FA Youth Cup preview: Stags v Derby

8 November 2023

Mansfield Town under-18s face Derby County on Friday evening in the FA Youth Cup first round (7pm kick-off).

Stags drew 2-2 at home to Grimsby Town on Saturday. Midfielder Alfie King and forward McKeal Abdullah netted for the amber and blue.

Speaking to mansfieldtown.net, professional development phase lead coach Steve Chettle reflected on the contest.

“It was a really tough game and it was very competitive.

“We were fantastic for the first half an hour and played probably some of our best football of the season but two errors of judgement in the back four saw us go 2-1 down before half-time.

“In the second-half, it became a bit of an end-to-end game. McKeal, again, scored a goal to get us back to 2-2 and then it could have gone either way.

“We were pleased with a point after all of it.”

On the mood in the squad ahead of Friday’s FA Youth Cup first round fixture against Derby, the coach added: “They’re very excited.

“When the fixtures come out everybody looks for what the first round of the FA Youth Cup will be and it’s a big challenge for us.

“Derby County at home. There’s a lot of rivalry between Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. Some of our players have been at Derby before as kids so it should be a really good atmosphere.

“We’re really looking forward to it.”

The former Nottingham Forest defender went on to provide an insight into the advice he’ll give the young Stags ahead of the encounter.

“[I’ll be telling them to] Play with their heads and not let the emotions of the game get to them,” he said.

“Everybody realises it’s a big game – especially with it being at One Call Stadium.

“It’s special for them. They have got to make sure they’ll be mentally prepared and physically it will be tough as well because we’re playing against a Category 1 team.”

On some of the under-18s’ standout performers so far this season, he said: “[Midfielder] Ollie Taylor – who is a first-year scholar has trained with the first team already this year. His performances have been really consistent.

“Elliot Hartmann is another first-year who plays right-back who again has been consistent.

“We have then got our attacking midfield players, Ronnie Kokkinos and Alfie King, who have been training with the first team also.

“We have a good mix of first and second years and some really exciting, talented players to see. The manager [Nigel Clough] is aware of these players already and has involved them in first team training.

“It’s super exciting and we’re super excited for the game. We hope people come along to watch.”

The PDP lead coach provided an encouraging message to the supporters, and people interested in attending, ahead of the match.

“We try and play an attractive brand of football just as the manager does in the first team.

“We’re looking for the same things he’s looking for with dynamic and smart passing.

“The game gives a chance for people to come and see the next breed of Stags’ players so get yourself down.

“It’s an opportunity to try and make this a great night for our scholars.”

Tickets remain on sale for the encounter with blocks A-D of the Ian Greaves Stand lower tier open for Stags’ supporters.

Home tickets can be purchased online now at stagstickets.co.uk.

Away fans will be situated in blocks G and H of the same stand.

Ticket prices are as follows:

Adult: £3

Concessions (Under 18s & 65+): £1

Refreshment kiosks will also be available for all supporters.

Match Previews

Match Reports

FA Youth Cup report: Stags 0-2 Derby

5 Hours ago

Spirited Mansfield Town U18 bowed out of the FA Youth Cup as Derby County U18 scored in either half to progress into round two of the competition.

The Rams got off to a dream start inside the third minute, winning a penalty after Niall McAndrew was upended inside the box.

And Dajuane Brown made no mistake from the spot, blasting into the top left hand corner to give the visitors an early lead.

Derby continued to threaten and almost doubled their lead five minutes later when Brown struck the woodwork after a pull-back from the goal line.

The Rams burst forward in the 14^th minute and Cruz Allen managed to weave his way between two defenders to fire a shot which was well held by Stags’ goalkeeper Anthony Nunez.

At the other end, Mansfield left-back Harvey Scott saw his free-kick from the edge of the box headed clear.

On 26 minutes, Derby’s McAndrew embarked on a mazy run into the penalty area before planting his strike into the side netting.

Just beyond the half-hour mark, Rams’ captain Keilen Robinson lashed a half-volley over the bar from 20 yards.

Stags’ striker Dan Organ was shown the game’s first yellow card on 42 minutes for pulling back Derby defender Fred Perry.

On the stroke of half-time, Elliot Hartmann made an inch-perfect challenge inside the home box to prevent an opening for the visitors.

In the last action of the first period, Nunez was well behind Cruz Allen’s thunderous 35-yard free-kick.

Two minutes after the break, Nunez kept out Allen again, this time with a fine save to beat away the frontman’s right-footed hit from 12 yards.

Derby should have doubled their lead when Brown took a neat touch inside the area before lashing wide.

The Rams’ Owen Eames was booked for a push on Ollie Taylor as the midfielder looked to dart forward.

Nunez was again called upon to gather McAndrew’s side-footed attempt from the left of the goal area.

Resillient Stags managed to prevent Nunez from being tested on 69 minutes when Derby stabbed a shot at goal from close range, but a cluster of amber and blue shirts got in the way of the effort.

With 12 minutes remaining, Allen blasted over 20 yards from goal before Mansfield made another change as Che Whitman-Brown replaced Mace Oldershaw.

Stags came mightly close to an equaliser a minute later as Derby goalkeeper Jack Thompson produced an excellent one-handed save to deny Ronnie Kokkinos’ powerful drive.

On 87 minutes, Allen broke clear of the Stags’ defence but directed his shot past the post after advancing one-on-one with Nunez.

And Derby made sure of the victory in the first minute of added time when Tristan Gill arrowed a left-footed effort into the right-hand corner of the net to seal the Rams’ passage into the next round.

STAGS: Nunez, Scott, Hartmann, Whyle, Warnaby, Oldershaw (Whitman-Brown 82), King, Taylor, Organ (Aynsley-Johnson 55), Kokkinos, Johnson (Hamilton 55)

UNUSED SUBS: Leech, Ellis, Scott, Spinks

DERBY: Thompson, Perry (Osayanoe 85), Gill, Hawkins, Cox, Robinson, Osong (Gough H/T), Fames, Brown (Wheeldon 58), Allen, McAndrew

UNUSED SUBS: Price, Oguntolu, Banks, Simons
REFEREE: Haydn Lavender

ATTENDANCE: 678 (123 Derby supporters)

Match Reports