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Archived News from August 2007

MANSFIELD TOWN 0 - 4 HUDDERSFIELD TOWN
6th August 2007 13:55


Mansfield Town 0 Huddersfield Town 4
4th August 2007

Attendance: 1,363

Mansfield Town: White; John-Baptiste (Mullins 70 mins ); Buxton; McIntosh; Jellyman; Hamshaw; Bell; Dawson; Martin (Arnold 27mins ); McAliskey (Reet 70 mins); Boulding

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Evening Post report:
MATCH REPORT: STAGS V HUDDERSFIELD
There had been little to choose between the sides in the early stages, with Huddersfield's academy product Michael Collins latching on to a Danny Cadamarteri through ball to fire just wide of the post.

Stags then turned the tables and forced visiting keeper Matthew Glennon to make two saves in quick succession, initially from a Stephen Dawson shot and then again moments later as former Huddersfield favourite John McAliskey attempted to steer home the follow-up.

Huddersfield half-heartedly appealed for a penalty when Luke Bennett, who had scored twice in a 2-1 mid-week victory over Blackburn Rovers, felt his close-range header had been handled, but his complaints turned to celebrations when after 24 minutes he nodded home Frank Sinclair's cross to open the scoring.

Mansfield's central defensive signing Martin McIntosh saw his hopes of scoring against his former team-mates dashed when his low free-kick was turned away by the Terrier's stopper.

As half-time neared, Huddersfield pressed again. A 20-yard screamer from Cadamarteri brought a full-stretch save from White, and was followed closely by another Beckett attempt, which went in but was rightly ruled out for offside.

That mattered little, however, when Andy Holdsworth doubled the visitors' lead in the 38th minute, calmly slotting home from 15 yards after former Chelsea star Sinclair had pulled the ball back nicely from the dead-ball line.

A snap shot from Mansfield's Mickey Boulding in the dying minutes of the half flashed wide of Glennon's right-hand post and Stags trooped off at the break two goals behind.

Early in the second period former Terrier McAliskey twice saw headers saved while Dawson teased the visiting defenders before sending his attempt wide of the target.

One more effort from Boulding, this time an angled shot, was held by the Huddersfield keeper before substitute Lucas Akins made it 3-0, tapping in from close range after Mansfield had failed to clear a Joe Skarz corner.

An hour had elapsed when Akins, scored his first goal for Huddersfield, having replaced Cadamarteri three minutes earlier.

With the game moving into its final quarter Boulding was again denied by Glennon, this time after finding himself in a one-on-one situation. His effort was blocked by the legs of the advancing keeper.

Despite creating a fair few scoring opportunities it was becoming increasingly apparent this was not going to be the Stags' day, and to compound matters they conceded a fourth in the 72nd minute when Sierra Leone international Malvin Kamara converted a cross from substitute Matthew Young, who shortly afterwards, along with Akins, saw shots well saved by Mansfield keeper White.

Stags have one more pre-season game, away at Matlock Town tonight, before the real action gets under way at Brentford next weekend.

Mansfield: White, John-Baptiste (Mullins 70), Buxton, McIntosh, Jellyman, Hamshaw, Bell, Dawson, Martin (Arnold 27), McAliskey (Reet 70), Boulding.

Huddersfield: Glennon, Sinclair (Young 67), Murfin, Clarke, Skarz, Kamara, Collins (Bailey 83), Holdsworth, Schofield (Brandon 67), Beckett (Hardy 67), Cadamarteri (Akins 57).

Referee: Stuart Attwell (Nuneaton)

Attendance: 1,363

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CHAD report, By Stephen Thirkill
STAGS ended their pre-season campaign in disappointing fashion, slipping to an embarrassing 4-0 defeat against Huddersfield Town at Field Mill today.

Mansfield were made to pay for a host of wasteful finishing and two-goals either side of half-time from the Terriers condemned downbeat Stags to their first pre-season defeat.

Stags began the game brightly and nearly opened the scoring on two minutes when former Terrier John McAliskey narrowly failed to connect with a Mickey Boulding centre from seven yards out.

But the near miss shook the visitors into action and Huddersfield began to assert their authority on the game as their slick possession football and tough-tackling began to overwhelm a weak Stags' midfield.

The Terriers should have gone ahead on nine minutes when an unmarked Luke Beckett miscued a downward header into the grateful hands of Jason White after a deep cross from Danny Schofield.

But the resolute Stags'defence weathered the storm and Mansfield nearly went ahead on 21 minutes when the energetic McAliskey tamely fired a cheeky chip straight at the keeper after he was put clean through following a misplaced David Mirfin header.

And just moments later Stags nearly found the back of the net again when a surging run from pacey Mickey Boulding caught the Terriers' defence napping.

But an unmarked Stephen Dawson was unable to steer the cross home after he failed to connect with his header from 12 yards out.

And seconds later Stags were made to pay for the costly miss when lethal marksman Luke Beckett cruelly fired the Terriers into the lead on 24 minutes.

Prolific Beckett rose powerfully at the back post to fire a bullet header past the despairing Jason White following a pin-point cross from experienced Frank Sinclair.

Brave Mansfield fought back well and nearly equalised when a delicate side-foot volley from Stephen Dawson was well saved by Matthew Glennon in the Huddersfield game.

Former Huddersfield stalwart Martin McIntosh also went close on the half hour when his curling 30-yard free-kick brought out the best from Matt Glennon.

And from the resulting confusion as the Terriers attempted to clear their lines, a stretching McAliskey nearly directed a speculative 25-yard shot by Dawson into the net.

But Stags were once again made to pay for their sloppy finishing when an unmarked Michael Collins fired home from 15-yards as the Stags defence were caught ball-watching on 38 minutes.

And despite some late pressure Stags were unable to cut the deficit and went into the half-time break 2-0 down.

Stags begun the second half in lively fashion and McAliskey kept his former team-mates busy with good movement up front.

But Huddersfield again began to show their extra class as their better movement and ball retention wrestled control of away from struggling Stags.

Mansfield should have fallen further behind when the dangerous Luke Beckett failed to fire home a neat cutback from winger Malvin Kamara on 52 mins, despite being just four yards out.

And on the hour mark things got much worse for Stags when substitute Lucas Akins pounced from two-yards out during a goalmouth scramble to put Huddersfield three up.

Quick-thinking Boulding nearly cut the deficit on 65 minutes when he latched on to a long through-ball before firing straight at Glennon's legs.

But the Stags defence were unable to cope with the additional attacking options of their Yorkshire rivals and fell further behind on 72 minutes.

Tricky winger Kamara burst forward down the right to pick out Lucas Akins, who fired home a deflected shot to bag a brace and further pile on the misery for the Field Mill faithful.
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Mansfield Town: White; John-Baptiste (Mullins 70 mins ); Buxton; McIntosh; Jellyman; Hamshaw; Bell; Dawson; Martin (Arnold 27mins ); McAliskey (Reet 70 mins); Boulding

Huddersfield Town: Glennon; Sinclair ( Young 67 mins ); Mirfin; Clarke; Skarz; Kamara; Collin s (Bailey 83 mins); Holdsworth; Schofield (Brandon 67 mins ); Beckett (Hardy 67mins ); Cadamateri (Akins 57 mins ).

Attendance: 1,363.

Referee: Mr S. Attwell

 

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