Stags reserves maintained their push towards the top of Avon Insurance division 2 with a 1-0 victory over Hartlepool

MANSFIELD TOWN RESERVES 1 HARTLEPOOL RESERVES 0

FIELD MILL - WEDNESDAY 12^TH DECEMBER 2001

Report by Gordon Cleugh

Stags reserves maintained their push towards the top of Avon Insurance division 2 with a 1-0 victory over Hartlepool. Stags took a one goal lead into the half time interval but were fortunate not to concede a goal during the 2^nd half when Hartlepool wasted several good chances.

Michael Sisson (below) played for the last 30 minutes. Stags were unlucky not to extend their lead near the end when a Danny Bacon shot hit the post.

Stags: Bingham, Asher, Jervis, Lazarus, Holyoak, Buxton, Robinson, Hunter, Bacon, White, Pemberton Subs: Elliott, Rew, Sisson, Carter, White

Hartlepool: Hollund, Arnison, Simms, Sharp, Robinson, Easter, Boyd, McKenzie, Robson, Parkin, Sweeney Subs: Provett, Brackstone, Pearson, Manson, Batey

The match started at a fast and furious pace with Stags attacking the Quarry Lane end. Bacon had a beautiful little flick a la Bergkamp at the right hand corner in the 5^th minute and his cross found Pemberton whose shot went wide. Hartlepool had their first chance shortly when a shot went wide. In the 13^th minute a poor headed clearance from Stags fell to Boyd about 20 yards out but his shot was wide of the target.

Stags took the lead in the 14^th minute when White passed the ball out to Bacon on the right who shot at goal. The keeper blocked the shot but was unable to hold the ball and left a simple tap in for Pemberton who was following up on the left.

Pemberton had a good chance again on 20 minutes when his shot was pushed wide for a corner. Hartlepool had a good chance on 31 minutes when a cross by Arnison was met in the middle by Parkin but under pressure from Bingham, his header was wide of the target. A couple of minutes later Stags again had a good chance when the ball was flicked onto Pemberton but his shot was wide of the target. Hartlepool’s best chance of the half came on 40 minutes when Parkin found Robson in space on the left of the box and he should have done better than finding the side netting with his shot. A minute later a flicks over the defence by Sharp found Parkin unmarked and Bingham did well to block his shot.

Elliott replaced Robinson at the start of the 2^nd half. Hartlepool had an early chance when Parkin ran through but his shot was wide. In the 53^rd minute, Lazarus shot over the bar from a free kick 25 yards out. A moment later Bacon had a neat flick over the defence from 20 yards which went just wide of the post. White then had a neat little run past a couple of players into the box but was eventually crowded out and shot tamely.

Michael Sisson made his 2^nd appearance for the reserves when he replaced Lazarus on the hour mark. A few moments later, A Jervis cross from the left was put into the net by White from 6 yards but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Rew replaced Hunter on 72 minutes. A minute later, Pemberton made a telling cross from the left which almost found White at the far post but a Hartlepool defender intercepted and sliced his clearance which went for a corner.

Hartlepool started to mount pressure on Stags and looked capable of scoring an equaliser. On 80 minutes, a long shot from Robson was held comfortably by Bingham. A few minutes later a low shot towards the bottom corner from Sweeney brought out a diving save from Bingham. Shortly after, a "Robbo" style back header from Buxton let Parkin through with just the keeper to beat but pushed his shot just wide. Stags came back into the game for the last few minutes and with a couple of minutes left, Bacon dribbled through the defence and his shot from 15 yards hit the left hand post.