{ the news }
 
An independent supporters' website dedicated to Mansfield Town FC
Archived News from October 2009

HOLDSWORTH AND GARRY WILSON REACTION
25th October 2009 18:40


video interview with David Holdsworth --->
http://www.mansfieldtown.net/page/FromTheBoss/0,,10325~1829431,00.html


BBC Radio Nottm interview with David Holdsworth and BBC Sussex interview with Garry Wilson-->
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/8295754.stm

Eastbourne manager Garry Wilson told BBC Sussex:
"We came here today and we asked our players to compete and I thought we competed really well.
"Obviously my disappointment was with the two goals we conceded early on, take them out the game and I'm pleased with my team's performance."

----------------------------

Holdsworth happy with another away success
CHAD.co.uk, 17 October 2009 , By John Lomas
STAGS boss David Holdsworth watched his side chalk up a second successive 2-1 away win – but admits he wasn't as nervous at Eastbourne today as he was at Altrincham last week.

http://www.chad.co.uk/stags/Holdsworth-happy-with-another-away.5743205.jp?

"At Altrincham they were throwing the kitchen sink at us. But today, apart from the freak goal – and it was a freak goal – they didn't have a shot in the second half," he said.

"Eastbourne battled and worked hard, but so did my players.

"We have dome away today and dominated the first half hour. They are a big, physical team and you have to deal with that.

"We were strong and our pace was good and our finishing exemplary in the first half.

"We had something to protect in the second half though I always thought
we could score a third.

"If Jake had scored that header when he hit the bar it would have been 3-0 and all over. He did the same against Forest Green so we will have to work on his heading this week.

"We are pleased with where we are right now. You want to win every game but we have only not performed in two games this season at Barrow and Kidderminster."

The pitch at Priory Lane was very difficult which made for mistakes from both sides and nervy moments.

"They have been trying to make improvements here with flood drains but it's made the ground very uneven and the sea air has dried it right out which made it difficult," he said."

Luke Jones, who made his comeback from an ankle injury, agreed: "It was very bobbly and bouncy out there and very dry.

"You can't stop it bouncing so you have to play it first time and it can make the game ugly. But you have to play the conditions and it becomes about percentages.

"I was pleased to be back in the side so soon. The only way I will get match fit again is by playing matches.

"It is good to win two away games on the trot, I don't think we had a big problem though we didn't turn up once or twice. It was important to get out of the traps quickly which we did, though it can be dangerous protecting a two-goal lead."

---------------------

Whirlwind 48 hours for new Stags boy Dobson
CHAD.co.uk, 17 October 2009 , By John Lomas

IT was a whirlwind 48 hours for Stags' new signing Craig Dobson as the winger received an emergency call while in bed to sign for David Holdsworth and head for Saturday's game at Eastbourne.

http://www.chad.co.uk/stags/Whirlwind-48-hours-for-new.5743445.jp?

The 25-year-old former Brentford and Stevenage winger had been on trial at Field Mill.

But, with Louis Briscoe suffering a freak knee injury after falling downstairs at home, Dobson found Stags moved quickly to bring him in and he made his debut as a second half substitute in Saturday's 2-1 win at Eastbourne.

Dobson has found himself back in the BSP after a nightmare year last year. But he is hoping he can help Stags to take them and himself back into the Football League.

"It has been a mad couple of days," he said. "Yesterday I was in bed with my missus when I got a phone call telling me to come to the ground and sign.

"I understood I was to be offered something next week before the FA Cup game so it was quite a shock.

"It has taken me nine or 10 hours on the train to get down here with about five changes but I made it in the end."
Dobson almost joined Stags in the summer but family problems left it all up in the air.

"David Holdsworth already knows a lot about me." he said.

"There was interest from Mansfield in the summer but I had started moving from London up to Manchester with my girlfriend so I wasn't sure what I was doing so we left it.

"My girlfriend had some family drama after her sister's boyfriend died which is why we moved up to Preston.

