Bradford led at half time thanks to Connor Morris’ deflected strike after 28 minutes and the Bantams added two more in the second half to seal the victory.  

Eliot Goldthorp scored directly from a corner five minutes into the second period before Daniel Francis dashed any hope of a fightback with 15 minutes left.  

The Bantams were denied a fourth late on by Stags’ ‘keeper Maison Campbell as he kept out Kian Scales’ late penalty.  

The hosts started strongly and could have taken the lead within five minutes. Campbell got across to claw Reece Staunton’s freekick out for a corner and from the resulting set piece Jorge Sikora headed over.  

Bradford went close again on nine minutes. Morris teed up Scales after a good passing move, but the midfielder could only fire over.  

The home side had a spring in their step and threatened once more on 11 minutes. Hayden Smethurst was next to try his luck and his dipping 25-yard effort brought the best save of the game from Campbell.  

Down the other end, the Stags responded through Bayliss, but his cross from the right was too high for Scott who couldn’t make a clean connection with the ball.  

The game began to settle after that, with a tough pitch and a high wind contributing towards a scrappy affair.  

Just when it looked like the visitors were gaining a foothold in the contest, Bradford took the lead through Morris.  

With 26 minutes on the clock, Nathan Saunders raced out to block Scales’ effort before the ball fell kindly to the forward, who found the net from the edge of the area with the help of an unfortunate deflection.  

On the half hour mark Nathan Caine could only direct Rio Molyneaux's cross straight at Tom Donaghy before the Stags’ best chance of the match.  

Ethan Hill charged forward through the middle and threaded the ball through to the striker from the right, but he lashed it over the bar from close range.  

It was proving to be a good spell for the amber and blue, as they looked to force an equaliser before the break. Shamar Lawson opted to shoot from range, but could only fire straight down the ‘keeper’s throat.  

The second half started in bizarre fashion, as straight from kick-off defender Staunton ambitiously tried to catch Campbell out with a chip. The Stags’ stopper was alert though, plucking the ball out of the air.  

The Bantams wouldn’t have to wait too long for their second though and it was through another unconventional route.  

Goldthorp deceived everyone as he curled the ball into the goal from the right corner flag to double the home side’s advantage.  

Five minutes after, Caine went close again. After some good play, the striker was picked out by a teammate and his fierce effort was met with a timely block by Staunton.  

The amber and blue were struggling to find their way past a resolute Bantams defence. Substitute Ryan Ingram was next to try his luck, this time it was Smethurst who got in the way.  

The Stags' hopes of a comeback were dashed 15 minutes from time. After pinball in the box, the ball eventually fell to Francis and the winger calmly tapped home to make it 3-0.  

Campbell was forced into action straight from the restart, getting down well to prevent Wood from adding his second of the game.  

In the last minute of normal time, Bradford were awarded a penalty when the referee judged that Kyle Tomlin had fouled a City player. Scales stepped up but saw his spot-kick well saved by Campbell.  

To their credit, Mansfield continued to press, and Jack Deakin almost marked his debut in style with a sublime effort from 25 yards, but Donaghy got across to tip it over the bar.  

The referee blew for fulltime shortly after, as the young guns fell to a defeat in West Yorkshire.  

STAGS XI: Campbell, Bayliss, Adams, Tomlin, Cooper (King 29’), Saunders, Molyneaux (Ingram 60’), Hill, Scott, Caine (Deakin 79’), Lawson (Fisher 53’).  

UNUSED SUBS: N/A

BRADFORD XI: Donaghy, Smethurst, Rowe, Goldthorp, Sikora, Staunton, Francis, Scales, Morris, Wood, Ripley.  

SUBS: Norman, Thewis, Sukiennicki, White, Palit.