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TORQUAY UNITED |
0-0 |
MANSFIELD TOWN |
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Saturday 22nd March 2002 - Nationwide League Division 3 |
Attendance: 2, 679 |
Sports.com: Torquay held promotion-chasing Mansfield to a goalless draw at Plainmoor. The home team very nearly claimed the win a minute from time, but away keeper Kevin Pilkington earned a standing ovation from fans of both sides after somehow keeping out a goal-bound first-time shot from David Graham. "I hope I look back in a few weeks time and see that save as one that took us up," said Mansfield assistant manager Neil Richardson. Mansfield could have had few complaints if Torquay had clinched all three points in the second half. Having snuffed out The Stags free-scoring attack, Torquay dominated the second half. Steve Woods crashed a 71st minute volley against the bar, Alex Russell went close from 30 yards, and Marcus Richardson had a goal disallowed for offside. In the 83rd minute, Pilkington made his only mistake of the match, stranding himself well off his line during a Torquay counter-attack, but Chris Brandon lobbed the ball wide of the empty net. Third-placed Mansfield had gone into the match with five defeats in their previous six away games, and desperately needed to stop the rot. "It's been a long week on the road," said Richardson after games at Swansea, Orient and Torquay. "It was hard work, and at this stage of the season there's a lot of tension for everybody. "We are looking forward to getting back home." Torquay, all but safe from relegation, have been improving steadily in recent weeks. Manager Roy McFarland said: "I think Mansfield are a little fortunate to go away with a point. "We never got behind them in the first half, but we picked up well in the second and we had much the better chances. "We are looking very strong at the back, and I think that showed again. Sean Hankin, Steve Woods and Reuben Hazell were all outstanding. "They took care of Chris Greenacre well, although we didn't make any special arrangements for him" |
Teamtalk:
A superb performance from visiting keeper Kevin Pilkington kept The Gulls
at bay as Mansfield held out for a goalless draw at Plainmoor. The
Stags stopper was in superb form - denying David Graham what looked a
certain winner in stoppage time with a world-class save. The home
side gave a debut to Nicky Banger, who set up the first chance of the game
when he laid the ball off for Marcus Richardson to fire in an effort from
25 yards which was well saved by Pilkington. The visitors should
have been in front on 40 minutes when Wayne Corden curled a cross in from
the left and Shayne Bradley somehow headed wide from only five yards out.
United were denied again when Richardson's shot was superbly blocked by
transfer-listed Stags defender Adam Barrett. Lee Russell then had an
30-yard effort well saved by the impressive Pilkington as the home side
continued to push forward. The woodwork came to the visitors' rescue
on 70 minutes when a Russell corner found Stephen Woods at the back post
and the defender smashed the ball against the bar from an acute angle.
Four minutes later The Gulls had an effort ruled out for offside when,
after good work from Russell and Chris Brandon, Kevin Hill tapped the ball
home only for the official's flag to ruin the celebrations. A long
clearance from Kevin Dearden then found Brandon clean through on goal but
the striker's lobbed effort from 30 yards fell just wide. The game
was a minute into stoppage time when Pilkington pulled of a |
torquayunited.com:
With Mansfield riding high today's match was always going to be a tough
test for Roy McFarland's side. Making his debut for the Gulls was Nicky
Banger who signed yesterday morning, and, as Charlie MacDonald returned to
Charlton last week, this was the only change in the line-up that took on
and beat Macclesfield. Mansfield's recent away form has been
somewhat questionable and Torquay met them this afternoon after a midweek
defeat at Leyton Orient for the Stags. Torquay's last two games, on
the other hand, both ended in three points for the Gulls. With a
hint of mist hanging in the air, the game kicked off on time with Torquay
attacking the noisy away fans in the Babbacombe End. It was
Mansfield who had the first chance, when a shot was sent wide of Kevin
Dearden's goal, and then a minute later, Martin Pemberton struck a free
kick which also went wide. Torquay took a little time to compose
themselves at the start of the game, and for the first 5 minutes the
action took place mainly in the Gulls' half of the pitch. Kevin Hill
finally had Torquay's first shot on goal, but the strike from outside the
area never really threatened Mansfield's goal. Nicky Banger also had a dip
after some great work by Chris Brandon, but he sent the ball over the top
of Kevin Pilkington's goal. Mansfield were the better team for the
first 20 minutes or so and Martin Pemberton was the player that seemed to
be involved in many of Mansfields' good moves, he ran at Torquay's defence
on a couple of occasions and looked lively and pacey. Chris Brandon
had a half chance with the keeper at his feet on 20 minutes and after
Pilkington had spilled the ball Brandon played it back to Kevin Hill,
who's subsequent cross found Marcus Richardson. Richardson's header was
weak though, and the goalkeeper had little to do to stop the ball.
