud. On 13 minutes, a good block by Preston was Cole’s shot. A good move from the Stags on 15 minutes with Mellis heavily involved, eventually came to nothing. Then a minute later, Hamilton’s throw-in found Walker who sent a left footed shot well wide. On 18 minutes, Michael Rose curled a free kick goalwards. It went straight through to Smith when a little touch could easily have taken it in. Neal Bishop was fortunate on 26 minutes to escape a booking with a deliberate foul from behind. Remember he is just one yellow card away from a two game suspension. Benning won the ball and played a good one-two with Walker but his ball in was poor and wasted a good position. Macclesfield meanwhile were getting behind the Stags’ wingbacks a few times but wasting crosses. More good played from Macclesfield on 33 minutes ended with Cole shooting straight at Smith from 20 yards. The Stags had switched to 4-3-3 with Preston at right back and Hamilton up front on the left. Mansfield went close to scoring on 35 minutes when Grant’s free kick from 31 yards was just wide of the post, hitting the back stanchion. The free kick came after brilliant skill from Grant himself in the build-up to winning the free kick when Walker was fouled. A minute later, a great move involving Mellis, and Tyler Walker’s shot was deflected wide with the keeper completely wrong-footed. On 41 minutes, Wilson laid off to Michael Rose who shot from 25 yards was over the bar via a deflection. From the resulting corner, Macclesfield cancelled out the lead. The corner was cleared by Mellis at the near post, straight to Callum Evans who fired into the net from 10 yards. Grant just switched off for a fraction of a second allowing Evans to get away from him and fire home. Macclesfield could easily have been in front on 45 minutes when Scott Wilson was unlucky to see his shot from the left, across Jordan Smith, cannon off the right post, with Matt Preston doing superbly to block the follow-up shot from Reece Cole. And then two minutes after that, Mal Benning cleared a header off the line from Kelleher following another Macclesfield corner from Michael Rose. The Stags had started well, going ahead early, but Macclesfield had a purple patch of five minutes, scoring and going close on other occasions including hitting the post. The Stags meanwhile went close twice earlier. Other than that last 5 minutes of the half, the visitors had impressed without having quality in the final ball. Half time 1-1 The Stags reverted to 3-4-1-2 at the start of the second half, with Hamilton again at right wing back. And straight away in the second half, a superb one-two between Hamilton and Grant on the right, with Hamilton’s on-target shot being blocked. On 51 minutes, Grant won the ball and played to Bishop who found Walker on the right, whose cross-cum-shot was wide of the left post. Great goalkeeping from Jordan Smith kept the Stags level on 54 minutes when Scott Wilson was through one-on-one but Smith was out to block superbly. A minute later, Preston’s high ball forward presented a half-chance to Ajose who tried to head over the keeper but the keeper saved above his head. On 57 minutes, the Stags were in front. Jorge Grant’s corner was controlled beautifully by the groin of Krystian Pearce to send the ball goalwards, Callum Evans tried to clear off the line, his clearance hit Fiacre Kelleher and rebounded back towards the net. Pearce claimed the goal, his first goal of the season, and if we’re being generous, which of course we are to “The Chief”, it might have flicked off him as it went in! On 62 minutes, Hamilton laid off to Grant, who cut inside and his left footed shot was just wide of the right post. Macclesfield remained in the game and could have equalised on 63 minutes when Sweeney lost the ball, and the ball was played across to Tyrone Marsh who was completely unmarked on the edge of the area but fired straight at Smith. On 64 minutes, Neal Bishop continued to surge forward despite being held back for a good 15 yards by powerful Macclesfield substitute Brice Ntambwe. The resulting free kick from 24 yards was fired over the bar by Grant. On 66 minutes, Hodgkiss broke down the right, and played inside to Cole who shot just over the bar from 25 yards. On 72 minutes, Smith pouched a cross and got a break moving by bowling the ball out, which culminated in Tyler Walker’s great shot from 20 yards superbly