Archived News from March 2007
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DEARDEN REACTION, BUT NO WRIGHT REACTION
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MATT'S TRIBUTE TO A 'SPECIAL CLUB'
Evening Post, 07 March 2007 Matt Hamshaw today opened his heart about the devastation at losing son Liam - and thanked everyone connected with Mansfield Town for their "special" support. Just a day after he attended Monday's funeral with his wife Kerry, the right-winger came off the bench to help the Stags beat Chester 2-1 last night. Hamshaw supplied the corner which led to Alex John-Baptiste's winner eight minutes from time that gave Stags three wins on the bounce. The 24-year-old was just happy to be giving something back to the club he says has been so good to him over the two weeks since Liam was stillborn. "It was great to get back out there but there are a lot of people I want to say thank you to. You could probably fill your paper there are that many," said Hamshaw. "Billy Dearden and Paul Holland have been absolutely magnificent, as has everyone at the club, including the fans, board and players. "I feel like I owe Billy a lot. His manmanagement skills have been out of this world since he came in. "We received three bouquets after Liam was born asleep, from the lads, the supporters and the SSA, and we have also had numerous cards. "There are not many clubs where people would do that and we were moved by their generosity. They gave us hope when we were down. "You hear a lot of players saying this, but I think this is a really special club and I will always remember what they have done for me." Hamshaw blew an emotional kiss to Kerry in the directors' box at the final whistle. He said: "My wife has been fantastic in helping us to get through it. I blew a kiss to her after the game because she has been a tower of strength through it all. "We listened to coverage of the recent Wycombe match and it put a smile on our faces. It's amazing because people say that there are more important things in life in football - and they are right. But it takes football to put a smile back on your face and that's what the lads managed to do with that result and the ones since." Rotherham-born Hamshaw is proud of the way his team-mates have responded since the tragic news. "They have now gone four games unbeaten and taken ten points against sides who have all been in the top half of the table." DEARDEN: FOCUS THE SAME, DESPITE BARBADOS OFFER Evening Post, 07 March 2007 Billy Dearden insists there will be no change in Mansfield's approach after chairman James Derry pledged to take the team to Barbados if they reach the play-offs. The Stags' hard-fought 2-1 victory over Chester City last night was their third win on the trot and has prompted fresh talk of a late surge into the top seven. Despite Derry's offer, boss Dearden is adamant the focus will not be switched from his goal when he came here - safety and finishing in the top half of the table. "We have now taken 23 or 24 points since I came in and I am pleased about that. We have had a good run. "Now we are just looking forward to the Notts County game. The supporters of both sides deserve a good game and I just hope we can get the win." Dearden admitted he was not happy with the performance against City, secured by strikes from Simon Brown and Alex John-Baptiste. But he was delighted with the way the Stags stuck to their task - and that they were not content with their display in the dressing room afterwards, despite winning. Dearden said: "You are not going to get champagne performance every time but as long as you graft than you can get a result out of a game and full marks to them because that's what we did." Dearden paid tribute to Matt Hamshaw, who came on and made a major impact despite his lack of recent training because of the tragic death of his baby. "When he came on, he just added that little bit of quality," he said. --------- Audio interview with Billy Dearden from BBC Radio Nottingham (RealPlayer needed) http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/realmedia/football/2007/stags_chester_home_manager.ram ------------ CHAD website: Dearden pleased players not happy! Manager Billy Dearden acknowledged chairman James Derry's offer of a Barbados holiday if his team reaches the play-offs . . . but simply maintained he wants to finish as high as possible after watching the 2-1 win over Chester. As the Stags claimed their third successive victory, Dearden said: "It was a gritty performance, but a poor one. "That's the worst we've been. The pitch was a bit tacky but that's no excuse. "A few of the lads looked a bit heavy-legged and one or two were plodding a bit. "I think this game came a bit quick for them after Saturday's win at Lincoln. "We gave them a goal start, but we carried on and I can't praise them enough for coming from behind to win as Chester don't concede many goals. "But you look at how we played on Saturday and then at that performance and there is no comparison. Yet we got the same result and the same three points. "The lads are disappointed with their performance and that's a good sign for me. I am pleased they are not happy even though they won. "We probably just about deserved the win as we did a bit better second half and created one or two chances." Evening Post website BILLY SAY WIN WAS ALSO WORST PERFORMANCE! Mansfield manager Billy Dearden admitted that his side produced the worst performance of his reign in the 2-1 win over Chester. Brad Maylett put the visitors ahead early on but Simon Brown and Alex Baptiste struck either side of half-time to give the Stags a laboured win which didn't please Dearden. He said: "It was a gritty performance, but a poor one. "That's the worst we've been. The pitch was a bit tacky but that's no excuse. "A few of the lads looked a bit heavy-legged and one or two were plodding a bit. "I think this game came a bit quick for them after Saturday's win at Lincoln. "We gave them a goal start, but we carried on and I can't praise them enough for coming from behind to win as Chester don't concede many goals. "But you look at how we played on Saturday and then at that performance and there is no comparison. Yet we got the same result and the same three points. "The lads are disappointed with their performance and that's a good sign for me. I am pleased they are not happy even though they won. "We probably just about deserved the win as we did a bit better second half and created one or two chances." Chester boss Mark Wright locked his players in the dressing room after the game and failed to show for the post-match press conference before the team left for home. |
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