Rotherham United Reserves 0 v Mansfield Town U21 1 - Central League

Tuesday 6th September 2016
Central League
at Roundwood Pavilion, Parkgate FC
Rotherham United Reserves (0) 0
Mansfield Town U21 (1) 1
Charlie Shaw 6

Goalscorer Charlie Shaw

The recently relaunched Stags U21 side, which will provide a much needed halfway house staging post between the club's youth set and the first team, under the guidance of head coach Mike Whitlow and head of recruitment Scott Rickards, started their Central League campaign with an away game against Rotherham United Reserves, at Parkgate FC this afternoon. Although Simon Ward was present in Rickards absence today.
I am actually convinced that Ward is duplicated and there are several of him at large around Mansfield Town, because wherever I travel to see any of the Stags development teams in action, in whichever age group, he seems to be there, imparting his knowledge of the game upon the club's eager young charges.

As well as utilising the club's under 21 age group players and youngsters who are on the verge of breaking through from the youth development pool of talent.
Team line ups at this reintroduced tier in the club infrastructure, will also feature first team players who Adam Murray deems are in need of match time and/or a passage back into the EFL League 2 side after being sidelined through injury, in an environment of competitive fixtures against what will predominantly be reserve team opposition.

And of course, the rekindled U21 team, will offer a safety net for the club that will prevent the young players they have invested so much time and money in, from slipping away before they have reached their full potential, while also offering more scope for any late developers to flourish under the guidance of full time, experienced academy coaches. It is important to appreciate, that not all talented youngsters mature and peak inside the same time frame.
Anyway, enough of this rambling preamble before I give any secrets away. Click the links below if you want to find out what happened on Parkgate FC's lush green playing surface this afternoon.

For today's match report click HERE

For today's after match reaction from Mike Whitlow click HERE

For today's photo gallery click HERE