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

‘Runaway and Hide’ Colchester United 2-0 Stags

8/10/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Craig Priest writes…

In the blockbuster movies and bestselling novels, the protagonists when faced with a challenge find it within themselves to stand and make a challenge. They’ll stare down the face of a shotgun, they’ll walk through fire and crawl on broken glass. They’ll be heroes. Imagine Mansfield Town FC’s players to be the protagonists, imagine the match against Colchester to be the setting – did they stand and deliver? A 2-0 defeat say’s quite simply… No.

There are always inspiring figures in these setting’s – someone to say something like “You’re never going to live if you’re too scared to die” in this instance, that man would be Steve Evans, but rather than channel his inner Churchill, all he does in his most match comments is over-hype the players and have a pop at the fans – and not only does that frustrate me, it also disappoints me.

Naturally they’ll have been a selection of fans who went OTT as the players came across, but also they have a right to show their frustrations after working hard to come and watch what was essentially a gutless display, with no heart or desire to play for Mansfield Town Football Club.

The way Evans describes it, it’d seem like for the entirety of the second half, Mansfield played fluid and slick football firing shot after shot at goal, only to be denied by everything possible. He describes it like Mansfield ran their socks off and did everything in their power to mount a comeback – the fact is, they didn’t. Nobody seemed to care. Had they cared, had they battled like galactic warriors to get back into the game, 100% they’d have been applauded off and any frustration would have been non-existent.

The reality is, we were out played by a dull Colchester side who scored two easy goals and saw the game out – we were flat, we lacked energy and leadership, we had no bite or urgency about us whatsoever. I hate comparing us to Luton BUT in the game where we capitulated and drew 2-2 from a 2-0 lead, Luton were poor but never gave up, they had hope and flare and THAT is the difference. In the same position, the only hope we had was ‘none in hell’ and the only flare? Well that’d be in Paul Raynor or Steve Evans wardrobe circa the 1970s and 80s.

I can picture it now, the intense music is blurring as the battlefield comes into view and tension rises – Mansfield Town your supporters need you, a leader must step up, and then, Mike Bassett Manager (The ITV Series) “Run away lads, there’s no shame in running away” bellows the manager. Pathetic, I might do that at work next week and then see how I pay my bills for the rest of the year.

In places we we’re OK, I thought Sterling-James was excellent and showed the spark we needed going forwards, we looked hungry to be fair at 0-0 but as soon as we conceded such a week goal we fell apart and you could read from the body language that even at 1-0 down with all that time left to play, it was going to be a long way bloody home.

We had about five minutes in the second half where, had we scored, I’d be writing about an epic comeback – but we ran out of steam far too quickly, and resorted to smashing the ball forward – which the two centre backs lapped up all afternoon.

​It’s fair to say yesterday is a memory that won’t ever last – we need to come together now and get our house in order, otherwise – kiss goodbye to your dreams of something special, because gutless runaways never make heroes.
Picture
Paul Raynor [Left] & Steve Evans [Right] walk over to applaud the traveling fans at Crewe on the opening day | PIC James Williamson (C)
Match Report

Steve Evans made one change from the previous week’s victory over Notts County as Omari Sterling-James replaced the injured Alfie Potter, the hosts started well with Pearce clearing a first minute drive into the area from Kane Vincent-Young, before moments later the ball dropped free for Mikael Mandron – the frenchmans effort sailed over Logans bar.

Kane Hemmings did well to pick out Sterling-James on seven minutes the wide playing front man dragged a shot into the middle which Frankie Kent scrambled away, the Stags then had another opportunity three minutes later as Will Atkinson sprayed the ball wide to Johnny Hunt – Atkinson then bombed on into the area to meet the full backs cross, heading narrowly wide of the target.

Atkinson would come close again on 17 minutes, this time firing over from the edge of the box, after a neat give and go between Rose and MacDonald created space – Danny Rose then called the home keeper Sam Walker into action, Rose firing a dipping following after an Ariel 1-2 with Hemmings.        

The host sprung the Stags backline on 27 minutes, Brandon Hanlan was denied by on rushing Logan – however two minutes later, Logan was beaten and the Stags undone. Sterling-James tripped Sean Murray on the edge of the box, and from the resulting set-play, the ball was rolled short to the feet of Murray who drove the ball low into the net.

In replay Johnny Hunt swung in a cross for Danny Rose, his header was held by Walker before Alex MacDonald went on a mazey run only to fire harmlessly wide. The hosts then grabbed their second with ten minutes to go before the break as the Stags stood and ball watched, Murray turned provider as he swung in a left sided cross – Mandron the first too it to nod the ball home.

Rhys Bennett replaced Sterling-James at the break with Anderson moving from right back to right wing – Alex MacDonald had half shouts for a penalty turned down on 52 minutes, before two minutes later, the golden chance to turn the game fell the way of Danny Rose – throwing himself at MacDonald’s cross but turning the ball over.

The hour mark came and went and went and on 64 minutes, Anderson and Hemmings were replaced by Angol and Mellis as the Stags went 3-4-1-2 with Hunt moving onto the left hand side of midfield, MacDonald to the right and Mellis just behind Angol and Rose in a free role.

The creative spark failed to ignite the fire however and Conrad Logan had to prevent a Colchester third on 76 minutes as Murray beat the offside trap to race into the box, Mansfield’s number one blocking with his legs.

Lee Angol tried his luck with seven minutes to go but the host just mopped up like routine pub cleaners – at the other end, Murray squandered another chance to make it three-nil with four minutes to go and with that, the sound of the referee’s full time whistle couldn’t come quickly enough for the Stags faithful.

FULL TIME: Colchester United 2-0 Stags


STAGS [4-4-2]

Conrad Logan
Paul Anderson (Jacob Mellis 64) – Krystain Pearce © - David Mirfin – Johnny Hunt
Omari Sterling-James (Rhys Bennett HT) – Calum Butcher – Will Atkinson – Alex MacDonald
Danny Rose – Kane Hemmings (Lee Angol 64)
Unused Substitutes: Bobby Oljenik, Paul Digby, Jimmy Spencer, CJ Hamilton

​REFEREE: John Busby
Attendance: 3,262 (339)
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

    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