Matt Rhead netted a brace as a Mansfield Town XI fought back to draw 5-5 with Carlton Town in a pulsating friendly at Stoke Lane last night.
Striker Alex Troke put The Millers ahead early on, but Ben Birch equalised on the quarter-hour mark with a bullet header from an Adam Murray free-kick.
Troke netted again on 38 minutes, but Carlton's lead was quickly extinguished thanks to Rhead's first of the match.
However, the hosts, who play in the Evo-Stik Division One (South) led 3-2 at the interval courtesy of Josh Thornton's near-post header.
Ruben Wiggins-Thomas struck just after the hour mark, before Danny Elliott looked to have sealed an impressive win for the hosts, when he made it 5-2.
However, Mansfield were not to be beaten as Junior Daniel's brilliant solo strike reduced the deficit to 5-3 with a quarter-of-an-hour left.
Substitute Trovarn Damar-Thomson added another moments later, before helping The Stags to complete the comeback by winning a penalty, which Rhead converted.
Team: Waldram, Simpson (Spencer), Gregory (Trialist), Birch, Marsden, Dyer, Murray (c), Stevenson, Daniel, Speight (Damar-Thomson), Rhead.
