Archived News from May 2019
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STAGS DENIED BY POOR REFEREEING AT NEWPORT
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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 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! FULL REPORT IN THE MATCH CENTRE -------------- Newport 1st leg match report by Sweden Stag STAGS UNDONE BY DIABOLICAL REFEREEING Playoff semifinal first leg at Rodney Parade NEWPORT-MANSFIELD 1-1 (0-1) Goal, Newport: Amond (83 penalty rebound after a spot-kick which never was). Mansfield: Hamilton (12). Attendance: 6035 (286 from Mansfield). The Stags drew 1-1 at Newport in the playoff semifinals first leg on Thursday night, which means that it is all square going into the second leg at One Call Stadium on Sunday evening. The overall performance was a good one and a Stags lead had been deserved, although the 1-1 result was fair in the end. The Stags started very well and went deservedly in front after twelve minutes with a magnificent strike. Alex MacDonald won the ball after a Newport throw-in, then laid a superb pass into the path of Jacob Mellis. He fed CJ Hamilton as latter overlapped. Hamilton then went on to unleash a superb strike into the roof of the net, sending the Stags fans into raptures. Newport keeper Day had no chance on this one. A few minutes earlier, referee Charles Breakspear got his first key decision completely wrong. A ball forward from Jacob Mellis set Tyler Walker forward being clean through on goal. He was tripped by Newport defender O’Brien as last man. It was a stonewall red card, as obvious as any neutral will see. O’Brien should have seen red as early as in the sixth minute, but Breakspear incorrectly only brandished a yellow. How had the game petered out if the Newport player had been red-carded? Wonderful play from the Stags early on in the first half. Newport grew a bit into the game in the latter stages of the first half, and the Stags keeper Logan, who had a blinder all night, pulled out his first brilliant save of the night as he scooped away a header from Matt after a free-kick on 33 minutes. A couple of minutes, poor communication between the useless officials resultat in awarding Newport a free-kick, but a linesman had moments earlier flagged for offside. Half-time 0-1 Early on in the second half, Tyler Walker could have put the game out of Newport’s reach. MacDonald slid a ball towards Walker, who skipped past Demetriou, then rounded the Newport keeper Day. But unfortunately, Walker stumbled as he shot. Therefore, Demetriou was able to clear off the line. A few moments later, a great chance for Newport to equalize. Matt headed down in the area to Amond. He had only Logan to beat from close range. But Logan made a world-class save to keep Amond out. Halfway through the second half, Newport thought they had equalized. After a Logan save from Matt, Robbie Willmott turned in the rebound. But he was a couple of yards offside. Pearce and Rose had been booked for the Stags for fouls. Latter was subbed for Benning on 77 minutes. Then in minute 83, referee Breakspear got his second key decision horribly wrong. Newport sub Azeez was heading for the byline as Azeez put the ball forward, Logan got a hand on it for a corner. Then, Azeez went over Logan. Breakspear was the only person on and off the pitch who thought it was a penalty. It was as horribly incorrect decision you ever will see. It was NO penalty. Up stepped Amond. Logan saved brilliantly, but the rebound fell to Amond, who equalized from close range. Very harsh on Logan, who had deserved a clean sheet for his heroics earlier in the game. And a huge very costly mistake from Breakspear, who made the worst referereeing performance the writer had ever seen in a Stags game live or on telly. Full time 1-1. But a good performance by the Stags, who have only lost at home twice to any Newport side in league history (old Newport club in 1938-39, the current one on the opening day of the 2011-12 season. All to play for on Sunday. Man of the match: Conrad Logan Report by: Svante Bernhard aka Sweden Stag having watched the game live on telly in Sweden Stags line-up: Logan 9,5 Outstanding game with three good saves apart from the one on the wrongly awarded penalty against him Pearce 