Report By John Lomas
NOTTS COUNTY 2 MANSFIELD TOWN 2
YET again Notts County and Mansfield served up another thrilling local derby goals rush at Meadow Lane this afternoon.
YET again Notts County and Mansfield served up another thrilling local derby goals rush at Meadow Lane this afternoon.
But it finished all square after Notts had gone in 1-0 up at the break only to see Stags hit back with two goals in as many minutes.
And Giles Coke wasted a golden stoppage time chance to be the hero for Mansfield.
Notts went into this game on the back of five straight defeats and Stags after five games unbeaten.
But, as always, the form book went out of the window for a local derby and the sides looked to be grinding out a scoreless first half when Chris Palmer produced a top quality finish on 43 minutes.
As in their previous two games, Stags livened things up by sending on Simon Brown as sub on 57 minutes.
And he set up a 62nd equaliser for Laurence Wilson - his first for the club - before Richie Barker headed home his 20th of the season soon after to turn the game on its head.
But some quality poaching from Notts sub Daniel Chillingworth saw him rescue a point with his first Magpies goal 14 minutes from time.
There was still more drama to come as Coke hit the Notts post with an open goal in front of him in stoppage time at the end.
Stags were roared on by a 3,743 army behind the Spion Kop goal on a cold, windy, but bright afternoon.
The visitors made two changes with Coke and Jelleyman both returning from suspension at the expense of Uhlenbeek and Rundle, who dropped to the bench.
Dawson played wide right and Wilson wide left with Coke in the centre and Jelleyman at left back.
The Notts side showed three changes with Dadi, Crooks and Sheridan brought in, McMahon and Chillingworth dropping to the bench and Scoffham out injured.
The visitors almost made a dream start inside the first 40 seconds. Wilson crossed from the left and Reet flicked on to Barker who, five yards from goal with Pilkington at his mercy, could not connect cleanly with his volley and the moment was gone.
Wilson was next to threaten after cutting in from the left and speeding past two opponents. But his finish from 25 yards lacked any pace and rolled tamely towards Pilkington.
Reet's aggression won a ball he had no right to win and it ran loose for Barker. But in attempting to try to place his finish, it lacked power and again was easy for former Mansfield keeper Pilkington, who was being booed on his every touch by the away fans.
Notts finally tested Pilkington on 20 minutes as Stags struggled to head clear a long free kick and Wilson was able to get in a header on target from six yards only to see Pressman in the way.
Pipe then made an exciting dash forward but saw his shot blocked.
Stags fans were booing as play continued with Hjelde down injured in the Mansfield box. But Mansfield broke forward and Reet brought a superb fingertip save out of Pilkington, diving to his right, to prevent his 25 yard shot finding the net.
Tempers were starting to rise and Baudet flattened Barker from behind.
From the free kick Barker flicked on and Pilkington got there before Reet who continued his lunge and caught the keeper. Players raced in and after the shoving contest ended, Reet was booked on 20 minutes, having already been warned earlier.
Stags conceded a dangerous free kick 20 yards from goal two minutes later. But Crooks' low effort was blocked.
Hjelde was then tight up on Dadi to block his attempted shot on the turn.
There were howls of protest from the Notts fans as Reet again went in on Pilkington as the keeper gathered the ball, but the referee deemed the challenge fair this time.
Wilson was well off target with a lash at a loose ball from almost 30 yards as we awaited the first goal with 32 minutes gone.
Stags took their corner tally to three with two in as many minutes without making them count. Another followed which saw Pilkington grab Barker's flick.
Chillingworth replaced the disappointing Dadi up front for Notts five minutes from the interval.
Chillingworth immediately won a Notts corner which was cleared out towards Reet near the centre circle. But Pipe got there first and let fly with a rocket shot from 35 yards which brought the best out of Pilkington, diving to his right and holding on cleanly.
But Notts broke the deadlock on 43 minutes. The Magpies had a throw on the right which eventually reached Palmer who looked up and, from 25 yards, curled a superb finish over Pressman and under the far angle.
Pilkington safely gathered Mansfield's fifth corner as Notts went in with the advantage after a hard-fought 45 minutes.
Stags defended an early Notts free kick which was cleared to Doyle who was way off the mark on 48 minutes.
Barker headed a Dawson cross tamely to Pilkington when a flick behind him would have found Wilson in space.
Shirtliff made an early charge with Uhlenbeek taking over the right midfield role from Dawson on 52.
