Mansfield Matters:For The Fans, By The Fans!
  • Home
  • MM-Blog
    • Terrace Talk
  • 2019-20
  • PODCAST
    • A Trip Down Memory Lane
    • Stags Stories
    • Series 1
    • Series 2
  • Legends LIVE
  • Back In Time
    • Into The Unknown
    • The Conference Years >
      • Stags 2011-12 (Play-offs)
      • Stags 2012-13 (Champions) >
        • Audio Highlights
        • Reserves & Youth
        • Youth
      • 2011: When Dreams Came True
      • 2012: The Year Of The Stag
    • Stags 2013-14 (Football League Return)
    • Stags 2014-15
    • Stags 2017-18
    • Stags 2018-19

BLOG: They we’re not united – Stags 0-1 Sheffield United

21/7/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
Craig Priest & Emily Sykes write…

Mansfield Town failed to make it three wins from as many games yesterday as they were beaten by Febien Brandy’s third minute strike at the One Call Stadium. The match itself saw Cox’s men take a massive step back in their progress, with a performance that lacked any real commitment, desire or energy from the same group of players that saw off Chester and Peterborough days prior.

Things slightly improved in the second half as the visiting keeper was tested, however the amount of space given to their opponents and apparent lack of enthusiasm to chase the game late on would not be accepted in a league or cup fixture, so why should we accept it in a friendly?

Craig wrote before the match about Speight and Morgan-Smith being given chances to shine, both played 45 each and sadly, neither quite took the opportunity which came there way. Morgan-Smith looked powerful with his movement again and did come close to grabbing a goal, however it perhaps wasn’t close enough. Will he get another chance as the striker search goes on – only time will tell.

Typically Stags began well and registered their first chance with the game only 18 seconds old, Lee Beevers’ long ball picked out Matt Rhead on the edge of the box – the big man fired wide after turning well.

Frustration soon followed excitement as with pretty much their first attack of the match, Sheffield United grabbed the opener. Right back Daryl Westlake pushed forwards and turned Paul Black on the bye-line to deliver a low cross into the centre, ex Notts County forward Febian Brandy did the rest, spinning Dempster before firing underneath Alan Marriott.

It could have been two for United seven minutes later as Black slid in on  Brandy just outside the Stags penalty area following a dominant, unmarked stroll from Blades midfielder Jamie Murphy. Daryl Westlake stepped up to curl towards the top corner however he was deied by the well positioned Marriott.

At the other end Stags failed to make the best of a Junior Daniel corner before Cox withdrew John McCombe on 21 minutes after he picked up a knock, his replacement Ryan Tafazolli soon stamped his authority on the match and kept Chris Porter tightly marked.

Marriott had to be alert on the half hour mark as a rare slip from skipper Dempster allowed Porter to latch onto a long ball, the Stags custodian got down low to palm the ball away for a corner – Seconds later Marriott again denied the same player after Anthony Howell was caught napping in the centre by Murphy.

Three minutes before the break Junior Daniel was booked for a late challenge on Marcus Williams and promptly substituted for Lindon Meikle, on the stroke of half time Matt Rhead flicked the ball into the path of Speight however the front man failed to pounce as Williams swept into make a fine intervention – the Stags faithful remained deadly quiet as the players trooped off at the break, silence though spoke a million words.

Paul Cox then made five changes at the break as Rhead, Black, Speight, Clucas and Murtagh made way for Lee Stevenson, George Pilkington, Adam Murray and Trialists Nathan Arnold and Amari Morgan-Smith entered the fray.

The second half saw a rather tame start and had it not been for an excellent challenge from Tafazolli on 50 minutes, Brandy would have undoubtedly grabbed his and the visitors second of the game. Three minutes later at the other end, the young defender nodded Lee Beevers’ long throw wide of the target as Stags saw a brief flash of the Blades goal.

Jamie McGuire and Ritchie Sutton were then introduced on 63 minutes, three minutes into his match McGuire drew George Long into action, forcing the Blades keeper into an excellent save with an 18 yard drive after Nathan Arnold’s tee up.

Amari Morgan-Smith nearly made a name for himself a minute later, curling a free kick over from the edge of the box after he was fouled, however it was Lee Stevenson who came close on 68 minutes, firing at the keepers legs from Lindon Meikle’s cut back on the right hand side.

