MANSFIELD MATTERS:FOR THE FANS, BY THE FANS!
  • Home
  • 2022/23
  • MM Club Shop!
  • PODCAST
    • Series 1 (2017/18)
    • Series 2 (2018/19)
    • Series 3 (2019/20)
    • Series 4 (2020/21)
    • Series 5 (2021/22)
    • Stags Stories >
      • A Trip Down Memory Lane
      • Legends LIVE
  • Back In Time
    • Into The Unknown
    • The Conference Years >
      • Stags 2011-12 (Play-offs)
      • Stags 2012-13 (Champions) >
        • Audio Highlights
        • Reserves & Youth
        • Youth
      • 2011: When Dreams Came True
      • 2012: The Year Of The Stag
    • Stags 2013-14 (Football League Return)
    • Stags 2014-15
    • Stags 2017-18
    • Stags 2018-19
    • Stags 2019-20
    • Stags 2020-21
    • Stags 2021/22

Match Preview: Hednesford Town (A) Pre-Season Game #2

16/7/2012

3 Comments

 
Picture
Craig Priest looks ahead to tomorrow’s pre-season trip to Keys Park...

After a tight 1-0 victory over Evo-Stic Southern Premier side Leamington at the weekend it’s time to hit the road again as Paul Cox’s men travel to Northern Premier League outfit Hednesford Town.

Everyone has favourite clubs and favourite places to go, I have to say that despite only one trip to Keys Park, Hednesford is one of those clubs and grounds. Last year’s friendly gave such a vibe with friendly, helpful staff and a neat well kept stadium – I actually can’t wait to go again! Another reason for my excitement/ eagerness is the fact that I know Hednesford will be a real tough test for us and yet more lessons will be learned as we look to get the new intake of players gelled in with the remaining names from the last campaign.

On Saturday at Leamington it was a complete split between old players and new ones, mixed in together for 45 minutes apiece. Paul Cox, Adam Murray and Richard Cooper spent the whole game scribbling notes and will undoubtedly mix the pack again as they look to reinforce those weakening areas – something unachievable simply by picking the ‘best 11’ from the entire 90minutes but by letting the football dish out the lessons, coming up against a quick, intricate and physical team – feats which Hednesford have in their locker.
Picture
It was this fixture during last pre-season in which Paul Cox learned the most about his new set of players, a 3-2 victory for us was tighter than the scoreline suggests, Alan Marriott the hero in the last minute keeping out a ferocious long range effort from Chris Clements who, as we know, will be appearing for us in this year’s match. Yes I know your all shouting at your laptops right now ‘it’s a different team!!’ you’re quite right in most respects, my reflection of last year’s match comes from an event after the match as Paul Cox kept his side in the dressing room and read them the riot act and openly admitted doing so in the post match interview. The fact he did so highlighted that he took everything seriously and that we would not have a relaxed attitude against the so called lower ranked sides who in truth always pose the toughest test. That night at Hednesford stood us in good stead especially towards the latter end of the season when we needed results against a struggling Stockport, Kettering and Hayes & Yeading.

I hope that my comparison between the latter three clubs and Hednesford doesn’t seem disrespectful as it’s certainly not meant to be, Hednesford will always cause you problems and are always a well drilled side difficult to break down, you don’t get three consecutive play-off finishes for nothing, I just hope that this season they can take things one step further and grab promotion – last season’s defeat a bitter one at the hands of Bradford Park Avenue who we’re 5-0 victors.

Despite losing Chris Clements their leading goal scorer last term to us and young defender Cheyenne Dunkley to Kidderminster, Rob Smith has kept the core of his squad and his already seeing the results with two big pre-season wins, 5-2 and 5-1 respectively.

Picture
With Clements instrumental last season the Keys Park outfit had a strong campaign as mentioned last time out, finishing with 73 points in 5th place, knocking in 67 goals with a squad that barley rotated over the course of the season, Rob Smith’s side losing only nine matches last season.

It looks like Paul Cox has everyone bar Jake Speight and John Thompson to choose from tomorrow, this time next week I’m sure we’ll have seen everyone in action as the Stags, and the Mansfield Matters commentary team, are ready for three games in four days! Our shape, fitness, desire and togetherness will be tested during the course of what is a gruelling schedule, is it too much too soon or is it the best way to prepare for what will be a long, hard but hopefully successful season? Time will tell.

