Mansfield Town’s under 18s will be looking to secure the EFL Youth Alliance league title when they visit York City’s Wigginton Road training ground on Wednesday (19 April, 12pm kick-off).
Academy manager John Dempster’s men have crucially extended their lead at the league table’s summit to seven points over fellow title contenders Oldham Athletic, who reside second with 41 points.
Therefore, a victory against the Minstermen will ensure they retain their EFL Youth Alliance crown, regardless of how Oldham fair against Notts County on Saturday.
Last time out, Doncaster Rovers held the Latics to a 1-1 draw and the Stags’ young guns claimed full points against ten-man Scunthorpe United via a 1-0 win in the previous round of fixtures.
Centre-back Kieran Harrison prodded home from right-back Teddy Bloor’s flag-kick on 61 minutes to ensure Mansfield remain unbeaten in eight games since January.
For Scunthorpe, James Dean-Atkinson was dismissed on 86 minutes after two bookings in the contest.
The Stags’ under 18s have turned on the style in recent weeks in their bid to retain the league title, having won five games on the bounce since February.
Local rivals Notts County were dispatched 3-2, followed by Hartlepool United 3-1.
Then came a superb 2-1 comeback victory over Oldham, who took the lead through Brad Kay but succumbed to Stags’ forward Jason Law’s double.
Striker Devante Reittie rose to the occasion for Dempster’s men against Chesterfield, scoring on 73 minutes in a 1-0 win at the Proact Stadium prior to the Scunthorpe clash.
The Stags and the Minstermen locked horns in the EFL Youth Alliance in last December’s reverse fixture when then-hosts Mansfield were consigned to a 1-0 defeat, which continues to be one of their only two losses in the last 11 outings across all competitions.
Steve Torpey’s York sit fourth in the standings, with 35 points from 22 matches and three losses in their last five games.
The young Minstermen picked up wins over Notts County (1-0) and Bradford City (3-1), either side of a 4-2 defeat against Chesterfield, and have since lost two straight meetings against Rotherham United 4-0 and Hartlepool 3-2.
Supporters are welcome to watch the action unfold this Wednesday at the following venue:
York City Training Ground,
B1363 Wigginton Road,
York,
YO32 2RB