tipped over the bar by keeper O’Hara. Danny Rose replaced Ajose on 73 minutes. Brilliant defensive play in midfield from Bishop and Grant moments later. On 81 minutes, Benning crossed from the left and Danny Rose headed well wide from the edge of the box. Gethin Jones replaced Hamilton at right wing back on 82 minutes. A couple of great pieces of defending by Pearce followed. On 84 minutes, Benning’s free kick floated into the box was held underneath his bar by the keeper. A minute later at the other end, Scott Wilson fired a pearoller at Smith from 25 yards. Then good strong defending by Sweeney on sub Botti Biabi. Great play by Gethin Jones to win a corner on 88 minutes. Before the corner was taken, Atkinson replaced Mellis (89 minutes). And from the resulting corner, Mansfield sealed the game with another goal from a corner. Mal Benning’s corner from the right was headed down and goalwards by Matt Preston, it was half-blocked by sub Ryan Lloyd and might have been going in, but Tyler Walker took no chances and stabbed it over the line from 2 yards. Keeper O’Hara tried to save it but it was already a foot over the line before he pulled it back and the linesman immediately signalled the goal. Mansfield had a little bit of bad luck at Forest Green with a refereeing decision, but had a bit of good luck here, because Walker was a fraction offside as Preston headed the ball goalwards and therefore the goal should have been ruled out. No matter, it was Walker’s 20th goal of a fabulous season for him. On 90+1 minutes, a long ball forward for Danny Rose, who got past one defender and shot at the keeper. A minute later at the other end, Cole shot well over the bar. A big three points for the Stags thanks to two scruffy but vital goals from corners. On to Newport next Saturday. Man of the match: Neal Bishop |
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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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(3-4-1-2)
Smith 7.5 Superb save, coming out to deny Wilson at a crucial time just before the Stags regained the lead. Preston 7.5 Great block at a crucial time at the end of the first half and great header which led to the third goal. Pearce 8 Had a fine game and deserved his goal. Sweeney 7 Solid game. Lost the ball on one occasion presenting a chance to Marsh. One super clearance. Hamilton 6 One on-target shot blocked, but otherwise a quiet game. Bishop 8.5 My man of the match for an all-action display best summed up when he continued to surge forward despite being held back for a good 15 yards by powerful Macclesfield substitute Brice Ntambwe. Fortunate to escape a booking with a deliberate foul from behind. Remember he is just one yellow card away from a two game suspension. However if he can avoid being booked in the next 6 games, he will avoid a suspension (the cut-off for suspension is 37 games). Mellis 7 Involved in several good moves. Benning 8 Very fine game with a great clearance off the line at the end of the first half and the fine corner for the third goal. Grant 8 Such a cool calm finish for his goal. Corner set up Pearce’s goal. Several pieces of brilliant skill. Just switched off for a fraction of a second for the Macclesfield goal. Walker 8 Ever alert to tap in his 20th goal of a fabulous season. Great shot from 20 yards superbly tipped over the bar. Ajose 7 Great work to get in a shot that was parried by the keeper for Grant to score the first goal. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Rose (for Ajose, 73 mins) - Did well when he came on.
Jones (for Hamilton, 82 mins) - Promising. Really good play to win the corner that led to the third goal. Atkinson (for Mellis, 89 mins) - Subs not used: Logan, Law, Alistair Smith, Khan. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(4-3-2-1): O’Hara; Hodgkiss, Cameron, Kelleher, Welch-Hayes; Evans (Lloyd 76), Michael Rose, Maycock (Ntambwe 56); Marsh (Biabi 68), Cole; Wilson. Subs not used: Idem, Fitzpatrick, Jules, Mullings.
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Referee:
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Michael Salisbury 7 Good game, though the Stags had a bit of luck that the linesman didn’t spot that Walker was a fraction offside for the third goal. No mistake however from the linesman spotting that the ball did cross the line.
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