Mansfield quickly forced two successive corners.
But Notts almost netted again on 55. Sheridan neatly controlled the ball 20 yards from goal to tee up Chillingworth for a dipping shot that Pressman just managed to turn over his bar.
At this point Brown was introduced to the roar of anticipation of the away fans in place of Reet.
Pilkington made a brilliant save to keep out Wilson's thunderbolt from 18 yards on the hour after Barker had set him up. And Wilson was in the way of Buxton's goal wards flick from the corner.
But Brown made the expected difference on 62 minutes. His pace took him into the right of the box and into a position where he was able to drill in a low cross. It flew under Barker but reached Wilson who gratefully rammed home his first goal for the club from eight yards.
The celebrations were still going on two minutes later when Stags snatched the lead.
Wilson hoisted the ball into the box, D'Laryea got a header at goal and, before it got there. Barker got another head onto it which neatly placed it well out of Pilkington's reach.
Rattled, Notts responded with three corners and then threw on McMahon for Ullathorne. Soon after Baudet powered a header wide of Pressman's left hand post from a Crooks cross.
Stage might have had a penalty on 73. Coke tried to run onto a Brown pass and looked to be shoved over from behind by Palmer. But the referee was unimpressed and booked Coke for arguing.
The game took another twist on 76 minutes as the scores were level again.
Pipe's cross from the left saw Edwards unable to get a finish on it. But, as the ball rolled towards Pressman, Chillingworth slid in to get there first and just nick in past the Stags keeper from close range.
Lloyd replaced Wilson in midfield for the last nine minutes.
Stags cleared another Notts corner and, soon after, Brown was too high on the turn as he received a short pass from Uhlenbeek.
Wilson chopped down Coke in full flight as he tried to burst into the box, earning a booking. But the free kick routine, from a dangerous position, was poor and Uhlenbeek's eventual effort was blocked from close range.
Tempers again flared as Brown was penalised for a dive. But this time the card stayed in the referee's pocket.
Three minutes were added on at the end as both sides went for glory.
And it should have gone to Mansfield with a breakaway that saw Uhlenbeek time his final ball to perfection to leave Coke clear on goal.
The youngster elected to round Pilkington but, having done the hard bit, saw his finish then come back off the near post from eight yards with the open goal gaping.
There was still time for Buxton and Crooks to rifle hopeful long range efforts over at both ends before the whistle ended another compelling contest between these sides.
And Giles Coke wasted a golden stoppage time chance to be the hero for Mansfield.
Notts went into this game on the back of five straight defeats and Stags after five games unbeaten.
But, as always, the form book went out of the window for a local derby and the sides looked to be grinding out a scoreless first half when Chris Palmer produced a top quality finish on 43 minutes.
As in their previous two games, Stags livened things up by sending on Simon Brown as sub on 57 minutes.
And he set up a 62nd equaliser for Laurence Wilson - his first for the club - before Richie Barker headed home his 20th of the season soon after to turn the game on its head.
But some quality poaching from Notts sub Daniel Chillingworth saw him rescue a point with his first Magpies goal 14 minutes from time.
There was still more drama to come as Coke hit the Notts post with an open goal in front of him in stoppage time at the end.
Stags were roared on by a 3,743 army behind the Spion Kop goal on a cold, windy, but bright afternoon.
The visitors made two changes with Coke and Jelleyman both returning from suspension at the expense of Uhlenbeek and Rundle, who dropped to the bench.
Dawson played wide right and Wilson wide left with Coke in the centre and Jelleyman at left back.
The Notts side showed three changes with Dadi, Crooks and Sheridan brought in, McMahon and Chillingworth dropping to the bench and Scoffham out injured.
The visitors almost made a dream start inside the first 40 seconds. Wilson crossed from the left and Reet flicked on to Barker who, five yards from goal with Pilkington at his mercy, could not connect cleanly with his volley and the moment was gone.
Wilson was next to threaten after cutting in from the left and speeding past two opponents. But his finish from 25 yards lacked any pace and rolled tamely towards Pilkington.
Reet's aggression won a ball he had no right to win and it ran loose for Barker. But in attempting to try to place his finish, it lacked power and again was easy for former Mansfield keeper Pilkington, who was being booed on his every touch by the away fans.
Notts finally tested Pilkington on 20 minutes as Stags struggled to head clear a long free kick and Wilson was able to get in a header on target from six yards only to see Pressman in the way.
