Archived News from March 2008
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STAGS DOMINATE BUT CAN`T FINISH OFF COUNTY
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STAGS DOMINATE BUT CAN'T FINISH OFF COUNTY
Notts County 0 - 0 Mansfield Town Att: 10,027 (3317 from Mansfield) Martin Shaw at Meadow Lane Mansfield dominated the local derby at Notts County roared on 3317 travelling fans, but Nathan Arnold's first half strike against the bar and Matt Hamshaw's last minute volley over the bar from close range were the closest they came, and despite deserving the full three points it was only a draw. The Stags thus remain 7 points away from safety. Stagsnet report now in the Match Centre. ------------------------ NEW: Observer report by Steve Hartshorn POINT GAINED IN BID FOR SURVIVAL BUT WILL IT PROVE ENOUGH? Notts County 0 Mansfield Town 0 In yet another turbulent week in the history of Mansfield Town Football Club, fans could have been forgiven if they had classed the crucial 'derby-day' encounter with fellow relegation strugglers, Notts County as secondary importance, as it turned out the 0-0 draw proved to be a much a do about nothing as the point gained by both sides answered no questions as to whether or not Stags could crawl their way away from danger. It was a critical game for The Stags who desperately needed all three points in their bid to escape the dreaded drop out of the football league but attentions had been cruelly turned towards the supposed idea's of new would-be buyer, John Batchelor, still a terrific away following of over 3,000 donned on their favourite amber and blue and tried to cheer the team onto glory. Paul Holland, who earlier on in the week had been given the job as Manager on a full time basis until the end of the season made a couple of changes to the side which had so disappointing lost at Bury on Easter bank holiday Monday. In what many had classed as the most important League meeting ever between the two sides, it was Mansfield who looked the more incisive with their sharp passing moves that looked good until the final third. Notts in the meantime looked devoid of all idea's and it seemed, happy to settle for a point before a ball had been kicked. The best early chance came on eight minutes when Jonathan D'Laryea crossed neatly onto the head of Louis, but County keeper Hoult was positioned well enough to make a comfortable save. Neither side were doing enough in the final third of the pitch to cause any real worry to the opposition, but both sides didn't lack endeavour in what can be classed as a typical derby-day atmosphere. On 25 minutes, Stags almost took the lead when Boulding's neat ball in the area came to the feet of Nathan Arnold. With the mass ranks of faithful Stags fans baying for a Mansfield goal, the young midfielder crashed his effort between post and crossbar. Stags then began a spell of real pressure with Louis with a header and Boulding with a turn and shot making Hoult in the County goal earn his money. All County could muster in reply was a couple of long range snap shots that failed to trouble, Carl Muggleton in goal. The 2nd half saw Notts up the tempo slightly with former Stags Wayne Corden seemingly at the heart of their best efforts but ten minutes into the 2nd period, it was Boulding who almost broke the deadlock but was denied by a defensive clearance by Johnson. Matt Hamshaw also let fly from distance but it was saved with easy by Hoult. As the game ticked by it looked increasingly like neither side were quite good enough to break down the opposition. There were tackles flying, plenty of fervour and a crackling atmosphere; all the game lacked was a goal. On 70 minutes, Muggleton was called into action to deny a snap shot by Crow. He also was on hand to deny a tame looking shot from Wayne Corden. On 71 minutes, Holland replaced Louis with Simon Brown as both sides still went in search of the opening goal. As the final few minutes of the game arrived, both sides had an ideal opportunity of claiming all three points. First Stags went close when Matt Hamshaw blasted wide from only a few yards when he came running onto the ball at speed and then Weir-Daley was denied when his goal-bound effort was blocked by a lunge by Jake Buxton. In the end County will have been more happy with the point gained more than beleaguered Stags who still remain in the bottom two 7 points adrift and with just 7 more games to go. This week Stags will be in desperate need of all the points they can grab with two games at Field Mill. Tuesday sees the visit of fellow strugglers, Wrexham, whilst this coming Saturday, the Stags welcome