Chris Brandon had a shot deflected by the behind of Nicky Banger as he
shot through a crowd on 25 minutes, and Pilkington had to readjust his
dive before saving well as the ball skidded towards goal. David
Graham received a kick to the head on 36 minutes but Torquay completely
wasted the free kick opportunity with Paul Holmes taking his time and
being run down, then Shayne Bradley had a great chance for the Stags but
his header, from 4-yards, was put well out. It was definitely
Mansfield's first half but their final touch was never good enough. Chris
Greenacre, the division's top goalscorer, was quite quiet. Torquay
started the second half a bit brighter, and Paul Holmes showed some
fantastic skill to supply the ball into the Mansfield box. Nicky Banger
also had an early chance and David Graham fired a shot so wide that it
went out for a throw in. Sean Hankin received a yellow card on 53
minutes, then Mansfield's Craig Disley had a weak shot saved by Kevin
Dearden. Then, on 56 minutes, Mansfield attacked well down the right, but
again their final touch was missing. Chris Greenacre had another
chance to put the Stags in front after 12 minutes of the second half, he
did well to break through Torquay's defence but his shot was very poor and
Dearden just watched the ball roll past his right hand post. Tony
Bedeau replaced Nicky Banger and then on 63 minutes Alex Russell struck a
great shot from outside the Mansfield area. The goalkeeper did well to get |
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Stagsnet Man of the Match: Adam Barrett |
STAGS RATINGS by Jeff Barnes | ||
Pilkington | 7 | Handled well throughout and a fantastic save late in the game saved a point. |
Hassell | 7 | Was everywhere as usual but is missing someone outside him when he moves forward. |
Pemberton | 6 | Must take some responsibility for not getting Corden more in the game. |
Robinson | 7 | Very solid game, intercepted well and kept it simple. |
Barrett | 8 | Looked strong and mobile and back to his best, hope we keep him! |
Corden | 6 | Got some decent crosses in during the first half but out of the game in the second half apart from a free kick which just cleared the angle of post and bar. |
Disley | 5 | Looks to be short on confidence and gave the ball away too often when moving forward which lost us chances and put us under pressure. |
Murray | 6 | No space to shine but competed well, lost in the no mans land between winger/midfield/forward. |
Williamson | 7 | Usual skills on show but would be more dangerous further up the field. |
Bradley | 6 | Normal bustling aggression but poor first touch and missed the chance of the match in the first half, heading wide from five yards out. |
Greenacre | 6 | Can't buy a goal at the moment, scuffed his only chance wide. Needs to score any kind of goal to get him back on track. |
Subs: | ||
Kelly | 6 |
(for Bradley, 70) Took up
some good positions and could have won all three points at the death when a stronger shot would have beaten the diving keeper. |
White | 6 | (for Greenacre, 78) Replaced Greenacre to the fury of some travelling fans. One soft header and a failure to connect to a sharp cross in the six yard box were his only contribution really. |
Subs Not Used: Bingham, Sellars, Reddington. |