MANSFIELD MATTERS:FOR THE FANS, BY THE FANS!
  • Home
  • MM-Blog
  • 2020-21
  • PODCAST
    • Stags Stories
    • Legends LIVE
    • A Trip Down Memory Lane
    • Series 1 (2017/18)
    • Series 2 (2018/19)
    • Series 3 (2019/20)
  • 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
    • 2019-20

‘Cards Against Stag-Manity!’ Stags 3-2 Cheltenham

21/1/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Craig Priest writes….

When you take someone to their first ever football match, you hope for thrills and drama – yet nine times out of ten, you get a 0-0 draw. Well any football debutants yesterday will now be screaming for more in a dramatic game which had everything as the Stags, somehow, ran out 3-2 winners of Cheltenham.

Three straight red cards, a penalty, a manager being sent-off, numerous near brawls and a 94th minute winner – seriously what more can you ask for?

For the long-term fan the above is the recipe for a heart attack, and if Mansfield had finished with 11 men on the pitch I’d be highlighting the holes in the performance, but cards change games and sometimes you come up against teams who’s game plan is not on the pitch. The Stags, well Hayden White to be precise, fell into the trap but above all else we FINALLY showed some spirit to bag three points rather than settle for one.

With Lincoln being held by bottom placed Barnet, the come from behind victory has given us a bit of breathing space to build upon in terms of putting distance between the chasing pack, whilst up the other sleeve of chasing the automatics, it’s kept the pace.

Above all else however within the dressing room, such a victory will no doubt have created a buzz of energy and adrenaline, and with just one defeat in 15 league games [unless I’ve got my maths wrong] that can only be a good thing going into next weekend’s trip to Morecambe who are hovering dangerously closer to the drop zone, thus putting them on edge.

Some will be critical of the referee for a stop-start game, yet I think he got all three sending’s off correct and the penalty – I’ve said for months that Hayden White is clumsy, he’s also mouthy – every time the referee stops play, he wants to be involved in giving verbal to the officials and oppositions, often sprinting from one side of the pitch to the other to get involve and then fails to get back leaving us exposed.

His hands were all over the Cheltenham player for the penalty, it was obvious what was going to happen when White allowed the visiting front man to get goal side, Pearce’s lunge is irrelevant for me here as the player was already on the way to ground – and as for the sending off, there is absolutely no need to lunge in two footed there – stand up and force the player out, it was a horrible tackle.

As I said above though, the collective spirit never died – it wasn’t our greatest afternoon football wise but it doesn’t matter, it’s not saying die, it’s not giving up. We have to channel that energy and fight into next weekend now and continue to progress.

Match Report
Steve Evans made just the one change to the side which were beaten by Cardiff in the FA Cup in midweek as Alfie Potter replaced Paul Anderson on the right hand side, leaving MacDonald in the free role behind Rose.

The opening exchanges saw neither team create anything clear cut on a bitterly cold afternoon at The One Call Stadium where for the first time the season the pitch was starting to show some wear and tare, which is credit to the pre-season investment as by now, it’s usually sheer mud!

It wasn’t really until 20 minutes in where the Stags created half a chance as Hayden White flashed an effort wide of Scott Flinders’ goal from long range, however three minutes later he’d be heavily involved at the other end as Mohamed Eisa got around back of the Stags right back before, with arms flailing, going to ground to earn a spot-kick for the visitors – Harry Pell drilling down the middle to open the scoring.

Jacob Mellis then went down injured on 28 minutes replaced by Lee Angol as the Stags dropped into a more familiar 4-4-2 with MacDonald dropping deeper to partner Byrom in the centre of midfield, a minute later Angol involved as Benning crossed from the left – Angol cushioned well for Rose who saw his effort from 14 yards blocked.

Mansfield looked more feisty in the 4-4-2 and were back on level terms on 34 minutes as White release Potter down the right hand side, the former Northampton man skipped beyond his marker to square the ball for Angol – his shot was deflected straight to the feet of Hamilton who bundled home from close range.

