Archived News from March 2006
|
MORE REPORTS AND REACTION
|
 |
|
Wilson deal extension?
CHAD website, 06 March 2006 LAURENCE Wilson could be a Mansfield Town player for the rest of the season. Wilson's initial month's loan ends after the home game with Boston United next weekend. But Stags boss Peter Shirtliff has already been in touch with Everton and it would seem both player and club are happy to extend the deal. Further talks will take place next week after the game at Notts County. "We want to extend Laurence Wilson's loan, possibly to the end of the season," said Shirtliff. "He has impressed everyone and looks a good player. "He took a knock against Wrexham but he soldiered away and got through it. He's a tough boy. "Laurence gives us options and competition down the left hand side." If he continues to impress as he has so far then there will, doubtless, be a call from Stags fans to try to sign Wilson on a permanent basis as they did Jonathan D'Laryea after he impressed while on loan from Manchester City. But Shirtliff said: "I have no idea if that is even an avenue we could go down." ---------- REASONS TO CELEBRATE Evening Post, 06 March 2006 Jake Buxton was unable to mark his 21st birthday with a victory but was pleased the Stags claimed a point. Family and friends held a surprise party for the right-back at his home in Kirkby-in Ashfield on Saturday night. And though the three points eluded the Stags, he said he would enjoy his birthday because the Stags stretched their unbeaten run to six matches. "I think when we were 1-0 down at half-time we would have taken 2-2. Even though we didn't win, it was still a good result. We are doing well and this keeps our push going. The run continues and we have the chance to build on that in the home games coming up." Buxton feels Mansfield's big improvement is due to manager Peter Shirtliff. "He knows what he is doing. He doesn't just talk a good game but he can also put it into practice." Buxton had the chance to grab a spectacular late winner for the Stags at Meadow Lane but ballooned his long-range drive over the top. "I had a chance for glory and the lads were saying that I had visions of 'Buxton seals derby win' headlines. "But it wasn't to be. My shot ended up being a good clearance for them!" Mansfield Town striker Richard Barker has been named League Two player of the month for February. Barker, 30, fired four goals in five league games for the Stags during the month. The former Macclesfield and Rotherham man now has 20 league and cup goals. ------------- SHIRTLIFF: LEARN FROM MISTAKES Evening Post, 06 March 2006 Peter Shirtliff has told Stags midfielder Giles Coke not to take his last-minute miss to heart. Coke, 19, had a golden chance to give Mansfield a last-gasp victory on derby day, only to hit a post when he looked certain to score. But Shirtliff was quick to console his teenage talent, who he believes has a bright future. "When Giles had gone round the keeper I expected him to slot it home but he seemed to stumble and unfortunately he hit the post. "The first thing I told him in the dressing room was to get his head up. If you are going to have a good career in the game then you are going to miss chances like that from time to time and you have to learn to pick yourself up from it. "It happens to a lot of strikers, but the most important thing is how you respond and that's what I will be looking for now. "I am not too disappointed. I would probably have taken a point at half time but I feel for the players that they didn't go on to win it." ----------- THE LUCK OF THE DRAW FOR NOTTS Evening Post, 06 March 2006 Notts County 2 v 2 Mansfield Town What a post - they were the first words of Gudjon Thordarson as he made it to the top of the steps in the Derek Pavis stand after the final whistle. Had it not been for Kevin Pilkington's post in stoppage time, Notts would have lost their sixth consecutive game by a single goal. But Lady Luck was on their side and Giles Coke's effort, after he rounded Pilkington in stoppage time, cannoned back off the woodwork. It was only a point for the Magpies - and for the first time in ten games a striker scored from open play. But after a rampant Mansfield carved open Notts for the first 20 minutes of the second half, the Magpies were thankful for a draw. Even though promotion or relegation seem to be out of the window and another season of mid-table obscurity looks likely, the Notts faithful will be happy that the five-game run of defeats did not become six. And by drawing, a mental barrier has been taken down and Mansfield do not go above Notts. Instead, Notts stay two points in front. But from the moment they kicked off, with the best part of 4,000 Stags fans filling the Kop end, Notts knew it was going to be a tough task. Mansfield were roared on and for the best part of the first half, there was little between the two sides. Richie Barker could have put the Stags ahead within the first minute. Laurence Wilson crossed from the left, Danny Reet flicked on and from just inside the six-yard box Barker miss-hit his shot and it