7 Solid as a rock Turner 8,5. His best game in a Stags shirt. Almost impossible to get past him. Sweeney 7,5 Had a solid game Jones 7 Had a good performance MacDonald 8 Wonderful build-up for the goal. Set also up the chance for Walker. Mellis 8 Set up the goal and was also involved in the situation in which a Newport player should have seen red Bishop 7 Solid and steady in midfield Walker 7.5 Had a good game but was unlucky in stumbling while being clean on goal in the second half Hamilton 8 Superb first half in which he scored. Much quieter in the second half Rose 7 Had a good game. Subbed after being yellow-carded in the second half Sub line up: Benning (for Rose, 77) - Subs not used: J Smith, Atkinson, Grant, Ajose, Khan, A Smith. Newport line-up: Day, Poole, Demetriou, O’Brien, 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. Stinker big style who made two very costly incorrect decisions. Worst ref ever seen in a Stags game which the Stagsnet previewer has seen live or on telly. Very close to a 0 rating. Completely useless. ----------------------------------- MATCH REPORT: Late leveller earns Newport County a first leg draw against much-improved Mansfield Town chad.co.uk, by Agency, Thursday 09 May 2019 Padraig Amond’s late equaliser denied Mansfield an advantage after a tense League Two play-off semi-final first leg ended 1-1 at Newport County tonight. CJ Hamilton’s fine first half strike was cancelled out by Amond’s late leveller. Conrad Logan, who had earlier made two fine saves, conceded a late penalty with Amond smashing home the rebound after his spot-kick was saved. So David Flitcroft’s side will head back to the One Call Stadium all square on Sunday (6pm), trying to secure the club’s first ever promotion via the play-offs. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/match-report-late-leveller-earns-newport-county-a-first-leg-draw-against-much-improved-mansfield-town-1-9759885 The Stags were cruelly denied automatic promotion after their last-day defeat at MK Dons on Saturday. It was a frantic opening 90 minutes to their play-off double header at Rodney Parade with Hamilton opened the scoring in the 12th minute. Jacob Mellis found the charging Hamilton on the left hand side before the 24-year-old powerfully fired his left-footed effort from an acute angle into the roof of the net. Veteran shot-stopper Logan pulled off some fine saves to maintain the visitor’s lead. On the half-hour mark Mellis should have done better after worming his way between two defenders to get into the box, but he could only fire over. Down the other end Logan pulled off a fantastic point-blank stop to keep out Jamille Matt’s header. It should have been two minutes after the restart when Walker rounded Joe Day before failing to convert. Logan then had to have his wits about him once again to produce a super save to keep out Padraig Amond. Just after the hour Walker could only fire straight at Day after controlling the ball well with his chest. Newport seemingly levelled before the linesman rightly ruled it out for offside on 64 minutes. Logan once again frustrated Matt with a full-length diving save after the forward knocked the ball down and let rip from outside the box - with Robbie Willmott offside when he turned home the rebound. Mellis almost made it two, but Day did well to keep out his deflected effort. Then disaster struck for Stags on 83 minutes when a Day goal-kick was knocked on, with Logan taking out the chasing Azeez - who was going away from goal. Logan redeemed himself by saving Amond’s spot kick, but the rebound went straight back to the striker to level. But there were late scares for Stags as Azeez pounced on a Malvind Benning mistake in the dying embers, with Logan averting the danger, then Ben Taylor made a great last-ditch block to keep the tie level from Labadie’s shot. NEWPORT COUNTY: Day, Poole, Demetriou, O’Brien, Willmott, Dolan (Azeez, 58), Sheehan, Bennett (Labadie, 72), Butler, Amond (Crofts, 84), Matt. Subs not used: Pipe, Marsh-Brown, Bakinson, McKirdy. MANSFIELD TOWN: Logan, Sweeney, Pearce, Turner, MacDonald, Mellis, Bishop, Jones, Hamilton, Rose (Benning, 77), Walker. Subs not used: J. Smith, Khan, Atkinson, Ajose, Grant, A. Smith. ----------------- League Two play-off semi-final: Newport County 1 Mansfield