Pipe then made an exciting dash forward but saw his shot blocked.
Stags fans were booing as play continued with Hjelde down injured in the Mansfield box. But Mansfield broke forward and Reet brought a superb fingertip save out of Pilkington, diving to his right, to prevent his 25 yard shot finding the net.
Tempers were starting to rise and Baudet flattened Barker from behind.
From the free kick Barker flicked on and Pilkington got there before Reet who continued his lunge and caught the keeper. Players raced in and after the shoving contest ended, Reet was booked on 20 minutes, having already been warned earlier.
Stags conceded a dangerous free kick 20 yards from goal two minutes later. But Crooks' low effort was blocked.
Hjelde was then tight up on Dadi to block his attempted shot on the turn.
There were howls of protest from the Notts fans as Reet again went in on Pilkington as the keeper gathered the ball, but the referee deemed the challenge fair this time.
Wilson was well off target with a lash at a loose ball from almost 30 yards as we awaited the first goal with 32 minutes gone.
Stags took their corner tally to three with two in as many minutes without making them count. Another followed which saw Pilkington grab Barker's flick.
Chillingworth replaced the disappointing Dadi up front for Notts five minutes from the interval.
Chillingworth immediately won a Notts corner which was cleared out towards Reet near the centre circle. But Pipe got there first and let fly with a rocket shot from 35 yards which brought the best out of Pilkington, diving to his right and holding on cleanly.
But Notts broke the deadlock on 43 minutes. The Magpies had a throw on the right which eventually reached Palmer who looked up and, from 25 yards, curled a superb finish over Pressman and under the far angle.
Pilkington safely gathered Mansfield's fifth corner as Notts went in with the advantage after a hard-fought 45 minutes.
Stags defended an early Notts free kick which was cleared to Doyle who was way off the mark on 48 minutes.
Barker headed a Dawson cross tamely to Pilkington when a flick behind him would have found Wilson in space.
Shirtliff made an early charge with Uhlenbeek taking over the right midfield role from Dawson on 52.
Mansfield quickly forced two successive corners.
But Notts almost netted again on 55. Sheridan neatly controlled the ball 20 yards from goal to tee up Chillingworth for a dipping shot that Pressman just managed to turn over his bar.
At this point Brown was introduced to the roar of anticipation of the away fans in place of Reet.
Pilkington made a brilliant save to keep out Wilson's thunderbolt from 18 yards on the hour after Barker had set him up. And Wilson was in the way of Buxton's goal wards flick from the corner.
But Brown made the expected difference on 62 minutes. His pace took him into the right of the box and into a position where he was able to drill in a low cross. It flew under Barker but reached Wilson who gratefully rammed home his first goal for the club from eight yards.
The celebrations were still going on two minutes later when Stags snatched the lead.
Wilson hoisted the ball into the box, D'Laryea got a header at goal and, before it got there. Barker got another head onto it which neatly placed it well out of Pilkington's reach.
Rattled, Notts responded with three corners and then threw on McMahon for Ullathorne. Soon after Baudet powered a header wide of Pressman's left hand post from a Crooks cross.
Stage might have had a penalty on 73. Coke tried to run onto a Brown pass and looked to be shoved over from behind by Palmer. But the referee was unimpressed and booked Coke for arguing.
The game took another twist on 76 minutes as the scores were level again.
Pipe's cross from the left saw Edwards unable to get a finish on it. But, as the ball rolled towards Pressman, Chillingworth slid in to get there first and just nick in past the Stags keeper from close range.
Lloyd replaced Wilson in midfield for the last nine minutes.
Stags cleared another Notts corner and, soon after, Brown was too high on the turn as he received a short pass from Uhlenbeek.
Wilson chopped down Coke in full flight as he tried to burst into the box, earning a booking. But the free kick routine, from a dangerous position, was poor and Uhlenbeek's eventual effort was blocked from close range.
Tempers again flared as Brown was penalised for a dive. But this time the card stayed in the referee's pocket.
Three minutes were added on at the end as both sides went for glory.
And it should have gone to Mansfield with a breakaway that saw Uhlenbeek time his final ball to perfection to leave Coke clear on goal.
The youngster elected to round Pilkington but, having done the hard bit, saw his finish then come back off the near post from eight yards with the open goal gaping.
There was still time for Buxton and Crooks to rifle hopeful long range efforts over at both ends before the whistle ended another compelling contest between these sides.
