Seventh-placed Mansfield Town and eight-placed Leyton Orient played out a 1-1 draw in dreadful conditions at the One Call Stadium this afternoon. With heavy rain falling all day from 8am, the game only went ahead after a 1.30pm pitch inspection and it was a great credit to groundsman Mez Merriman and his groundstaff that the pitch held up well throughout, with the rain never stopping. But the conditions were very difficult with an unpredictable swirling wind and the ball sometimes skipping off the surface and other times sticking. The first half was a dreadful spectacle. Leyton Orient were in front on 12 minutes. In the build-up to the goal, the ball bounced up and struck John Marquis on the hand. The Stags players appealed for hand-ball but the referee waved play on. Marquis swept the ball out to Jobi McAnuff on the left wing. McAnuff cut back inside Lee Collins too easily on to his right foot, crossed into the middle and Jay Simpson stole in front of Krystian Pearce to glance a header into the net from 6 yards over the outstretched Jensen. It poor goal to concede, and so early on. Mansfield lacked quality, though Leyton Orient were little better. The Stags were level on 40 minutes with a goal out of the blue. A throw-in from Collins to Craig Westcarr, near the corner flag, Westcarr lobbed the ball into the area, Reggie Lambe met it on the volley from 15 yards to direct it towards to the bottom right corner of the net. The ball may or may not have just glanced off Matt Green's ankle before nestling in the bottom right corner of the net. Orient players appealed for offside. UPDATE: From behind-the-goal video camera it is still not clear whether it did glance off Green, so we are going to stick with crediting the goal to Lambe; while from the main camera it appears that Green was not offside. Mansfield were however perhaps fortunate to be level at the break. However the Stags were much the better side in the second half, and were unlucky not to take the lead on 64 minutes when Pearce headed against the post from a corner. The Stags also went close on 86 minutes when Green glanced a header wide from an Adam Chapman free kick from the left. The Stags were annoyed in stoppage time as Green burst past last man M'Voto and was cynically hacked down. The referee only booked M'Voto presumably because Green still had 45 yards to run at goal. A good second half performance from the Stags which drew applause from the home fans at the final whistle, and a creditable point, which could have been three, keeps Mansfield in the play-off positions.
Mansfield made one change to the side that won at Barnet: McGuire came in for the suspended Clements. It started as a 4-4-1-1 formation with Rose and Lambe on the right and left of midfield, and Westcarr playing behind Green. Leyton Orient had League Two top scorer Jay Simpson up front (he had been a doubt for the game), alongside John Marquis, meaning that former Stag Ollie Palmer started the game on the bench.
We have not played Leyton Orient for nearly a decade and Orient won the previous 5 matches between the teams.
Inside the first minute, Collins did well to head away a cross. On 4 minutes, at the other end, Westcarr's shot from 22 yards was blocked almost at source. A minute later, Westcarr tried his luck again, from a similar distance but was well wide of the post.
Tafazolli was lectured by the referee for a sliding tackle in the centre circle on 6 minutes, where he won the ball cleanly. It set the scene for the game where the referee would not allow any sliding tackles, despite the wet conditions.
Leyton Orient were in front on 12 minutes. In the build-up to the goal, the ball bounced up and struck John Marquis on the hand. The Stags players appealed for hand-ball but the referee waved play on. Marquis swept the ball out to Jobi McAnuff on the left wing. McAnuff cut back inside Lee Collins too easily on to his right foot, crossed into the middle and Jay Simpson stole in front of Krystian Pearce to glance a header into the net from 6 yards over the outstretched Jensen. It poor goal to concede, and so early on.
On 15 minutes, Marquis turned and fired well over the bar from 25 yards.
A good tackle by Pearce on Marquis just outside the Stags box on 17 minutes.
A minute later, Chapman fired in a half volley from 35 yards that nearly hit the corner flag.
On 20 minutes, a ball forward for Green and it looked like he'd get to it first but a defender slid in and cleared the ball. Four minutes later, Adams headed the ball forward and again it looked like Green might get to it, but it skipped off the greasy surface through to the keeper.
The conditions were making it difficult to predict the flight of the ball.
On 30 minutes, an Orient cross from the left and Turgitt was only just unable to get on the end of it.
Stags fans were getting frustrated with Mansfield's play. And the Stags did lack quality in the opening 40 minutes, though Leyton Orient were little better.
But the Stags were level on 40 minutes and it was a goal out of the blue. A throw-in from Collins to Craig Westcarr, near the corner flag, Westcarr lobbed the ball into the area, Reggie Lambe met it on the volley from 15 yards to direct it towards to the bottom right corner of the net. The ball may or may not have just glanced off Matt Green's ankle before nestling in the bottom right corner of the net. Orient players appealed for offside. UPDATE: From behind-the-goal video camera it is still not clear whether it did glance off Green, so we are going to stick with crediting the goal to Lambe; while from the main camera it appears that Green was not offside.