"Now I just want to get back to football after an horrendous year.

"Paul Ince signed me for about £30,000 at Milton Keynes last year. But on my first day with them I ruptured a tendon and needed an operation.

"Paul Ince went to Blackbrun and Robert Di Matteo came in. But by now they'd found I had a hairline fracture in my left shin so they decided to pay me up.

"I went to Brentford but didn't play there. My fitness levels were not the best, it's taken a while. Now I just want to get back on track."
Even though it is at a Conference club, Dobson is happy with his new home.

"This is a big club to play for and it's the chance to play for someone like David Holdsworth who I think is going places himself.

"There are a lot of positives in coming here. It is a team that could and will be challenging.

"They showed today that they can battle games out in this league which you need.

"I will bring pace and I am a tricky player who likes to take people on and score goals which I have done before at this level – I scored 16 from the right wing at Stevenage.

"Scoring at Wembley in the FA Trophy was the highlights of my time with them.

"Hopefully I can offer something different to the squad. The boys here seem very together. You have to be strong and battle for everything at places like Eastbourne or you'll get turned over. It was a very professional job today though I didn't see a lot of the ball in the short time I was on.

"I have signed a deal until January to prove myself. I want to get back into the Football league and if I can do that with Mansfield, that would be brilliant."

--------------

Mansfield boss delighted with strikers
Monday, October 19, 2009, 07:00Comment on this story

DAVID Holdsworth is delighted with the way hitmen Rob Duffy and Kyle Perry are pushing each other to new heights in their bid to finish top scorers.
Both scored in yesterday's 2-1 victory at Eastbourne Borough – the Stags' third win in a row and fifth in their last six matches.
It took Duffy's tally for the season to eight and Duffy's to nine.
Manager Holdsworth feels their rivalry is having a positive effect because they are both keen to find the net regularly.
"I allowed Daryl Clare to go on loan for a reason. I've got Duffy, Perry, Speight Williams, Briscoe and now Dobson, who looked lively when he came on, who can all score goals," he said.
"We didn't score enough goals last year. I still expect more from midfield and that is why I'm still critical sometimes.
"But the two big boys up front are doing a great job for us at the moment and have been in top form all season."

-------------------

Stags boss happy to prove critics wrong
Monday, October 19, 2009, 07:00Comment on this story

DAVID Holdsworth is pleased to prove Mansfield Town's critics wrong after a second successive away win at Eastbourne.

http://www.thisismansfieldtown.co.uk/news/Stags-boss-happy-prove-critics-wrong/article-1430106-detail/article.html

The Stags were 2-1 winners at Priory Lane – just as they were last season – with first half goals from Kyle Perry and Rob Duffy.
It followed another 2-1 triumph at Altrincham in their previous away game and firmly establishes Mansfield in the Blue Square Premier play-off places.
Holdsworth always felt his side would start to pick up points on the road despite three defeats in a row on their travels earlier in the campaign.
And he is delighted his team are now showing why he had such faith in them.
"All you can ask for is to win your away games. We haven't performed in two games – that's all. Other than that we have been consistent," said Holdsworth.
"I thought we showed battling qualities. I'm delighted to be sitting fourth in the league.
"I'm not worried about what run we are on. I don't get too high or too low.
"But we keep working hard in what was a fantastic following again.
"The standards at the club are very good and we are doing very well but we are not going to take our fingers off the pulse."
Mansfield led 2-0 at the break before Liam Enver-Marum pulled a goal back for the hosts.
But Holdsworth said he felt confident his team would hold out to collect three more valuable points.
He added: "I didn't feel we were under too much threat. They were certainly throwing the kitchen sink at us at Altrincham.
"Other than the freak goal, and let's face it, it was, they haven't had a shot at goal in the second half.
"They battled and worked hard, but then so did my players and sometimes we don't always acknowledge that enough.
"Our strengths are that we have come away from home, dominated the first half against a big, physical team. I felt we were strong and our finishing was exemplary.
"In the second half we had got something to protect, even though I still felt we could get another goal."
Holdsworth was pleased that a number of players made important contributions to clinching what is a third win running for the Stags.
"I thought Rob Duffy played a good part but everyone played a role. No-one stood out, but it was a good team ethic from us," he said.
"Luke Jones played a good role having been out injured and Paul Heckingbottom has been important because he is experienced in the dressing room and on the pitch. It's a pleasure to have him at the club.
"Scott Garner also had a very good game against their number nine who is a very good player."
Mansfield will assess the fitness of Rob Duffy (ligaments), Luke Jones (slight knock), Kyle Nix (ankle) and Louis Briscoe (knee) early this week ahead of Saturday's home FA Cup tie with Altrincham.

