Mansfield Town FC 3 Chasetown FC 1

Chasetown FC’s wonderful FA Carlsberg Trophy run came to an end at the quarter final stage as Mansfield Town defeated the Scholars 3-1 in their replay.

Yet again the Chase – with over 500 travelling supporters behind them – did not disgrace themselves at all against higher league opposition, but after they had dominated much of the first half Mansfield came on strong in the second period and eventually their rapid and determined style prevailed.

A steady start saw Chasetown exert early pressure down the right but the Stags defence were equal to them, Ramone Stephens sending in a dangerous cross from the right in the sixth minute but the ball just evaded Danny Smith and the hosts were able to clear.

Stephens provided another peach of a cross four minutes later which allowed Ben Jevons a fine diving header but his effort went wide of the post with Richard Davies shooting wide seconds afterwards and the Scholars were already proving more than up to the task against their Blue Square Premier opponents.

Mansfield’s first chance did not come until the 15th minute when Paul Connor headed a cross from home debutant Daniel Spence inches over the bar, but in response Chasetown pushed even harder with Stephens and Davies looking particularly impressive, another cross from the former sliced wide by Gary Birch.

Danny Smith then sent in a speculative cross from the opposite side but the Stags defence just beat Jimmy Turner to it at the near post for a corner which also went wide.

Against the run of play it was Mansfield who took the lead on 36 minutes. Ashley Cain picked up a loose ball on the right and crossed neatly to skipper Adam Murray who lashed his shot into the roof of the net.

Two quick chances for the Stags followed but Chris Slater was equal to them, while skipper Richard Teesdale blocked a shot from Danny Mitchley on 43 minutes as Mansfield pressed for a second goal but none was forthcoming before the break.

Mansfield went close right from the kick-off in the second half through a Cain free kick and a Mitchley shot from a tight angle. The latter then forced Ryan Price to duck low to save after beating Lee Parsons to the ball ten yards out before Gary Silk fired narrowly over the bar, and the Stags certainly
began to look the better side since the break.

On 52 minutes, however, the Scholars sensationally drew level when a Chris Peel free kick caused a goalmouth scramble with a stab at goal by Birch but it was Teesdale who smashed the equaliser into the roof of the net.

Two minutes later and the hosts restored their lead in dramatic and controversial fashion. Two shots from close range bounced back off the woodwork but Louis Briscoe ensured it was third time lucky at the near post although referee Mohareb had to consult with his linesman before awarding the goal
after the offside flag had initially gone up.

Price then had to be alert to gather a loose ball before Briscoe could shoot on 63 minutes but Mansfield continued to dominate although home keeper David Grof had to get down low to stop a Birch chance on 74 minutes.

One minute later and the Stags made things secure as Connor’s cross picked out Mitchley and he had little trouble in rifling his side’s third past Price and into the back of the net.

Still chances rained in for Mansfield, Briscoe cannoning a shot off the bar with ten minutes to go and Mitchley firing over, while Chasetown were restricted to a free kick from Peel which went just over the bar and a couple of half-chances from Birch in the closing stages as their Trophy flame was finally extinguished.

With Mansfield preparing to meet Luton Town in the Trophy semis, it’s back to Evo-Stik League action for Chasetown tomorrow (March 10) as Mickleover Sports visit the Scholars Ground (7.45pm) before the Scholars visit Burscough on Saturday (3pm).

Mansfield: Grof, Silk, Sandwith, Briscoe, Thompson, Naylor, Spence, Connor, Cain, Murray (c), Mitchley. Subs: Marriott (GK), Foster, Nix, A Smith, Istead.
Chasetown: Price, Turner, Peel, Slater, Davies, Teesdale (c), Stephens, Parsons, Birch, D Smith, Jevons. Subs: Hay (Stephens 74), J Branch (Parsons 66), M Branch, Abbott (Turner 74), Cohen.