Football League Youth Alliance
Saturday 21st September 2019
Jamie Chisholm's looping header ensured Mansfield Town went back to Nottinghamshire with all three points after a 1-0 win over Doncaster Rovers at Cantley Park.
The centre-back converted from a set-piece shortly after half-time, just a few moments after Rovers 'keeper Kian Johnson had got down well to his left to save Jimmy Knowles' penalty.
The lads did create a few opportunities to equalise; the best of which fell to Junior Smith with around a quarter-of-an-hour to go though he couldn't direct his free header towards goal. Elliott Walker also flashed an appetising ball across the goalmouth towards the back-post in the dying seconds of injury-time, but nobody was able to connect with it.
If Rovers had taken something from the game it would have been harsh on Mansfield.
For whatever reason, the lads' usual free-flowing, passing game just didn't materialise at all. Quite a few passes went astray and things didn't function in the midfield area as well as they've functioned in some previous games.
Mansfield's game plan; to stifle things (standing over the ball, kicking it away), not get run ragged by a 'total football' opposition, etc, was apparent and, given the scoreline, their tactics worked so you have to give credit where it's due - even though their style won't suit everyone!
The most noticeable difference between the sides was the organisation and leadership - best demonstrated by Chisholm who proved his effectiveness in one box with the winning goal, but more impressively was always marshalling the back-line at the other end, to help his side keep a clean-sheet. He never stopped talking, whether it be to offer encouragement or give a team-mate a kick up the backside to keep standards high. On an individual level, it was impressive!
Looking at the bigger picture, this defeat means the lads are now on a three-game losing streak and it's down to them to figure out how they 'come out the other side' and stand up and be counted, so they can replicate the good performances which they delivered in August.
Every single one of the lads has footballing ability - obvious as, otherwise, they wouldn't have beaten so many others to earn a scholarship in the first instance.
Right now, however, what I feel is needed is certain players to step forward and show leadership qualities and be the 'Jamie Chisholm of Doncaster Rovers'; that voice on the pitch who offers encouragement or feedback, maintains standards, organises things, etc.
Even though I always felt Chisholm might make a defensive mistake, his individual qualities are worth more to a team than a player in the same position who might have more ability, but doesn't have the same leadership skills.
At times recently it's been too quiet on the pitch when the team has been either on the back-foot, trailing or struggling to get some rhythm in a game.
The first-year scholars may look to the second-year scholars for that leadership, etc, but there will come a point when Ben Blythe or Lirak Hasani (someone who may have been able to change things had he featured in this game) aren't playing. Therefore, out of the first-years, someone has to grow and become that figure who ultimately becomes invaluable to the team.
The lads' talent is never going to disappear and this losing streak could turn out to be a total blessing in disguise because it's when plenty will be learnt about character.
Looking towards next week's game at Scunthorpe United, in my opinion the result doesn't matter too much because wins will come again; whether that happens next time out or further down the line is irrelevant to me, the performance is more important!
If the lads can take the feedback on board, share the responsibility, help each other through any nerves and worry (which is also evident right now) and replicate how the opponents were in terms of organisation and leadership, then I'm sure they'll play better.
Ultimately, when the side is playing better, players will become more confident (as opposed to being worried or frustrated) and the positive results will come eventually.
Going back to the game, boss Paul Stancliffe made changes to the side which were beaten 6-3 by the same opponents in the Football League Youth Alliance Cup last week.
Ben Bottomley was replaced by Kian Johnson between the sticks, whilst Max Jemson, Lirak Hasani and Josh Clemitson all missed out with Lewis Cunningham, Liam Ravenhill and Luca Nelson being given a starting spot.
In the first quarter-hour, there wasn't a great deal to get too excited about and it was a tight, midfield battle with neither side really on top and nothing in the way of goalmouth action.
The first real action of any note came when a Mansfield player was forced off on a stretcher having landed awkwardly on his ankle, after an aerial challenge with Rovers' centre-back Nathan Dimou whom he flicked an elbow towards.
Dimou was left with a cut to his nose and there was a stoppage of around five minutes, but it was a great example of karma at it's absolute finest!
When the game did eventually re-start, the Stags enjoyed a period of dominance where they got on top and Johnson was forced into action with two or three smart saves, whilst he also had to claim a few crosses. Having been out of action for a few games, he showed good hands in dealing with everything.
At the other end, Elliott Walker had a free-kick in a central position but planted his shot high into the trees whilst Junior Smith latched onto a long clearance out of defence but couldn't navigate a path to goal - with a poor touch forcing him wide before the counter-attack fizzled out.
Dimou was replaced by Jemson in a central defensive change at half-time and in the early stages of the second half, Mansfield again enjoyed a period of pressure in which they were on top.
The Stags had already seen one penalty appeal waved away by the referee in a move where Johnson showed bravery to deal with some danger, when Cunningham was penalised for a foul inside the area after Jemson was dispossessed in a dangerous area. However, Knowles' subsequent spot-kick was expertly saved by Johnson - diving to his left - and the score remained goalless.
It didn't stay that way for very long though as Mansfield soon took the lead when a corner was floated in from the left towards Chisholm who connected with a looping header that eluded Johnson.
Mansfield remained generally on the front foot, without further opportunities, and they stifled the game very well, were organised and efficient and didn't give Rovers too much of an opportunity to get back into things.
Unusually, the lads went 'direct' as often as they tried to play 'through the middle' and very little came off for them. Walker, usually such an effective outlet and a danger for the opposition with his over-lapping runs on the right side, didn't get forward as much and therefore far fewer balls than usual were delivered into the box.
There was the odd, occasional long-range effort, but Rovers' best chance of an equaliser came with roughly a quarter-of-an-hour to go when Charlie Bell floated an inviting ball towards Junior Smith inside the area after his initial corner-kick was partially cleared, but the second-year was unable to get any power or accuracy on his connection.
Johnson prevented Rovers from going further behind with a smart double save when Mansfield sprung a counter-attack in the closing stages, before Rovers went agonisingly close in pretty much the final action of the game when Walker got the ball inside the area and hit a teasing ball towards the back-post which nobody could turn into the net.
On the whole though, there was too much play 'through the middle' and not enough out wide and Mansfield deserved their win which means they leapfrog the lads in the Football League Youth Alliance table.
Team: Kian Johnson, Elliott Walker, Nathan Dimou (Max Jemson), Ben Blythe (C), Lewis Cunningham (Josh Clemitson), Liam Ravenhill, Will McGowan, Charlie Bell, Luca Nelson (Owan Derrett), Jack Watson, Junior Smith. Unused Subs: Chadwick, Cole.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.