-----------------------

Jones delight at making winning return for Stags
Monday, October 19, 2009, 07:00Comment on this story

A BLOODIED Luke Jones was happy to make a winning return for Mansfield Town at Eastbourne Borough.

http://www.thisismansfieldtown.co.uk/news/Jones-delight-making-winning-return-Stags/article-1429939-detail/article.html

The central defender was initially expected to be out for more than two months with an ankle injury sustained on the training ground.
But Jones, who picked up a bang on the head, was back well ahead of schedule to marshal the back line and help the Stags to a 2-1 victory at Priory Lane.
"I just got on with it. I'm going to need games to get back into it and after being out for three weeks maybe I lacked a bit of match fitness," he said.
"But you only get that by playing games and I was glad to get out there really.
"We were a but cautious with the injury when I first did it, but when I saw how it went in the first week of treatment I knew things were going well.
"The surgeon said it looked fine so at that point I was happy to carry on with the rehab.
"It was a tough game to come back into because (Andy) Atkin is a good target man, one of the better ones in this league.
"He makes things difficult and you don't get a free header, which makes things a battle.
"But I wanted to be back out there – it's the only way I'll get back fit and sharp and it was the ideal time for me to come back in with Luke (Graham) being out."
Jones helped Mansfield to a clean sheet in the first half before they conceded midway through the second.
But the Stags stood firm to clinch their second successive away victory.
"It was a stroke of luck with their goal. I don't think they had a player in the middle when he crossed it, but these things happen.
"From that point we were always going to have a spell where it was backs to the wall and we needed to defend, but we did it and managed to get over the finishing line with another three points.
"I don't think it has been a big problem away from home. There were maybe a couple of games where we didn't really turn up, but we have put that right recently.
"We had to come out of the traps early and we did that with two goals."

-----------------------

Dobson ready to make most of Mansfield chance
Monday, October 19, 2009, 07:00Comment on this story

CRAIG Dobson is hoping to help Mansfield Town to promotion this season – after being woken up to be told he had earned a contract.

http://www.thisismansfieldtown.co.uk/news/Dobson-ready-make-Mansfield-chance/article-1429942-detail/article.html

The winger was still in bed early last Friday morning when he received a phone call telling him the Stags were interested.
And after getting the train into Mansfield, the former MK Dons and Stevenage man was happy to sign on at Field Mill until January 1.
Following ill-fortune with injury, the 25-year-old is determined to get back to top form with the Stags.
Dobson made a promising debut as a substitute in Mansfield's 2-1 victory over Eastbourne at the weekend.
"It was a mad couple of days leading up to signing and I was in bed when I got the phone call," said Dobson.
"I didn't think I was going to be involved in the side until this week against Altrincham, but eventually after about nine or ten changes on the train I got in to sign.
"I had a call in the summer saying that David Holdsworth was interested but at that point I was moving up to Manchester from London with my girlfriend.
"But eventually I am here and things seem to be going well. It's good to get back to the football.
"I signed for MK Dons from Stevenage for £30,000, but then I had a horrendous season.
"I ruptured a tendon on the first day I signed, then Paul Ince went to Blackburn and Roberto Di Matteo took over but I suffered a hairline fracture of my left ankle.
"Andy Scott signed me for Brentford, but they had a settled side and went up and it was hard to get in.
"I want to get back in the Football League and hopefully I can do that with Mansfield."
Dobson feels he has plenty to offer the Stags and hopes to prove to the fans he can be a real danger.
He said: "I scored something like 16 goals at Stevenage and hopefully I can bring a bit of pace to the Mansfield team.
"The team is based on a lot of big lads and maybe I can bring something a bit different."