Barnet. With County sitting just one place above and with a seemingly massive seven point the gap the onus in clearly on Paul Holland's men to turn their fortunes around. The next seven days could be the most vital in the history of the club, both on the field and off. ---------------------- report from nottscountyfc.co.uk Notts County stretched their unbeaten run to four games in League Two with a goalless draw at home to local rivals Mansfield Town this afternoon in a highly competitive derby. Before a 10,000+ crowd, the first-half was a tight affair that saw the visitors come closest to opening the scoring midway through the half as Nathan Arnold's right-foot shot from inside the area came crashing back off the woodwork. In this full-blooded local derby Notts put the visitors under pressure at the start of the second half with Danny Crow and Wayne Corden both going close. However neither side were able to make the breakthrough - and the game ended goalless. Notts boss Ian McParland had something of a selection headache ahead of this massive local derby, and he opted to go back to the side which defeated Rochdale 1-0 at Meadow Lane one week ago with fit-again Michael Johnson and Mike Edwards recalled to the centre of defence after shaking off the knocks which forced the duo to miss the 0-0 draw at Shrewsbury on Bank Holiday Monday. Lee Canoville and Stephen Hunt were the duo to miss out, and both were named on the substitutes bench for the crucial game - while Mansfield were at virtual full-strength for the local derby. Goalkeeper Russell Hoult picked up an injury in the pre-match warm-up, but despite initial doubts he was named in the starting line-up. Tim Sandercombe was initially not on the bench, but he was called up in place of Neil MacKenzie at the last minute. He took to the field as Notts kicked off aiming for back-to-back home wins, but the early pressure in the opening minutes came from the Stags, with Hoult called into action on eight minutes to dive to his left and dive onto a header arrowing towards the far corner by Jefferson Louis from a right-wing D'Laryea cross. The opening stages were, as you would expect from a local derby, full of passion, plenty of running and determined challenges - and with a cracking atmosphere to the game had all the ingredients for an exciting local derby. Mansfield almost drew first-blood on twenty-five minutes, but after Boulding's excellent ball in behind the Notts defence picked out the run of Arnold in the box the frontman's effort crashed off the angle and post and bar and rebounded away to safety. That was the start of a real bout of pressure by the visitors, who also tested Notts with Louis' header straight at Russell Hoult and Boulding's turn-and-shot in the area which was also straight at the Magpies' giant goalkeeper. Notts' only attempts of the half came from long-range, but Pau Mayo and Richard Butcher were both unable to beat Carl Muggleton from outside the area. After that spell of pressure, the half passed by without either side being able exert pressure onto the other - meaning a half-time stalemate at Meadow Lane. Half-Time: Notts County 0-0 Mansfield Town The second half began with Notts putting the visitors under pressure, but two balls into the box from Corden just didn't fall kindly for the Magpies' frontmen and Crow also lashed a long-range effort wide of Muggleton's goal. At the other end a long ball over the top almost caught Notts out ten minutes into the half, but Boulding was denied by a fine defensive header by Johnson which initially looked as if he was heading towards his own goal - but he had read the situation well and mopped up quickly to clear. The same defender made another fine clearance two minutes later with a towering header to clear after Boulding had smartly flicked the ball over Adam Tann in the area as the Stags upped the pressure as they sought a much-needed goal in their fight for survival while Matt Hamshaw curled a long-range shot straight at Hoult. Despite huffing-and-puffing and bags of commitment, neither side were dominant as the game passed the hour mark - but with twenty minutes to go Notts almost broke the deadlock as Butcher and Crow combined well to allow the latter to shoot towards goal from the edge of the box however his shot was straight into the grateful arms of Muggleton. Corden also fired at the visiting goalkeeper two minutes later as Notts sought a way through the stubborn Mansfield backline, and the introduction of Spencer Weir-Daley in place of Ryan Jarvis ten minutes from time indicated Notts were still very much going for the win with Jarvis running himself