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Archived News from August 2010

BUXTON 2 - 4 MANSFIELD
3rd August 2010 10:27


Sat 31 Jul 2010

Buxton 2 - 4 Mansfield Town
Lugsden 25, Wilde 52.
Connor 18, 64, Briscoe 22, Foster 70.
Att: 326

Mansfield:
Collett;
Silk (Naylor 84), Foster, Preece, Stonehouse (Sandwith 71);
Briscoe (Cain 55), Nix (Mills 80), Somner (Thompson 80), Williams (A.Smith 55);
Connor (O'Rafferty 69), Gregory (Parker 46).

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Stagsnet player ratings by Dan Worthington:

Great game good result with a lot of positive to come out of it!

Collett 7 Not his best game but looked comfortable for most of the game and didn't really make any mistakes.

Silk 8 Again another class display by Silky got stuck in as usual and definitely got better as the game went on. Made some great runs forward when Cain came on.

Preece 7 Got better as the game went on again. Still looks a bit rusty but won a few more headers today. I just wish he could pick a pass out sometimes though.

Foster 8 Again for me he was solid. Got better as the game went on and was very commanding. Looked a big threat going forward and scored a very good goal with glancing header. Well played.

Stonehouse 7 Looked a threat going forward but not the most comfortable on the ball at the back. All in all a good run out for him.

Briscoe 7 A terrific first half. Took his goal well with brilliant composure after being put through 1 on 1, he cooly hit it across the keeper with his left foot.

Somner 7 Somner showed a typical Somner display today. A real battler, got stuck in and joined in with the attack which was nice to see. Well played Soms.

Nix 7 Not his greatest game by a long shot but a real creative performance. He joined in with the attack and spread the ball about well, just not his day with the long ball accuracy today.

Williams 7 Had a decent game and played a few terrific balls. Again he came inside everytime and made it obvious to defend against. I felt when Cain and Smith came on we played with more width and opened them up easier.

Gregory 7 A sharp performance from him and he so easily could have scored after hitting the post quite early on. He showed a lot of effort and I feel he will learn from Keigan Parker in the choice of run he makes.

Connor 9 For me, brilliant. Won every header, held a lot of balls up, linked up play well with the midfield, but most importantly he proved he can finish. A brilliant composed goal for his 1st after being put through 1 on 1, and his 2nd was a terrific header at the front post. He seems to be a more agile Duffy. Well played Paul.

Subs:

Sandwith 7 Great decision to bring him on when the opposition was tiring as he loves to bomb forward. He really is coming into his own in a Mansfield shirt. Played very well.

Naylor 7 Again a good performance from Tom who got put at right back. Some good direct runs and linked up well with Cain.

Thompson 7 He wasn't on the pitch for long, but from what I can see he battled very well. Seems to be a great addition to our squad.

Mills 7 Again he did not get long on the pitch. He seemed to struggle to get to grips with the game with the tempo of his passes, but he kept the ball well.

Cain 8 Great performance I think. I don't think he lost the ball once. He came on with Smith and then we automatically gained momentum. He provided width, he scared their left back with his direct running. Also he got a few decent crosses in. Still room for improvement in the crossing area though.

A.Smith 8 Again another terrific display from Adam. His dribbling ability is awesome on occasions. He set up Connor's second goal and looked a real threat everytime he had the ball. He maybe could release the ball earlier but he's a flair player and that's what you get sometimes. Well played Adam. Again I think he could be a key player for us this season if he performs as well as he has done in pre-season.

Parker 7 A lively display from the Scotsman. He made some brilliant runs and always wanted the ball. Could have so easily scored if it wasn't for a great block/last ditch tackle by an opposition player. He should definitely score goals for us next season.

O'Rafferty 7 Again came on and did well. Looked bright and could have scored a header when he looked like he got pushed in the back. Even though he's off out on loan it's good to have a player with his ability ready to come in and do a job for the 1st team.

All in all a very good solid stable performance. We really got better as the game went on well done Stags!!!

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New boy Connor scales the heights in Stags win at Buxton
CHAD.co.uk, 30 July 2010, By Ashley Booker
A BRACE from new striker Paul Connor inspired Mansfield Town to an impressive 4-2 win at Buxton on Saturday.

http://www.chad.co.uk/stags/PRESEASON-FRIENDLY-Buxton-2-Mansfield.6450057.jp

With the Derbyshire hills providing a spectacular backdrop to an entertaining game at The Silverlands, it was perhaps fitting that it was the towering Connor who deservedly earned the plaudits and praise from manager David Holdsworth.

