Report
This was one of those matches that had everything apart from the right result for the Stags. Three goals down at half time, courtesy of some very slack work from an assistant referee who’s lack of application to his job allowed two off side goals, the Stags fought back in the second half but, in the end were frustrated by a strong Maldon Town defence.
Without the injured Ian Barnes and Papy Kanyuka some re-jigging in defence had to be enacted before the start but it was Maldon who went on the attack straight away putting the Stags on the back foot. Before a few minutes were over, Maldon had already earned themselves three corners and looked dedicated to forcing the game into the Stags’ half.
The first shot on goal though, came fro Dewayne Clarke who worked tirelessly throughout the match: Ian Cooper had worked a jinking run in the inside right channel and cut the ball back to Clarke whose attempt was well saved by home ‘keeper Paul Catley.
Things started going wrong for the Stags on the 13 minute when Maldon launched an attack on their left wing. Simon Parker broke through and crossed for Tommy Noble. The Stags’ defence seemed stunned when the flag did not go up to signify Noble being clearly five yards off side. He had the simplest chance to tap home.
This slice of good fortune replicated itself five minutes later when Noble again scored from an off side position.
Bad karma descended on the Stags and they continued to have problems with the pressure from Maldon. However, they went in search of the first goal and nearly got it thanks to their own endeavours on 23 minutes when Simon Tickner headed just wide from a corner.
Then Cooper and Clarke combined again to give set Clarke free but his volley just skimmed the crossbar with Catley beaten. It was not to be Clarke’s day as a few moments later he managed to curl a free kick
All seemed lost when Parker scored the third after 35 minutes. The Stags lost the ball in midfield and were wide open to Parker once he was in the penalty area with the ball to score from close range.
There was a difference in the second half though. At the start Maldon seemed content to sit back on their lead as the Stags pushed forward. The home defence began to look decidedly shaky and were found out when, after applied pressure from Clarke, Goodacre handled the ball in front of the referee who could do nothing else but award a penalty. Cooper converted on the 60th minute..
The Stags saw their opportunity and went straight on the attack from the restart and had their just reward within two minutes when Clarke put pressure on the centre of the home defence and, through his persistence was able to push the ball through to Cooper who made no mistake bring his season’s tally to 16 goals.
Maldon were stunned into action by the second goal and realised they had a game on their hands. The Stags’ management also saw the chance and threw their resources into attack bringing on Kardal to really work on the home defence.
As the Stags looked for the equaliser, Maldon began to find more space once again and veteran midfielder Nicky Smith was allowed to bolster the attack and steer home a Parker pass on the 65th minute.