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Archived News from March 2011

YORK PREVIEWS
17th March 2011 22:48


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Spotlight on York v Mansfield
Evening Post, 15 Mar 2011

TEAM NEWS

York City are sweating over the fitness of their two first-choice wingers, Ashley Chambers, who is on loan at Bootham Crescent from Leicester City, and Peter Till.

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/mansfieldtown/Spotlight-York-v-Mansfield/article-3328553-detail/article.html?

They were both forced off in their 1-0 win against Eastbourne on Saturday with muscle injuries.

York boss Gary Mills might delve into the transfer market if neither of them recover in time to face Mansfield.

Stags will be boosted by the return of their skipper Adam Murray, after he was ineligible to play in their FA Trophy semi-final first leg victory against Luton Town at Field Mill.

Louis Moult has a back problem, and Rhys Day is sidelined for the rest of the season after undergoing an operation on a knee injury.

TEAMS

YORK: Ingham, Parslow, Meredith, C Smith, Darville, McDermott, Boucaud, Till, Hatfield, J Smith, Kerr, Rankine, Chambers, Reed, Constantine, McGurk.

STAGS: Grof, Silk, Sandwith, Briscoe, Thompson, Nix, Naylor, Spence, Murray, Connor, Cain, Mitchley, Marriott, Foster, Stonehouse, Istead, Smith.

DANGER MAN

Michael Rankine

Rankine, a 26-year-old striker, joined York City from Rushden for £10,000 in June 2009, and is in his best-ever scoring form at Bootham Crescent this season, with 13 goals in 36 games.

He netted in York's 1-0 win against Eastbourne three days ago that lifted them into seventh place in the Blue Square Premier table, and kept their play-off challenge alive

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Russell may tweak Stags side for York trip
CHAD.co.uk, 14 Mar 2011

WITH one eye on Saturday's crucial FA Trophy semi-final second leg with Luton Town, Mansfield Town manager Duncan Russell knows he may have to tweak his side for tomorrow's tough BSBP trip to York City tomorrow (7.45pm).

http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-fc/russell_may_tweak_stags_side_for_york_trip_1_3179486

“If I need to make changes tomorrow then I will make them,” he said.

“I like to keep a winning side but I have to be realistic with all the games we have.

“For instance I thought Louis Briscoe looked a bit tired on Sunday. If players come in at York and play well then it gives me even more headaches for Saturday which can't be a bad thing. I can replace like for like and they would do us a job.”

He added: “York are a very dangerous side and they are on their home turf and in with a chance of the play-offs. But I always fancy us away from home. We have only played badly away once which was at the performance at Grimsby.

“The league is still important to me, even though I know everyone is getting carried away with thoughts of Wembley.

“We are only halfway there with that and I have told my players to put it to the back of their minds. We have been on a good run lately and it is important to keep that momentum going.”

Former York star winger Adam Smith, who scored in Stags' 5-0 win over City earlier in the season, could come in for Briscoe while skipper Adam Murray will be hoping for a midfield berth.

Stags are now eight games unbeaten while York have only lost once in eight and last lost at home on 5th Octob

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Mansfield's Briscoe keen to stay on goal trail ahead of York clash
Evening Post, 15 Mar 2011

IT is a record of which an experienced striker would be proud, let alone a midfielder.

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/mansfieldtown/Mansfield-s-Briscoe-keen-stay-goal-trail-ahead-York-clash/article-3328471-detail/article.html?

But goal-hungry Louis Briscoe is not content with eight goals in 14 games since the beginning of 2011 – he wants plenty more yet.

Despite the Stags starting the New Year in disastrous fashion with a 7-2 defeat at Grimsby, it opened on a bright note for the former Port Vale man, who netted with a stunning strike.

Since then, Briscoe has hit the goal trail with a vengeance and even on those occasions where he hasn't found the net, he has rarely failed to test opposing keepers.

The 22-year-old has been in a particularly rich vein of form during his last dozen matches when he has netted no less than four times from a starting berth out on the left.

That has, by his own admission, given him greater licence to cut infield onto his favoured right foot and let fly, with increasingly successful results.

