Chad Stags ratings from Mickleover friendly

The Stags went with a rookie defence against a very good Evo-Stick NPL Premier Division side and the youngsters were given a very stark lesson in the difference between youth football and men’s football.

The new Stags’ U21 side will offer them a better stepping stone than this as they endured a torrid evening at times.

But they worked manfully and, with the rock that is Brian Jensen behind them and players like Adam Chapman and Jamie McGuire helping out, Stags conceded only once.

At the other end Adi Yussuf and second half sub, first team coach Karl Hawley, combined well and could have ended up with four goals between them on another night.

Click HERE to read match report

Click HERE to read boss Adam Murray’s reaction

STAGS STARTING XI

Brian Jensen 8 – Made two or three excellent saves and was a rock of calm behind a very young defence. He could do nothing about the well placed finish by Adam Baskerville for the goal and his only other sticky moment was being beaten to a near post cross by the head of an opponent, the ball going wide.

Teddy Bloor 5 – Got stuck in but hard going against some excellent Mickleover inter-play.

Corbin Shires 6 – With fractionally more experience then the other three defenders, much responsibility fell on Shires’ young shoulders. It was hard work but the giant centre half got his head onto some of Sports’ forward balls and wasn’t afraid to try some ambitious passes out of defence.

Keiran Harrison 5 - Threw himself at everything he could but a tough evening of hard work.

Louis Danquah 5 – Danquah had an excellent game at Clipstone, but at this level he looked more inexperienced and was stretched at times.

Jamie McGuire 6 – As usual gave his all and worked his socks off as the father figure of the team. However, a silly two-footed tackle in the second half would have seen a card produced when the League starts, and probably a red one.

Adam Chapman 6 – Worked hard on the night but not a surface suited to his accurate passing style. Needed the 90 minutes for his fitness bank.

James Baxendale 6 – Playing just behind the striker, he was involved in Stags’ best moments of the first half but rarely had the chance to run at players as he likes to do.

CJ Hamilton 7 – If Adam Murray can harness this man’s speed and have an end product, Stags will have a hell of a player. Goes like the wind with space to run, but occasionally over-runs it or shows too much of the ball to opponents. But he did manage to get in three or four great balls last night and stake his claim for Newport.

Adi Yussuf 7 – Still a frustrating player, out of the game for periods, but last night, especially after half-time, he scared the life out of Mickleover and struck a post, forced a good save and put other chances wide. As Murray says, Yussuf always looked likely to score.

Jason Law 6 – No doubt buzzing from his goal at Carlton, striker Law played a deeper role on the right of midfield and worked hard, showing good strength for his age.

SUBS

Karl Hawley (HT sub for Law) 7 – Hawley is still short of full fitness and needs to keep it topped up in case he is needed. But the veteran coach twice almost scored and brought others into play with his intelligent passing and running.

CHAD STAGS MAN OF THE MATCH: Brian Jensen.