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Archived News from December 2003

REPORTS AND REACTION FROM STAGS WIN
20th December 2003 21:35


Hull City 0 v 1 Mansfield Town
Neil MacKenzie scored the only goal of the game for Mansfield six minutes from time, as the Stags upset the formbook against Hull.


The high-flying Tigers started like an express train and carved out a number of early chances. Marc Joseph missed the best of these for Hull on ten minutes but Kevin Pilkington in the Mansfield goal comfortably dealt with the effort.

Junior Mendes failed to take advantage of two efforts in the space of 30 seconds four minutes before the break, as Hull keeper Boaz Myhill never looked in trouble.

In first half stoppage time Hull thought they'd grabbed the lead but Ben Burgess looked on in frustration as his near post shot from a Dean Keates corner hit the woodwork.

Six minutes after the break Hull's Jason Price missed with a header and Mansfield's Lee Williamson fired wildly over seven minutes later.

Tony Vaughan and Wayne Corden both missed good chances for Mansfield late in the game, but MacKenzie's late strike ensured the Stags escaped with maximum points.

CURLE DELIGHTED

Mansfield boss Keith Curle described Neil MacKenzie's winning strike against Hull as a 'wonder goal'.


The substitute striker delivered the points with his winning goal six minutes from time to move Mansfield into third spot in the table.

"I said about 20 minutes into the game to my assistant John Gannon that it would take a wonder goal or a blatant mistake from someone to win the game," said Curle.

"It was a cracking goal from Neil MacKenzie but I told him when he went on to shoot on sight as anything can happen on a greasy pitch.

"We saw a bit more of the ball then Hull in the first half although there wasn't much goal action.

"It was two teams with good reputations, who were playing good football and were testing each other out.

"It was a big win on a quality stage. This is a magnificent stadium but we deserve to be playing at stadiums like that. We have nothing to be scarred off.

"Obviously there was some trepidation and uncertainty from the players in such a big game and that's where I earned my money at half time by keeping their belief going."

 

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