Stags Held On Derby Day

Mansfield Town were held to a goalless draw against local rivals Notts County at Meadow Lane on Saturday.

Mansfield had gone into the game as slight favourites despite being the away side after three successive wins. The Stags had had doubts about the fitness of captain Jake Buxton, who played at less than 100%.

It was the hosts that started the brighter, but despite a lot of the ball in the midfield, there was no incisiveness to their play, and Jason White was not tested in the Mansfield goal.

Mansfield grew into the game as the half wore on, and looked the likelier scorers whenever they hit their opponents on the break.

Simon Brown was caught offside a number of times, but it was to be Matthew Hamshaw who was to have his strike ruled out by the linesman’s flag, and correctly so.

Notts County also had a goal disallowed correctly, as Hunt turned into an empty net after he went into an aerial challenge with Stags ‘keeper Jason White, but he was too powerful for the referee’s liking, and Jake Buxton’s too, as The Stags captain got involved in a scuffle with Hunt, which saw the pair booked.

The Stags also felt they were denied a penalty, as Hamshaw appeared to have been tripped just inside the box after a powerful run.

However, as the referee gesticulated that he would not be awarding the first appeal, Martin Gritton received a shove in the back, and his claim was also rejected, by a referee who in all fairness, was not even looking.

Into the second half Mansfield continued to look the most likely, and started creating more opportunities, two or three times Brown was called offside, rather hastily by the referee’s assistant.

It was to be Brown however that managed to beat the trap, and after being given a golden opportunity, his second touch let him down, and Deeney was quick to close the striker’s angle, and deny him with a good save.

Shortly after, Brown was replaced by Michael Boulding, who linked up with his midfield well, but took some pace out of the team.

The more sensible substitution it seemed didn’t come until the last 15 minutes, with the introduction of young winger Nathan Arnold, and County were troubled once again, as he won 4 or 5 free-kicks in promising positions.

The game petered out into a draw, despite a late run from Martin Gritton, who was too fatigued to put any power into his shot. The Stags would have more than likely settled for a draw, after a series of injuries to Dawson and D’Laryea left them finishing the game with two wingers playing central midfield, and four other attacking options on the field in Gritton, Reet, Arnold and Boulding.

Notts County – 0
Mansfield Tn – 0

Attendance: 10,034 (4,047 from Mansfield)

Mansfield Town (4-4-2, l-r, White – Jelleyman, John-Baptiste, Buxton, Mullins – Hodge, D’Laryea (Reet 87), Dawson (Arnold 75), Hamshaw – Brown (Boulding 68), Gritton. Not Used: Muggleton, Hjelde.

Man of the Match: Alex John-Baptiste.
The central defender was awesome once more. VitalFootball’s tip as the man to watch didn’t disappoint, with a flawless display of tackles and last-ditch blocks.