Report
On Monday at Wadham Lodge the holiday programme finally caught up with the Stags as they failed to impress in the same way as they have been over the past few weeks. The Stags were still without Carlos Brown and Tero Karhu was unavailable.
The game could not have started in a worse fashion for the Stags when after only three minutes on their first attack, Wingate took the lead when Grimsdell shot from about thirty yards. The flight of the ball took a wicked deflection and gave Emeke no chance of getting to it.
The Stags went on the attack and, within a few minutes, had an excellent chance to score from a corner when the ball fell to Ian Cooper about ten yards out from goal. Before he could shoot the visitors’ defence had regrouped but Ian Barnes was on hand to attempt a shot. Unluckily his effort was also crowded away from the goal.
That incident was to sum up the home side’s luck for the rest of the afternoon when they could have scored on a number of occasions but luck was often against them and judgement was inches out.
Both teams then tried to press each other which resulted in a midfield tussle allowing no space for Wingate but giving the Stags’ front runners space behind the Wingate defence. During this period, Clarke had a great chance to equalise the score when he broke through in the inside left position just on the edge of the Wingate six yard box. ‘Keeper Ed Thompson was forced to come out and Clarke shot past him and missed that far post by inches. At this stage, although the Stags were not playing particularly well, the Wingate goal was definitely leading a charmed life.
A goal then would have changed the whole complexion of the game but it was not to be.
Wingate’s killer goal came on 44 minutes. The Stags were on the attack and should have had a penalty when Clarke was hauled down in the Wingate penalty area. The pleas were waved away and play went up the Stags’ end. The ball was cut back and Kissi was standing all by himself to poke home the ball from 8 yards.
As the half time whistle went, spirits were still high as chances were being created even if they were not being taken. A goal early in the second half could change everything.
And that goal came on 51 minutes when Cooper seemed to have scored a perfectly good goal but was inexplicably given off side. The effort showed the way and the Stags were soon on the attack again with Kanyuka hitting the side netting.
Stags manager Hakan Hayrettin tried to give the attack more impetus by taking defender Nicky Stevens off and bringing Paul Armand into the midfield. The Stags were now having more of the ball but even less of the luck. On two occasions shots from Clarke and Cooper had Thompson diving the wrong way only to make the saves with his legs.
When it was thought that things could not get any worse, striker Papy Kanyuka had to be taken off with what seemed to be a pulled hamstring. That put together with the injured ankle sustained in the Barking match, he may be looking at some weeks on the side line.
Wingate went on to defend their lead and left The Lodge with a late Christmas present.