And the 6ft 2in-tall frontman - who signed for the Field Mill club on Wednesday - received a standing ovation from the healthy contingent of Stags fans when he was substitued in the second half.

Said boss Holdsworth: "I don't like to single out any player in pre-season in general but Paul Connor led the line fantastically. He did everything what I expected of him."

The Stags looked impressive all afternoon going forward and could have scored more than the four they did.

They dominated large parts of the game and should have had the game wrapped up long before veteran defender Steve Foster headed a fourth goal with 20 minutes remaining.

"We created a large number of opportunities in front of goal," added Holdsworth.

"I'm pleased that we created a number of chances and we also passed the ball well at times."

Holdsworth's men had showed their intent with a number of sweeping attacks in the opening 15 minutes.

Mark Preece and Lee Gregory both put efforts over the bar while home side 'keeper Scott Hartley was forced into action to push away a fiece Matt Somner drive from 20 yards.

The goal the Stags had been threatening duly came in the 18th minute when Connor raced on to a through ball from Somner to slot the ball past an advancing Hartley.

Just four minutes later it was 2-0 through Louis Briscoe. He latched on to a ball from Gregory and twisted and turned his marker before shooting low past Hartley from just inside the box.

But three minutes later and with their first real effort on goal, the home side were back in it when Kieran Lugsden's innocuous looking cross-cum-shot evaded everyone and ended up in the back of the net.

The Stags, though, were continuing to look menacing at the other end and almost restored their two-goal advantage on 27 but Gregory put his shot wide from six yards after a pinpoint cross by Briscoe.

Despite being in control for much of the opening half, the visitors needed Collett to keep them ahead after he saved a close range Lugsden header on 42.

But seven minutes after the break Collett could do nothing to prevent the home side drawing level when substitute Josh Wilde bundled the ball in from cloe range.

The goal did not dent the visitors' confidence, though, and just eight minutes later they were back in front through Connor.

He showed his strength in the air to head home substitute Alex Smith's swinging cross from the left.

Then just two minutes later it could have been four but for a defender blocking Foster's bullet header from a Kyle Nix corner.

But Foster did not have to wait too long for his luck to change - and once again it was Nix who was involved.

This time the Mansfield-born defender made no mistake as he rose high above the Buxton rearguard to head home Nix's free kick.

Holdsworth's men were now bossing the game and were looking likely scorers every time they ventured forward.

Right-back Gary Silk got in on the act on 70 when he headed straight at Hartley from close range.

And the defender tried his luck again five minutes later, but saw his 25-yard effort pushed away for a corner by Hartley.

Buxton: Hartley, Black (Askey 65), Agus, Liversidge (Jackson 65), Anderson, Wilcox, Millar, Towey (Wilde 46), Lugsden, Morris (Vize 67), Ridley.
Mansfield: Collett, Silk (Naylor 84), Stonehouse (Sandiwth 71), Connor (O'Rafferty 69), Foster, Preece, Briscoe (Cain 55), Nix (Mills 80), Gregory (Parker 46), Somner (Thompson 80), Williams (Smith 55).

Att: 326
Referee: Richard Wigglesworth

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Buxton 2-4 Mansfield Town
EVENING POST REPORT

PAUL Connor capped an excellent individual display by scoring twice as Mansfield Town won their latest pre-season friendly 4-2 at Buxton.

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/sport/Buxton-2-4-Mansfield-Town/article-2478012-detail/article.html?

The striker, signed last week, was making only his second appearance after debuting in Thursday night's 3-1 success at Eastwood Town.

But even though he is yet to gain full fitness, the 31-year-old demonstrated the goalscoring capabilities the Stags hope will come to the fore in the Blue Square Bet Premier this season.

It was Connor who opened the scoring when he held off the last defender to slot home an astute pass from Matt Somner.

Louis Briscoe put the Stags two goals to the good when he twisted and turned to finish well following a cross from Lee Gregory.

The home side pulled a goal back before half-time when Kieran Lugsden's cross evaded everyone to find the net.

Buxton were level not long after the break when Josh Wilde converted from close range.

But Mansfield powered back in front when Connor headed home a measured centre from substitute Adam Smith.

