Mansfield Town

A mudheap of a pitch welcomed Spurs to Mansfield Town, but nonetheless it provided an entertaining (if sometimes farcical) 3-3 draw between the two sides at the Field Mill ground.

With a late drop-out, recently injured Kevin Bird found out that he was going to play while having a pre-match drink in a local pub to play for relegation threatened Mansfield and he was involved in the 29th minute opener for the Stags, working the ball forward as his cross was headed back across goal by Dennis Martin from the far post for Dave Syrett to turn the ball into the net from inside the six-yard box.  However, Chris Jones ensured that the lead only lasted for a minute, following a melee in the penalty area that ended with the ball dropping in a puddle six yards out and his rising shot evaded two defenders between him and the goal.

Despite the rain-sodden pitch, both sides turned the game into an entertaining game, with play moving from end-to-end.  It did however, stem the flow of Tottenham’s passing game, having to change to a longer ball style.  The home team missed the chance to re-gain the lead when Martin failed to find the net from the penalty spot, as Barry Daines saved it, diving to his left, following Steve Perryman’s foul on Gordon Hodgson.  However, Syrett did score five minutes later when he finished off Colin Foster’s header to him with his head, despite Tottenham claims that the ball had been cleared off the line by Neil McNab.

The second half was notable for an improved Spurs performance, grabbing hold of the midfield and when a Jimmy Holmes corner dropped at the far post Ian Wood handled to keep out Peter Taylor’s shot back across goal giving Glenn Hoddle the opportunity to stroke the ball home from the resulting penalty to the keeper’s right.  The Mansfield players had protested that the winger had handled before his shot and they might have had a case, despite the fact that the referee was close behind Taylor.  Five minutes from time Syrett completed his hat-trick as a long ball forward looked straight-forward for Barry Daines to clear outside his area, but the atrocious conditions caused him to slice the ball into the air behind him, with the Mansfield centre-forward able to seize on the error by putting the ball into an empty net, although the ball only just made it over the line through the muddy goalmouth.

The match should have been decided in Mansfield’s favour when a corner was flicked on by Syrett at the near post and Barry Foster came in unmarked at the back stick, but he could only guide his stretching volley wide from a couple of yards out.  With time ticking out and the Mansfield players’ fitness tested by the trying conditions, a desperate lunge handed Spurs a free kick on the left edge of the penalty area from which Glenn Hoddle unerringly found top right hand corner the keeper’s net with to make it 3-3 in the final minute of the match.

Mansfield Town : –  Rod Arnold, Kevin Bird, Ian Wood, Colin Foster, Pat Sharkey, Dave Syrett, Gordon Hodgson, John Miller, Mick Saxby, Barry Foster, Dennis Martin
Sub. Not used : –
Colours : – Yellow shirt with blue collar and cuff; Blue shorts; Yellow socks
Tottenham Hotspur : –  Barry Daines, Micky Stead, Jimmy Holmes, Don McAllister, Colin Lee, Steve Perryman (c), Glenn Hoddle, Neil McNab, John Pratt, Peter Taylor, Chris Jones
Sub. not used : –  Ian Moores
Colours : – White shirt with white collar and Admiral detail on V-neck and down sleeve; White shorts with Navy Blue Admiral detail down side, White socks
Kit Supplier : – Admiral
Manager :- Keith Burkinshaw
Ref. : –  David Richardson (Great Harwood)
Linesmen : –  Mr. R. E. Eden – Red flag; Mr. M. G. Pulley – Orange flag
Attendance : –   12,144

Mansfield keeper Rod Arnold played a memorable game to deny Spurs win over the Stags at White Hart Lane and his side took a point back to Nottinghamshire after a Kevin Bird equaliser.

John Pratt brought good saves out of the Stags keeper in the second and eight minutes, although he was unable to prevent Tottenham taking a 15th minute lead despite saving John Duncan’s first shot, he was beaten by the Scot striker’s second attempt. 

Mansfield responded with some good football, creating chances for Dave Syrett and Johnny Miller, but they could not turn them into goals.  When they did get the ball in the net in the 37th minute, Gordon Hodgson had been ruled offside when he headed home Bird’s cross and only determined defending by Steve Perryman, Don McAllister and Barry Daines blocked off Syrett when it seemed as though he must score just before half-time.

While Tottenham pressed on in the second half, they found the Mansfield defence standing firm and the visitors could have levelled from the penalty spot when Keith Osgood was ruled to have fouled Syrett as he went for a header.  Pat Sharkey took the spot-kick, but hit it straight at Daines and the rebound was skied over the bar by Miller.  Although Spurs were working Arnold as they attacked, a tactical change by player-manager Peter Morris allowed Bird to push forward and he popped up in the box to finish off Miller’s right-wing cross as he slid in to claim a point in the 76th minute for bottom of the League Mansfield.  

Tottenham Hotspur : –  Barry Daines, Don McAllister, Terry Naylor, Keith Osgood, Steve Perryman (c), Glenn Hoddle, Neil McNab, John Pratt, Peter Taylor, John Duncan, Chris Jones
Sub. not used : –  Gerry Armstrong
Manager : – Keith Burkinshaw
Colours : – White shirt with blue collar and Admiral detail down sleeve; Navy Blue shorts with White Admiral detail down side, White socks with blue turnover
Kit Supplier : – Admiral
Manager :- Keith Burkinshaw
Mansfield Town : –  Rod Arnold, Kevin Bird, Barry Foster, Pat Sharkey, Colin Foster, Ian Wood, John Miller, Robbie Cooke (Mick Saxby 69), Dave Syrett, Gordon Hodgson, John Aston
Player/Manager : – Peter Morris
Colours : – Yellow shirt with blue collar and cuff; Blue shorts; Yellow socks
Ref. : –  Mr. A. Glasson (-)
Linesmen : –
Attendance : –   36,288