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Season 18/19 Stagsnet Match Report
English Football League - Sky Bet League Two - Play-off semi-final 1st leg
Newport County  
1 - 1
 Mansfield Town
Amond 83.
 
 Hamilton 12
Attendance: 6035 (286 from Mansfield)
 
Date: 9 May 2019

STAGS DENIED BY POOR REFEREEING DECISIONS AT NEWPORT

Martin Shaw at Rodney Parade

Mansfield Town drew 1-1 at Newport County in the first leg of the League Two play-off semi-finals at Rodney Parade last night. So it is all square going into the second leg at the One Call Stadium on Sunday (6pm kick-off). After poor performances in the final games of the regular season as the Stags missed out on automatic promotion, Mansfield were back to playing their fine free-flowing fast-moving passing football that had got them to the verge of promotion and it should have resulted in taking a lead into the second leg, but for a couple of incorrect decisions from the referee.

The controversy started as early as the 6th minute as a ball forward from Jacob Mellis set Tyler Walker away and he was clean through on goal before he was brought down by last defender Mark O’Brien. It was an obvious red card, but referee Charles Breakspear only gave a yellow card. The decision was clearly incorrect as noted by the pundits on Sky Sports who were showing the game live. So Mansfield should have played most of the game against ten men. Then in the 83rd minute, with the Stags leading 1-0, the second incorrect decision as the referee awarded a penalty to Newport. Newport sub Ade Azeez was heading for the byline as he touched the ball forward, Stags keeper Conrad Logan got a touch on the ball to put it behind for what should have been a corner, and then Azeez went over Logan. Referee Breakspear pointed to the spot. Another decision clearly incorrect and again noted as incorrect by the pundits on Sky Sports. Had Logan not got a touch on the ball or had Logan gone in recklessly or with excessive force, then it should have been a penalty, but neither of these was the case.

In a raucous atmosphere created by the home fans, Mansfield took the lead after 12 minutes with a magnificent goal. Alex MacDonald won the ball, nicking the ball away from Robbie Willmott following a Mickey Demetriou throw-in level with the edge of the Stags area, MacDonald surged forward to the halfway line and lay a great pass into the path of Jacob Mellis coming forward just to the left of centre. Mellis fed CJ Hamilton as Hamilton overlapped. Hamilton, who had run the length of the field, then sent a rocket shot into the roof of the net from a fairly tight angle on the left. Wonderful fast-moving flowing football from Mansfield, and the goal was right in front of the travelling Stags fans.

The Stags had a glorious chance to double the lead after 49 minutes. MacDonald slid a ball forward towards Walker, who showed great skill to skip past Demetriou and surge into the area, where he went around keeper Joe Day but with an open goal in front of him, stumbled as he shot and couldn’t get enough power on it, allowing Demetriou to get back and clear of the line. And on 67 minutes, Walker laid off to Mellis, whose left foot shot from the edge of the area was deflected up by a defender and then brilliantly tipped over the bar by keeper Day.

Stags keeper Conrad Logan had an outstanding game. After 33 minutes, he got down brilliantly to scoop away a downward header by Jamille Matt. Then on 50 minutes, moments after Walker had gone round the keeper at the other end, Matt headed down in the area, and Padraig Amond only had Logan to beat from 3 yards, but Logan saved superbly with his hand after making himself big. Logan then saved again on 64 minutes, from a shot on the turn by Matt from the edge of the area, pushing the shot away. The loose ball was turned into the net by Willmott but he was 2 yards offside. And then finally, after the penalty was incorrectly awarded against him, Logan saved the penalty from Amond, diving low to his left, but the loose ball fell kindly for Amond to turn the rebound into the net for the luckiest of equalisers. So unlucky for Logan. If ever a goalkeeper deserved a clean sheet, and to win a game, this was it.

This was a wonderful game of football. The Stags played really well, back to what we’ve enjoyed for most of the season. While, went Newport created chances, Conrad Logan was in superb form. So, all square after 90 minutes, with 90 more minutes, and possibly extra time and penalties, to come on Sunday. If you haven’t bought your ticket for Sunday, do go and buy it and let’s make it a great atmosphere to roar the team to the final at Wembley! Come on Mansfield!


Newport County came into the game in great form, unbeaten in 10 games with 6 wins and 4 draws, and having scored an 87th minute equaliser on Saturday to sneak in to the play-offs. Mansfield, by contrast, had lost 3 on the trot, including that last day of the season game at MK Dons.

