Duo star in reserves defeat   
Teamtalk

Trialists Raphael Jacquel and Dion Scott both impressed but Mansfield's reserves slipped to a 2-1 loss at Rochdale yesterday afternoon.
French striker Jacquel scored Stags' goal and linked well with Danny Bacon up front, while Walsall defender Scott had a fine game at the heart of the defence. But Rochdale levelled with a free kick and then, when keeper Michael Bingham sliced a last minute clearance from a backpass, the home side were gifted a winner. Stuart Watkiss said: "The French lad did very well and might have had a hat-trick. He was very similar to Danny Bacon - maybe too similar. "I would like to see him play again but he has had to go home to France today with family problems. "I also understand Scunthorpe and Rushden have already offered him contracts so we will have to see what happens. Also Dion Scott did ever so well at the back." Club captain and central defender Les Robinson came through an hour after his hamstring injury to put himself in contention for a recall for Saturday's crucial clash with Carlisle. Young midfielder Craig Disley also staked a firm claim with a sharp 70 minutes and Bacon and Dave Jervis both completed another 90 minutes after injury.    
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www.rochdaleafc.co.uk

Durkan At The Double  
A Kieron Durkan brace was good enough to give the reserve side a 2-1 victory over Mansfield Town at Accrington Stanley this afternoon.   It was a scrappy game, not helped by a hrad and bumpy surface.  Both teams struggled to control the ball and the passing, by both teams, was very poor.  To be fair, on chances, the Stags had the best of them and but for woeful finishing, they would have won this one easily.   It will be hoped, if miracles do happen, that Mansfield's finishing is a good on Saturday.   John Hollins was winging his way to Ireland to see his two International's Pat McCourt and Lee McEvilly and in his absence, David Hamilton took charge of the side.   A good selection of first team squad members were involved along with some of the youngsters, who played in the reserve game on Monday against Halifax.   Mansfield looked the more likely to score in the whole of the first half and Matthew Gilks was the busiest of the two keepers.  Gilks pulled a few quality stops out of his repertoire to keep the Stags at bay, but it was poor finishing that really let the visitors down.   It took a while for the first real effort on goal to come, around half an hour actually and surprisingly, it came from Mansfield.  Good work down the right and a cross into the mixer, brought out a fine one-handed save from Gilks.   Freshly signed pro Simon Grand's central defending was excellent.  He was vocal and his defending top notch.  Even when the youngster made a rare mistake, he quickly rectified the situation and got the ball back.  The first half just petered out and to be honest, it was a relief.   The second half could only get better and it did, a little.  Sadly it was for the visitors and again Gilks was on hand to deny them the opening goal.  Nathan Brookes looked a handful and only the close attention of Dean in the Mansfield defence extinguished the chances of the youngster.   With around 20 minutes to go Mansfield took the lead.  A deep cross from the right was smashed in from close range, this time Gilks had no chance.  The goal could have opened the floodgates for the visitors, but to the credit of Rochdale's players they fought back and got their just desserts.   It was keiron Durkan who levelled from a free kick just outside the area.  Durkan smashed the ball goalwards, through a weak wall and into the bottom corner.  Nathan Brookes had a good chance minutes later to make it two, but the ball just got away from him as he looked as though he may just nip in.   Mansfield's keeper Michael Bingham then gifted the game to dale after a bad kick, spun off his boot to Durkan stood on the edge of the box.  Durkan then volleyed the ball into the empty net, much to the embarrisment of the keeper.   This was Rochdale's last game of the season and they finish mid-table after spending a long time at the bottom, even though it was due to postponements mainly.  Best on show for Dale had to be Nathan Brookes and Simon Grand.  

Dale Team:  Gilks, L Duffy, Grand, Coleman, Warner, Flitcroft, Ware, Atkinson, Durkan, Brookes.