Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town v Bury - Match Report
Stags draw with Bury
By Jake Stone
February 27 2008
The stags went into this game knowing that if they could end this terrible run of 7 straight home defeats with a win they could leapfrog Macclesfield and finally jump out of the dreaded bottom 2 for the first time in a couple of months. Not only would they have got out of the relegation spots but they would’ve made the gap between us and the bottom side Wrexham to a massive 6 points.
The Stags received news that fiery midfielder Dawson was out a few hours before the game meaning the only change to the side would be that Chris Wood would slot in and Briggs to push up into a central midfielder position:
Carl Muggleton
Chris Wood
Johnny Mullins
Jake Buxton
Gareth Jelleyman
Matthew Hamshaw
Keith Briggs
Jon D’laryea
Will Atkinson
Jefferson Louis
Michael Boulding
After the wind had been picking up during the day the match was never going to be played in the best conditions and just before I got out of the car to enter Field Mill the wind once again got violent, rocking us all over the place. This was going to be dreadful for one of the sides in the first half. The majority of the fans stayed undercover in the big west stand holding there hands around a Bovril whilst watching Jeff Stelling, avoiding the bitter wind hitting the fans outside. As the sides came out the crowds flocked out to find there seats but let’s face it, the crowd was sparse and the seats were plenty. Mansfield had obviously won the toss as the Referee indicated the sides were to swap over, yellows choosing to kick with the wind for the first half, wise choice by Stags captain Buxton.
The sides kicked off and it seemed the Stags wanted to use there wind to their advantage playing high balls over the Bury midfielder and looking for the likes of new signing Efe Sodje to make a mistake and allow the ever-dangerous Boulding in to hopefully grab his 17th league goal of the season. The game started off very scrappy but Bury seemed to be getting the better of it, they seemed to the more determined of the two sides and beating the Stags into the 50/50’s. Shouts of ‘Get stuck in’ and ‘Battle’ began to rise from the West and QLE stands as Mansfield were in danger of conceding and early goal in the second of three relegation ‘6-pointers’ in a week.
As the yellows defence sat on the half way line knowing Bury couldn’t knock the ball over the top of them due to the wind the pressure was being put on by the Stags, not in the most exciting way admittedly. A corner was swung in from Matthew Hamshaw and was weighted just perfectly considering the wind; it swung inside to meet the head of Captain Jake Buxton with a lovely powerful header. The Shakers keeper Randolph pulled off an absolutely fantastic save to tip it over. The second half seemed to fizzle out as both sides had half chances, Stags defence still sitting high up but the way they were weighting their passes with the wind was Sunday league-like, Chris Wood it has to be said the main culprit as time and time again the ball was left to roll out by Randolph and Buchanon, the Bury left back whom like the other defenders in there black away kit had a relatively easy first half.
The best chance of the first half fell for Bury, ex-Spireite and Notts player Glynn Hurst who was positioned on the left wing for this game had a lovely ball played onto him by Bury’s top scorer Bishop. As the 206 travelling fans took to there feet as Hurst closed down on goal Glynn pulled the trigger and thankfully with Chris Wood on his toes he dragged it desperately wide.
Stags were to get one more chance before the half-time whistle was blown. Boulding built up some decent play and eventually found Hamshaw with a short pass, on the overlap was Wood but Hamshaw decided to whip the ball into the box. With possibly his best cross of the season he beat all of the Bury defenders and the keeper to find Louis on the back post, unmarked and only 5 yards out from goal, as Stags fans leaped for joy Jefferson somehow steered the ball wide of the target. Two great chances yet the score was still goalless.
Half time – Mansfield Town 0 – 0 Bury
Stags skipper Buxton put Mansfield 1-0 up.
Early on in the second half the Stags had the best of the early chances as an Hamshaw cross fell to the feet of Will Atkinson, the young lad took a touch and unfortunately had to rush his shot before it got cleared, this causing the ball to float harmlessly over the crossbar and out for a goal kick. Boulding had another great chance as he did what we’ve seen so many times this season, he brought Buchanon out wide before cutting the ball in between his legs, a lovely curled shot from Boulding looked set for back of the net as the keeper was nowhere near. Unluckily the ball cannoned off the post and fell innocently to the feet of Sodje who was on hand to get rid of the ball.
The stags finally got their breakthrough that they had been looking for on 56 minutes. The corner was won by good work from Briggs in the centre of midfielder as the ball cannoned down the right flank; Hamshaw, who had one of his best games of the season let the ball roll out for a home corner. With the Mansfield fans now off there seats getting behind the boys the corner were swung in dangerously. Header one saved by Randolph, header two stopped by Haslam which then left the ball at Jake Buxton’s feet. As he smacked the shot it was blocked with the defender rolling into the side netting which appeared to most home fans that he had missed. Groans were still ongoing as Buxton took up his second chance to no mistake. The ball was hit on the half-volley in the roof of the net; keeper did not stand a chance. Jelleyman was out on the left celebrating with the home fans whilst the rest of the team went was in a post-goal mass over to the North Stand end of the Bishop Street Stand. Could we get out of the relegation places after all?
Shakers weren’t going to stand for this and why should they? They should grit and determination to get back into this game which would put them 7 points clear of relegation consequently this game was as massive to them as it was us. To be honest this showed all the way after our goal as the away side pushed on for that all important equaliser. Time and time again they gained free kicks and corners, the first good chance fell to Bury at around the 65 minutes mark as a driving shot swerved at around head height to Muggleton’s goal which he did very well to parry and catch on the rebound. A very dangerous corner was swung in only to be cleared very well from Wood to relieve the danger from the Stags once again but they couldn’t seem to get to grips with the game, consequently making Bury a whole lot more dangerous going forward.
The centre back Efe Sodje who has just signed for the Shakers found himself up for a corner but as it was cleared he was left on the edge of the area, a cracking pass found him unmarked. He took a touch onto his right foot and rocketed the ball up towards the top corner of the goal only for Muggleton to once again come to the rescue. On 84 minutes the inevitable occurred another dangerous corner was swung inwards towards Muggleton’s goalmouth which he punched away only for the scramble to take it back towards the Stags goal. Carl, who was definitely the man of the match unfortunately made this one mistake in hesitating. The Stoke City player who had been on the pitch for 4 minutes, Adam Rooney finished in superb style and as everybody in the ground, including the ref looked at the linesman, the goal was given. Stags had again lost 2 points it felt.
On-loan striker Adam Rooney levelled for Bury
In truth Bury could have gone onto win this game if they had taken there possession wisely and done more with there chances after going 1-0 down plus following the equaliser. Bury won’t be happy from a point with this game, neither are Stags fans after being one nil up. Mansfield are still two points from safety with two games in hand, also within touching distance of local rivals Notts County who are dangerously sliding down the league.
The summary? Wrexham on Saturday is one of the biggest games in many years.
Final Score: Mansfield Town 1 – 1 Bury
Simply Staggering man of the match: Carl Muggleton, without his saves in the second half the Stags would never have got a point in this match at all.
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