Today's game at Moss Rose was expected to be a highly contested game with Macclesfield having a new manager and Mansfield playing a very beatable bottom of the league team. The question was would Shirtliff play for a 0-0 draw or try to be more assertive.
The game opened with a totally over the top, ‘Rocky’ style introduction for ‘the legendary’ Paul Ince. The two teams emerged with Macclesfield playing the ball on the floor and Mansfield playing hoof and hope, giving the front men very little service. Stags had the first change with a limp header over the bar from Barker in the first minute. The first real chance fell to Macclesfield as Hjelde miss-timed a header letting Bullock in behind him who lashed a shot into the side netting from 6 yards. Then in the 5th minute a good run into the box and across the byline from Heath on the left wing who played the ball back to Bullock whose goal bound shot produced a good reflex save from Muggleton to his left with the ball just going over the bar for a Macc corner. In the 25th minute Tipton ran down the right wing, swinging in a cross to the penalty spot which was met by a sublime header from Rob Scott which thundered against the base of Muggleton's right hand post. Quickest to react was the offside Bullock who slotted home over Muggleton only to have it denied. At this point Mansfield looked like the team with only 5 points after a pathetic opening half hour. Oh dear, it does look like we’re holding on for 0-0! After a brief spell of Mansfield pressure towards the end of the first half the Stags had another half chance with Baptiste heading well over under pressure. The Mansfield problems in the first half were the lack of midfield play. The marking was poor and every time the defence won the ball the only option was to hit the ball forwards to the isolated strikers.
Now the 2nd half. In the 50th minute the ball was wide on the right with Heath whose cross-come-shot sailed over Muggleton's bald patch into the net, it certainly had a hint of 2002 world cup flashbacks! The Stags woke up, why do we only do it when we go a goal behind? In the 52nd minute some good work on the right by Mansfield resulted in the ball falling to the right foot of Mullins, whose low side foot shot had the goalkeeper scrambling only to hit the post and come back out. After 60 mins Boulding came on to replace the illusive Jelleyman, the effect was immediate. Not long after, Johnny Mullins floated in a dream of a cross to any of three awaiting Stags attackers at the back post, Richie Barker headed, the goalkeeper parried straight onto Giles Cokes right knee (or nads) and in it went! Get in, 1-1, the Stags were back on level terms.
In the 69th minute Bappa picked the ball up on the half way line and ran forwards unchallenged until unleashing a shot from distance which whistled ... 7 foot wide. Good pressure followed from the Stags and fans were hopeful that we could grab a second goal from the game. The break of play allowed Danny Reet to be replaced by Chris Beardsley much to the dismay of some travelling fans. The out of sorts Hamshaw then gave away a fee kick from a promising position for Macc in the 81st minute. The ball was floated into the area, pinged about and fell to Captain Morley, 12 yards out who poked past Muggleton into the right hand corner. Now what? Stags could be heading towards defeat by the worst team in England. More Mansfield pressure after 83 mins resulted in a corner kick to the Stags, the ball come in from a Hamshaw delivery, Bappa headed it sideways to Hjelde who had his header headed off line by Navarro, the loose ball was picked up by Hamshaw who drifted a ball to the back post where Richie Barker met it, powering the header at Brain who could only parry it into his top left hand corner. 2-2, to the amazement of the Stags fans. Macclesfield has a rare opportunity as a ball was whipped in from the left, which landed at the feet of a surprised Baptise who was lucky the ball ricocheted into the arms of Muggleton.
Then came the penalty. A cross came in and was cleared to the feet of a Stags player whose shot struck the arm of a Macc defender and the referee had no hesitation in raising his whistle to his lips and awarding the Stags a penalty at the death. Up stepped Richie Barker in front of the travelling Stags contingent. Low and behold the big captain cooly slotted it to the keepers right in off the post with the goalie going to his left. The fans were in raptures, we had come back from 2-1 down with 10 minutes to go. How had we done that?
Muggleton - 5, good first half reflex save but gave nothing but an average performance after that. Too static for corners.
Hjelde - 5, Strong at the back but caught napping at times.
Baptiste - 8, Influential from start to finish.
Sheehan - 5, got forwards well and put in some good crosses in the second half. Corner delivery was poor.
D’Laryea - 5, Strong but not creative.
Coke - 6, Tried to be creative, right place at right time for goal.
Jelleyman - 5, Could have done more, didn’t look like a winger.
Reet - 5, Looked unfit and wasn’t effective.
Barker - 6, Involved in all three goals but not much else.
Boulding (for Jelleyman, 59) - 7, Came on and produced chances as well as winning a handful of corners, added something.
Beardsley (for Reet, 70) - 5, Hustled and bustled.
Subs not used: White, Buxton, Lloyd.
Brain, Regan, Morley, Scott, Brightwell (Teague 73), Bullock, Navarro, Hadfield, McIntyre, Tipton (Murphy 73), Heath (Weir-Daley 78). Subs Not Used: Lee, Miles.
C Oliver - 6, Gave some wacky decisions but played the advantage rule well.