Saturday 20th September 2008 - Mansfield 1-1 U's: Stag party crashed by Moose
To those of us of a certain age (the technical term is, I believe, 'old gits'), the name "Mansfield Town" means only one thing: 28th April 1973. In those dark, long-ago days, playoffs were unheard of, but United's last game of the season was a playoff in all but name; whoever won the U's encounter with the Stags at the Abbey would be promoted, and the losers would miss out.
Yours truly was a wide-eyed youngster in split knee loons (maroon), tank top (purple, black and white) and silk scarf around his scrawny waist, stood at the Allotment End in the days when the old terrace was split between home and away supporters, watching agog as a record league crowd of over 10,500 packed in for the final showdown, the scent of expectation and Player's No.6 thick on the breeze. Dad didn't want his delicate son standing with the rough boys at the Corona end.
And what a game it was, as Mansfield twice took the lead against a nervous United side which had only gained admittance to the Football League three years previously and was now looking for its first elevation to Division Three. But the U's roared back, led by the fans' hero, mercurial striker Brian Greenhalgh. It was not he, however, who notched the winner just after the hour, but good, honest pro Ronnie Walton, firing home a glorious shot at the Allotment End to send the amber army delirious with joy.
The last half hour seemed to last half a day, the tension so palpable I imagined I could see it hanging over our heads in the hazy spring air, but we hung on heroically for a 3-2 win and the final whistle was the trigger for a mass pitch invasion, Greenhalgh chaired off the pitch by his adoring public. Then the team appeared in the directors' box, our hero toasting us with a raised glass of champagne, as the greatest day in the club's history was celebrated long into the evening.
United finished third on 57 points, Mansfield came sixth on 54. The memories will last a lifetime; I wonder if the scars have lasted as long for the visitors that day from Nottinghamshire? We have met many times since that historic day, and enjoyed many memorable matches (7-2, anyone?) but the sheer nail-biting intensity of that Saturday afternoon, 35 years ago, will, for those who were there, never be beaten. Let us hope that today's young supporters will have such nostalgia of their own to pass on in years to come.
Now, today, the clubs met again one level lower than in 1973, or at any time in meetings between them, Mansfield having joined the U's in the wacky world of non-League for the first time since they left the Midland League for Division 3 South in 1931. Their home, Field Mill, enjoys an elevated status in the middle of an untidy, higgledy-piggledy collection of retail warehouses which appear to have been dropped randomly from the sky and just left where they lay, at angles which bear no relation to any other.
Field Mill itself has changed greatly in the years that United have been visiting it. The quaintly olde world Main Stand has been replaced with a good sized, two-tiered effort, while both ends now house covered all-seater stands where once stood open terraces. The only undeveloped part, a small seated stand opposite the main one, has been condemned as unfit and lies gently rotting behind a sea of advertising hoardings. The away turnstiles, regrettably, still sport 'ITV Sport Channel' stickers, which presumably have proved infinitely less removable than the disastrous failure they advertise.
A steep rake to the seats and a low roof meant splendid acoustics for the amber army to make its noisy self heard, and the fans did the club proud throughout the ninety minutes despite some unnecessarily heavy-handed treatment from certain 'security' staff.
Our Gary returned to 4-4-2 after last week's defeat by Torquay, leaving out Mark Convery and the injured Mark Beesley and introducing Dan Gleeson and Felino Jardim, allowing Jon Challinor to resume a midfield role behind a front two of Lee McEvilly and Chris Holroyd.
Mansfield, protecting a 100% home record after five games although without a win away, in contrast to United's unbeaten away record, included one ex-U in midfield enforcer Matt Somner, and sported a front pairing with a combined age of three score and ten in veterans Mark Stallard (33) and Jason Lee (37), whose pineapple is now but a distant memory.
The pitch was green and lush and the sky was blue and clear as battle commenced to fulsome accompaniment from the drum-led amber hordes, McEvilly getting the first shot in within half a minute but failing to generate enough power to trouble keeper Paddy Gamble.
It soon became clear that United were not playing a conventional 4-4-2 in that although Jardim was stationed wide left, Challinor was not mirroring his role on the right; in fact, nobody was. Challinor stayed inside in a rather congested middle of the park alongside Paul Carden and Danny Brown, not playing far enough forward to be able to say he was 'in the hole,' which had the effect of leaving an enormous gap on the United right which Mansfield soon began to exploit as winger Michael Blackwood and left-back Alex Jeannin began to double up on Gleeson, so that Holroyd and Challinor were forced to dash across to cover. What exactly was the game plan here??
