CATLING’S CORNER MANSFIELD TOWN BLOG: Excitement builds as new season looms

Chris Beardsley - Pic By James Williamson

We started this week with a trip to Basford, with Adam Murray saying that he wanted the younger lads to play in this game, we ended up with a 2-1 win.

With young professionals and youth team players playing in this game it gave them good experience to play against the men. Dan Fletcher scored his first goal of pre-season in this game which like any striker will do him the world of good.

On Thursday we then went to Shirebrook. I must admit I was quiet disappointed in this game as I was expecting the same team as Tuesday but got the youth team and, no disrespect whatsoever to them, but they were never going to beat them. It really was men v boys in this game.

I didn’t rate Shirebrook too highly, and if the team that played on the Tuesday played in this game I’d have expected them to win this match as well.

Looking back through pre-season and the best team I’ve seen us come up against, barring MK Dons and Leicester was Worksop. I thought Worksop played some really good stuff and gave us the best test this pre-season.

I then heard Friday that the first team had played a behind closed doors game against West Brom reserves with the Stags winning 2-0 with goals from Chris Beardsley (hurray) and Adi Yussuf. Yussuf hopefully will be playing next Tuesday against Heanor in our last pre-season game as this could show us which team could start the season on Saturday against Carlisle.

This Saturday our youth team also beat Wolves, so obviously them playing against Shirebrook on the Thursday was good for them.

Just for a change in my blog I’m going to ask a question to everyone and feel free to reply.

If we were to buy one or two more players, who would they be and what positions would they be in?

I really hope I’m sat here next week smiling with three points in the bag and fans being really optimistic going into the Sheffield Wednesday game.

Wait a minute, that might be me dreaming but come on let it come true.

So come on Adam Murray’s Barmy Army and COYS.