Archived News from November 2002
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TICKETS FOR CREWE GAME
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Tickets on sale for Stags' FA cup trip to Crewe
CHAD website THERE were groans all round at Field Mill as Sunday's FA Cup second round draw handed Stags a trip to Crewe Alexandra. It was scant reward for Mansfield's 4-2 first round success at university side Team Bath the day before with Crewe already having racked up 5-0 and 4-0 wins at Field Mill this season. Tickets for the game at Gresty Road go on sale this Friday, priced £14 adults, £11 concessions and £3.50 for U16s. On the day the turnstile price will be £16 adults, £13 concessions and £4 U16s. Manager Stuart Watkiss is firmly focusing his squad on Saturday's visit of Bristol City (3pm) and the two League games after that before turning full attentions to Dario Grady's men on Saturday, 7th December (3pm). However, he did admit: "It was the hardest draw we could have had, given the fact they have already given us those two drubbings this season. "But we have to be optimistic. By the time the tie comes around we should have key players available who were out injured when we lost those two games to them. "Also, things have got much better for us over the last month so this game will be a good benchmark for us to see how far we've come. "We have played better away from home this season. And this game will be a complete role reversal of last weekend when everyone expected us to win our first round game. Not many will be expecting us to win at Crewe. "Having played them twice already we know a bit about them which will help with tactics and formation. "We are still confident and looking forward to it even though we know how difficult it will be." Crewe's football was awesome when they romped to a 5-0 Division Two success at the Mill on 31st August, Rob Hulse among their scorers. And Hulse then hit a hat-trick when they returned to Mansfield for a 4-0 LDV Vans Trophy success on 22nd October. The sides are due to clash again at Gresty Road in Division Two action on New Year's Day. Although safely through with a highly professional performance for the first 70 minutes of Saturday's game in Bath, Watkiss was furious to see his side step off the gas for the last 20 minutes and allow the students to score twice. "For 70 minutes were were excellent," he said. "We could have been seven or eight goals up. But I was bitterly disappointed with the last 20 minutes. "The lads have got to understand that if they are given a game plan they have to carry it out for 90 minutes and not 70. "That was what put them in complete control of the game. But the minute they go off at a tangent, start doing their own thing and playing as individuals instead of a team, it was plain to see what happens. "Obviously the objective was to go there and win it which we did. But lessons have to be learned and the last 20 minutes took the shine off it all. "In the end we were reliant on a great save from Kevin Pilkington and a bit of luck when their lad hit the bar." With Neil MacKenzie dropped in recent games, Watkiss had handed over the mantle of penalty taker to Liam Lawrence who saw his spot kick well saved by Ryan Northmore on Saturday. "To be fair it was probably the first time I have seen Liam miss a penalty in all the time I have worked with him," said Watkiss. "But we have missed all three we have been given this season now and that is because they have been poor penalties. "All three have been sidefooted efforts without any conviction behind them which sums up our season." Also from http://www.mansfieldtown.net The FA Cup draw was unlucky for Mansfield Town as they were sent to Crewe Alexandra for a tough second round tie on Saturday, 7th December. It was scant reward for Stags after that 4-2 first round win at Team Bath on Saturday with Crewe already having won 5-0 at Field Mill in the Second Division and 4-0 in the LDV Vans Trophy this season The Stags were the last side out the hat and, after being the giants of the David against Goliath tie on Saturday suddenly find themselves cast as underdogs in this one. The sides will then meet again, this time at Gresty Road on Saturday 7 December. Tickets are available on the day but you receive a saving by purchasing them prior to the game at the Field Mill ticket office: Tickets bought in advance (in brackets = Price on the day) Adult : £14.00 (£16.00) Concessions : £11.00 (£13.00) Under 16's : £3.50 (£4.00) Crewe have offered us an ample allocation of 1700 Tickets so for this important second round clash it would be great if we could sell out. The support from 500 or so fans at Bath spurred our boys on, the support from 1700 would be fantastic and be just what we need to finally beat the Railwaymen after the two humiliating defeats they have inflicted on us. |
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