Goals from Craig Westcarr, Malvind Benning, Reggie Lambe and Adi Yussuf ensured a thoroughly deserved 4-1 win for Mansfield Town at Worksop Town.
Manager Adam Murray named a strong starting XI for the trip to Sandy Lane, with Brian Jensen making his first appearance for the club after his summer move from Crawley Town, while a potent partnership of Matt Green and Westcarr was named up front.
It couldn’t have been a better start for the Stags with Westcarr finding the back of the net inside the opening three minutes.
In fine form against Rainworth 10 days ago, the experienced forward was alert to the loose ball after the hosts failed to clear their lines from a corner, stabbing home with ease from five yards.
A perfect start on a delightful summer’s eve for Murray’s men, who dominated the opening passages of the game.
The pressure was taking its toll on the home side but Mansfield’s second of the evening right before half-time came through a huge slice of fortune, not that Malvind Benning will agree. After a neat one-two with Rose, Benning whipped in a cross which flew across goal towards the far post – ultimately nestling in the stanchion behind the left hand post for a spectacular goal.
The second half saw just one change to the Mansfield line up with Jensen being replaced by youth team ‘keeper Adam Bishop between the sticks, however it was the hosts who started the brighter of the two sides.
Worksop duo Adam Ward and James Cottingham both had chances to reduce the arrears during the opening five minutes of the half, with the former curling wide from inside the area; while the latter’s wayward strike didn’t trouble young Bishop.
With just over 10 minutes played of the second period, the hosts were back in the game through Connor Sellars. Tom Elliott robbed the defender a few yards adrift of the penalty are before slotting through the unmarked Sellars, who in turn coolly finished past the helpless Bishop and in to the back of the net.
Game truly on at Sandy Lane, with Murray deciding to retract Westcarr and Nathan Thomas in favor of Adi Yussuf and Lambe immediately after the goal.
With the changes coming thick and fast, Chris Beardsley replaced Green up front shortly after, with the front line completely changed from those who started the match.
With just over 10 minutes remaining and just one goal separating the two teams, Lambe ensured a slightly less tight finish to the game by notching the visitors third goal. Fouled just outside the box, Lambe picked himself up and bent his free-kick around the wall, evading the diving Kennedy and finding the bottom right hand corner.
With the light going and the floodlights in full force, Yussuf scored arguably the pick of the goals in terms of technique right on the full-time whistle, dancing past three players before sending a dipping shot across goal and in to the top left hand corner of the net.
The beautiful solo strike was the final act of the game, with the referee rounding off a both well attended and contested fixture at Sandy Lane.
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