went straight at Pilkington. Much of the half saw hardly any action, apart from Reet flying in late on Pilkington, sending the Notts goalkeeper into a rage and earning Reet a yellow card. But five minutes before half time Dadi, who had been largely ineffective, took a knock and was replaced by Daniel Chillingworth. And Chillingworth was to have his best game so far in a Notts shirt. Straight away he was involved to help the ball to David Pipe and from 35 yards he fired a superb shot but Kevin Pressman managed to save diving to his right. But two minutes before the break Notts took the lead out of nothing. Rob Ullathorne's throw from the left went to Chris Palmer and his right foot shot from just over 20 yards curled into the far corner past Pressman. After the break Jake Sheridan pulled the ball back to Chillingworth on the edge of the Stags box and his shot was tipped over for a corner by Pressman. On 57 minutes the turning point came when Stags favourite Simon Brown replaced Reet, a move that got the Mansfield fans to their feet. The pace of Brown was a real threat. He was put in straight away by a Barker flick but Kelvin Wilson got in behind him to nick the ball away. It was clear why the travelling fans worshipped him. Gus Uhlenbeek crossed from the right to Brown and Wilson, both running in at the back post, but Pilkington managed to dive and tip clear. Minutes later Wilson fired a 20-yard stinging drive but Pilkington palmed it over his bar. Brown then got to the byline on the right and pulled it back for Wilson and he fired low into the far corner. Minutes later Wilson crossed from the right. It was half headed clear before Jonathan D'Laryea headed it back into the danger zone and Barker directed it back into the opposite corner with his head from six yards. It was his 20th goal of the season. But Notts held firm and did not let Stags seize control of the match, and the Magpies got their reward with a scrappy equaliser 13 minutes from time. Pipe crossed from the left into the six-yard box and Mike Edwards slid in with Pressman before Chillingworth got the final touch. It looked like Notts had got a point, but in stoppage time the Magpies gave away possession and Stags broke. The ball was put into the path of Coke, who went down the left and faced Pilkington one-on-one. After rounding Pilkington, he looked certain to score, only to hit the post - a huge let off for Notts. The Stags fans looked deflated and so did Coke, who received a consoling arm from manager Peter Shirtliff in the changing room. It meant Mansfield's unbeaten run continued but for Notts, after going behind, it was a vital point to stop the rot. The Stags, with a partnership of Brown and Barker up front, should be battling for promotion, not just starting to pull clear of relegation. -------------- CHILLY TURNS UP THE HEAT Evening Post, 06 March 2006 Daniel Chillingworth was delighted to get his first goal for Notts County after coming on as a first-half substitute. The striker on loan from Rushden and Diamonds said: "The gaffer felt it needed changing and I was disappointed not to start but I came on and scored a goal and hopefully I will be involved next week. Hopefully it is now onwards and upwards. The lads were working hard and we hoped the goal would come for us and it did." Captain Julien Baudet said he was glad to end the run of five successive defeats. He said: "I was relieved with that and we were desperate for a goal from open play and were struggling with that aspect. "They had us on the back foot at the beginning of the second half and we conceded two sloppy goals. We need to take responsibility as a team and stop conceding soft goals." --------------- STAGS' YOUNG SIDE PLAYS WITH PURPOSE Evening Post, 06 March 2006 ANALYSIS BY MATT HALFPENNY Derby day may have ended all square, but there was one glaringly obvious difference between the two sides - up front. While Notts' strikers have struggled to make an impact for much of the season, Mansfield's front line is one that strikes fear into League Two defenders. Teenager Danny Reet - who has scored three goals since signing for the Stags in January - ruffled a few feathers in the Notts ranks, even if that made him a target of boos from the home fans. The former Sheffield Wednesday trainee also went the closest to scoring for Mansfield in the first period when his 30-yard drive produced a terrific save by former Stags keeper Kevin Pilkington. But he was just the start of the headache for the Notts defence. The real stars of Mansfield's attack have been Richie Barker and Simon Brown. They have formed a terrific understanding, scoring 31 goals between them this season, even though both have been injured for periods. That contrasts with the problems Gudjon Thordarson has had in finding a consistent front two. He has tried 15 partnerships... and is yet to find his ideal strike force. Barker and Brown are the classic partnership. Former Rotherham man Barker has the brawn to wrestle with the toughest of defenders, holding the ball up and posing a threat in the air. But he also has the intelligence