Our youth team progressed into the next round of the FA Youth Cup, with a 6-2 victory at Stamford AFC tonight.

It was far from Stags' best performance of the season, but they did more than enough to get past a gritty Stamford side.

Mansfield started brightly, and within two minutes left winger Nick Langford broke free down the flank to cross for striker Grant Ryan, but his shot from inside the area flashed wide of the far post.

It was Billy Logan, already experiencing a good a run in front of goal from the previous two rounds, who opened the scoring.  Right back Rob Ludlum found the Kirkby-born striker eight yards from goal, and Logan did the rest with a blistering finish to give Stags the lead.

Less than five minutes later, the same player could have added to Stags' tally, but his point blank shot was well saved by the home 'keeper.

Nick Langford also had opportunities in front of goal, but his efforts were off target.

On the half an hour mark, Gant Ryan almost produced a sensational goal.  Following a pass by Tom Naylor, the 17 year old struck a thunderous first time volley from 25 yards which clipped the bar.

Stamford began to press and found their reward with ten minutes of the first half to go.  A ball from the by line was pulled back, and slammed home from eight yards.

Stags had to survive two subsequent scares and hung on until half time as the hosts grew in confidence.

But Mansfield entered with second period determined to score more goals, and they did exactly that. 

On 56, Tom Naylor's free kick, taken midway inside the home half, found captain Rob McCormick on the edge of the six yard box, and his bullet header beat the home goalie as Stags regained the lead.

Lewis Croucher then put the tie beyond doubt two minutes later.  Stags broke quickly through Conor Higginson from inside their own half, and the ball eventually fell to Nick Langford whose shot came back off the 'keeper, but Croucher was there to finish, with a little help from a home defender.

It was 4-1 with a quarter of the game remaining, and their fourth almost a carbon copy of Stags' second goal.  Naylor's free kick was headed home by Logan, as the home keeper came off the line to try and catch in vein.

With five minutes remaining, Grant Ryan added in the fifth following a route one ball by Croucher.  Ryan powering his way past two defenders to finish smartly.

But this was Logan's night.  As a cross came in from the right, he twisted and turned to find space and fired in a shot to bag his hat trick.

In the dying seconds, Stamford bagged a consolation goal, with an arrow-like finish from the edge of the area.  But it was too little, too late, as Stags marched into the next round.

Line up:  Herriott, Ludlum, McCormick, West, Turner, Langford, Higginson, Croucher, Naylor, Logan, Ryan

Used subs:  Atkin, Ioaunnou