Attendance: 2971 (1032 from Derby)
Reports from Various Sources:
SSA Website: www.stagsnet.net
The Stags fielded a strong side for the first home pre-season game of the season and the first run out for the first team. Only keeper Jason White, just about recovered from a minor knee operation, was missing from the side many believe will take the field for the opening league game at Shrewsbury. New men Johnny Mullins and Matt Hamshaw formed a new right hand side for the Stags, with Carl Muggleton back in the Stags goal after joining the club on a one year deal. Another familiar face was on the Stags bench, Michael Boulding who made over 70 appearances for the Stags, his first professional club, between 1999-2001.
It was the home side who created the best chances of the opening 45 minutes, with the Championship side enjoying spells of pressure without ever testing Muggleton. Johnny Mullins was first to test the Derby keeper after a great turn inside the area saw him free of the defence only to see Grant clear with his legs. Moments later the Stags had the ball in the net from a Hamshaw free kick, Barker heading home but from an offside position. Derby came close when a left wing corner was headed across the Stags area, but the home side hit back and Birchall should have scored when found unmarked inside the area, sadly his well struck low shot was just wide of the post. Skipper Richard Barker was to miss an even better chance a few minutes later, Brown put in a great cross which evaded the Derby defence leaving Barker a free header which he somehow powered wide. The final moment of danger for the Stags came when Peschisolido pounced on a loose ball only to hook his shot well wide. Overall, a more than satisfactory opening 45 minutes, the balance of the side looked good and the players looked fit and eager.
Half Time: 0-0
Derby made several changes at half-time, it seemed to inspire the visitors to a better 2nd half. Within minutes Johnson hit a low right foot shot just wide of Muggletons left hand post and then moments later the Stags keeper had to be sharp to save a shot from the edge of the area. Lloyd, Coke and Beardsley came on 11 minutes into the half with D'Laryea, Dawson and Brown making way. They arrived just in time to see Derby take the lead with a stunning 35 yard strike from Derby's Spanish sub Idiakez, the ball barely rose 3 feet and flew past Muggleton who had no chance. The Stags made several more changes as the game had a more pre-season look about it but just before the end it was Boulding who capped his return with a sharp finish after a trade mark run to give the Stags a deserved draw.
This was encouraging, without getting carried away (as is the custom at this stage of the season), the 1st team looks strong and there were options on the bench. However, one or two more players are still required before you could say the squad size is sufficient. The return of Michael Boulding could really give Stags fans a lift, he clearly still has pace and could solve the left sided problem in a flash. The Brown/Barker combination looks strong and Beardsley will only improve with more matches. Defensively the side looked solid and apart from the terrific Idiakez strike, didn't look like conceding a goal against oposition from 2 divisions above who have already played 3 pre-season games.
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MANSFIELD TOWN 1 Micky Boulding 87
DERBY COUNTY 1 Idiakez 58
From Field Mill
The Rams were three minutes away from a hat-trick of pre-season victories after a dominant second half display was capped by a stunning Inigo Idiakez strike.
But Stags sub Michael Boulding popped up in the 87th minute to fire home an equaliser the Field Mill side will feel they deserved after creating the better chances in the first half.
This encounter saw Billy Davies maintain his unbeaten run as Derby boss.
It was a tale of two halves, with the Rams emerging the brighter to score and dominate the second half after a first 45 that saw Mansfield carve out more chances.
The Rams, sporting last season's black-and-white strip, lined up with Lee Grant in goal, Edworthy at right-back, and Nyatanga on the left with the experienced Johnson and Moore in the centre.
Barnes, Bolder and Meredith were in support of Bisgaard, Smith and Peschisolido.
John Mullins was clear in the box with only Grant to beat on two minutes - the Rams stopper spread himself and saved well from point-blank range. Mullins threatened again three minutes later with a powerdrive from outside the box on the right which Grant gathered well.
The home side were proving lively and netted in the 12th minute, although Dawson was judged offside as skipper Barker headed home from a Hamshaw free-kick.
Birchall's low drive flew past Grant's right-hand post on 21 minutes and seconds later Brown beat the offside trap on the right but his cross into the box was squandered by Barker whose header from close range flew over the crossbar.
D'Laryea headed away at the expense of a corner as Bisgaard rose in the box to meet a Peschisolido cross from the left on the half-hour mark, but the Rams, while playing decent possession football, were struggling to fashion decent chances - unlike the home side, who won a corner after Grant was forced to tip over the bar from Brown's strong shot from the edge of the box seconds later.
Peschisolido fired wide across the face of the area from a Bisgaard right-hand corner on 40 minutes - a move that summed up Derby's first 45.
Davies once again chose to ring the changes at half-time as he continued his 'fact-finding' mission with Jackson, Idiakez, Thirlwell, Holmes, Boertien and Seth Johnson joining the action in place of Peschisolido, Bisgaard, Meredith, Michael Johnson, Bolder and Edworthy. Mansfield remained unchanged despite a 10-man bench.
Seth Johnson's low shot trickled inches past ex-Forest kepper Muggleton's left-hand post on 50 minutes and Smith ended a super solo run a minute later by shooting high and wide under pressure from John-Baptiste. Barnes' shot on 54 took a deflection and was gathered well by Muggleton at his near post. The Rams had started the second half brighter. Mansfield boss Peter Shirtliff opted for fresh legs on 56 minutes, Brown, Dawson and D'Laryea being replaced by Beardsley, Coke and Lloyd.
Idiakez's 30-yard screamer opened the scoring on the hour mark. Boertien's cross into the box from the left was headed down and cleared to the feet of the Spaniard who fired the ball into the bottom right-hand corner of Muggleton's net. It was another stunning strike from the classy midfielder.
Two minutes later Arnold was on for Birchall with Boulding replacing Hamshaw. Boulding was involved within seconds, firing just wide of Grant after an impressive solo run.
Smith was down in the Mansfield box on 65 after clashing with Hjelde - the referee waved away penalty calls but the Derby frontman was clutching his ankle and required physio attention.
Barker was replaced by Reet on 72 minutes.
Beardsley's shot from range flew through four players and forced a good save from Grant who dived to his right to palm away on 80 minutes. At the other end, Barnes' speculative volley from the right hit the side-netting a minute later.
Smith headed into Muggleton's arms from a Johnson corner on 84 before Boulding levelled the scores two minutes from time with a low shot from inside the box.
RAMS (from) Grant, Edworthy, Nyatanga, Bolder, Moore, M Johnson, Smith, Bisgaard, Peschisolido, Barnes, Meredith, Idiakez, Camp, Jackson, Thirlwell, Holmes, Boertien, S Johnson
MANSFIELDTOWN Muggleton, Mullins, Jelleyman, D'Laryea, Hjelde, John-Baptiste, Hamshaw, Dawson, Barker, Brown, Birchall. SUBS Coke, Beardsley, Lloyd, McIntosh, Sleath, Arnold, Reet, Boulding, Collins