Blackwood tested Danny Potter's gloves with a blast on 4, then Jeannin used the space down the U's right to arrow over a dangerous cross which Stallard and Lee stabbed at but which was smothered by a coolly competent defence. There was more peril on 9 when Jeannin's cross found Somner eight yards out, but his header was thankfully straight at Potter.
Everything was coming down Mansfield's left, and another Jeannin cross on 12 found the head of Lee, outjumping Anthony Tonkin at the far post, but he nodded wide. The tackles were starting to fly, and Somner was first into the book on 14 for felling Wayne Hatswell. The latter and Phil Bolland stood up stoutly to the flying crosses and occasional flying elbows of their opponents, and Lee was eventually spoken to for his continued fouling of the U's long-range free-kick maestro.
The flow of the game was not helped by the attitude of ref Brown, who seemed intolerant of the slightest physical contact between players, and United's disjointed formation was struggling to create anything for its front men as its back four soaked up the pressure.
Blackwood crossed low for Stallard on 22, but he slipped as he turned and his mishit shot was comfortably collected by Potter, then three minutes later United finally created something when Somner fouled Jardim, the tricky Dutchman now starting to make an impression, and his free-kick was nodded over the top by a soaring McEvilly, a flying blimp more imposing than the Graf Zeppelin. And not something you'd want landing on you, either.
Jardim was beginning to torment his yellow-shirted opponents now with his close control and when he was horrendously clogged with a high 'tackle' by Somner on 28, a second yellow for the ex-U seemed inevitable. Astoundingly, Mr Brown bottled out and settled for a feeble lecture when we all knew full well that if Somner had not been booked already, he would now be heading for the dreaded early bath.
Blackwood sneaked in to have a close-range 'goal' rightly disallowed for offside on 30, but three minutes later the visitors were ahead somewhat against the run of play. Tonkin's long throw found Bolland in the box, his towering header was half-cleared by Lee, but it fell nicely for Danny Brown to lash a stupendous first-time volley home with his left foot across goal and into the bottom corner. Perfection: 1-0!
Danny's goals are rare but special; his only previous one, on 27th January 2007 at home to Woking, was the culmination of a brilliant mazy run from halfway. You get quality but not quantity from our Danny.
The rest of the half was fairly even, United now giving as good as they were getting with their confidence up, although the ailing McEvilly gave rather too much when he doubled up and chundered all over the pitch near halfway, proving that he had been unwell in the last few days. I dare say the half-time pitch forkers might have found a diced carrot or two amongst the divots. Big Mac trotted over to the bench to get a squirt of water.
On 43 Jeannin's cross found Lee and his toepoke was fallen upon by Potter, but United saw out the half in strong form and retired to the dressing rooms with the glow of a job (half) well done. It had been tough, but no more so than Mansfield's home record suggested; the defence in particular had been tremendous, but there was definite room for improvement in the final third. And that right-wing black hole still was not being filled. Can we borrow your Super Collider, please, mister?
Big Mac's chunk-blowing had obviously been therapeutic, because he re-emerged with his colleagues for part two, and battle recommenced in familiar style with Gleeson being booked within a minute for fouling the pesky Blackwood. Carden then conceded a free-kick which was crossed in by Nathan Arnold for Stallard, but he nodded just wide.
On 51 Arnold cut inside at pace and fell theatrically as he passed Tonkin just outside the box. The ref responded to loud calls for a free-kick/penalty by waving his hands low to indicate that he saw no foul and play should continue, but his linesman begged to differ and he was allowed to overrule his boss despite not having enjoyed a substantially better view of the incident.
Naturally Sod's Law then applied, and from Blackwood's free-kick, the ball drifted over all United heads to Alan O'Hare at the back stick to head home for the equaliser. 1-1.
United responded with shots from McEvilly, wide, and a curler from Hatswell, past the upright, then the ref incurred the wrath of the home fans for a change when he stopped a dangerous attack when almost at the byline because Danny Brown was down in the centre circle. Fine decision, we thought...
