Archived News from July 2008
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ILKESTON 0 - 1 STAGS
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ILKESTON 0 - 1 STAGS
McGregor 22 July 2008 Stags: Gamble; Silk (O'Hare 46mins), McGregor (Wood 63mins), Moses (McGregor 79mins), Hurst (Alex Jeanin 46mins); Arnold (Trimmer 63mins), D'Laryea (Shaw 46mins), Somner (Burrell 80mins), Blackwood (Goward 46mins); Stallard (Duffy 46mins), Lee (unnamed trialist 46mins). Read report at mansfieldtown.net here Read report at CHAD.co.uk here Lee starts for Stags in win at Ilkeston CHAD report SIX trialists started for the Stags in their 1-0 friendly at Ilkeston Town on Tuesday evening - and two new trialists also featured as second half substitutes. One was former Oxford full back Alex Jeanin, but boss Billy McEwan declined to name the other, a striker, after the final whistle. He told Chad he did not want to tip off the player's availability to other managers. The match was upgraded to a first team affair 24 hours earlier by manager McEwan, as he gave the many trialists at Field Mill a chance to win a contract for the new season - including veteran striker Jason Lee. McEwan has so far made four signings - Adie Moses, Jon D'Laryea, Michael Blackwood and Mark Stallard - to add to the handful of senior contracted players he inherited three weeks ago and gave the quartet a place in his starting line-up. Moses was joined in defence by the three trialists - Gary Silk, Mark McGregor and Paul Hurst - who all played a part in the 1-0 win at Hucknall on Saturday. Saturday's goalscorer Blackwood also retained his place in the midfield along with D'Laryea, Nathan Arnold and tralist Matt Somner (a substitute at the weekend). Up front, Stallard was partnered by trialist Lee, the former Nottingham Forest and Notts County striker. In goal, former Nottingham Forest youngster Paddy Gamble started after being a second half substitute at Hucknall and was given a full 90-minute workout. Nathan Arnold forced home keeper Dan Haystead into a save as early as the second minute. And, from the corner, Adie Moses should have scored but somehow put his free header over from two yards in front of goal. There were two moments of skill, one at each end, from right back Gary Silk as he got forward to put over a menacing cross which no-one made use of and then was back in his box to slide in and hook the ball away with a great tackle. Jason Lee then robbed home skipper Lee Thompson just outside the box and let fly with a shot that Heystead had to turn round. But it was finally 1-0 on 20 minutes from an Arnold free kick from the left hand side. He picked out McGregor at the far post who, from the tightest of angles, saw Haystead get both hands to the ball but fail to prevent it going inside his near post. Indeed, the experienced McGregor - released by Port Vale this summer - might have had a quickfire hat-trick but couldn't put away two further chances, Haystead saving well from one header and the other going over. The Robins stood firm as the inventive Mark Stallard chipped just over and ferocious Lee shots twice threatened the home goal, but passed wide. Michael Blackwood also hit one just wide as Mansfield looked firmly in control. But they did have a scare just before the break as Morgan Smith got goalside of the defenders only to see keeper Paddy Gamble quickly out to smother before he could get there. For the second successive match the Stags made a raft of changes at half-time. Defender Alan O'Hare and striker Rob Duffy, who both started at Hucknall, were among those coming on. One new face to appear at half-time was defender Alex Jeanin, the former Oxford United player who has joined the trialists at Field Mill. An unamed striker who came to the Stags only on Tuesday afternoon also joined the action at the break as a replacement for Lee. Stags made six half-time chances and new striker Dempsey twice had quick chances to extend the lead as he sent a chip just wide with Haystead vulnerable and then sent a far post header just wide. But the home side began to take advantage of the Stags' changes and Jon Douglas and Amari Morgan-Smith both went close but failed to test Gamble. Green also fired wide of the near post from 18 yards in another rare home raid. But Dempsey was showing some neat touched at the other end and only good tackles on him and Trimmer prevented them going in on goal while Duffy fired a shot straight at sub keeper Adamson. Goward also confidently came inside two defenders only to curl a finish wide of the far post. Goward then rolled a square pass towards Dempsey who, from 20 yards, curled wide. Dempsey twisted and tuned to force another save from Adamson who was also safely behind a low hopeful 25 yard strike from Wood. With three minutes left Adamson had to smother a near post shot from Goward to concede a corner that saw the impressive McGregor, back on for a second spell, rattle the woodwork with a header. Burrell's stoppage time shot was also on target but easy for Adamson as Mansfield had to settle for a highly comfortable 1-0 win that they could be well pleased with. MANSFIELD TOWN: Gamble; Silk (O'Hare 45mins), McGregor (Wood 63mins), Moses (mCgregor 79mins), Hurst (Alex Jeanin 45mins); Arnold (Trimmer 63mins), D'Laryea (Shaw 45mins), Somner (Burrell 80mins), Blackwood (Goward 45mins); Stallard (Duffy 45mins), Lee ( ? 45mins). ------------ EARLIER STORY: The match at Ilkeston tonight (Tuesday July 22, kick off 7.30) will now feature first team and trialists, rather than youth team and reserves. Read more at mansfieldtown.net here ----------- Ayres has not joined the Stags, says boss McEwan CHAD.co.uk DEFENDER Lee Ayres has not joined Mansfield Town, despite reports elsewhere. Ayres was said to have left Solihull Moors to join the Stags, but on Tuesday afternoon manager Billy McEwan clarified the situation. http://www.chad.co.uk/stags/Ayres-has-not-joined-the.4313273.jp McEwan said: "Lee did take part in a couple of training sessions here, but never turned up after that and I have had no contact with him since." The manager again expected to field a large number of trialists at tonight's match at Ilkeston - and then over the weekend when Derby County (Saturday, 3pm) and Sheffield United (Monday, 7.45pm) visit Field Mill. McEwan said of the two home matches against two of his former clubs: "These are big matches and give the lads a test against good opposition. "I am looking forward to them and I am sure the players are. "Don't forget these are still not Mansfield Town first teams I am putting out. These are lads under pressure, looking for a job and I won't judge them on one game. "But it will be nice to play good teams at home on a good surface. "It is still early days yet. The lads are working hard and I know it is geting nearer the time decisions have to be made." Adults will be admitted to the games against Derby and Sheffield United for just £10. Season ticket holders and OAPs will be charged £5 and under 16s will be admitted free. For more details go to the club's official website - mansfieldtown.net ------------ |
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