Friday 4th February 2011

Saturday, February 5th, 2011
FA Trophy, third round
MANSFIELD TOWN v ALFRETON TOWN
Kick-off 3pm at Field Mill

ALFRETON Town make the short journey over the Nottinghamshire border on Saturday to contest an intriguing-looking FA Carlsberg Trophy last 16 local derby at Blue Square Premier Division near-neighbours Mansfield Town.

It is a first ever competitive game between the sides with the previous clashes all having been friendlies, the latest of which saw the Stags triumph 3-1 at the Impact Arena a week before the season began on August 7th.

Reds manager Nicky Law has selection choices to make following the departure of captain Aden Flint with Paul Lister ineligible, Anthony Howell out serving the last of a three-game suspension and son Josh Law facing a late fitness test on a thigh strain.

However, the Reds boss looks certain to hand a debut to latest signing, goalkeeper Richard O'Donnel who joined the club on a month's loan from Sheffield Wednesday in midweek.

If Alfreton are to reach the last eight, they are almost certainly going to have to reproduce the form that got them through the last round when they excelled in the 6-3 second round replay victory at Cambridge United.

The Reds are still unbeaten in all competitions away from home this season with eight wins and one draw at Stalybridge Celtic in the FA Cup.

That fact alone should give them confidence for what looks a very difficult task at Field Mill and the Reds will go into the tie well rested having had 11 days off prior to the game.

Mansfield boss Duncan Russell has an almost full strength squad with just goalkeeper Alan Marriott and winger Adam Smith both missing out with groin injuries.

The Stags sit ninth in the division above Alfreton and will still have big hopes of landing a play-off place as they seek to regain their former Football League status.

However, on home turf this season, Mansfield have dropped more points (22) than they have picked up (20), losing six and drawing two games as well as winning the other six from 14 home outings so far.

Mansfield has recorded home wins against Forest Green Rovers (3-1), Cambridge United (1-0), York City (5-0), Eastbourne Borough (4-0), Hayes & Yeading (3-2) and Histon (1-0).

Honours have been shared twice at Field Mill with 1-1 draws against both Kettering Town and Darlington.

The Stags have suffered defeats against Tamworth (1-0), AFC Wimbledon
(5-2), Crawley Town (4-1), Altrincham (1-0), Fleetwood Town (5-2) and Wrexham (3-2) in their last outing last Saturday.

The Stags have kept 8 clean sheets from 31 games in all competitions and have also failed to hit the back of the net the same amount of times.

Goals have come regularly from the yellows with some big wins, but their inconsistency has shone throughout with some heavy defeats as well, both home and away.

Mansfield will be looking for a first win in three games while Alfreton will be looking to start another unbeaten run having their 14-game record ended in a 1-0 home defeat blip against Glapwell in the Derbyshire Senior Cup a week last Tuesday.

Top scorer for Mansfield is Paul Connor with 11 but goals have come from all over with 15 different scorers on target this season.

For Alfreton, Liam Hearn leads the way with 15 in all competitions followed by Paul Clayton on 14 and Nathan Arnold on 8. The Reds have had 16 different players on the scoresheet this season and one own goal.

If both are selected, there could well be a brotherly battle ensue with Alfreton's Jake Moult possibly facing his younger brother Louis. The 18-year-old striker joined Mansfield on a month's loan from Stoke City in midweek.

FORM BOOK OVER LAST TEN GAMES IN ALL COMPETITIONS
(Most recent first)
Mansfield Town L D W L W L L W D W
Alfreton Town L W D W W D W W W W

Mansfield Town's line-up in their last fixture, the 3-2 home defeat against Wrexham last Saturday was:
Neil Collett, Paul Stonehouse, Kevin Sandwith, Stephen Foster, Gary Silk, Ashley Cain, Tyrone Thompson, Adam Murray, Louis Briscoe, Paul Connor, Danny Mitchley.

Two players who have seen recent loan action with Alfreton Town, Tom Naylor and Steve Istead, were both unused substitutes.

Scorers were Paul Connor and Tyrone Thompson.

With around 900 Alfreton supporters expected to travel to Nottinghamshire, Field Mill should be host to a terrific atmosphere, and the away fans could well play a big part on the day if the Reds are to progress to the last eight of the competition.

RECENT STORIES

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