Mansfield made 3 changes from Saturday. Gethin Jones returned at right wing-back, having been dropped on Saturday. Ben Turner replaced the injured Matt Preston, out with concussion. And Danny Rose started up front. Rose had a great record against Newport, having scored on all 4 starts against Newport. But of course, this was where he suffered that horrific facial injury in February having come on as sub on that occasion. Out went Mal Benning, dropped to the bench, and Willem Tomlinson, dropped from the entire 18. CJ Hamilton started at left wing-back. Alex MacDonald started in central midfield. There was a surprise on the bench with the return of Nicky Ajose, back from injury. He had gone back to Charlton to get treatment for his injury. Otis Khan also returned to the bench.

Newport were unchanged from the side that drew on Saturday at Morecambe. Indeed, the Newport side is so settled that there were only two changes from the side that played Mansfield in February, with Dolan and Sheehan in for Bakinson and Labadie.

Plenty of rain had been forecast during the 24 hours prior to the game, but mercifully hardly any came, and the pitch was in much better condition than when we were here in February. The game even started in pleasant evening sunshine.

The Stags started positively, and Danny Rose won a corner in the opening minute. From the resulting corner by Mellis, Rose was wrestled to the ground off the ball by Butler but you’d probably need VAR to get a penalty for that.

On 4 minutes, a great ball by MacDonald out to Hamilton, who chested down and sprinted into the area on the left, his cross was cleared back to him, and he then lobbed wide of the right post from a very tight angle.

The controversy started as early as the 6th minute as a ball forward from Mellis set Walker away and he was clean through on goal before he was brought down by last defender Mark O’Brien. It was an obvious red card, but referee Charles Breakspear only gave a yellow card. The decision was clearly incorrect as noted by the pundits on Sky Sports who were showing the game live. So Mansfield should have played most of the game against ten men.

The resulting free kick was 23 yards from goal, left of centre. MacDonald teed up Mellis who fired into the wall, it came out to Bishop, whose shot was also blocked.

Mansfield took the lead after 12 minutes with a magnificent goal. MacDonald won the ball, nicking the ball away from Willmott following a Demetriou throw-in level with the edge of the Stags area, MacDonald surged forward to the halfway line and lay a great pass into the path of Mellis coming forward just to the left of centre. Mellis fed Hamilton as Hamilton overlapped. Hamilton, who had run the length of the field, then sent a rocket shot into the roof of the net from a fairly tight angle on the left. Wonderful fast-moving flowing football from Mansfield, and the goal was right in front of the travelling Stags fans.

Brilliant defending by Hamilton after 15 minutes, winning the ball then winning a free kick. A minute later, Hamilton won the ball brilliantly again as Matt broke forward.

On 21 minutes, a long throw from Demetriou was headed up by Matt and Logan claimed.

A real chance for the Stags on 30 minutes, Rose picked up a loose ball, and had Walker in oceans of space pushing forward. But Rose’s ball to try to find him was poor as Walker would have been through 1-on-1.

A minute later, a great run forward from Mellis past his defender into the box, but he didn’t have the finish to match, shooting well wide of the right post.

A wonderful opening half an hour from the Stags, who had reverted to playing great football. MacDonald looked like a man possessed in central midfield.

After 33 minutes, Logan got down brilliantly to scoop away a downward header by Matt following a free kick from Dolan from the right. Then on 36 minutes, a long throw from Demetriou was only just cleared by Mansfield, sparking an inquest among the back line.

Poor communication between the officials after 39 minutes as the referee awarded Newport a free kick 25 yards from goal to the left of centre, and the kick was just about to be taken before the referee realised that the linesman had flagged for offside.

After 42 minutes, Mellis broke forward but put in a terrible cross. He inspected the pitch where he crossed as the ball must have bobbled. A minute later at the other end, claims from Newport fans for a handball in the penalty area as Dolan shot, but no claims from the players.

On 45+3 minutes, Rose pushed forward and played Walker in in the area, but the offside flag was up against Walker, and he shot wide anyway.

A super first half from Mansfield, though they had started to concede a few too many free kicks towards the end of the half.

Half time 0-1

The Stags had a glorious chance to double the lead after 49 minutes. MacDonald slid a ball forward towards Walker, who showed great skill to skip past Demetriou and surge into the area, where he went around keeper Joe Day but with an open goal in front of him, stumbled as he shot and couldn’t get enough power on it, allowing Demetriou to get back and clear of the line.

