Academy Director John Ramshaw has hailed last night’s 6-1 victory over local rivals Chesterfield as a significant milestone in the development of our academy.
Striker Dan Fletcher netted a hat-trick, with Kyle Hempshall (2) and Conor Green also on the score-sheet, as our youngsters ran riot against the Spireites.
Every player that started for us in last night’s match was a first-year scholar, whilst Under 16s goalkeeper Adam Bishop also featured as a substitute for the final 20 minutes.
The victory rounds off a good recent run of form for our youth team, who proudly sit top of the FCYA (Midland Division) and H-K-L North Midlands’ League.
Reflecting on the encounter, Ramshaw said: “It was an excellent win and a great boost for the young kids who played.
“There are quite a few Mansfield boys involved in the Chesterfield youth set-up and the rivalry was quite intense last night, so it was great to come out on top.”
Our youth chief continued: “Everybody that saw the game remarked about the quality of football that was played by both teams.
“We began the game like an express train, were two goals up inside the first 10 minutes, and we built on our lead from that point onwards.
“We ran out as quite convincing winners in the end.”
Ramshaw also had words of encouragement for our Under 14s, 15s and 16s teams, whom have all enjoyed strong starts to their respective seasons.
He added: “[Our new youth set-up] is going fantastically well at the moment.
“The Under 16s are lying either second or third in their division, and the Under 15s are the same, but they have games in hand, which if they win will take them to the top.
“The Under 14s are making tremendous progress in the Nottinghamshire County Cup, but they play in an Under 15s league, and are just coming to terms with its physicality.
“I’ve watched them quite a few times and I’ve been very impressed both with the way that they play and the way that they pass the ball.
“So, all in all, I think the embryonic youth setup that we have here is making tremendous progress, so well done to everybody concerned.”
You can read a match report of last night's 6-1 demolition of Chesterfield by clicking here.