If you’re thinking of heading to Hednesford and want some additional information, click here to read the travel guide.


MATCH COVERAGE

Despite the problems we had on Saturday at Leamington I can (99%) assure you that we will be online for tomorrow night’s game, I’ve spent all day working on solutions whilst the station manager investigates our 3G stick problem.

Join myself and Wayne Briggs on 106.9FM and via MM-LIVE from 7pm for full match commentary, Interact via twitter @mtfcmatters and by texting 07982 865 624

The views expressed in this blog are those of the writer and not those of Mansfield Matters or its related organisations. To submit a piece, email mtfcmatters@gmail.com  
3 Comments
school games link
10/8/2012 12:47:05 am

i love Rob Smith !

Reply
dora games online link
18/9/2012 11:25:24 pm

This is a nice post in an interesting line of content. Thanks for sharing this article, great way of bring such topic to discussion.

Reply
live football stream link
3/10/2012 04:43:23 pm

I am hoping the same best work from you in the future as well.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    ABOUT MM-BLOG

    If you enjoy the Mansfield Matters Podcast, our Blog page is very similar - just in article form as team members share their views on matches and events! 

    Fancy submitting an article, DM us on Facebook/Twitter to get our attention, or email mtfcmatters@gmail.com (please note, this inbox isn't monitored often so it may take a while to get back to you) 

    Please read the disclaimer on the home page. 

    Categories

    All
    2011 12 Season Review
    2011-12 Season Review
    2013 14 Pre Season
    2013 14 Pre-Season
    2013/14 Season
    2014/15 Pre Season
    2014/15 Pre-Season
    201516 Seson
    2016 17
    2016-17
    2017 18
    2017-18
    2018 19
    2018 19 Pre Season
    2019 20
    2019-20
    2019 20 Pre Season
    2020 21
    2021 22
    2021 22 Pre Season
    Awards
    Capital One Cup
    Checkatrade Trophy
    Craig Priest
    EFL Cup (Carabao)
    EFL Trophy
    EFL Trophy (Leasing.com)
    EFL Trophy [Papa Johns]
    Fa Cup
    Farewell Matt Green
    Featured Bloggers
    Friendly
    Game Review
    Green Energy Challenge Trophy
    History
    Hot Topics
    Into The Unknown
    John Thompson
    Jpt
    Kirsty Swann
    League Cup
    Legends Live
    Manager Review
    Mansfield Matters Weekly
    Mark Plumb
    Match Preview
    Match Preview 2012 13
    Match Preview 2012-13
    Match Preview 2013 14
    Match Preview 2013-14
    Match Preview 2017 18
    Match Report
    Match Report 13 14
    Match Report 13-14
    Match Report 14 15
    Match Report 14-15
    Match Report 17 18
    Match Report 18 19
    Match Report 19 20
    Match Report 2012 13
    Match Report 2012-13
    Match Report 20 21
    Match Report 21 22
    Memory Lane
    Mid Season
    News
    Paul Cox 100
    Player Review
    Play Offs
    Play-Offs
    Play Offs [League Two]
    Podcast
    Pre-season1213
    Pre Season 17/18
    Reserve Team
    Rhys Day Testimonial
    Road Trips
    Season Review 2012 13
    Season Review 2012-13
    Sky Bet League Two
    Stags Stories
    Stags Youth
    Supporter Blog
    The Exhibition XIs
    Twelve Against Time
    Under 21s
    Wembley 2011
    Where Are They Now
    Your Views

    Archives

    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    January 2016
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    November 2011

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • 2022/23
  • MM Club Shop!
  • PODCAST
    • Series 1 (2017/18)
    • Series 2 (2018/19)
    • Series 3 (2019/20)
    • Series 4 (2020/21)
    • Series 5 (2021/22)
    • Stags Stories >
      • A Trip Down Memory Lane
      • Legends LIVE
  • Back In Time
    • Into The Unknown
    • The Conference Years >
      • Stags 2011-12 (Play-offs)
      • Stags 2012-13 (Champions) >
        • Audio Highlights
        • Reserves & Youth
        • Youth
      • 2011: When Dreams Came True
      • 2012: The Year Of The Stag
    • Stags 2013-14 (Football League Return)
    • Stags 2014-15
    • Stags 2017-18
    • Stags 2018-19
    • Stags 2019-20
    • Stags 2020-21
    • Stags 2021/22