Mansfield thuggery prevails in tense encounter

Last Home Game Of The Season For The Bulls

The Bulls finished their home fixtures on a loosing note when Mansfield’s Villain in Chief Matt Green struck twice after escaping justice for the worst assault witnessed at Edgar Street this season.  His two ill-gotten goals, when he shouldn’t have been on the pitch, sadly eclipsed a well-constructed and executed opener from Ryan Bowman.

Martin Foyle named a strong opening line-up with Chris Bush returning to first team action while Rod McDonald joined the bench.

A couple of early chances fell to the visitors with Bittner coming to the rescue with the first and a linesman’s flag for the second.  Adam Chapman received a lecture from referee Swabey for overstepping the mark with the verbals before Bowman was strangely penalised when a Mansfield player ran into his back.  Then, on 8 minutes The Bulls took the lead with a fine goal.

Chris Sharp Gets Past Mansfield's Defenders

Chris Sharp got behind the defence and pulled the ball back across the box where Clucas deceived the defenders by stepping over the ball leaving Ryan Bowman to fire home from 12 yards.

Ryan Bowman And Team-Mates Celebrate Hereford's Goal

Then came the incident which, had it been spotted, should have put The Bulls in pole position.  Matthew Green swung an arm and caught Luke Graham hard in the face leaving him requiring lengthy treatment.  There can be no doubt the action merited a dismissal and how the referee, his assistant and the fourth official all missed it simply beggars belief.

Mansfield fullback Beevers fell awkwardly damaging his shoulder and had to be replaced by Sutton before Green was yellow carded for another wild swing of the elbow.  Kingsley James complained of a late challenge in midfield that went unpunished and when Luke Jones was climbing all over Bowman Swabey awarded a kick to The Stags.

Chris Bush’s dangerous free kick from the left was blocked away for a corner from which, ultimately, Mansfield drew level.  The keeper claimed a poor flag kick and quickly released Meikle on the left.  He got past stand-in fullback Joe Connor and his pinpoint cross was met at the back post with a firm headed finish by Green on 37 minutes.

Stefan Stam was on the end of a lunge by Briscoe before Chris Sharp was next to suffer at the hands of the increasingly cynical Stags when he was body-checked by Adam Murray as he broke into the danger area.  Murray was rightly carded and may have been dismissed had there not been a covering defender.

The half finished with three added minutes and an almighty scramble in the Mansfield goalmouth as shots rained in including one from Kingsley James that was blocked by what looked suspiciously like an arm.

HT Bulls 1 Mansfield 1

The Bulls were quickly on the offensive after the break following a timely Stam clearance that was picked up by Kingsley James.  KJ made good ground down the right playing a one-two with the overlapping Connor before whipping in a fine cross which Bowman chested just wide of the upright. 

Chris Sharp worked hard to earn a corner and when the flag kick came in James was unlucky to have the ball bounce up and strike his hand when a shot on goal was imminent.  Sam Clucas cut in from the left to unleash a shot that was deflected wide but Swabey defied all logic by awarded a goal kick.  Chris Bush’s surging run ended with a shot that was dragged wide.

Matt Green released Meikle into the box but Bittner did exceptionally well to spread himself and block the shot.  Mansfield continued to build the pressure and The Bulls were fortunate to see Murray shoot wide when Stam misjudged a bounce to allow him in on goal.  There was a shout for a penalty when Marley Watkins tumbled under pressure then, at the other end, Meikle dragged a shot wide from 15 yards and substitute Rhead blasted out of the ground from 10 yards.

Mansfield continued to launch their crude forward balls and Connor was penalised when Meikle was clearly backing in.  Meikle then fouled Watkins and from the free kick, Clucas saw his shot fly just wide.  Another bombardment from the visitors ended with Bittner making a fingertip save from Green as a slightly miss-hit shot threatened to creep over the line. 

Chris Bush’s misdirected clearance went for a corner from which Dempster headed over.  Stam displayed all his expertise to shadow Green away from goal before getting in a clearance and in the next attack Green floored his marker long after the ball had gone but once again it escaped the notice of the blinkered officials.

As the four minutes of added time commenced, a corner on the right from Clucas fell for Kingsley James but his volley from just outside the box skidded wide of the post before Mansfield grabbed a late winner.

Green held off the attentions of Luke Graham before firing in on the angle from 10 yards to prompt an undisciplined pitch invasion from the Mansfield bench and send home the 627 Stags in a crowd of 2141 home on the edge of promotion back to the Football League.

FT Bulls 1 Mansfield 2

Hereford: Bittner, Connor, Graham, Stam, Bush, Watkins, O’Keefe, James, Clucas, Bowman (McDonald 88), Sharp (Jackson 72). Subs not used: Heath,  Jones, Smikle.

Mansfield: Marriott, Beevers (Sutton 26), Jones, Dempster, Taylor, Murray, Chapman, Stevenson (Rhead 63), Briscoe (Daniel 83), Green, Meikle. Subs not used: Speight, Howell.

Not for the first time this season (Sandell at Newport?) The Bulls were undone by a player that should not have been on the pitch.  Mansfield were a strong side not without quality but a father was seen taking his child out of the groud before half time saying he didn’t want his son to watch so-called sportsmen behaving in the manner the Mansfield players did in the opening thirty minutes. 

Just as well he wasn’t around at the end to witness the throat-slitting gesture from one of the Stags backroom staff aimed at Bulls fans as the players left the field.

All in all it was a sad excuse for football that won the match and The Conference is probably better without them.

Good riddance.

---