Archived News from July 2019
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DEMPSTER, BILLY HEATH REACTION TO ALFRETON GAME
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Alfreton win a ‘really good exercise’ - Dempster
mansfieldtown.net, Saturday 13 July 2019 Stags’ manager John Dempster says that alongside being pleased with Mansfield’s ‘combination play’ in today’s 1-0 win over Alfreton, he confirmed his men came through the game ‘unscathed.’ Under-21s’ midfielder Alistair Smith scored the game’s only goal late on, with his excellent first-time finish at the back post. The Mansfield boss described this afternoon’s clash as a ‘really good exercise’ for his players. “We probably saw more of the ball today than we have in the previous friendlies,” he said. “The pitch was immaculate, so credit to Alfreton for that. “Some of the combination play - probably more so in the second-half - was good. I’m pleased with bits [of the game] and it was brilliant for Alistair [Smith] to get a goal. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2019/july/gaffer-post-alfreton/ “There were times where he [Smith] could have passed the ball a bit quicker, but that could be a confidence thing. “Overall, it was a really good exercise. We came through unscathed, with minutes in the bank for the boys. “If you look at the Bradford [Park Avenue] game and the Alfreton game, there are glimpses [of patterns]. “Danny Rose and Nicky Maynard can definitely play together, and you look at Cooky [Andy Cook] in the second-half, with the problems he caused Alfreton’s centre-halves through physical dominance. You can see he is going to be effective. “Mal Benning came on and did well today - he was very impressive on the ball. CJ’s [Hamilton] pace is there to see. Macca’s [Alex MacDonald] workrate, along with Willem [Tomlinson] and Bish [Neal Bishop], did really well today. “Pearcey [Krystian Pearce] was strong as anything and reads the game brilliantly. I don’t want to miss anyone out, but I’d be going through the whole squad! “Overall, as an exercise, it’s been good.” The Mansfield boss was also impressed by the performances of two trialists who lined up for the amber and blue this afternoon. “They [trialists] did well,” added the manager. “The right-back was comfortable on the ball, which you’d expect. The number ten in the second-half is a good athlete, powerful, and probably something different to what we’ve got. “We’ll probably have another look at them in training, but they certainly didn’t lower the standard today.” The manager added that if he were to make any more summer signings, he would be looking to recruit ‘one or two’ more players. “If we were to add any more [players] it wouldn’t be five or six, it would be one or two at most. “The squad is a very strong one, and I don’t want to bring players in for the sake of it. “We’re also supported by a very good under-21s [squad]. You look at the boys who featured today, they didn’t look out of place. “Kian Sketchley is actually an under-18, and he played well in the first-half. He was a little bit nervy at times, but that’s to be expected. “Things are in a good place. Quality needs to go up, and intensity certainly will in terms of workrate on and off the ball. “I’m looking forward to getting back on the training ground on Monday.” John Dempster also confirmed that defender Hayden White is ‘fine,’ following the right-back’s absence from today’s squad. The manager expects that the 24-year-old will feature more heavily over the forthcoming matches. “He [White] is fine. He came through half-an-hour at Bradford, but I’m told by the sports science team that he’ll probably should play a larger part in the next game. “It will be a gradual build [White getting to full fitness].” iFollow Stags subscribers can watch the manager’s interview by logging into mansfieldtown.net/ifollow. ---------------------- John Dempster gives his verdict on Mansfield Town's win at Alfreton Town chad.co.uk, by STEPHEN THIRKILL, Saturday 13 July 2019 Mansfield Town boss John Dempster says his side need to raise their intensity and quality following today's 1-0 friendly win at Alfreton Town. Alistair Smith hit the winner with a tidy finish with eight minutes to go to cap a deserved victory for Stags. Mansfield looked comfortable throughout and created the best of the chances during a dominant second-half display. But Dempster knows his side, which featured two trialists, must raise their levels as their pre-season campaign develops. "Some of the possession football looked good, the rotation of midfield was good and thing's are in a good place," he said. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/john-dempster-gives-his-verdict-on-mansfield-town-s-win-at-alfreton-town-1-9875804 "The quality needs to go up in both halves, but it is still early in terms of pre-season and we look forward to getting back to work on Monday. "The trialists did well. They are athletic and offer something different to what we have got so we will probably have a look at them in training. "If we were to add any more players it wont be five or six, it will be one or two. The state of the squad is very strong and we wont bring players in for the sake of it like some other managers have done in the past. "We have got good quality in the squad, We want a squad that is together and has harmony We also know that we have got good young players to support that squad. Mansfield will face a different type of test on Wednesday when they entertain Championship side Blackburn Rovers at home. Dempster added: "We found that we needed to do a lot more defending in our first two fixtures against Rangers and Swansea. "They are going to be dominant with the ball but we will get different things out of the Blackburn game than we did today. Now our minute bank is going up and we have got some fitness in the players, we will be expecting something from an attacking point of view." ----------------- Boss Billy Heath happy with Alfreton Town's friendly run-out against Mansfield Town chad.co.uk Alfreton Town boss Billy Heath was delighted with the work-out in his side's 1-0 defeat to Mansfield Town The Reds were beaten by a late Alistair Smith strike after pushing their League Two neighbours all the way. Billy Heath said: "Mansfield gave us our best test really - they were really up to speed, really physical, it was a good competitive game. "l think for the majority of the game we stood up to it - l thought we gave as good as we got. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/boss-billy-heath-happy-with-alfreton-town-s-friendly-run-out-against-mansfield-town-1-9876285 "The game was bitty at times, it wasn't fluent - but we kept our shape well and our work-rate is really of the top order at the minute. We've had two really hard [training] sessions on Tuesday and Thursday this week and for us to come and produce that is really encouraging. "If we're going to be critical we could have been better on the ball - we were working so hard to get it back. l've been more than pleased with all three [pre-season] games and today showed their character and that they want to work hard - at the moment l'm pleased at where we are. "l thought new signing Amari Morgan-Smith equipped himself well, despite only one training session after joining us mid-week. He's obviously not sharp yet, but what he does he occupies people, and he did that today. "Now we have a squad of 16 players we probably need to try and get a couple more. We're never going to have a huge squad - we know we are going to have very tight numbers - that's the way it is, and that's the best way sometimes. If you have four or five players not involved in matches then that's problematical in itself." ----------- |
Latest | July 2019