Lee was finally booked on 58 for fouling Gleeson (Somner was wisely keeping a lower profile this half) then Gleeson damaged his back in a challenge on Stallard for which he was penalised, but continued after some TLC from Greg Reid. Jardim looked most likely to provide United with a breakthrough with some delightful work on the left, bamboozling his opponents with some fancy footwork like an epileptic Michael Flatley, but for all their nice build-up, neither side gave the keepers a great deal to do.
Carden was next in the book on 68 for bringing down Stallard, then neat work by Jardim found Gleeson then Holroyd, but his rushed shot was slowed by a deflection and collected by Gamble. On 73 Challinor's low cross was poked through to McEvilly to dance around the keeper, but his goal was disallowed for a narrow offside, then up the other end Potter calmly saved a blaster from Jonathan D'Laryea (someone tell him that's not the correct way to spell 'Dairylea').
First and only substitution of the day came on 77, although it was delayed because somehow the fourth official could not locate his electronic numbers board - how do you lose something like that?? - so so some frantic sign language ensued instead. I'd check eBay tomorrow if I were you, mate.
Eventually Brown was withdrawn after a fine display and a wonderful goal, to be replaced by Danny Crow, leaving us in no doubt as to Our Gary's positive intentions as his side went 4-3-3. United enjoyed a good spell, but that final ball was still just lacking, while up the other end Gary Silk crossed for Lee to nod over.
Stallard was booked on 79 for a crude challenge on Challinor, McEvilly flicked the free-kick to Crow who set up Holroyd, but the latter was marginally offside. Holroyd then produced a brilliant run of his own, twisting and turning on to Jardim's pass, racing to the byline and pulling the ball back for the waiting McEvilly, but it was just cut out by Stags skipper Adie Moses. On 86 a Jardim free-kick found Big Mac leaning back slightly in the middle and his looping header was clutched on his line by Gamble, then Crow angled in a diagonal cross that was a stud's length from being touched in by Holroyd.
United were going for the win, and how. They were almost caught out as the four added minutes started, though, when Mansfield broke and after some fine blocking, Dairylea blasted wildly over. The U's, however, almost had the last word as Jardim and the three strikers wreaked havoc in the home defence, McEvilly having a goalbound shot blocked, but just as they were about to launch it in the box one more time, the final whistle sounded.
As in several other away games recently, it was a hard-fought point well won, especially considering Mansfield's home record, and United had coped pretty well without the talismanic Mark Beesley, yawning gaps on the right notwithstanding. One win in six, though, is form that needs rapid improvement if the promotion chase is to be continued in this most open of leagues. Oxford on Tuesday looks like a good place to start...
Statto Corner
Thought you saw a few familiar faces on the opposing side today? Eight of Mansfield's starting XI have played against the U's before.
Most familiar of them all was Mark Stallard, who had faced United eight times before today, all of them for Notts County in two separate spells between August 1999 and 7th May 2005, the occasion of the last Football League game staged at the Abbey... for now. Stallard has turned out for a total of eleven clubs, but has avoided United in the colours of nine of them. He has scored a total of three times against the U's.
Jason Lee has been on the books of fourteen different clubs, but had come up against United only five times before today. The first was in a 1-0 Worthington Cup defeat at the Abbey for Watford in August 1998, then he turned out for Peterborough home and away in 2000-01, scoring in a 4-1 tonking for the U's in March 2001. His last two appearances were for Boston United in the 2004-05 season, his only other goal coming in a 2-1 win in Lincolnshire in September 2004.
Goalkeeper Paddy Gamble is a Nottingham Forest player on loan to Mansfield, and although he has not so far played a league game for his parent club, he did turn out at the Abbey in a 2-1 friendly defeat for the Tricky Trees in August 2005. Right-back Gary Silk faced the U's for Wycombe in August 2004, while centre-back and scorer Alan O'Hare played in a 4-1 defeat for Chesterfield at the Abbey back in April 2002.
Left-back Alex Jeannin made his fifth appearance against United today after two for Hereford (2005-06), and one each for Oxford and Kidderminster last season. Winger Michael Blackwood also made outing number five after previous forays for Wrexham (March 2001), Kidderminster (January and December 2007) and Oxford, in their 2-1 defeat by United back in March this year.
Matt Somner has played both for and against the U's, following 24 appearances in black and amber in 2004-05 with a couple against United for Aldershot the following season. He was at Notts County last season, having faced the Magpies in United's last League game mentioned above.