Then on 50 minutes, Matt headed down in the area, and Amond only had Logan to beat from 3 yards, but Logan saved superbly with his hand after making himself big.

Pearce was booked after 53 minutes for blocking Amond.

After 55 minutes, Rose pushed forward, Hamilton picked up the ball in the area and was tackled for a corner.

A good advantage played by the otherwise hapless referee after 62 minutes, Rose played forward to Walker who chested down but didn’t connect well with his shot and it was an easy save for Day.

Logan saved again on 64 minutes, from a shot on the turn by Matt from the edge of the area, pushing the shot away. The loose ball was turned into the net by Willmott but he was 2 yards offside.

On 67 minutes, Walker laid off to Mellis, whose left foot shot from the edge of the area was deflected up by a defender and then brilliantly tipped over the bar by keeper Day.

Rose was booked for a foul after the ball had gone on 68 minutes.

Throughout the game, Newport had made use of Demetriou’s long throws when anywhere within 35 yards from goal. Another one on 73 minutes fell to sub Labadie who miscued a volley well over the bar.

A brilliant move from the Stags after 74 minutes, Jones got to the byline, but wasted his cross. Straight to the other end and the Stags blocked a cross.

Benning replaced Rose after 77 minutes. Possibly related to Rose having just been booked. Hamilton moved further forward, with Benning at left wing-back.

Then in the 83rd minute, the second major incorrect decision of the night as the referee awarded a penalty to Newport. Newport sub Ade Azeez was heading for the byline as he touched the ball forward, Stags keeper Logan got a touch on the ball to put it behind for what should have been a corner, and then Azeez went over Logan. Referee Breakspear pointed to the spot. Another decision clearly incorrect and again noted as incorrect by the pundits on Sky Sports. Had Logan not got a touch on the ball or had Logan gone in recklessly or with excessive force, then it should have been a penalty, but neither of these was the case. Logan saved the resulting penalty from Amond, diving low to his left, but the loose ball fell kindly for Amond to turn the rebound into the net for the luckiest of equalisers. So unlucky for Logan. If ever a goalkeeper deserved a clean sheet, and to win a game, this was it.

On 90 minutes, Matt got past Benning, it looked like a foul, but no given, and Matt’s low cross was pouched by Logan. 3 minutes of stoppage time was added on and in the 3rd minute, Labadie turned and his shot was deflected wide.

Full time 1-1. The Stags can take great heart from the display. Back to the One Call Stadium on Sunday and all to play for.

Man of the match: Conrad Logan


Report by: Martin Shaw at Rodney Parade



Line Up:
(3-5-2)
Logan 9 Outstanding game, with three really good saves in addition to the save from the penalty which was incorrectly given against him. If ever a goalkeeper deserved a clean sheet, and to win a game, this was it.
Pearce 7 Solid.
Turner 8 Very good. Looking more up to speed now, having had more game time.
Sweeney 7 Solid.
Jones 7 Good performance returning to the side at right wing-back.
MacDonald 8 Like a terrier in midfield, a man possessed. Wonderful play in the build-up to the goal. Also fed Walker for his chance when he went around the keeper.
Mellis 8 Assist for the goal. Set up Walker when he was brought down and it should have been a red card. His deflected shot was also well-saved.
Bishop 7 Steady job in midfield.
Hamilton 8 Devastating first half at left wing-back. Ran the length of the field to finish off a great move with a rocket shot into the roof of the net. Some great defending in the first half. Quieter second half.
Walker 7.5 Good game. Great skill to get away from his marker and go around the keeper but stumbled in front of an empty net. His run at goal with great movement should have led to Newport being down to ten men early in the game. Some good lay-offs.
Rose 7 Put himself about and gave the Stags another dimension up front.
Sub Line Up:
Benning (for Rose, 77 mins) -
Subs not used: J.Smith, Atkinson, Grant, Khan, Alistair Smith, Ajose.
Opposition Line Up:
(3-5-2): Day, Poole, O’Brien, Demetriou; Willmott, Dolan (Azeez, 58), Sheehan, Bennett (Labadie, 72), Butler, Amond (Crofts, 84), Matt. Subs not used: Pipe, Marsh-Brown, Bakinson, McKirdy.
Referee:
Charles Breakspear 4 Absolute stinker. Two incorrect decisions that were very costly to Mansfield.


Season 18/19 Reports