Youth preview: Stags v Lincoln

1 December 2022

Mansfield Town under-19s are back in action this Saturday for a Youth Alliance League fixture against Lincoln City at RH Academy (11am kick-off).

The young Stags will head into the fixture against the Imps in great spirits following last weekend’s outstanding 6-2 win against Rotherham United.

Ahead of this weekend's clash with Lincoln, PDP lead coach Sam Collins spoke to www.mansfieldtown.net and said: “They’re [Lincoln] a good team [and] they’ve got some really good players. They play some really good football so we’re looking forward to it. It should be a really good game.”

In recent weeks Mansfield have been working on improving in the final third during their training sessions and they got their reward scoring six goals in last weekend’s encounter against the Millers.

“[We’ve still been working on] little bits [in the final third],” said Sam.

“We like to look ahead and have a plan to cause the opposition problems when we’ve got the ball and then be well organised and hard to beat when we’ve not got the ball.

“Hopefully the lads take it on board and do it in the game [against Lincoln]”, said Sam.

Attack minded midfielder Jakub Kruszynski scored Stags’ sixth goal last time out in the Youth Alliance League.

“Jakub has had a difficult few weeks, based on the standards he’s set himself throughout his scholarship. On Saturday he was back to something we know he’s capable of.

“There's a lot of positives around the group at the minute and there’s a lot of players that we’re really pleased with because probably one of the biggest things we’re looking for is them being consistent with their performance levels, and that's where we’ve been at in recent weeks.”

Cormac Maher started last weekend’s clash against Rotherham. Speaking on the centre-back, Sam said: “We were really pleased with how he performed last week so there is a strong possibility that he will play again.”

Cody Collins’ loan extension with Gainsborough Trinity was made official on Monday. The defender has extended his move by a further month until December 28.

“It’s brilliant for him to continue playing men's football,” said Sam.

“There have been around 2,000 fans in a couple of the games he has played in recently.

“Over the next month or so our programme with the scholars shuts down for a couple of weeks.

“But in terms of Cody and his development over the Christmas period he could potentially have around 10 to 15 appearances under his belt before this loan is over, which is brilliant for his progression.”

As ever, all supporters are welcome to attend the game for free at the following venue: RH Academy, Woburn Lane, Mansfield, NG19 7RT.

Match Reports

Youth report: Stags 3-3 Lincoln

5 December 2022

Mansfield Town and Lincoln City were made to share the points in a six-goal fest at RH Academy in the Youth Alliance League on Saturday.

Stags’ striker McKeal Abdullah scored a brace to continue his fine run of form in front of goal.

A trialist for Mansfield also found himself on the scoresheet as the amber and blue showcased a strong attacking performance.

Sam Collins' young guns have now scored nine goals in two games following last weekend’s 6-2 victory against Rotherham United.

The opening exchanges of the contest ebbed and flowed as both sides battled to find the opening goal.

Mansfield’s goalkeeper Louie Turner was called into action early on as an effort from Lincoln attacker Julien Donnery required a save.

On 16 minutes the young Stags took the lead as left-back Darien Wauchope guided a superb ball into the box, which Abdullah converted at the back post to break the deadlock.

Mansfield were on top in the following period but the Imps levelled after 37 minutes when Donnery was played through on goal and rolled the ball into the back of Turner’s net against the run of play.

Mansfield came out with a point to prove in the second-half and were rewarded three minutes after the restart as a trialist tapped the ball into the back of Sam Green’s net to restore the Stags’ lead.

A triple substitution ensued for the visitors shortly after the goal in an attempt to introduce new spark and energy into the match.

Stags soon extended their advantage.

Attack-minded midfielder Jakub Kruszynski won a free-kick on the edge of the Imps’ area following a powerful run forward on 71 minutes.

And after the initial cross from the free-kick was cleared, the ball fell to Abdullah inside the box, who made sure to hit the target and score his second goal of the game to give his side a 3-1 lead.

The visitors made their fourth change of the game on 75 minutes as attacker Russell Berko replaced winger Tayo Tucker.

Mansfield’s first substitution of the game saw attacking midfielder Alfie King be replaced by Ollie Taylor on 78 minutes in a like for like change.

Recently introduced substitute Berko found the back of the Stags’ net on 79 minutes as the Imps looked to fight their way back into the game.

And with only five minutes remaining, Lincoln found themselves level courtesy of a goal from defender Darryl Powell.

The amber and blue made their second and final change soon after as attacker George Colton-Balogun replaced the trialist.

Despite the Stags' pushing for a winner, the points were shared at RH Academy.

MANSFIELD TOWN: Turner, Anderson, Whyle, Maher, Wauchope, Carter, Flanagan, Kruszynski, King (Taylor 78), Trialist (Colton-Balogun 85), Abdullah

UNUSED SUBS: Avery, Monnington, Whelan

LINCOLN CITY: Green, Kabeya, Boffah, Gallagher (Kamara 60), Powell, Mussell, Wheatley (Okewoye 60), Nesbitt (Dale 60), Adamson, Donnery, Tucker (Berko 75)

UNUSED SUB: Allan

REFEREE: Peter Brothwell