into the ground with another hardworking display. In injury-time Matt Hamshaw spurned a glorious chance to win it for the visitors in injury time, but he blasted over from a few yards out at the far post from Simon Brown's cross from the left while at the other end Spencer Weir-Daley's goalbound shot was blocked by the body of Jake Buxton at the expense of a corner. Another point on the board cannot be sniffed out by the Magpies, despite wanting to claim those local bragging rights. Another chance for Mansfield to close the gap has gone - and once again Notts kept a clean sheet which was their fourth in a row. Assistant Manager Dave Kevan admitted prior to this game he was expecting a tight and tense encounter - and that's exactly what we got. Four unbeaten and another game closer to safety, the Magpies will certainly be content with this point which keeps them seven points away from those bottom two spots in this full-blooded and competitive derby. Full Time: Notts County 0-0 Mansfield Town TODAY'S GAME WAS SPONSORED BY HILLSIDE MEDICAL SUPPLIES Notts County: Hoult, Tann (C), Edwards, Johnson, Mayo, Butcher, Silk, Smith, Corden, Jarvis (Weir-Daley 79), Crow Subs Not Used: Lee, Sandercombe, Canoville, Hunt. Booked: Edwards. Sent Off: None. Goals: None. Mansfield Town: Muggleton, Mullins, Jellyman, D'Laryea, Hamshaw, Dawson, Boulding, Buxton (C), Baptiste, Arnold, Louis (Brown 71). Subs Not Used: White, Wainwright, Horlock, Briggs. Booked: Buxton. Sent Off: None. Goals: None. Match Referee: Mr M Haywood Attendance: 10,027 (3,317 Mansfield Town Fans) nottscountyfc.co.uk Man of the Match: Michael Johnson ---------------------- report from Press Ass. Match report from the 0-0 home draw with Mansfield Town, who are subject of a name change to Sky drama Harchester United. There was plenty of passion in this Nottinghamshire Derby clash, but little, if any, polish or punch, so a goalless finish was just about right. Defences dominated with both Notts County and Mansfield's back four in commanding form so that scoring opportunities were severely restricted and neither goalkeeper was unduly tested. The Magpies' Russell Hoult must have been pleased about that. He damaged a knee in the pre-match warm-up and was taken to the dressing room. There was such a doubt about him being fit to start that Notts shuffled their substitutes bench and drafted in Tim Sandercombe. In the event, Hoult not only started but saw through the 90 minutes. The best chances to either side fell in three minutes of stoppage time at the end of the game. First, Mansfield built up play down the left flank and, when the ball was swung over, Matt Hamshaw at the back post had a clear scoring opportunity, but blazed wide, the ball finishing in the stand behind the goal. Notts worked their way to the other end where substitute Spencer Weir-Daley produced a neat turn on the edge of the penalty area, only to see his shot deflected wide for a corner which Mansfield cleared. The Stags had been easily the better of the two teams in the first 45 minutes. They posed a series of questions for the Notts defence at the heart of which Michael Johnson and Mike Edwards, both returning from injury, were in awesome form. Their battles with Mansfield's front pairing of Michael Boulding and Jefferson Louis were one of the outstanding features of the game. It's the fourth game running in which Notts have kept a clean sheet producing three draws and a win as they claw their way to league safety. Mansfield, who were desperate for all three points, now remain in danger. --------------------- report from BBC: Notts County 0-0 Mansfield Notts County had keeper Russell Hoult to thank as they earned a point against fellow League Two strugglers Mansfield. Hoult had injured himself in the warm-up but struggled through the 90 minutes much to the relief of his side. The keeper pulled off several fine saves while Nathan Arnold also rattled the angle of bar and post with a fierce shot for Mansfield. It took Notts County 70 minutes to test keeper Carl Muggleton for the first time through Danny Crow. Notts County: Hoult, Tann, Edwards, Johnson, Mayo, Butcher, Smith, Silk, Corden, Crow, Jarvis (Weir-Daley 79). Subs Not Used: Canoville, Lee, Hunt, Sandercombe. Booked: Edwards. Mansfield: Muggleton, Mullins, Buxton, Baptiste, Jelleyman, Hamshaw, D'Laryea, Dawson, Arnold, Michael Boulding, Louis (Brown 71). Subs Not Used: White, Wainwright, Horlock, Briggs. Booked: Buxton. Att: 10,027 Ref: Mark Haywood (W Yorkshire). ------------------ report from youpies.co.uk This report is from listening to the radio due to illness stopping me from going to the match