Stags stun Terras

WEYMOUTH suffered last-minute heartache at Field Mill when Jonathan D’Laryea’s goal was enough to condemn the Terras to defeat.

The visitors had taken the lead when Stuart Beavon fired home a penalty but the Stags equalised through Adnan Ahmed in the 58th minute.

Caretaker-manager Alan Lewer was forced to make three changes to his side as injuries picked up at Welling in the FA Trophy last Tuesday meant that Jordan Collins and Stephen Reed were unavailable and Cameron Mawer sat on the bench, but only as emergency cover.

Into the side came Santos Gaia, Kevin Sandwith and Pierre Joseph-Dubois.

Mansfield were playing their first Blue Square Premier match under joint caretaker-managers Adie Moses and Mark Stallard and it was the Stags that were rewarded with three points after the visitors had given a true Jeckyll and Hyde performance.

Although, on the face of it, the statistics might show that the Stags were on top throughout the match, the home side’s performance in the first half failed to trouble the Terras, with the hosts seemingly content to shoot from distance and failing to trouble Terras’ keeper Danny Knowles.

Pakistani international Ahmed saw two efforts fly wide of the target and Nathan Arnold’s strike flew high over the crossbar.

Weymouth’s first real attempt to encroach on the home goal came in the 10th minute as Stuart Beavon laid a ball into the path of Joseph-Dubois, but Paddy Gamble was able to hold on to the shot.

It was due to Joseph-Dubois’ persistence that Weymouth took a 20th minute lead as the Terras’ man fought his way past Alan O’Hare before being brought down by the same man.

Although referee Tony Harrington awarded a penalty he only cautioned the Stags’ defender when most officials would surely have produced a red card.

Beavon stepped up to take the spot-kick and calmly placed the ball in the bottom left hand corner of the goal as Gamble threw himself in the opposite direction.

Three minutes later Joseph-Dubois went close to increasing Weymouth’s lead when he cut between James Kay and Gavin Hurren before firing his shot narrowly past an upright. Mansfield tried to respond, but we unable to create any clear openings. D’Laryea, Aaron O’Connor and Arnold all missed the target with efforts from outside of the penalty area.

However, it was Weymouth who went closest to scoring when Gamble’s poor clearance was intercepted by Beavon some 45 yards out, but the Terras’ striker’s chip drifted just wide.

Sam Cutler was also close with his shot from the edge of the box after good work by Ryan Williams had created an opening for the youngster.

Having worked so hard to restrict the home side to half chances, and to push them back with counter- attacks, Weymouth seemed to fall apart after the break.

Almost from the restart O’Connor forced a corner as his shot – following a clever run through the visiting defence – was deflected wide by Gaia.

Alex Jeannin’s corner deceived everybody before curling narrowly past a post without gathering a touch.

The increased tempo of the home side’s efforts had brought the previously quiet home supporters to life and this seemed to further encourage the Stags.

O’Connor’s cross into the area on 51 minutes seemed to hit Sandwith’s arm and 1,800 voices raised as one to claim a penalty. However the officials waved the appeals away.

Weymouth’s responded in the 56th minute as Ryan Williams and Dubois combined, but Williams’ cross flew across the penalty area unscathed.

Mansfield pulled level two minutes later when O’Connor’s ball out to the right flank found Arnold with space to cross. Ahmed got free on the edge of the six-yard area and scored with a diving glancing header at the near post.

Scott Doe did well to rob Ahmed and put Williams away, but Gamble was able to save the ex-Stags man’s shot.

O’Connor shot wide for Mansfield and injured himself in the process, allowing the introduction of much travelled Jason Lee.

Two incidents within 60 seconds helped determine the fate of the game.

On 82 minutes Beavon was floored three yards inside the Stags’ penalty area by O’Hare.

However, the referee surprised everyone by awarding a free-kick outside the penalty area. Sandwith then saw his curling effort saved.

At the other end Lee and Gaia challenged for a cross, with Lee getting the touch, however the ex-Nottingham Forest man then seemed to stamp on Gaia’s head as the Brazilian lay prone on the floor.

Mansfield completed their comeback with a goal just into stoppage time. Hurren’s throw-in was flicked on by Lee and D’Laryea was on hand to drive home from six yards – thus providing the Field Mill caretakers with an early Christmas present and sending the Terras home empty-handed.