It is a side of his game Briscoe has been eager to show off ever since he arrived at Field Mill as one of David Holdsworth's first signings in January 2009.

And the Burton-born player is hopeful that if he can keep his purple patch going, he still has time to reach his highest seasonal total in senior football.

"If you'd said at the start of the season I would have scored 11 goals by March then I would have bitten your hand off," said Briscoe.

"It obviously helps for a start that you are playing every week and I'm also probably fitter than I have been for a while.

"My performances have been more consistent with having players and a manager who believe in you. That has reflected in my goal count.

"You could say it's about having more composure, like the goal I scored against Tamworth which I hit across the keeper so, if there was a rebound, it would come straight back out.

"But most of the goals I have got have not come from composed finishes but from where I have smashed it from 20 yards or so.

"It's almost as if when I do have more time I struggle!

"I think it's my natural instinct to be in the right places, even if I haven't been scoring the goals until now.

"I think I've had a bit more luck of late because when you hit them they can sometimes go anywhere, but they have been going in.

"The most I got was when I was at Leek Town in the UniBond Prem (now Evo-Stik) when I was part-time.

"There are still plenty of games left and I would like to think I could beat that.

"It's possible if I carry on the way I have been going, but if I get to 15 now I will be happy."

Tonight Mansfield travel to face a resurgent York City, threatened by relegation earlier in the season but now challenging for the play-offs.

Their upturn in form has coincided with the introduction of Gary Mills as manager following the departure of Martin Foyle after the Stags thrashed the Minstermen 5-0 in September.

Briscoe said: "I think Gary Mills has proved himself to be a brilliant manager.

"He got Tamworth up and then had them going well earlier this season and it is only when he left to join York that they dropped off.

"Since he has been at York there has been a few players going in and out, but it has definitely been for the better."

York's rise up the Blue Square Bet Premier table has been largely based on their terrific home record where they have lost only twice all season – and one of those was on the opening day against Kidderminster.

"When we beat York 5-0 at home they were a different side to now," said Briscoe.

"I think there was a bit of stuff going on behind the scenes and their manager left after that game. You don't know how that affected the players.

"They will want to get one back on us for that and want it to be a completely different game, but we have to make sure that doesn't happen."

Briscoe insists Mansfield's attention will be full on the clash, despite being slap bang in the middle of their two FA Trophy semi-final legs against Luton Town.

He said: "The Trophy is important to us but you can't afford to take your eye off the league. I prefer to have game after game, rather than training in between, as I'm still quite young.

"If we go and get a result it will put us in a good frame of mind for the second leg at Luton.

"York will get our full concentration otherwise we are going to get turned over."

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Mansfield winger Smith out to retain his bragging rights over old York chums
Evening Post, 15 Mar 2011

ADAM Smith knows his life will be made a misery by his old team-mates if Mansfield Town lose at York tonight.

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/mansfieldtown/mansfieldtownnews/Mansfield-winger-Smith-retain-bragging-rights-old-York-chums/article-3328470-detail/article.html?

The winger gave the likes of James Meredith, David McGurk, Mark Rankine and Danny Parslow plenty of stick after he scored in Stags' 5-0 hammering of the Minstermen back in September.

But his former colleagues have since shot up the table under new boss Gary Mills and will have their chance for revenge at Bootham Crescent.

Smith is desperate to play a part in helping Mansfield achieve the double that would ensure he is still the one doing the boasting.

"I've still got a great relationship with a few of the York players," said Smith.

"I'm going to one of the lads' birthday party where we will all go out together at the end of the season.

"After we beat them 5-0 they didn't pick up their phones for a while when I rang them.

"Hopefully it will continue to be the same after this game. It's always nice to have the bragging rights. A couple of them are defenders so they'll know what I'm about and will want to stop me scoring again.

"But it is going to be a tough place to go with them in good form."

Smith voiced his disappointed when he was left out at Chasetown after coming on to score twice on his return from injury in the 2-2 draw at Barrow.

But he now knows he has to be patient and said: "It's been very difficult being out of the side.

"It's heart-breaking but the support is there for the rest of the lads and I have to wait for my chance."

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Latest | March 2011