And the Stags put the seal on their victory when Steve Foster came up from the back to nod in Kyle Nix's free kick.

Boss David Holdsworth was pleased with what he saw and said: “Although Paul Connor is not match fit yet, he led by example, led the line superbly and was, I thought, the best player on the pitch.

“Every striker thrives on confidence and those goals can only help him. He's up and running straight away.

“I thought everyone played their part for us. It was a good workmanlike performance against a side who have gone well in their previous friendlies.”

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Buxton 2-4 Stags
mansfieldtown.net, Sat 31 Jul 2010
The 12th Stag's Paul Connor bagged a brace as Stags proved too much to handle in a 4-2 win at The Silverlands, Buxton.

http://www.mansfieldtown.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10325~2107431,00.html?

The veteran striker impressed once again in an entertaining encounter which saw David Holdsworth field a full strength side. Goals from Louis Briscoe and Steve Foster completed the victory, and in truth, there could have been many more.

It was defender Mark Preece, partnering Steve Foster in defence, who registered the first shot of the match on six minutes as Stags pushed forward in numbes, but the defender's effort flew over the bar.

Ryan Williams, on a rare pre-season start, delivered a cross to Lee Gregory who headed over, with 12 minutes gone.

It was then Matt Somner's turn to shoot at goal, launching a low drive from 25 yards, forcing Buxton 'keeper Scott Hartley to parry.

Stags continued to press and a breakthrough only seemed a matter of time. It almost came via Lee Gregory, when the young striker expertly peeled away from his man inside the box from a Paul Stonehouse left wing cross. But he failed to get the ball under control and the chance went begging.

Mansfield's lead, an eventuality for all their pressure, came on 17 minutes.

Matt Somner's weighted through ball found the advancing Paul Connor, who, despite being closely tracked, managed to let fire from outside the area and beat goalkeeper Hartley.

It was 2-0 less than four minutes later. Gregory this time the architect, on to Briscoe who twisted and turned by the home defence to coolly slot home.

But Buxton reduced the deficit on 25 minutes. Kieran Lugsden's seemingly harmless ball into the box evaded everyone, including goalkeeper Neil Collett, and into the corner of the goal.

Stags almost added a third just two minutes after they conceded. Louis Briscoe crossed with pace from the right but Lee Gregory, the recipient inside the six, struck wide.

Williams combined with Somner on 34 minutes.The diminutive winger's cross found the hard-tackling midfielder on the edge of the area, but his first time effort was saved at the near post.

Buxton almost drew level three minutes before half time. Nobody had picked up goalscorer Lugsden at the near post from a corner, but fortunately Collett kept the home side out with a point blank range save from Lugsden's header.

Keigan Parker replaced Lee Gregory at the break.

Buxton were level on 52 minutes when substitute Josh Wilde found the net from close range. before wingers Alex Smith and Ashley Cain replaced Ryan Williams and Louis Briscoe for the Stags on 55 minutes.

It was Smith's beautifully flighted left wing cross which created the goal that put Stags back in front. Paul Connor, rising in mid-air, connected with accuracy to head home.

Moments later, Buxton had to clear off the line from a Steve Foster header following a Kyle Nix corner.

But the same players combined with devastating effect on 68 minutes. Nix's left-sided free kick was met with a bullet-like header from veteran Foster, as Stags restored their two-goal lead.

Paul Connor, scorer of two goals, left the field to a standing ovation from the Stags' fans in the main stand. 18 year old Niall O'Rafferty came on in his place.

Gary Silk got in on the act minutes later, heading at the home goalkeeper from inside the area after Nix, again, provided.

By now, Stags were rampant, and Buxton had to hold back the tide to prevent further goals.

Kevin Sandwith came on for Paul Stonehouse with just under 20 minutes remaining.

Silk looked determined to find the net after his earlier header and he tried his luck from 25 yards - but the Buxton goalie was equal to it.

Tyrone Thompson and Gary Mills came on for Kyle Nix and Matt Somner on 80 minutes. Soon after, Tom Naylor replaced Gary Silk at right back.

It was another deserved pre-season victory for the Stags, who now have two remaining fixtures before their big kick off to Forest Green Rovers in the season's opener next month.

LINE UP: Collett, Silk, Stonehouse, Preece, Foster, Briscoe, Williams, Somner, Nix, Gregory, Connor

ATT: 326

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