Stags beaten in Portugal

Mansfield Town began their pre-season with a narrow 1-0 defeat in Portugal against Portuguese Primeira Liga outfit Vitória FC.

David Flitcroft included four youngsters within the squad which was split into two sides, playing a half each, as the integration between the senior side and academy continued.

Playing against Portuguese Primeira Liga outfit Vitória FC, Stags fans who made the journey over to Portugal for the conclusion of the week long training camp, got their first sight of new additions Matt Preston, Neal Bishop, Otis Khan, Craig Davies and Tyler Walker – plus trialist Nathan Cameron.

In a fairly balanced match the Stags were given a huge let off on 28 minutes when Conrad Logan conceded a penalty, which he watched the Vitoria forward blaze over the bar to the taunts of the travelling Mansfield fans.

Craig Davies forced a smart save at the other end from the Vitoria keeper in a fiery first half, but at the break the sides were level.

The strong challenges continued in the second half as Calum Butcher picked up a yellow card as the Stags gave away a number of free-kicks, from which they were punished on 77 minutes -after Jacob Mellis conceded a free-kick on the edge of the box.

The Stags had an opportunity to salvage a draw in the dying embers of the match as Mal Benning swung in a free kick, which the keeper collected to the sound of the full time whistle
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FULL TIME: Vitoria FC 1-0 Mansfield Town
Stags [First Half] 3-5-2 | Conrad Logan, Nathan Cameron [Trialist], Matt Preston, Henri Wilder, Neal Bishop, Alex MacDonald ©, Nyle Blake, Otis Khan, CJ Hamilton, Tyler Walker, Craig Davies.
Stags [Second Half] 3-5-2 | Bobby Oljenik, Hayden White, Krystian Pearce, Lewis Gibbens, Omari Sterling-James, Will Atkinson, Jacob Mellis, Calum Butcher, Mal Benning, Jordan Graham, Lee Angol