Green was booked for a challenge on 42 minutes as two players jumped for the ball.
On 45 minutes, a corner by James was headed over by M'Voto. A minute later at the other end and a ball back to Orient keeper Cisak that Lambe nearly got to.
All square at the break and Mansfield were perhaps fortunate to be level. However neither side had really come to the terms with the awful conditions.
There was a change in formation for the Stags. McGuire sat in front of the back four in a 4-1-4-1 formation which became 4-3-3 when the Stags attacked.
On 47 minutes, an Orient cross from the right and important header away by Collins.
Mansfield then produced their best move of the game so far. Green burst forward from the centre circle, fed the ball to Westcarr on the right, and as Westcarr crossed into the middle, Green had broken into the box but the ball came off a defender for a corner.
Orient won a free-kick in the edge of the D on 53 minutes as McAnuff's shot was charged down at point blank range by McGuire. The referee decided it was a deliberate handball. McGuire was booked. James took the resulting free-kick which was deflected for a corner. Following the corner, Jay Simpson turned on the penalty spot and volleyed over the bar.
Adams made a good tackle on 59 minutes, and followed it up with another moments later. I commented to Steve Hartshorn during commentary that that might be enough to earn him the sponsors' man of the match award. He was later duly given the sponsors' man of the match.
On 63 minutes, Lambe played a fine 1-2 with Rose, and Lambe's shot from the right was blocked for a corner.
Before the corner was taken, Orient made a change, bringing on Ollie Palmer for Turgett, to a few jeers from home fans.
The Stags were unlucky not to take the lead on 64 minutes from the resulting corner. Chapman's corner from the right found Pearce who had lost his marker running in, and headed against outside of the right post. It looked a goal all the way, and he should have scored from that position.
On 66 minutes, Ollie Palmer turned in the box, his shot was blocked, back to Marquis, who fired wide of the right post.
Murray made a change on 66 minutes bringing on Blair for Westcarr. Blair was on the right, pushing forward. Lambe was on the left, also pushing forward, with Rose and Chapman in central midfield.
Blair was straight into the action on 68 minutes as he got to the byline, crossed into the middle, the ball eventually came back to Chapman, whose left footed shot was well wide.
A minute later, from a Chapman corner, the ball came out to Lambe whose shot was deflected wide.
On 70 minutes, a long ball forward from Jensen was beautifully controlled by Blair who played in Green whose shot was deflected wide. The corner from the right came out to McGuire who volleyed high over the bar.
On 76 minutes, M'Voto headed down a free kick straight at Jensen.
The Stags went close on 86 minutes as Green glanced a header wide from an Adam Chapman free kick from the left.
A minute later, Rose sent in a low shot from 25 yards which Cisak did well to hold in the conditions with Green prowling waiting for a loose ball.
The Stags were annoyed on 90+3 minutes as Green burst past last man M'Voto and was cynically hacked down. The referee only booked M'Voto presumably because Green still had 45 yards to run at goal.
Applause from the home fans at the final whistle. The Stags were very much in the ascendency in the second half but couldn't find the killer touch to take all three points.
Jensen 6.5 Didn't really have a save to make and had little chance with the goal.
Collins 6 Beaten too easily on the wing for the cross that led to the goal. Did make some good clearances.
Pearce 6 Jay Simpson stole in front of him to head the goal. Missed a great chance to win the game in the second half.
Tafazolli 7 Very solid and composed performance.
Adams 7 A couple of good tackles midway through the second half. Good game.
Rose 6.5 Good 1-2 with Lambe to set up a chance.
McGuire 7 Started the game poorly but very good after that in a defensive midfield role.
Chapman 6.5 A good corner and free-kick to set up second half chances.
Lambe 7 Fired in the volley for the goal. Involved in some other chances.
Westcarr 7 Cross in for the goal. A couple of early shots. One good cross in the second half.
Green 6.5 Did ok. Shot deflected wide and glanced a header wide.
Blair (for Westcarr, 66) - Looked very lively when he came on and straight into the action.
Subs not used: Shearer, Marsden, J.Thomas, N.Thomas, Beardsley,Yussuf.
(4-4-2): Cisak; Clohessy, Baudry (C), M'Voto, Kpekawa; Turgott (Palmer 64), Payne, James, McAnuff; Marquis (Pritchard 78), Simpson (Kashket 78). Subs not used: Grainger, Essam, Dunne, Shaw.
Darren England 5 Poor game. Plenty of poor decisions from the officials.