A 10am start from the Mill on the SSA coach down to Gloucestershire was the reward for the Stags faithful, apparently there were five coaches as well as the numerous mini buses we passed on the way and all the folks in cars so at least the Stags would be well supported at The New Lawn.
The coach driver seemed to be hell bent on breaking the land speed record for a coach and apart from getting caught up in Stroud a matter of a few miles from the little village of Nailworth where FGR play the journey was over much faster than the faithful expeected.
On arrival at the new lawn there was chance to take in this quaint little village club with pretty good facilities and a tight, compact little ground.
The players had headed down that morning also, which in the long run may have explained the slightly leggy performance.
As David Holdsworth's Barmey Army filled one end and a little of the terrace along the side opposite the main stand there was always to be a vocal following......... and the fans did not disappoint from kick off to full time whistle.
The Stags side included a few changes; in came Jake Speight with Rob Duffy playing out wide right, Gary Mills was prefered to Matt Sommner in the midfield along side new loanee Michael Brough, a tall midfielder who had been bought in that week form Torquay and previosuly played for Notts County. Ryan Williams was also dropped down to the bench as Stevue Istead came in for a rare start.
The weather didn't look at all promising and the already greasy looking pitch would only get wetter as the game went on not being overly condusive to the slick controlled football the Stags often treat the fans to at Field Mill.......... or should we call it Mill Field as the Forest Green announcer continaully called it!!!
A few moans and groans echoed around the travelling fans with Sommner only on the bench, it is fair to say that the midfield looks much stonger when he's driving the midfield, I for one am yet to be convinced by the endeavours of Gary Mills who at times seems to lack the finess and composure of Sommner. Certainly Sommner and Nix (who's out injured) give the side a lot more balance in the center of the park with Sommner breaking up the opposition and Nix craffting the openings for the forwards or feeding the wingers.
The Stags looked a little disjointed in the first half with Forest Green continually harressing and hurrying the midfield, the Stags got drawn into hitting it longer than normal which was fairly easy pickings for the Forest Green defence.
Forest Green, although lacking quality certainly played well to their means with guile and endeavour being rewarded on 28 minutes with a swift counter attack through the Stags lacklustre midfield which was neatly finished past an exposed Allan Marriott by Jared Hodgkiss. The 'Green Army' were jubilant as the home side took a deserved early lead to stun the visitors.
Unfortunately the Stags response was a frustrated by some hard work from the home side in breaking up atttackes and a energetic midfield which controlled much of the first half, most noteabley was the continual drive and compusre in the center of the park by Rovers' David Brown who controlled the midfield and set many an attack up for the ever threatening Tomi Ameobi.
As the half time whistle blew the Stags following where left to dwell on the performance whilst queing for pie and tea in the rain or wading through the puddled conveniences, it is fair to say Forest Green are probably not used to hosting a healthy traveling contingent which was reported as only around 350 by the Forest Green anouncment of the attendance of 1,149. This was greated by rounds of boos and bewilderment given the size of the travelling contingent behind the goal.
The second half started in much the same pattern of the first half with Mansfield probing but not quite having the final ball or the killer pass. Jake Speight continued to press and Kyle Perry after an earlier penalty shout continued to work the home defence with little to show for his hard work.
Frustration crpet in throughout the second half on and off the pitch as there were a number of decisions that seemed to go the way of the home side, Kyle Perry continued to be pushed and pulled as he led the line.
The gaffer made the changes as time slipped away, Ryan Willimas, Craig Dobson and Blair Sturrock all came on to add some extra umph! But, nothing would drop and the Stags just seemed to be lacking that craft and final ball in a game which the home side had sucessfully compacted into a long ball match. As the clock ticked on towards the last few minutes David Holdsworth gave Scott Garner the nod to push forward and add some extra height to the forward line, Williams was given the ball as much as possible to try and craft a much needed opening and save the Stags FA Cup place for 2009/10.
In the 87 minute Ryan Williams picked the ball up from a poor clearance and he carefully flighted it into the danger area, Garner rose heighest and headed the ball up over the keeper and into the back of the net. The travelling contingent leapt in unison to celebrate grabbing a life line, maybe somewhat amongst the run of play but never the less keeping the FA Cup run alive for now.
The final minutes, five of which came as added time, ebbed and flowed as both sides pushed on. Mansfield played with more urgency in the closing moments than for the previous 85 minutes and could of easily of really up set the apple cart by grabbing a winner, but in the end the travelling fans left relieved and happier with a 1-1 draw which for so much of the game could have been much less. Alan Marriott in the Stags net had another fine performance with the gloves making five or six top class saves to keep the score to 0-1, although his kicking and distribution were a little wayward.
Overall the Stags left the happier to come away with a smash and grab draw, the Rovers could easily be quite upset to not win the match.
Stags MOM: Alan Marriott
Now we must do it all again back the field Mill a week Tuesday with the chance to right the wrongs and give the fans a performance to be proud of. If the Stags show the quality and purpose of which we know they can then a win against a well organised if not technically brilliant Forest Green Rovers should be well within reach. The reward......... a very winnable game away at Bath in round two with the carrott of a potential 3rd round tie against a premier league side.
Stags played the get out of jail free card at the New Lawn, let's capitalise on the second chance and ignite a run in the cup which will bring in much needed funds whilst rejuvinating the passion within the town.
Come on you Stags!
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