Second Half Treble Seals First Pre-Season Victory

Second half goals from Jacob Mellis and a brace from Lee Angol sealed the Stags first victory of pre-season against Bradford (Park Avenue) as preparations continued for the 2018/19 season.

Originally scheduled as a ‘Mansfield Town XI’ the Stags management decided on Monday they would send a first team, using the match as another opportunity to play a different team in each half, again incorporating four youngsters in the second half XI, which also included the transfer listed Paul Digby who did not travel to Portugal for the training camp.

An intense pre-season training day on Wednesday left the Stags finding it tough to get going in the first half but they did enjoy the better of the chances, Tyler Walker drew an easy save from the home keeper after a fluid bit of play, Mal Benning clipped one over the bar whilst Otis Khan came the closest, hitting the woodwork as the first forty-five minutes faded away.

After the break, the fresh legs stepped things up and Jacob Mellis broke the deadlock four minutes after the re-start following a well worked short corner routine. Lee Angol then doubled the Stags lead on 52 minutes as his right sided cross dropped into the net – Angol added his second with 11 minutes remaining from close range.

The Stags have three scheduled fixtures for Saturday, against Gainsborough Trinity, Hednesford Town and Retford United, boss David Flitcroft confirmed that senior players will be involved in the fixtures, but is yet to confirm where those players will be sent.

FULL TIME: Bradford (Park Avenue) 0-3 Stags

Stags First Half: Bobby Oljenik, Krystain Pearce ©, Matt Preston, Nathan Cameron [Trialist], Hayden White, Mal Benning, Alex MacDonald, Neal Bishop, Otis Khan, Tyler Walker, Craig Davies

Stags Second Half: Conrad Logan, Will Atkinson, Henri Wilder, Paul Digby, Lewis Gibbens, CJ Hamilton, Calum Butcher, Jacob Mellis, Omari Sterling-James (Nyle Blake 83), Lee Angol, Jordan Graham.