Shepshed 4-3 Stags

Shepshed put a halt to Mansfield's unbeaten pre-season run with a 4-3 victory at the Dovecote Stadium.

David Jervis' young guns came up against their toughest opponents so far and were chasing the game throughout

A strong Shepshed side started brightly, and created two good chances in the opening ten minutes.

Stags real first attack came on 12 minutes.  Flying winger Jamie McGhee started off Stags' counter attack after the home side lost possession from a corner.  He placed the ball through to trialist Tyron Amory, who in turn threaded Ryan Goward on the left, but his shot was blocked by the goalkeeper.  It was an impressive counter punch, which was delivered at break-neck speed.

Shepshed broke the deadlock on 18 after a well worked corner involving three players. 

Stags were back on terms less than 10 minutes later.  Amory used his strength in the middle of the park to win posession and put Goward in the clear once more - this time he made no mistake and rounded the keeper to score.

The home side then netted two in less than five minutes.  The first on 39 - Saunders placed the ball into the net with fine accuracy.  The second - a arrow-like shot from the right hand side of the area.

Half time:  Shepshed 3-1  Stags

Left back New Zealand trialist Ben Richardson was replaced at half time by second year scholar Ben Turner, and the defence seemed to tighten.  Jamie McGhee was also replaced.  The classy winger had been 'man handled' for most of the first half, and was twice warned by the referee as the tension between he and his left-back counter part reached boiling point.

Lewis Trimmer & Grant Ryan came on towards the end and bagged a goal each. 

The first came from Ryan on 85, after good work by Lewis Croucher in midfield.  Ryan was put in the clear and cut in between two defenders to slot home.  An excellent finish.

Shepshed bagged their fourth three minutes from time, and probably their best.  A beautiful volley by Stahlberger left O'Brian clutching at air. 

Full  time: Shepshed 4-3  Stags

Lewis Trimmer got his name on the scoresheet less than a minute later.  After a mazy run, Trimmer fired a shot past the diving 'keeper to reduce the deficit.

Line up:  O'Brian,  Richardson, McCormick, Naylor, Allsopp, McGhee, Croucher, Burrell, Goward, Hamed, Amory

Used subs:  Trimmer, Ryan, Turner