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Match Previews

Youth preview: Stags v Huddersfield

10 November 2022

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

The young Stags will head into the contest in good spirits following last weekend's friendly win against local rivals Chesterfield. The amber and blue emerged as 3-1 winners thanks to goals from McKeal Abdullah, Finn Flanagan and Oli Wilson.

This weekend's visitors, Huddersfield, lost 5-2 against Peterborough United in their previous fixture in the Development League Cup.

Ahead of the visit of Huddersfield, PDP lead coach Sam Collins spoke to www.mansfieldtown.net and said: “[Huddersfield are a team with] talented players.

“[They are an] expansive team when in possession.

“We need to be positive when attacking if they leave space.

“We have a gameplan and the challenge is to implement it [on Saturday].”

Ahead of the clash with the Terriers, Sam gave us an insight into training this week.

“We’ve worked on things relating to play in the final third," said Sam.

“Against Crewe [in the FA Youth Cup] and Chesterfield [in last weekend’s friendly] we could’ve scored more goals.

“We’ve worked on converting more chances as well as working on crossing from wide areas and players timing their runs into the box correctly.”

Striker McKeal Abdullah has been in fine form lately, scoring at Mornflake Stadium against the Railwaymen and in last weekend’s friendly against Chesterfield.

“He’s scored a few goals recently and is playing well," said Sam.

Midfielder Alfie King is set to return to training on Monday after a two-month spell on the sidelines with a broken finger.

Speaking about Alfie, Sam said: “A first-team player would probably get it strapped up and continue to play but you can’t take these risks with younger players.

“He’s had an operation to fix the issue and we’re looking forward to him returning to training.”

Cormac Maher, the 15-year-old defender, will be assessed ahead of Saturday’s game after picking up a tight hamstring in last night’s under-17s fixture.

“We’re hoping he’ll be fit for Saturday," said Sam.

Oli Wilson joined Carlton Town on Tuesday on a month-long work experience loan.

“It will be great for him to experience men’s football," said Sam.

“There will be a bigger emphasis on getting a result on a Saturday [at Carlton] rather than the development of players that we focus on more here at Mansfield.

“We’re hoping he gets a lot of game time because he hasn't been starting for us recently.”

Sam was asked if he was planning on anymore players going out on a work experience loan. “The second year players [might go out on loan], maybe around the Christmas period when our schedule slows down.

“We’re definitely looking to get them all out on a work experience loan to give them the experience that’ll help them develop as players.”

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

Report: Stags U19 1-2 Huddersfield U19

14 November 2022

Mansfield Town’s under-19s were made to rue missed chances as Huddersfield scored two first-half goals to secure a 2-1 win at RH Academy on Saturday.

Terriers' striker Hazeem Bakre and midfielder Hakeem Sandah found the back of the net to put the visitors 2-0 up at the break.

Mansfield netted a consolation when substitute attacker Louis Bonser was only on the pitch for a matter of minutes to score in the 71st minute.

The hosts had an array of opportunities in the opening exchanges but were unable to convert them into goals.

One of the main chances fell to inform striker McKeal Abdullah thanks to a superbly weighted ball over the Terriers’ back-line by right-back Taylor Anderson but Abdullah fired wide of Michael Acquah’s goal.

Huddersfield took the lead on 25 minutes as a deep cross from the right-hand side saw Bakre rise highest to head home and break the deadlock.

Two minutes later, the Terriers doubled their advantage as Hakeem Sandah found himself one-on-one with Stags’ shot-stopper Louie Turner as he placed his effort into the back of the net.

Following a Huddersfield corner, the hosts had a brilliant opportunity to score on 38 minutes thanks to a rapid counter attack with attacker Jakub Kruszynski at the heart of it but ultimately draged his shot wide.

Mansfield came out looking a much brighter side in the second-half and won a free-kick on the edge of the Terriers’ area just minutes after the restart. Anderson’s effort was well hit and heading for the bottom corner but was saved well by ‘keeper Acquah.

Both sides made their first changes of the game six minutes into the second-half as the defensive minded Lewis Warnaby replaced midfielder Bailey Hamilton for the young Stags and Joseph Johnson replaced attacker Joshua Jackson for the visitors.

Full-back Elliot Hartmann, the 15-year-old, was also replaced by Tyler Whyle on 55 minutes. Regular starting left-back Darien Wauchope moved into his preferred position following the change after starting the game at centre-back.

Mansfield’s Kruszynski found himself with a couple of good opportunities couldn't convert any of his chances in the early stages of the second-half.

Today’s captain for the hosts, Taylor Anderson, had one of the best efforts of the game as the ball fell nicely for the full-back inside Huddersfield’s box but his shot went just wide of the post.

With 20 minutes left to play, Louis Bonser replaced Jakub Kruszynski as the Stags looked to inject new attacking energy into the game.

The amber and blue were rewarded for the change just minutes later as Bonser guided a brilliant header into the back of the visitors’ net to half the deficit.

Abdullah had a superb chance to level the game with eight minutes left to play as Anderson whipped the ball towards the front-post and the Mansfield striker looked certain to score the equalising goal, though his flick landed the wrong side of the post.

The home side piled on the pressure in the closing stages of the game but unfortunately couldn’t find the goal to bring them level.

MANSFIELD TOWN: Turner, Anderson, Whelan, Wauchope, Hartmann (Whyle 55), Carter, Flanagan, Hamilton (Warnaby 51), Kokkinos, Kruszynski (Bonser 70), Abdullah (Colton-Balogun 84)

UNUSED SUB: Leech

Huddersfield Town: Acquah, Mrisho, Weston, Parker, Sheppard, Helliwell, Sandah (Fletcher 62), Okuwa, Bakre, Jackson (Johnson 51), Sanusi

UNUSED SUBS: Hurl, Vost

REFEREE: Robert Pealing