A young Mansfield Town under-21s side were beaten 3-1 by Derby County in a hard-fought Central League encounter at Derby County Training Centre on Tuesday afternoon.
Club captain Ollie Clarke played 62 minutes for Stags as the midfielder looks to enhance his match fitness following a calf injury sustained in pre-season.
Free-scoring Academy forward McKeal Abdullah provided a late consolation for Mansfield late on.
The League One side’s under-21s began the encounter in dominant fashion, taking the lead through Ben Radcliffe in the first minute. The Rams’ player reacted sharpest to rifle home as Stags failed to fully clear a corner in the opening exchanges.
In a confident mood following their early goal, the hosts came forward again on 14 minutes through winger Carlos Richards who delivered an inviting delivery across the box, narrowly evading a black and white touch.
On 21 minutes, Ollie Clarke found forward McKeal Abdullah with a threaded through pass on the left. The attacker fired towards the near post but shot-stopper Lewis Ridd palmed the strike clear round the post.
Six minutes later, Derby first-team midfielder Louie Sibley fired a free-kick over Louie Turner’s goal from 20 yards.
With three minutes to go until the interval, Stags looked to hit back and level the contest. Midfielder Finn Flanagan forced a corner on the right following some fine combination work with attacker Ronnie Kokkinos.
From the resulting set piece, Clarke - located on the edge of the Derby box - fired over the crossbar.
Despite Stags growing into the contest, Derby extended the lead a minute later.
Forward Owen Oseni coolly slotted past Turner on the counter to ensure the Rams ended the half with a two-goal cushion.
Mansfield began the second 45 in the ascendancy. Abdullah worked a yard of space in the box before firing a driven strike across goal and, ultimately, hitting the post.
A minute later, Flanagan received a headed pass from Clarke in the box, but Ridd was equal to the midfielder’s well-struck attempt.
On 50 minutes, Derby found a third through Oseni. The striker bagged his second of the afternoon with a drilled finish from inside the area.
Clarke was withdrawn on 62 minutes for versatile under-19s’ performer Louis Bonser. The Academy product slotted in at the left side of a midfield three in a like-for-like switch.
With Stags chasing the game, Derby continued to keep possession leading into the final 15 minutes.
Attacking midfielder Jakub Kruszynski weaved his way through challenges on the right before finding Flanagan in the middle. The midfielder looked destined to shoot at goal, but Bayo Fapetu dived in front of the effort to tackle and keep Derby’s clean sheet intact.
On 78 minutes, Stags made a defensive change. Cormac Maher replaced Taylor Anderson in the Mansfield backline.
Maher - brought on to showcase his defensive exploits - was soon involved in the attacking penalty area. A corner ball into the box was challenged for in the air by Maher before McKeal Abdullah clinically hooked home to get a goal back for Stags.
The hosts almost restored a three-goal advantage in stoppage time but for goalkeeper Louie Turner. The shot-stopper superbly tipped Oseni’s strike from close range away from danger as the game drew to an end.
On the encounter, Academy manager Richard Cooper said: “We tried to stay in the game - we certainly said that at half-time.
“It would’ve been interesting if Mikey’s [McKeal Abdullah’s] effort would’ve gone the other side of the post [at 2-0].
"The goals have probably just come at the wrong time for us today.
“We’re playing against a Derby County side with a large number of under-19s and scholars - it’s definitely a progression.”
DERBY: Ridd, Bardell, Radcliffe, Cox (Robinson 65'), Hawkins, D Robinson, Bates, Weston (Fapetu 65'), Sibley (Lindsay 46'), Richards (Scott 59'), Oseni
UNUSED SUB: Evans
STAGS: Turner, Anderson (Maher 78'), Wauchope, Flanagan, Whyle, Cooper, Carter, Clarke (Bonser 62'), Abdullah, Kruszynski, Kokkinos
UNUSED SUBS: Leech, Collins, Warnaby
