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Archived News from October 2018

STAGS DRAW AGAIN, CONCEDING ANOTHER LATE EQUALISER
12th October 2018 12:29


English Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Bury 2 - 2 Mansfield Town
Maynard 55, 90+5. Rose 10, Preston 73
Attendance: 3880 (640 from Mansfield)

Date: 6 October 2018

Martin Shaw at Gigg Lane

For the third time this season, Mansfield Town conceded an equaliser in the dying stages of a game to come away with just a point. It had happened against Colchester and Cambridge. Today it was Bury who equalised on 90+5 minutes to leave the Stags crestfallen. This was a good game of football though, and Bury looked a good side. I expect them to be in and around the play-offs at the end of the season. Had it not been for the lateness of the goal conceded here, and the fact that the Stags have already drawn too many games, I think it would be viewed as a good result away to a decent side. In truth, a draw was a fair result.

This was Mansfield’s fifth consecutive away draw which equals the club record set twice previously: 04May1949 to 05Sep1949, and 01Oct2011 to 06Dec2011 (Conference). (stats from Paul Taylor).

Bury started the game superbly, with the hugely impressive Danny Mayor running at Stags several times. The Stags meanwhile had made a poor start, exemplified by both Pearce and Sweeney slipping over in the early stages.

Yet it was the Stags who took the lead, in bizarre fashion, on 10 minutes. Bury keeper Joe Murphy routinely caught a cross. He then dropped the ball, probably not realising Danny Rose was behind him. Before the keeper could retrieve the ball, Rose pounced on it, nicked it away from the keeper and tapped it into the empty net. Bury claimed a foul. The referee gave the goal. From the main camera footage, it looks inconclusive as to whether Rose nudges the keeper. But from our pitchside video footage, it is completely clear that there was no foul as the keeper simply drops the ball without any contact from Rose. While Bury complained, Rose did not celebrate the goal, out of respect to his former club, rather like Billy Kee for Accrington a couple of seasons ago.

The goal changed the momentum of the game, and the Stags had two glorious chances to increase the lead. On 15 minutes, Hamilton found Khan completely unmarked in the area, to the left of centre. Khan only had the keeper to beat but the keeper was out quickly to narrow the angle and Khan fired straight at him. Then on 31 minutes, an even better chance: a great run from Khan and he found Rose in space 25 yards from goal. Rose took one touch forward and with just the keeper to beat from the edge of the box Rose fired wide of the left post. It was a very similar chance to Tyler Walker’s chance against Oldham, and Rose really should have scored from there. From his reaction, he knew it too. In stoppage time at the end of the half, Bobby Olejnik made a fine save, diving bravely at the feet of Nicky Maynard.

Bury equalised on 55 minutes with a great goal. Callum McFazdean chipped to the edge of the area, Adam Thompson headed back across goal, and Maynard got in between Pearce and Preston to send a magnificent overhead kick past Olejnik. A wonderful goal by Maynard. However if either Pearce or Preston had got closer to Maynard and attempted to head away, then the Stags would have got a free kick for a high boot rather than conceding goal.

The Stags regained the lead on 73 minutes. Timi Elsnik’s corner from the right to the far post was headed down by Matt Preston and into the bottom left corner of the net. A great moment right in front of the travelling Stags fans. And a rare goal for the Stags from a set piece. We need plenty more of those this season.

With Bury looking dangerous going forward, the Stags needed to open up a two goal lead to seal the game. And the Stags had three chances in a minute to do so. On 77 minutes, Rose and Hamilton broke forward in a 2-on-1 situation. Rather than shooting, Rose laid off to Hamilton, but the pass wasn’t good enough and the defender cleared. But the clearance went straight to Elsnik, who fired over from a great position. Just a minute later, a wonderful run down the left from Hamilton, to the byline, he played the ball across and Rose seemed certain to score from close range, but under pressure from a defender he put it wide.

Bury thought they should have had a penalty on 81 minutes when sub Telford went down in the area. From our pitchside video footage, there was minimal contact from Benning from behind and a penalty would have been harsh. To the astonishment of everyone in the ground it seemed, the referee added on 7 minutes of stoppage time. This was easily 2 minutes more than it should have been in my opinion. There was a roar from the home fans, buoyed by this. On 90+2 minutes, substitute Callum Styles sent a free kick from just outside the area inches over the bar. On 90+4 minutes, brilliant play from the fabulous Mayor as he cut inside from the left, going past 5 Stags players, he laid the ball into the path of McFadzean, who seemed certain to score, but Olejnik pulled off a super save from close range, one-handed low to his right. The Stags cleared, but within 17 seconds of that save from Olejnik, the ball was in the Stags net for the equaliser. McFadzean made a good run forward, Pearce did not know whether to go towards McFadzean or to mark his man Maynard, and in the end he really did neither. McFadzean knocked the ball past Pearce, to Maynard, unmarked 16 yards from goal, Maynard turned and fired low past Olejnik into the bottom right corner of the net. A sickener for the Stags. At Cambridge two weeks ago, the Stags were undone by a complete fluke goal which was flying into the stand before a deflection took it into the top corner. Here the Stags just had themselves to blame as the defending wasn’t good enough.

