Archived News from April 2002
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SAME AGAIN FOR STAGS
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Teenager Lee Williamson will miss out on the big game with Cheltenham tonight, as Stuart Watkiss plans to name an unchanged side.
The player was ever present all season until last Saturday against Bristol Rovers when he was left out because of an ankle injury. Watkiss intends to send out the same starting XI tonight that played at the weekend and force his talented 19-year-old to recharge his batteries and rest his ankle. "Lee has done phenomenally well in his first full season and I was very proud he made the PFA Third Division team," said Watkiss. "But the truth is he should have come out of the side a few weeks ago to be rested and I just didn't have the players to go in at that time. "Lee is gutted to be left out but it is vital I have him rested and refreshed ready for the last game or two and, if we end up in the play-offs, we want him 100 per cent. "He has been carrying an injury but tells us he feels fit because he is desperate to play. That's the type of lad he is." Watkiss will also resist the temptation to bring back Allen Tankard at left-back as he feels he needs another reserve game to sharpen up first. A huge boost for Mansfield is the suspension of Cheltenham hitman Julian Alsop tonight. The giant striker netted twice against Stags at Whaddon Road though Mansfield are still the only side to win there this season with their 3-2 success. In-form winger Lee Williams will also make his first return to Field Mill tonight since Stags allowed him to move to Cheltenham earlier this season. Stags: Pilkington, Hassell, Pemberton, Barrett, Reddington, Sellars, Disley, Murray, Corden, White, Greenacre. |
Latest | April 2002