Player Ratings
Potter 7. Very few real saves to make, and was let down by his colleagues for the goal.
Gleeson 7. Looked decidedly rusty in the first half, but improved greatly in part two with solid defending allied to some good forward support work.
Bolland 8. So cool he plays like he just stepped out of a deep freeze.
Hatswell 9. Simply magnificent.
Tonkin 7. Routinely competent afternoon.
Challinor 7. Placed in a curious twixt-and-tween position but made the most of it in his usual industrious fashion.
Carden 8. At the heart of everything good about the United team.
Brown 8. Kept it simple and efficient then topped it with a fantastic goal.
Jardim 8. Superb close control and dribbling that asked Mansfield questions all day.
Holroyd 7. Ran his socks off, although will take time to work up an understanding with McEvilly and showed his inexperience by taking the wrong option on several occasions. Will undoubtedly improve with more games.
McEvilly 7. Cardinal Chunder did well to be on the pitch at all in his condition and in the circumstances did a decent job without, understandably, being at his best.
Crow 7. The Crow's talent is already obvious for all to see and with match practice he has the potential to take this division by storm.
Match Summary
United continued to look unbeatable on their travels at the most inhospitable of venues with another impressive, battling point to end Mansfield's 100% home record. Now if they can just turn a few draws into wins and sort out that home form, we will really be in business.
Man of the Match
Wayne Hatswell. Mansfield marked him out early as United's key man at the back, but he responded with a stunning masterclass in ferocious but cool-headed defending. A stopper par excellence.
Ref Watch
Brown 4. The match was an exciting contest despite every effort of this character to kill it stone dead by whistling for a stoppage every time two players came within two yards of each other. He got it wrong with the free-kick from which Mansfield equalised, and his craven decision not to hand Somner the second yellow card he deserved was nothing short of a disgrace. The fact that he was deeply unpopular with both sets of fans really says it all.
Becky's World of Wit and Wisdom
"We never do anything well till we cease to think about the manner of doing it." [Barnsley, 26/10/91]
Hello... Goodbye
Birthday greetings today to Simon Rea (1976), who enjoyed four games on loan from the Posh in January 2005, and to Trevor Robinson (1984), who I'm sure was a great bloke, but was without doubt one of the worst players ever seen in a black and amber shirt during his two (two!) spells at the Abbey.
Paul 'Asbo' Atkins made his debut for the U's on this day in 2005 in a 5-3 defeat at Grays Athletic. Somehow the fiery little fella never made the grade at this level and now plies his trade for Wroxham... but some of us think he could do so much better.
Left-back Jonny Harkness made his last appearance for United in the same game in a fairly forgettable loan spell from Walsall. After time with Kidderminster he has now returned to his native Ulster with Linfield.
Soundtrack of the Day
Mountain Goats with Kaki King 'Thank You Mario, But Our Princess Is In Another Castle'
Parky's Pick of the Pops
Andy Parkinson lend an ear to the Field Mill sounds. "All right, lads and lasses? I've been using some of my enforced leisure time searching the internet for music with PRIDE and PASSION to inspire me on my long road to fitness, know what I mean? The reformed Verve aren't half bad, and Coldplay are pretty decent for a bunch of soft Southern mummy's boys, but the best thing I've heard this week was the new album by these Scottish lads (and a lass!) called Glasvegas, whose singer used to be a footballer! Never heard of him, mind. But he sings some really emotional stuff, which fair got me going, I can tell you. Mind you, he still can't beat the SOUL and JOY of my all-time favourite album, a recording of The Kop from the Sixties. Fair brings a lump to the throat every time, I can tell you!
"Anyway, it was all modern stuff at Mansfield today. The Kaiser Chiefs seem a decent bunch of Yorkshire lads and 'Ruby' is a good singalong tune, like, and you can't not enjoy the Killers, can you? Not so keen on Razorlight or the Kings of Leon, mind. Amy Winehouse can bang out a mean tune, if you can just block out any pictures of her in your mind, but there's something about The Feeling that I just can't take to, know what I mean?
"Still, you can't beat a chorus of the Fratellis' 'Chelsea Dagger' even it isn't very original, and neither was the runout music of Fatboy Slim, but it was all, well, all right, if you get my drift? PPP verdict: 6/10. I'm off to search the net again for that second La's album now. Never walk alone!"
Andrew Bennett
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