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Archived News from January 2017

DANNY ROSE AND HURST ON TARGET FOR U21 v NOTTS CO
20th January 2017 22:02


Fringe players stake claims as Stags reserves beat Notts
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Tuesday 17 January 2017

Several players did their chances of a first team recall no harm as they helped a strong Mansfield Town Reserves side to a 2-1 Central League Cup win over neighbours Notts County at Rainworth MW’s Kirklington Road this afternoon.

Stags boss Steve Evans had promised he would turn out a strong side containing plenty of first team names and, in the end, Louis Danquah and Keiran Harrison were the only youngsters in a very strong line-up.

Midfield pair James Baxendale and Jack Thomas both did very well, Thomas looking particularly sharp after the break, while strikers Pat Hoban and Danny Rose were industrious up top with Danny Rose opening the scoring.

Kevan Hurst added the second with a superb free kick.

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/fringe-players-stake-claims-as-stags-reserves-beat-notts-1-8339018

Of the rest, Jamie McGuire looked assured at centre-half, Ashley Hemmings impressed at times, but drifted in and out, Mitch Rose battled away at right back, and keeper Scott Shearer had nothing to do on the day.

The Stags made a powerful start, which was rewarded by two quick goals inside five minutes.

On four minutes, Rose tucked home a low drive from the edge of the penalty area.

Then on nine minutes the same player earned the Stags a free kick 25 yards out and Hurst curled home a superb effort from the dead ball into the top corner. Mike Whitlow’s side continued to dominate possession, and were on cruise control by the interval.

But Notts were back into the game on 66 minutes, as a free kick from near the far touchline found Sam Osborne unmarked to tap in past Shearer.

STAGS RESERVES: Shearer, M. Rose, Harrison, McGuire, Danquah, Hemmings, Baxendale (Law 82), Hurst, Thomas, Hoban (T. Blake 70), D. Rose (Hakeem 70). Subs not used: Wilson, Slone.

NOTTS RESERVES: Hall, Wildin, Dunn, Brownhill, Richards, Dearle (Corbain HT), Osbourne, Howes, Gibson (Campbell 80), McMillan, Clayton-Naute. Subs not used: Gibbons, Towers, Ebanks.

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Competitive nature of County clash vital for Whitlow
mansfieldtown.net, 17th January 2017

Under 21s' head coach Mike Whitlow said the most important thing to come from this afternoon's 2-1 victory over Notts County was for the senior players to partake in a competitive match.

In keeping with Stags' boss Steve Evans’ earlier indication, the under 21s fielded a very strong side which included nine first-team players, all of whom were in need of acquiring game-time to elevate their sharpness for first-team reckoning.

And with striker Danny Rose and midfielder Kevan Hurst getting on the score sheet, Whitlow said it was pleasing to see how intensely the first team players approached the game.

“It is always nice [to get wins on the board]. The intensity at the start of the game, with the experience that was on the field today, was incredible at the start of the game," Whitlow said.

“Sometimes, we got a little too many touches in and around here and there I thought. But fair play to them - they put their bodies on the line, and got back in and sat in.

Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/2016-17/whitlow-post-notts-3524893.aspx#eE2ZMATuERMgEpme.99

“The most important thing is, the first team are doing really well at the moment, and these players on the outskirts, they are in and out, and they need game time."

The former Burton Albion academy manager says although the first team players were trying to win a starting place in Steve Evans' starting XI against Cambridge United on Saturday, the under 21s' players who made up the matchday squad will learn from being involved with players of that ilk.

“This is a competitive game of football for three points, and it has got to mean something - the purpose of 90 minutes for them is showing the manager and the coaches here that yes, if you need us, we are ready and we are trying to push for first team place.

“With the young lads here now trying to get involved in this, they are trying to be a part of a very experienced team and learn.”

He further singled out the performances of several senior professionals, who were adequately complemented by the younger players in the side.

Whitlow said: “[It was] a good all-round [game] for the youngsters.

“What a great thing for Kieran Harrison to play alongside Jamie McGuire for 90 minutes today - talking, organising, and as a 17, going on 18, year-old, this is how they are doing it.

“Jack Thomas, picking second-balls, getting in the box, and chasing back 40 yards to put tackles in, and you are thinking ‘well done!’. Bax (James Baxendale) was moving the ball well. So, there was a lot of pleasing things.

"The manager (Steve Evans) and Paul [Raynor] came in today and spoke about attitude, commitment and giving them food for thought.

"For me on my side with the youngsters, it was good to see how they deal with it, how they can get something away from this, and can they deal with this intensity and what’s being asked of them? So, it was really pleasing today.”

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Thomas impresses Evans in Stags reserves’ win over Notts
chad.co.uk, by John Lomas

Steve Evans confirmed that midfielder Jack Thomas had caught his eye during the reserve team’s 2-1 win over Notts County on Tuesday.

Thomas has found himself on the fringes of the squad all season, but as part of a very strong reserves side he shone, particularly in the second half as he proved he is finally fully fit and a serious contender for a first team start.

Evans, who fielded nine first teamers in the side, said: “It was good for the players. We started really bright. We had a real energy and purpose in the first 15 minutes and got two early goals.

“At that time you were probably thinking this could get a bit too easy, and it did become too easy. What happens from that is players take an extra touch, they try to hit their pass more precise and everything goes off a bit.

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/thomas-impresses-evans-in-stags-reserves-win-over-notts-1-8344173

“But we worked incredibly hard and full praise must be given to young Jack Thomas. “He suddenly looked like the player we could remember watching last season when he got into the team. He was a really dynamic box to box player.

“We have got him a bit fitter so Lee Taylor takes a lot of compliments for that as Jack has been able to produce performances like that.”

He added: “There were other winners. Danny Rose and Paddy Hoban will always look a handful for any team so I was really pleased with them and the boy Baxendale has had a lot of minutes under me as I think he is a real talent. But, like most others here we just need him to get a little bit sharper.”

The side contained two young players in Keiran Harrison and Louis Danquah and Evans said: “It’s great to see the young lads come through.

“Nothing will please me more than two or three Mansfield youngsters being able to break into the squad and get in the team.

“The youth team have a big task here as the quality of the first team goes up. It gets tougher.

“So the demands on the youth team staff will actually go up to find better players as we will hopefully very soon trying to find players good enough to go to League One and the Championship and not just League Two.”

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Latest | January 2017