Town 1 By Andrew Penman https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/17630431.league-two-play-off-semi-final-newport-county-1-mansfield-town-1/ NEWPORT County AFC kept their Wembley play-off final hopes alive thanks to a late leveller from top scorer Padraig Amond at a raucous Rodney Parade. CJ Hamilton’s superb early strike had put a determined Mansfield Town in the driving seat on a night when County failed to fire consistently. But Michael Flynn’s men never know when they are beaten and, just like at Morecambe on Saturday, they dug deep to claim a share of the spoils. Substitute Joss Labadie almost won it at the death, but this was a decent result for the home side and it's still all to play for in Sunday's second leg. Stags' boss David Flitcroft made three changes to the side that let automatic promotion slip through their fingers at MK Dons last week. And any hopes that the visitors would be psychologically damaged by that defeat went out of the window straightaway. Flitcroft’s men raced out of the blocks at 100mph and County struggled to keep hold of their coattails. The Exiles were lucky not to be down to 10 men as early as the fifth minute when Tyler Walker sprinted through the middle of the defence and was taken out by Mark O’Brien. The skipper must have feared the worst, as did the home fans, but referee Charles Breakspear reached for yellow rather than red. Jacob Mellis then blasted the free-kick into the wall and the hosts breathed a sigh of relief. That feeling didn’t last long, however, as Mansfield deservedly broke the deadlock in the 12th minute. Robbie Willmott lost possession from a Mickey Demetriou throw-in and Alex MacDonald launched a lightning quick counter-attack before Mellis released left wing-back Hamilton to smash an unstoppable shot past Joe Day from an improbable angle. Mellis could have added a second when he stumbled through a weak tackle from Regan Poole but his shot lacked the precision of Hamilton’s effort. County struggled to get going at all in the early stages and didn’t muster a shot on target until midway through the first half when Scot Bennett’s tentative stab towards goal failed to trouble Conrad Logan. The Mansfield keeper was certainly tested 10 minutes later, however, when he pulled off a stunning save from point-blank range to keep out Jamille Matt’s header after Demetriou had flicked on Matty Dolan’s free-kick. Flynn’s men had the better of the last 15 minutes of the first period and, despite their excellent start, it was the visitors who were grateful to hear the half-time whistle. But, just like in the first half, Mansfield started the second half on the front foot. Four minutes after the restart, Walker got away from Demetriou and rounded Day but Demetriou made amends by clearing off the line. County responded almost immediately and Padraig Amond was denied by another fine Logan save at the other end. Willmott then thought he’d got his side level when he slotted in from the rebound after Matt’s low drive was pushed out by Logan, but the offside flag curtailed the wild celebrations. Flynn threw on Ade Azeez and Labadie for midfield duo Bennett and Dolan as the Exiles stepped up their pursuit of an equaliser. Labadie almost made an instant impact as he volleyed just off target. But there were chances at both ends and Day did well to tip over a dipping, deflected effort from Mellis. Just when it looked like Mansfield would take a slender lead back to Field Mill, County got the break they needed. Azeez chased a lost cause and went down under Logan’s challenge on the byline. It didn’t look like a penalty, but Breakspear pointed to the spot. Amond’s spot-kick was well saved by the Mansfield stopper, who was excellent throughout, but the Irishman kept his head to rifle in the rebound and claim his 23rd goal of the season. It may still be advantage Mansfield, but that strike gives County hope as they head to Nottinghamshire. County: Day; Poole, O’Brien, Demetriou; Willmott, Bennett (Labadie, 72), Sheehan, Butler; Dolan (Azeez, 58); Amond (Crofts, 83), Matt Subs not used: Pipe, Bakinson, Marsh-Brown, McKirdy Booked: O’Brien Referee: Charles Breakspear Attendance: 6,035 (286 Mansfield) Argus star man: Day ----------------------- |
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