to pick out his team-mates with accurate passes and take up positions in the box that lead to goalscoring opportunities. Brown is short in stature but big in pace. His electric bursts create chances for himself and others. He gives Mansfield what his manager Peter Shirtliff refers to as a "spark". It was 57 minutes before the pair were reunited at Meadow Lane - Brown's hernia injury limits him to substitute appearances - and within eight minutes they had turned the game on its head. First Brown, who has scored 11 this campaign, used his pace to get to the right byline and pull the ball back for Laurence Wilson to sweep home a leveller to Chris Palmer's first half strike. The goal was his first in a Mansfield shirt and sent the visiting fans, just yards away, into raptures. Then Barker stepped up to take centre stage, putting the Stags ahead just three minutes later. He showed why he is such a penalty box predator by heading in from the edge of the six-yard box after Notts had only half cleared a cross into the box. Again it sparked wild celebrations, especially as it was Barker's 20th goal. On another day, that might have been enough to give Mansfield victory, but a stroke of luck gave Chillingworth a chance to bring County level. On the balance of play, a draw seemed a fair result and the feeling coming out of the Stags' camp was that they were happy with a point, having trailed 1-0 at the break. It also carried Mansfield's unbeaten run to six games with six home games to come out of their last ten matches. But there would have been some disappointment among the magnificent following of 3,743 Stags fans heading back up the A60. They were left wondering what might have been when Giles Coke had a golden chance to win the match when he raced clear and rounded Pilkington only to hit the left-hand post with his shot. It shows how far the Stags have come. When Shirtliff took over, the supporters would have gladly taken a point away from home anywhere. Now, because the Mansfield manager has a youthful side playing with purpose and confidence, they believe the Stags can achieve so much more. ------------------ Gus Seeking New Contract http://www.mansfield.vitalfootball.co.uk Gus Uhlenbeek hopes to produce some stirring performances in the season to earn himself a new contract at Mansfield ... The 35 year-old Dutchman is one of the Stags players whose deal runs out in the summer and there have been rumours the midfielder is looking to retire ... ' I know that when you consider my age, I'm not guaranteed to get a new contract,' he said. ' I would love to stay here for another year as long as I'm fit and can still do a job for the side. ' I have been pleased with how I have played and I want to keep that going for the rest of the season. ' I like being around the younger lads and I think there is potential here for next season. But It's up to the Manager and Chairman. ----------------- Pole on trial CHAD website, 06 March 2006 A 31-YEAR-OLD Polish striker has been given the chance to train with Stags this week after turning up out of the blue at Field Mill. Arkadiusz Zarczynski and his wife surprised Mansfield manager Peter Shirtliff when they turned up unannounced at the ground yesterday, armed with a CV and a CD-ROM of his goalscoring exploits. And his reward was to be told to bring his boots down and train with the team. "You've got to admire his bottle coming here like that," said Shirtliff. "He has played professional since 1993 in various leagues abroad and has always fancied the idea of playing over here as he is a fan of English football. "Now Poland is part of the EU it means he can do that. "I have watched his CD and he has knocked goals in left, right and centre - left foot, right foot and headed "He is currently staying with relatives in Birmingham and we will take a look at him and see what happens. "It's a great story if it comes off. If it doesn't then neither party loses anything." ----------- Observer report by Steve Hartshorn: STAGS STRETCH UNBEATEN RUN AFTER DERBY-DAY DRAW Notts County 2 Mansfield Town 2 Palmer 43, Chillingworth 76 Wilson 61, Barker 63. Attendance – 9,779 Visitors – 3,743. The Stags fought back from being a goal down but after going 2-1 up were themselves pegged back by an equaliser in a thrilling local derby with the Nottinghamshire City boys, Notts County. However in the dying seconds Giles Coke had the opportunity of sealing all three points for Mansfield, but saw his effort hit the foot of the post with Pilkington beaten. Peter Shirtliff's men went into the game on a five game unbeaten run, whereas the hosts, Notts County were on a run that had seen five straight defeats. On a sunny but cold day at Meadow Lane, Stags made two changes from the side that had won at Torquay United seven days previous, Jelleyman and Coke coming into the starting line up. Stags started on fire and could have taken the lead on 40 seconds. Wilson crossed from the left to where Reet flicked on to the unmarked Barker, however six yards from goal, Barker failed to connect cleanly giving former Stags goalkeeper, Pilkington