On 90+7 minutes, the Stags should have had a penalty. Elsnik broke forward, he laid the ball forward to Mellis. Mellis turned his defender McFadzean in the area, and McFadzean pulled Mellis down by his shirt. The pitchside footage is crystal clear. Had we had VAR, no doubt that it would have been given as a penalty. But we don’t and it wasn’t. After the game, Stags manager Flitcroft thought that it had evened itself out with the Bury claim for a penalty on 81 minutes. I don’t agree with that. The Stags claim was nailed on, the Bury claim was for minimal contact.

So another two points go begging. This was a reasonable performance from the Stags away to a good side. Bury deserved their draw. However, the Stags could have defended both goals better, missed some golden chances, and were denied a clear penalty in the 97th minute.

The Stags are next in action on Tuesday against Wolves U21 in the Checkatrade Trophy. That is a good opportunity for players who are not getting much game time in the league to get competitive action and stake a claim for a place in the side in the league. A reminder that if the Stags beat Wolves U21 on Tuesday, we will qualify for the next round with a game to spare (this is because Wolves U21 and Scunthorpe drew their first game, with Scunthorpe winning the penalty shoot-out for an additional point, which would mean that only one other side in the group could reach 6 points after 3 games).

FULL REPORT IN THE MATCH CENTRE

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REPORT: Bury 2-2 Mansfield Town
chad.co.uk, by Agency SPORTS REPORTER, Saturday 06 October 2018

Nicky Maynard's stoppage-time goal denied Mansfield two potentially priceless points. Maynard slid home his second goal of the game from 15 yards five minutes into seven of added time at the end. The result means the Stags have now drawn all five of their away games this term.

The hosts bossed the early exchanges at sun-drenched Gigg Lane. Tricky midfielder Danny Mayor expertly teed up Nicky Adams, but the Bury wide-man scooped an effort disappointingly over the top from 15 yards. Minutes later skipper Neil Danns fired in a shot following a mazy run, with Stags 'keeper Bobby Olejnik saving well.

Read more at: https://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/sport/football/report-bury-2-2-mansfield-town-1-9384438

Flitcroft's men bagged themselves a bizarre opening goal after 10 minutes. Danny Rose profited as the ball slipped out of Joe Murphy's grasp when the Bury 'keeper prepared to make a regulation clearance. The ex-Bury striker went on to tap the now loose ball into an unguarded net from five yards.

Murphy atoned for his clanger minutes later when he saved superbly from Otis Khan. While the hosts were stunned, the Stags had gained confidence from their shock opening goal, and they should have scored again after half-an-hour when Rose fired wide from 15 yards when he only had Murphy to beat.

The Stags were on top after the restart. Khan went on a terrific run before curling an exquisite shot inches wide from just outside the box.

However, Bury evened the score spectacularly in the 55th minute. Adams headed the ball hopefully towards Maynard eight yards from goal, and the home striker swivelled superbly before lashing home with a breath-taking scissor kick.

It was the Stags who regained the lead after 73 minutes, however. Defender Preston struck, powerfully heading home Timi Elsnik's floated corner-kick. Minutes later sub Will Atkinson fluffed a great chance to make it 3-1, before Maynard struck his late, late leveller.

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Match Report: Bury 2 - 2 Mansfield Town
buryfc.co.uk, 6 October 2018

Nicky Maynard’s brilliant brace rescued a point for Ryan Lowe’s Bury side who were behind twice to David Flitcroft’s Mansfield.

There was one change to the Bury starting eleven on a sunny October afternoon at the Energy Check Stadium at Gigg Lane. Attacking workhorse Chris Dagnall replaced Byron Moore to partner Nicky Maynard up front on his home debut.

https://www.buryfc.co.uk/news/2018/october/match-report-for-bury-vs-mansfield-town-on-06-oct-18/

The Shakers started the brighter of the two sides, with Maynard coming close to opening his Bury account. A well worked free-kick had Adams in on the right. He pulled the ball back into the danger area, but Maynard couldn't get to the ball first and Mansfield managed to get the ball away.

Despite being under pressure for the opening 10 minutes, the Stags managed to take the lead thanks to Danny Rose. Murphy didn't have the ball under complete control, allowing Rose to dispossess him. The ex-Shaker was able to roll the ball home into an empty net, but declined the opportunity to celebrate his goal against his former employers.

