Stags hunted down by goal-crazy Town
The young Town side stormed to a 12-0 victory.
As usual, the young Mariners started the match on the front foot, taking the match to their opponents.
Their slick passing football created early opportunities, but they found the Mansfield keeper in good form, saving point-blank efforts from Jordan Potts and Jack Stephenson.
The defence of Cameron Foster and Keelan Taylor looked confident and composed throughout, with the central midfield pairing of Jack Stephenson and Reece York in excellent form.
Wingers Jan Meiwald and Jordan Potts caused all sorts of problems for the Mansfield wide men.
Despite all their possession and pressure, the first period finished 0-0.
Town continued to keep the ball well and eventually took the lead when a defence-splitting Meiwald pass found Lawrence Burchell, and he finished well.
They extended their lead when cool play in midfield from trialist Alex Aldrich found Meiwald wide on the right and an inch-perfect delivery allowed Stephenson to slot coolly home.
This gave Town a 2-0 half-time lead.
As they continued to dominate, the goals flowed with two more from Burchell to give him his hat-trick, a second from Stephenson, two from Potts and further goals from York, Taylor, Meiwald, Nick Keast and Leo Kilday.
It was a real team effort and goalkeeper Adam Nadin kept his concentration throughout to keep his first clean sheet of the season.
Grimsby Town's Under-16s drew 2-2 with thier Mansfield counterparts.
Town opened with a strong wind at their backs and quickly tested the Mansfield keeper with Dayle Southwell and Shanks going close.
Mansfield should have opened the scoring when a through-ball left a one-on-one with keeper Higton, but the forward shot wide.
Town should have had a penalty when Southwell was tripped in the area, but claims were waved away.
However, Southwell soon put Town a goal up when he controlled a good pass from Freeman and rifled a shot into the net from 25 yards.
Town were playing well and should have gone into half-time more than goal to the good when Shanks missed a glorious opportunity.
Mansfield got into the game in the second half and Town had to defend well with Grant outstanding.
The equaliser came after a good move down the left. A low cross was well-finished.
The game went from end-to-end and Freeman should have put Town back in front when Southwell laid a simple chance on for him. Unbelievably, he missed from close range.
He made amends by putting Town in to the lead with a goal direct from a low corner, which deceived everyone.
With Town seemingly holding out comfortably, Mansfield equalised with the last kick of the game.
It was a good game in windy and heavy conditions, with good performances from Higton, Freeman, Southwell and Hansen.
Comment on this story