mansfield town

Guiseley go into tomorrow's eagerly-anticipated FA Trophy clash with FC Halifax Town hoping to get a win to dedicate to their injury stricken teammate Anthony Lloyd. The 25 year-old Lloyd sustained a sickening injury in the dying minutes of Saturday's UniBond League game, at Kendal Town, and needed surgery to reconstruct his knee. The former Huddersfield Town full-back was an ever- present in the Guiseley side last season as they pushed for promotion through the play-offs.  

Blue Square Premier side Altrincham have signed striker John McAliskey from Witton Albion. The 25-year-old was was spotted by Alty when he turned out against them in the Cheshire Senior Cup. He has had spells in the Football League with Huddersfield and Mansfield Town, but was released by the Stags in March of this year. McAliskey has since had spent time with Alfreton Town, Salford City and Northwich Victoria.  

RYAN Williams believes the return of Louis Briscoe could not have come at a better time for Mansfield Town. The right-winger cum forward made his comeback from a knee problem with an impressive cameo substitute appearance in Tuesday night's FA Cup exit to Forest Green Rovers. It was Briscoe's first involvement since he sustained the injury falling down the stairs prior to last month's trip to Eastbourne Borough. Now, as the Sports make the return trip to Field Mill today, Briscoe is back in contention for a starting place.  

FLYING winger Ryan Williams firmly believes Mansfield Town can catch Blue Square Premier leaders Oxford and seal automatic promotion. The Field Mill club has reduced the gap on Oxford to seven points following their recent six game unbeaten run. And with confidence high in the camp Williams is hoping Stags can make good use of back-to-back home games and make further in-roads into that gap.

We cannot take our foot of the gas and ease off because we have Oxford in our sights   -Ryan Williams

 

Ben Austin insists spirits are still high at Eastbourne Borough despite the club's worst run of results for more than a decade. Borough travel to Mansfield Town tomorrow having taken just two points from their last seven games and boasting a solitary win in 11 Blue Square premier outings. They also crashed out of the FA Cup at the hands of Ryman premier division outfit Tooting and Mitcham to spark murmurs of discontent among the fans.  

FOREST Green boss Dave Hockaday has told his players to put cup dreams aside and re-focus on their league survival plight. Tomorrow Rovers faces a Blue Square Premier clash with Stevenage Borough (3pm). Tuesday night's 2-1 FA Cup triumph at Mansfield Town has restored a feel-good buzz to the New Lawn dressing room, and minds have inevitably drifted towards the second-round trip to Bath City and a possible shot at the big boys.  

MANSFIELD Town boss David Holdsworth has a selection headache ahead of Saturday's clash with Eastbourne with the possibility of three senior players being unavailable. Right-back Gary Silk is definitely out after picking up his fifth booking of the season in the FA Cup defeat to Forest Green on Tuesday. Right winger Jake Speight is a major doubt after picking up a knee injury against Rovers.  

Bath City boss Adie Britton will challenge his players to prove they are the best in the West when they take on local rivals Forest Green Rovers in a mouth-watering FA Cup tie. Rovers beat Mansfield Town 2-1 in a replay on Tuesday to set up a showdown with City at Twerton Park on Saturday week, ensuring one non- league club from the West Country will be joining the Premiership big guns in the third round. And Britton is determined it will be his team who progress, saying it is not just a place in the history books at stake but also local pride.  

Success in the FA Cup has already proved worthwhile for the Hatters who netted over £50,000 by beating Rochdale in their first round replay on Wednesday. Luton picked up £18,000 in prize money and were handed a further £34,000 for having their game screened live on ITV4. Director Stephen Browne said: "Your first priority is to get through the game and get a result, but the TV was the biggest part of that. For a club like Luton you do expect one or two cup runs in one of the cups and this is ...

We have received the all-clear from Calvin's surgeon for him to start playing again.   -Mick Jones

 

FORMER Sutton Town and Glapwell manager Les McJannet has been formally unveiled as a first team coach by Northern Counties East Premier Division high-fliers Rainworth MW after helping out in an unofficial capacity since the start of the season. The one-time Mansfield Town and Darlington defender was shown the door by UniBond League club Glapwell at the end of last season, despite guiding the Hall Corner club to the brink of the Division One South Play-offs in their first season at that level. McJannet had lead the Derbyshire side to promotion to the Unibond League the previous season.

Les is a terrific lad. He and we keep looking around to get him back into management because that's where he deserves to be, but in the meantime he is doing a job here and has committed himself to us for the time being.   -Rudy Funk