The opening goal gave Mansfield a lift, and they threatened the Bury goal again. Walker found Khan inside the area, and the latter managed an attempt on goal, but Joe Murphy was quick off his line to thwart the attacker exceptionally well.

CJ Hamilton was the next to go close for David Flitcroft's side, as he was picked out in the middle from a Danny Rose cross. Hamilton rose highest, but his header was off target, sailing easily over Murphy's crossbar.

Some superb defending from Mansfield kept their goal cushion. Adams whipped in a fantastic delivery from the right. CJ Hamilton did very well to hold off a battling McFadzean in the middle, but he couldn't win the ball and poke it home.

Danny Rose was hungry for more goals. The forward should have had a second on the 30-minute mark. Khan slipped the opening scorer in behind the Shakers defence. Rose beat Murphy with his shot, but also beat the post, keeping the score at 1-0 to the visitors.

The visitors came close to doubling their lead, again it was Rose with the chance. Bishop did well to pick the forward out at the back post, but his attempted header was off target, and the Shakers had a goal kick.

Captain Neil Danns looked to be the creative spark for the hosts as they looked to get back on level terms. He fired a ball into Dagnall, but the forward lost his balance while trying to control the ball. Danns then looked to thread Maynard through, unfortunately though the attempted ball was intercepted, and the Shakers remained a goal behind.

The Shakers were applying the pressure in the closing moments of the opening period, but unfortunately, they could not fashion a good chance to level the scores, and Mansfield took a one goal lead in at the break.

HALF-TIME: Bury 0-1 Mansfield Town

The Shakers, just like the first half, started in bright fashion. Nicky Maynard looked to dink the ball in behind Krystian Pearce for Dagnall. The latter battled well against the Stags captain, but Pearce was too strong for Dagnall, and he managed to get the ball away.

Mansfield were straight up the other end, and they were not far from doubling their lead. Otis Khan had the ball about 25 yards from goal. He created enough space to get a shot away, and his strike was just wide of the top corner.

It took the Shakers just 10 minutes into the second half to level the scores, with Nicky Maynard breaking his Shakers' duck in spectacular fashion. Adam Thompson headed the ball back across goal, and Maynard's acrobatic overhead kick flew past Olejnik, who had no chance of keeping it out!

The Shakers were starting to come forward with menace again. O'Shea and Adams linked up well down the right, as Bury vice-captain Adams looked to find a man in the box. Unfortunately for Ryan Lowe's men, the cross found a Mansfield player, who dealt with the threat well.

Some patient and smart build-up won a corner for the visitors. Timi Elsnik took the corner from the far side, and put the ball into the mixer, straight onto the head of Matt Pearson deep in the area. The Mansfield defender headed the ball down into the bottom corner, out of the reach of Joe Murphy in the Bury goal.

Mansfield looked to get the insurance goal as the game edged closer to the final 10 minutes. CJ Hamilton did well down the left to get in behind. He cut the ball back to opening scorer Rose, but some incredible work from Chris Stokes kept the deficit to just the one goal.

The Shakers were left furious as they thought they had a stone-wall penalty denied by the officials. Telford went down under pressure after receiving the ball, but the officials saw nothing wrong and the game continued, with the Shakers still just the one goal behind their visitors.

Jamie Barjonas got his home debut from the bench, and he looked to have an instant impact. He started an attack deep in the Mansfield half, taking the ball past a defender and playing Adams in on the right. Unfortunately, Adams' delivery couldn't find a white shirt in the box.

Danny Mayor, who had been a nuisance to the opposition as usual, looked to force an opening as we entered seven minutes of added time. He could only muster a corner from the by-line, as his cut-back was blocked.

The Shakers should have been level deep in stoppage time. Callum Styles was slipped in after incredible work from Danny Mayor, however the young Barnsley loanee couldn't find a way beyond Olejnik as he kept the ball out.

Moments later Ryan Lowe's side were level, and again it was Nicky Maynard with the goal. Maynard was found in the area, and he guided his effort beyond Olejnik into the bottom corner in the 94th minute.

Nicky Maynard's brace secured a deserved point for the Shakers, who had to come from behind twice despite dominating proceedings at home to Mansfield Town.

FULL-TIME: Bury 2-2 Mansfield Town

Bury: Murphy (GK), Stokes (Barjonas 82'), Aimson, Thompson, Adams, Mayor, Dagnall (Telford 69'), McFadzean, O'Shea, Danns (C) (Styles 75'), Maynard

Unused Subs: Hudson (GK), Miller, Dawson, Cooney

Mansfield Town: Olejnik (GK), Benning, Preston, Pearce (C), Bishop, Khan (Mellis 67'), Sweeney, Walker (Atkinson 61'), Elsnik, Hamilton, Rose (Butcher 83')

Unused Subs: Logan (GK), Sterling-James, Gibbens, Graham

Attendance: 3880 - with 640 Mansfield Town supporters

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