Report from Mansfield

Here is a report on last nights game from the Official Mansfield Website. Our own report will appear later this afternoon.

Conference side Hereford United Bulldozed the Stags out the LDV trophy with a deserved 1-0 win. The visitors scored their only goal against the run of play but then settled down to some attractive football which proved too much for a mediocre Stags side. Youngster Nathan Arnold ran his socks off at the top end of the pitch but often found himself isolated and his effort fell short of the mark.

Stags were in action at Field Mill this evening for the first of three games in a week. Not the most appetising of fixtures but a great opportunity for Peter Shirtliff to have a look at some of the players that haven't figured to much in recent weeks.

Kyle Jacobs was making his debut as was Nathan Arnold and Jason White had an opportunity tom impress his boss.

The attempt at goal came in the fifth minute when Nathan Arnold pulled the trigger and sent a low shot powerfully towards the goal of Craig Mawson. But fortunately for the visitors his shot, well taken was off target and scraped around the outside of the near post.

A minute later Rhys Day cleared the ball from his half into the opposite third with a powerful header where Adrian Littlejohn lobbed the keeper but although his shot went wide of the mark the referee picked up on the offside and awarded the bulls a freekick.

The opener came in the twelve minute when a mix up in defending in the Stag's box allowed Bailey to slot home. Rhys Day made a great clearance but his header was won again at the outside of the box where it was switched across to Bailey to give the Conference side the lead against the run of play.

Two minutes after the goal Ryan Green was entered into referee Mr Robinson's notebook for a bone crunching challenge on Fraser McLachlan.

In the twenty eighth minute Williams got gifted a weak effort which he looped up above Jason White but thankfully the ball almost trickled onto the roof of the net.

A guilt edged opportunity presented itself when a spilt ball was pumped through to Adrian Littlejohn who seemed surprised to find himself one on one with keeper Mawson but his shot came of the Bull's shot stoppers leg and into safety. Adam Birchall won the ball back and had a crack at scoring. His effort more powerful but lacked direction.

Jamie Pitman was added to the notebook for bringing Stephen Dawson to ground after the Stags midfielder won the ball on the edge of the eighteen yard box and starting a fast assault upfield.

Coming back from the break Shirtliff made his first change bringing on Giles Coke to replace Fraser McLachlan.

Two minutes into the second period the Stags had two god attempts at goal. Firstly Callum Lloyd struck a shot goalbound from a superbly placed Adam Birchall cross which was knocked clear for a corner and Stephen Dawson drilled a low shot which beat the white shirts of the Bull's defence but went wide of the mark.

The second half slowed down for the Stags and the visitors seemed to be on top. Then Graham Turner felt this would be a good time to bring on ex stag Guy Ipoua in the 74th minute.

In the 84th minute Shirtliff was forced into his second change when an injured Jason Talbot was stretchered of the pitch and replaced by Gareth Jelleyman.

In the 85th minute Graham Turner made his second change this time bringing on Graham Evans to replace Andy Williams.

With only four minutes of normal time remaining and trailing the Stags turned the heat up with shots reigning in from Giles Coke, Adam Birchall and Callum Lloyd but the ball was pinging all over the place except at the goal.

In the dying seconds of normal time another Bull was entered into the notebook of Referee Mr Robinson. This time Andy Ferrell was added for taking the ankles of Kyle Jacobs.

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