so i apologize if I get anything wrong Notts had a scare before kick-off with Hoult having to be carried off after the warm up by two men but was given the ok to play but Notts with permission from Mansfield and the official swapping Mackenzie on the bench with young keeper Tim Sandercombe. This was the 40th Local derby between the two sides and depending on what happens between now and the end of the season it could be the last one for a few years. Notts kicked off attacking the Meadow Lane end but gave the ball away. Stags started the game the better of the two sides and fine work from Arnold who crossed to Boulding the ball fell to Mullins but his cross is deflected for the first corner of the game. Hoult claimed the corner which was good for the keeper after his injury scare. Mansfield won a throw and when Hamshaw picked up the ball he put over a good cross which Hoult claimed again. Stags were next to create a chance and after fine work in midfield the ball was crossed over to Louis but his effort is saved by the Notts keeper. The stags are controlling the game in the early stages. Boulding was now looking for the ball at all times and when he went to take on Edwards the ball fell to Louis but he was fouled by Smith for a free kick to Mansfield. The free kick came to nothing and it was Notts to have a rare chance when Butcher tried is luck from long range but it went well wide. Butcher was again to have a chance but this time his shoot bobbled through to the stag's keeper. Boulding was next the next player to have a chance but his effort was easily saved by the busier of the two keepers Hoult in the Notts goal. Edwards was to get booked when Boulding was supposed to be fouled by the magpie's player but some would say that the stag's player “Dived”. After 20 minutes of this game the still was still 0-0 but this was only down to solid defending by the magpies defence. A clearance by Hoult held up in the wind and the ball fell to Dawson who turned Mayo and tried his luck from long range but the shot went over. Louis was next to test Hoult after turning Edwards but he did not beat the inform Hoult. A Boulding Cross found Arnold in space in the area and he put his shot against the angle of the post and bar to the relief of the Notts fans. Mullins found Boulding but his effort was straight at the Notts keeper. Notts just could not get out their half and when Corden gave the ball away to Boulding he tried a long range effort which went just over the bar. A couple of quick corners for the stags gave an opportunity to Mullins but headed wide. Notts had a chance when a free kick played in fell to Mayo but he shot wide. The match now entered the 3 minutes of added time but when Johnson and Boulding battled the stag's player went down. According to the radio reports Johno raised his arm but no official saw the incident. Half Time: Notts County 0-0 Mansfield Town. Charlie did not make any substitutions during the break so he was leaving it to the 11 that just could not get into the game during the first half. Notts had the first chance of the half and when after some fine passing the ball fell Butcher his shot his cleared away from danger. Crow was next to try his luck but his effort from 25 plus yards cleared the bar. A long throw from Mayo caused danger in the Stags area but after a scramble the ball is cleared to safety. Boulding was played through but when Johno played the ball passed his own keeper to clear some say he used his arm but the question was did he because no official saw it. Crow was not race away but the stag's keeper came rushing out to use his chest to get the ball and then clear the ball. Buxton was to see Yellow when he fouled Smith to give the Magpies a free kick but when the free kick came in it is cleared down field to Boulding who ran a long way to have a shot but Hoult Saved. After a 1-2 with Mayo, Corden tried his luck but the shot was saved too easy. Notts tried to change things with 10 minutes left replacing Jarvis with Weir-Daley. The stags win another corner when a cross is cleared by Silk but the short corner comes to nothing. The match now went into the 3 minutes of added time and maybe the best chance of the match fell to Hamshaw when Arnold found Brown he put a cross in for Hamshaw to clear the target from a fantastic opportunity. Notts won a late free kick and when the ball came over to Weir-Daley but his shot was deflected away for a corner. The corner was played over and cleared by Buxton has the ref blew the final whistle. Full Time: Notts County 0-0 Mansfield Town. ----------------- |
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