Report
Although Christmas had passed, the Stags gifted three points to Wivenhoe in the first half of the game by giving away three very simple goals. The game could not have started more badly for the home side as the defence stood static almost from the kick off. This allowed Keith Martin to run at them and score with an excellent shot after 49 seconds.
The next ten minutes were fairly even but the Stags were still getting caught in Wivenhoe’s off side trap. Then they won a series of corners which gave trouble to the Town defence especially on the left where Ben Wake seemed to be the weak link. This gave Richard Georgiou some space for a shot but he was just wide of the mark.
Then, the Stags thought they’d scored after some excellent work by the much improved Papy Kanyuka coming in from the right again. He managed to send a beautiful cross to Fola Orilonishe, who could have had a stab at goal but instead headed back across the goal for Georgiou to have a try. Town’s ‘keeper Oliver Sanders made an excellent reaction save when the ball came to him off the underside of the crossbar. The ball seemed to be over the line, but on reflection, the referee probably got it right and waved play on.
Wivenhoe then turned on the pressure with a series of corners which the Stags found difficult to clear. However, the danger was not over when on 27 minutes Simon Thomas picked up a loose ball on the right wing. He was allowed to carry the ball into the centre rather than be shepherded out to the touch line. With no serious tackle coming he found himself in front of goal with a gap big enough to drive a horse and cart through. Willis in the home goal could do nothing about the shot.
With ten minutes to go in the half, the Stags mounted more attacks and could have scored on two occasions but luck was not with them. A minute later, on 36, Town sealed their victory from a corner. The home defence watched the attackers whilst defender Jack Wignall stole into the penalty box to head home an easy chance.
The Stags tried to change things by bringing on Matthew Judge for James Chrysanthou and going to three at the back. This did give them more attacking opportunities but equally the defence was more open too.
The Stags were much improved in the second half but could not get the ball into the net. On 52 mins, after some good play in the central left position, Leon McKenzie made an opening for Wesley Thomas but he hit the side netting when a pass across goal might have achieved more with two unmarked players waiting.
The Stags tried to tighten the screw but found Sanders in excellent form somehow stopping Orionishe’s shot from ten yards. In the same minute some excellent defending from Town saw Cross well placed to clear the ball off his own line. From the corner, Georgiou was butted un the head by a town defender but the referee, as usual, can only give what he sees!
Jermain Hughes and Mass Jallow came on to throw everything into attack but still the goal did not come.
That’s not to say Town did not have their moments too with Dave Bastian having to make a last ditch tackle to stop Martin getting through for his second.and the same player later heading wide of an open goal when it would have been easier to score.
More chances fell to the Stags but, after five second half substitutions, the referee blew up only adding 19 second to the game. Truth be told, if the real amount of extra time had been played, it is doubtful whether the Stags would have scored even the consolation goal they deserved.