Pre Season Friendly
at Cannon Park
Retford United (0) 0
Mansfield Town (2) 2
Jason Law 28 pen
Jimmy Knowles 43
Attendance: 525
Retford United:
Crosby, Swales, Smith, Gasui, Blakemore, Kane, Irvine, Walters, Watson, West, Dawson.
Mansfield Town:
Campbell, Walker (Cooper 28’), Stokes, Gibbens, Clarke (King 76’), McGuire, Law, Smith, Fielding (Sketchley 56’), Knowles (Scott 80’), Sinclair (Hawkins 69’).
The Mansfield Town first team rolled into Cannon Park for a pre kick off meet and greet session with supporters, which seemed to be a very popular session for the kids (of all ages) before tonight's occasionally 'feisty' encounter got underway, whereby a few industrial strength challenges, on the part of both teams, stretched the parameters of the word 'friendly' to it's very extremes. But 'tippy tappy football' and non-contact games are no match for competitiveness as players build up their match fitness in these sort of games.
A predominantly Under 21 Stags side, augmented with a few Under 18 players and Academy coach (and new AFC Mansfield signing) Jamie McQuire, acquitted themselves well against their Central Midlands League opposition, on a night when their margin of victory might have been greater, were it not for the heroics of the Badgers keeper Tom Crosby.
Crosby saved Jason Law's penalty kick after twenty six minutes, after Jimmy Knowles had been tripped as he motored forward into United's penalty area.
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| It's a save! |
However, during the frantic goalmouth action follow Crosby's save, the referee spotted an apparent handball and awarded another penalty... and although Crosby almost got to the ball a second time, Law placed the ball a fraction beyond the hosts keepers reach to give Mansfield the lead.
Moments later, Tyrese Sinclair almost doubled the visitors advantage, when he crashed the ball against the bar.
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| It's a goal! |
Shortly before half time, Sinclair fed the ball to Knowles, who weaved his way through the Retford defence before adding another goal to give the young Stags a two goal interval lead.
It was good to see the former Stags youth team player (and Worksop Town legend) Jack Hawkins, introduced from the bench in the second half, to make a guest appearance for the visitors, adding his trademark battling qualities to a midfield scrap that was proving not to be for the faint hearted at times.
Sinclair (twice) and Knowles, were both denied by Crosby, as the Stags maintained a good tempo after the break, under the watchful eye of their recently appointed first team manager, former Mansfield player John Dempster, who of course, will already be familiar with the youngsters, following his successful four year spell in charge of the Academy side, after hanging up his boots.
'Demps' has already made a few impressive signings... and his appointment has galvanised Mansfield Town, inasmuch as, the Stags are now an inclusive club, with a clear pathway throughout their entire structure, as opposed to being a completely separate team, bereft of that essential spine and link, forged in the image of yet another journeyman manager, with his players, representing his team, to the detriment of the long term interests of the club.
Of course, professional football is a results based industry... and expectations are high among the Field Mill faithful, but John Dempster is precisely the right man for the job at exactly the right time, and though Rome wasn't built in a day, given the right sort of timescale; step aside... them there Stags are coming through!
FT: Retford United 0 v Mansfield Town 2
Both clubs now face a busy few days, with the Stags travelling to Bradford Park Avenue on Thursday and Alfreton Town on Saturday. While the Badgers have an away game at Shirebrook Town tomorrow night, before they entertain their local rivals Retford FC at Cannon Park on Saturday afternoon.