an easy save to make. Mansfield were the side creating the chances, Wilson cutting in from the left, but his shot lacked any power and was saved with ease. Goalscoring hero, Richie Barker was the next to have a real sight of goal, put in an attempt to place the ball into the net from the edge of the area, gave the keeper an easy task of saving. The home side finally got a sniff of goal as Stags got into a muddle trying to clear a long free kick, County's Wilson getting an header on target from inside the six yard box, but Pressman was positioned perfectly to just clutch the ball from the air. County were buzzing around the Stags area and Hjelde was knocked off his feet blocking a shot where he wished he hadn't. As he went down, County played on and were almost made to pay. With boo's ringing around Meadow Lane from the 3, 743 Stags fans wanting the ball to be put out for Hjelde to get some attention, Reet raced clear and let go from 25 yards and forced a brilliant fingertip save from Pilkington. On 20 minutes, the Nottinghamshire local derby got a little spicy when Stags striker, Reet was booked. Stags had won a free kick and when it was flicked on by Barker, a race towards the ball between Pilkington and Reet saw the keeper get there first but Reet lunging for the ball, caught the former Stags man and as tempers erupted was shown the yellow card. On 40 minutes, Notts made a change up front when Dadi was replaced by on loan, Dan Chillingworth who straight away won the home side a corner. As the ball was cleared Reet failed to control the ball and Pipe let loose a terrific shot from 35 yards that Pressman saved well diving to his right. Two minutes before the half time break, the home side went ahead. A throw in from the right hand side eventually came to Palmer, who wasn't closed down and had time to look up before unleashing a tremendous curling shot from 25 yards that beat Pressman all hands up. The start of the 2nd half saw the home side have the greater percentage of possession without causing too many problems. However on 52 minutes, Uhlenbeek replaced Dawson as Shirtliff shuffled his pack in an attempt to get back into the game. But just three minutes later The Magpies almost added a second. Chillingworth testing Pressman with a dipping shot that the veteran Stags keeper managed to tip over the crossbar. To the approval of the mass Stags following, Simon Brown was introduced for Danny Reet and the substitution worked for it seemed as if The Stags had found an extra spring in their step. Wilson let go from 18 yards and forced a brilliant save from Kevin Pilkington as Stags searched for the equaliser. On 61 minutes that equaliser came. Simon Brown cut into the area from the right hand side and fired in a low cross that although was missed by Barker, was not missed by the unmarked Laurence Wilson who gleefully rammed home his first goal for the Club. The away end erupted in pure joy. Stags were now on a roll and when on 63 minutes, D'Laryea headed on a ball from Wilson, there was Barker to neatly place a header into the County net with Pilkington given no chance. It was the Stags striker's 20th goal of the season. The home side responded well, forcing Stags on the back foot with three corners. But on 73 minutes, Stags had clear claims for a penalty. Giles Coke got on the end of a pass from Brown and as he headed towards the by-line it looked as if he was pushed by Palmer, but the Referee waved away the appeal. Coke was booked for his protests. Just three minutes later, County fashioned an equaliser. Pipe's cross from the left hand side was missed by Edwards but as the ball was rolling towards Pressman, Chillingworth slid in to reach the ball first and got just enough on it to steer into the net. On 81 minutes, Lloyd replaced Wilson as Stags tried to regain the lead. Brown, turning neatly but shooting high over the crossbar from just outside the area. Giles Coke went on a mazy run that was ended two yards out of the area by a clumsy challenge from Wilson that earned the County man a yellow card. Unfortunately though the free kick was disappointing and cleared with ease. As the game entered added on time, Stags broke with menace and when Uhlenbeek played in Coke with a free run in on goal, the young Stags midfielder rounded Pilkington but then agonisingly saw his effort hit the foot of the post. The game had been terrific entertainment for the watching 9,779. This week Stags take on Lincolnshire side, Boston United at Field Mill (3pm) as Stags look to stretch their unbeaten run to seven games. Notts County Pilkington, Pipe, Edwards, Baudet, Doyle, Dadi (Chillingworth 40), Palmer, Crooks, Ullathorne (McMahon 68), Wilson, Sheridan. Subs not used; Marshall, O'Callaghan, Sissoko. Mansfield Town Pressman, Jelleyman, D'Laryea, John-Baptiste, Dawson (Uhlenbeek 52), Barker, Buxton, Coke, Hjelde, Wilson (Lloyd 81), Reet (Brown 57). Subs not used; White, Rundle. Bookings Notts – Wilson 85. Bookings Stags – Reet 20. Coke 73. Referee – Mr Peter Walton. Observer Man of the match – Alex John-Baptiste. |
Latest | March 2006