-------------------

Borough are too inconsistent
theargus.co.uk/sport/bluesquare/eastbourneborough
By Mike Legg

CONSISTENCY will be the key if Eastbourne Borough are to climb away from trouble.

That is the view of manager Garry Wilson and head coach Nick Greenwood after Borough slipped to a fourth successive defeat on Saturday against Blue Square premier high-flyers Mansfield.

The game summed up Borough's problems – they played well in spells but showed familiar lapses which need to be eliminated.

After stern words following last week's Gateshead defeat, Wilson and Greenwood got a much-improved performance.

They also got a display of unconvincing defending as Borough dropped to 18th in the table, just three places above the relegation zone.

Greenwood said: “The players are very positive and we have said that if they play like that every week, we won't have a problem.

“But we have not played like that consistently enough. We never quite know what we are going to get.

“But if they play like that then we are good enough to compete again at this level next season. But we haven't seen that often enough, particularly in away matches.

“It's no good us saying we have played well again after another loss. We need to get results.”

Two avoidable goals in the opening 11 minutes proved decisive.

The first came after five minutes when Neil Jenkins conceded a free-kick and from Gary Mills' set piece, Luke Jones flicked the ball on for Kyle Perry to arrive at the far post and angle his shot past Michael Jordan, Six minutes later Borough failed to clear the ball from just outside their penalty area and were punished as Steve Istead won a tackle with Darren Baker and laid the ball square for Rob Duffy to score.

Mansfield were ruthless but Borough were not as striker Jamie Taylor was denied by Alan Marriott in a one-on-one and also saw the keeper turn over a goalbound header before the break.

If either of those chances had gone in, it might have been a different story.

All Borough had to show for their efforts was substitute Liam Enver-Marum's 67th-minute goal which briefly gave the home fans hope of at least taking a point.

The goal came out of nothing as Andy Atkin flicked on a Paul Armstrong throw-in and Enver-Marum whipped in a cross-shot that flew over the head of Marriott and crept in at the far post.

Armstrong, making his return from injury in midfield after a six-game absence, also feels there are reasons for optimism.

He said: “It's hard to say it's a decent display on the back of a defeat but at least there are some positives.

“If you took the goals out of it, we probably tipped the balance as the better side. The early goals were disappointing but personally I didn't feel too bad and as a team our fitness was good. We didn't stop going until right to the end.

“If we can produce this sort of performance every week against some of the lesser sides then I think we will win more than we will lose.”

Another reason for optimism was an improved display by Dan Smith, who impressed on the right flank, especially in the first half when referee Marvin Thompson was in charge.

Thompson did not appear for the second half after pulling a muscle and it was left to his senior assistant, Mr Neil, to take over the whistle.

Eastbourne Borough: Jordan, Baker (sub Elphick 45), Jenkins, Austin, Pullan, Smith, Armstrong, Atkin, Crabb, Taylor (Enver-Marum 64), Brown. Subs not used: Smart, Knowles, Johnson.

Booked: Austin.

Mansfield: Marriott, Heckingbottom, Mills, Jones, Garner, Somner, Duffy, Istead (Williams 80), Silk, Speight, Perry (Dobson 75). Subs not used: Eley, Armstrong, Sturrock.

Booked: Speight, Duffy.

Borough striker Nathan Crabb is awaiting further tests after a heart scare.

The 24-year-old has been ruled out for the forseeable future after tests indicated a thickening of the heart.

Borough coach Greenwood said: “Hopefully it is not too serious.”

------------------------------



 

Latest | October 2009