Mansfield had started to bloom and saw Nathan Arnold come close with a fantastic volley from the left of the box on 76, Morgan-Smith was then put through on goal by Meikle but saw Long get down low to deny him. Time simply ran out for Stags who, if we’re honest, never teetered above average against a very strong Sheffield United side.

FULL TIME: Stags 0-1 Sheffield United        
Picture(C) Chris Holloway http://www.flickr.com/photos/bluewheelofficial/sets/72157634716497833/
STAGS: 1 Alan Marriott, 2 Lee Beevers (12 Ritchie Sutton 63), 4 John Dempster ©, 5 John McCombe (20 Ryan Tafazolli 21), 3 Paul Black (18 George Pilkington HT), 12 Junior Daniel (14 Lindon Meikle 42), 6 Keiran Murtagh (9 Amari Morgan-Smith HT), 13 Anthony Howell (8 Jamie McGuire 63), 11 Sam Clucas (19 Adam Murray HT), 10 Jake Speight (21 Nathan Arnold HT), 22 Matt Rhead (16 Lee Stevenson HT)
UNUSED SUBSTITUTES: Martin Riley, Ross Dyer, Ben Hutchinson, Chris Clements.

Referee: Michael Naylor (South Yorkshire)


The views expressed in this blog are those of the writers and not those of Mansfield Matters or its related organisations – to submit a blog, email mtfcmatters@gmail.com         

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    ABOUT MM-BLOG

    On this page you will find a range of articles written by the Mansfield Matters team, including our popular Match Preview's and our in depth Match Reports.

    As with our open forum for fans, we encourage you to share your views by posting on our Terrace Talk blog – to submit an article please email it in Microsoft Word format. 

    Please read the disclaimer on the home page. 

    Archives

    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    January 2016
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    November 2011

    Categories

    All
    2011 12 Season Review
    2011-12 Season Review
    2013 14 Pre Season
    2013 14 Pre-Season
    2013/14 Season
    2014/15 Pre Season
    2014/15 Pre-Season
    201516 Seson
    2016 17
    2016-17
    2017 18
    2017-18
    2018 19
    2018 19 Pre Season
    2019 20
    2019-20
    2019 20 Pre Season
    Awards
    Capital One Cup
    Checkatrade Trophy
    Craig Priest
    EFL Cup (Carabao)
    EFL Trophy (Leasing.com)
    Fa Cup
    Farewell Matt Green
    Featured Bloggers
    Friendly
    Game Review
    Green Energy Challenge Trophy
    History
    Hot Topics
    Into The Unknown
    John Thompson
    Jpt
    Kirsty Swann
    League Cup
    Legends Live
    Manager Review
    Mansfield Matters Weekly
    Mark Plumb
    Match Preview
    Match Preview 2012 13
    Match Preview 2012-13
    Match Preview 2013 14
    Match Preview 2013-14
    Match Preview 2017 18
    Match Report
    Match Report 13 14
    Match Report 13-14
    Match Report 14 15
    Match Report 14-15
    Match Report 17 18
    Match Report 18 19
    Match Report 19 20
    Match Report 2012 13
    Match Report 2012-13
    Memory Lane
    Mid Season
    News
    Paul Cox 100
    Player Review
    Play Offs
    Play-Offs
    Play Offs [League Two]
    Podcast
    Pre-season1213
    Pre Season 17/18
    Reserve Team
    Rhys Day Testimonial
    Road Trips
    Season Review 2012 13
    Season Review 2012-13
    Sky Bet League Two
    Stags Stories
    Stags Youth
    Supporter Blog
    The Exhibition XIs
    Twelve Against Time
    Under 21s
    Wembley 2011
    Where Are They Now
    Your Views

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • MM-Blog
    • Terrace Talk
  • 2019-20
  • PODCAST
    • A Trip Down Memory Lane
    • Stags Stories
    • Series 1
    • Series 2
  • Legends LIVE
  • Back In Time
    • Into The Unknown
    • The Conference Years >
      • Stags 2011-12 (Play-offs)
      • Stags 2012-13 (Champions) >
        • Audio Highlights
        • Reserves & Youth
        • Youth
      • 2011: When Dreams Came True
      • 2012: The Year Of The Stag
    • Stags 2013-14 (Football League Return)
    • Stags 2014-15
    • Stags 2017-18
    • Stags 2018-19