Las Vegas the reward for Stags

MANSFIELD Town have the added incentive of a trip to Las Vegas if they can knock Luton Town out of the FA Trophy and then win the competition, writes Mike Simmonds.

Stags chairman John Radford has taken a leaf out of Leyton Orient’s chairman Barry Hearn by offering his side an all expenses paid trip should they lift the trophy at Wembley.

The Field Mill outfit host Hatters on Sunday, before the return leg at Kenilworth Road the following Saturday, although they will have to do without on-loan Stoke City striker Louis Moult, who has scored twice in three starts so far.

The 18-year-old has a back injury and is expected to be replaced by Danny Mitchley, while former Hatter Adam Murray, now captain at Mansfield, isn’t allowed to play under the rules of his transfer earlier in the season.

Meanwhile, full back Dan Spence has labelled his side the underdogs for the two-legged clash with Luton, but remains confident of an upset.

He said: “An appearance for any club at Wembley is massive for any club, no matter what level you are at, which is what we have a chance of doing.

“I don’t know much about Luton – they are a team I have never come across in my relatively short career so far.

“But they have been in the league and they are doing well in the Blue Square Bet Premier this year and looking good for a play-off place.

“I’m sure I will be busier than I was on Tuesday against Chasetown and we will probably go in as underdogs.

“But I’m sure if the fans get behind us then we can get a decent result which will set it up nicely for the second leg.”

The absence of Murray will be keenly felt by Mansfield, but Spence is hoping they can come to terms with is.

He added: “It is a massive blow because Muzza is our captain and he’s been influential in all the games I’ve seen and been involved in, and probably those before that as well.

“But at the same time we have got plenty of people who can fill in, do a job and be just as strong.

“We certainly can’t afford to worry about it too much. We have to make sure we are strongly focused on what we have to do.”