Mansfield Town under-18s host Burton Albion at RH Academy this Saturday (11am kick-off).
Stags were 2-1 winners in a big top-of-the-table match at RH Academy against Rotherham last Friday with attacker Ronnie Kokkinos and striker McKeal Abdullah on the scoresheet.
“We had to be really resilient,” said professional development phase lead coach Steve Chettle.
“Rotherham play a style of football which suits them. They have some big central defenders, big full-backs and a big striker at the top of the pitch.
“Lewis Warnaby and Cormac Maher were excellent in dealing with the first and second contacts.
“Our football again was excellent.
“Ronnie Kokkinos’ goal is something we work on in training all the time and the link-up play between McKeal Abdullah and Finn Flanagan for the second goal was something we’re really proud of.
“We’re delighted with the result.”
Leading scorer McKeal Abdullah sustained an ankle injury in the match. The coach provided an update on his striker’s fitness.
“It was a strange one really because there wasn’t anyone around him,” he said.
“He said the pitch just went from under him.
“He left the ground on crutches and in a boot. I think he’s had a scan – the extent of the injury I’m not sure on at the minute – but we won’t have him with us in the near future.”
The former Nottingham Forest centre-back was in the dugout for Stags’ 2-1 win over Lincoln in the Central League at RH Academy on Tuesday.
“I thought it was another good game for our boys.
“It’s great to have a game in association with the gaffer’s players. Elliott Hewitt getting more minutes, George Cooper coming back into the group with Calum Macdonald and Galey [James Gale] scoring the two goals.
“It helps our boys a lot playing alongside senior players and I thought our boys played well, especially Ronnie Kokkinos who had a great game.
“It was a good victory and makes for a good week for us.
“Having Ronnie and Alfie [King] play in the reserves most weeks is fantastic.
“It’s a great transition from our under-18s/19s to playing in a semi-senior role in the open wide age groups of the reserves.
“There was some of the first team playing as well for Lincoln.”
On this weekend’s match against Burton, he said: “It was a tough game away from home at Burton earlier in the season – we won 1-0.
“They’re a good footballing team, I don’t know how many changes they have made since the start of the year.
“We look to continue doing what we’re doing.
“We only have two games left, Burton this Saturday and then next Saturday against Notts County.
“We need to get as many wins under our belts as we can.”
Supporters can attend the match for FREE at: RH Acdemy, Woburn Lane, Mansfield NG19 7RT