Danny Rose was then on the end of a nasty elbow from Taylor Moore on 40 minutes who was sent down the tunnel by the referee Darren Handley – there was just time for Rose to nod a Byrom corner into the mix which was cleared, before the referee had to send Robins’ boss Gary Johnson to the stands, after his assistant appeared to strike Paul Raynor in a confrontation which, it has to be said, Raynor started by marching straight into the visitors technical area.

Another lengthy stoppage followed as Mohamed Eisa had to be carried off on a stretcher before the half time whistle blew after an eventful first half.    

After the restart more drama would unfold as the half went on, MacDonald the closest to bringing some normality with a pulsating run through the middle on 47 minutes before seeing a shot held by Flinders.

The Stags midfielder then picked out Angol six minutes later with a pin point ball from deep, Lee Angol rising high to connect with his head, Flinders however well placed to deny the Stags number nine.

Hayden White was then given his marching orders on 67 minutes for a heavy and late challenge on Ilias Chatzitheodoridis which resulted in White squaring up with three Chelentham players before taking an early bath.
At 10 v 10 the game became more balanced again and to shore things up, substitute Lee Angol was replaced by Zander Diamond – moving Bennett across to right back whilst many were left bemused as to why Rose, who’d be kicked, punched, elbowed and ran into the ground wasn’t replaced – or Byrom whose legs were tiring.

Mansfield were all over the place and were pegged back on 74 minutes as the visitors retook the lead, Robins’ sub Danny Wright flew down the left hand side and delivered for fellow substitute Elijah Adebayo who finishes with a high shot over Conrad Logan who arguably could have done better.

With 12 minutes do go the Stags threw on Kane Hemmings for Joel Byrom opting to go with just MacDonald in the middle with Potter drifting in where needed, Potter picked out Benning on 79 minutes who drilled narrowly wide.

Mansfield then levelled things up two minutes later as Pearce did well to hold the ball up for MacDonald – his weaving run saw him square into the middle for Hemmings, who did well to spin and convert amid a crowd of players six yards out.

The drama didn’t stop there as on 83 minutes Danny Wright saw red for an elbow on Potter after being awarded a free-kick which was spotted by the linesman, with nine men and all substitutions made, the visitors were all over the place and you just sensed more drama – CJ Hamilton grabbing what proved to be the winner four minutes into six added on, the tricky winger sweeping in as the ball fell to his feet at the far post.

FULL TIME: Stags 3-2 Cheltenham

STAGS: [4-4-1-1]
Conrad Logan
Hayden White [SENT OFF STRAIGHT RED 68] Krystian Pearce © - Rhys Bennett – Mal Benning
Alfie Potter – Jacob Mellis (Lee Angol 28, Zander Diamond 71) – Joel Byrom (Kane Hemmings 78) – CJ Hamilton
Alex MacDonald
Danny Rose
Unused Substitutes: Bobby Olejnik, Paul Anderson, Will Atkinson, Jimmy Spencer

​Attendance: 3,483 (149)
Referee:
Darren Handley Assistants: Richard Wild, David Benton Fourth Official Michael D’Aguilar 
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    ABOUT MM-BLOG

    If you enjoy the Mansfield Matters Podcast, our Blog page is very similar - just in article form as team members share their views on matches and events! 

    Fancy submitting an article, DM us on Facebook/Twitter to get our attention, or email mtfcmatters@gmail.com (please note, this inbox isn't monitored often so it may take a while to get back to you) 

    Please read the disclaimer on the home page. 

    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
    2020 21
    Awards
    Capital One Cup
    Checkatrade Trophy
    Craig Priest
    EFL Cup (Carabao)
    EFL Trophy
    EFL Trophy (Leasing.com)
    EFL Trophy [Papa Johns]
    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
    Match Report 20 21
    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

    Archives

    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    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

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • MM-Blog
  • 2020-21
  • PODCAST
    • Stags Stories
    • Legends LIVE
    • A Trip Down Memory Lane
    • Series 1 (2017/18)
    • Series 2 (2018/19)
    • Series 3 (2019/20)
  • 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
    • 2019-20