MANSFIELD TOWN XI V BOSTON UNITED XI

MANSFIELD TOWN XI 0 BOSTON UNITED XI 5

WEDS 30^th JANUARY – CLIPSTONE LIDO GROUND

Report by Gordon Cleugh

A Stags XI entertained Conference high flyers Boston United at Clipstone in a hastily arranged friendly. Stags gave a debut to new signing David Kelly as well as full games for Hicks and Sisson. Disley suffered yet another knock early in the 2^nd half and was substituted after 55 minutes. Boston had several first team players in the squad and included former Stag Mark Clifford in their starting line up.

Stags: Bingham, Asher, Clarke, Sisson, Hicks, Jervis, Elliott, Disley, Kelly, Bacon, Rew

Final Score Mansfield Town XI 0 Boston United XI 5

Stags created little in the first half. The first notable move came on 20 minutes when Bacon headed the ball on for Kelly but he was just offside. Shortly after, a free kick from the right fell to Bacon but his tame shot was easily saved by the keeper. Bacon had another half chance a few minutes later when a Boston defender failed to clear the ball about 35 yards out but the keeper came out and won the race to the ball.

Boston’s first chance came in the 29^th minute when a free kick from the right was headed over the bar. The first Boston goal came in the 36^th minute. Jervis slipped and lost possession on the half way line. Boston broke through and the initial shot was blocked by Bingham but the rebound fell to no 9 who played the ball in the net. The 2^nd goal came 4 minutes later when a low shot to Bingham’s left from the edge of the box went just inside the post.

Stags only other first half chance fell to Hicks who headed well past the far post just before half time.

Boston extended their lead in the 53^rd minute when the lineman flagged for a hand ball against Stags inside the area and the Boston no 9 completed his hat trick from the penalty spot. Disley took a knock just before this and was replaced by Holyoake on 55 minutes.

Stags had a good chance a couple of minutes after a good move up the left. The ball eventually reached Kelly about 10 yards out but his shot was well over the bar. Boston nearly scored a spectacular own goal a minute later. A long ball forward form Jervis was intercepted by a Boston defender and his attempted clearance looked as if it was going in the net but rebounded off the crossbar. Andy White replaced Bacon on the hour mark. Shortly after, Kelly had a one on one with the Boston keeper but his shot was blocked and put out for a corner.

Stags were then guilty of some poor defending and Boston scored 2 goals in as many minutes. Stags created 3 chances in as many minutes after the 5^th goal. A cross from Kelly found Elliott but his pass was just out of reach of Sisson. A moment later, Jervis was in space on the left of the box but his shot hit the far post. Elliott’s shot a minute later was blocked by the keeper. Boston broke away from the resulting corner and nearly added a 6^th goal but Bingham made his best save of the match to put the ball out for a corner. On 75 minutes, Clarke’s shot was comfortably taken by the keeper. Jervis had a further chance with a few minutes remaining when he was in space on the left but his shot went over the bar.

Stags created several chances after Boston’s 3^rd goal and a combination of better finishing and a bit of luck could have had 4 or 5 goals. Kelly only had 2 real chances and should have scored. He did do some good work out wide and put some good crosses in.