Our magnificent young guns stretched their unbeaten league run to nine matches as they recorded a comfortable 4-1 win over Guiseley at Watnall Road earlier today.
In bizarre tropical conditions of snowstorms and sunshine, the Stags dominated throughout and scored three times in lightning-quick succession, close to half-time.
Ross Lamb headed home Joe Flint’s left-wing ball to break the deadlock, before Jack Hawkins added a second following Kurtis Turner’s charging run through the centre.
With our youngsters in cruise control, Turner also registered his name on the scoresheet prior to the break, by coolly latching onto Flint’s intelligent pass and slotting beyond Josh Clark.
Guiseley reduced arrears shortly after the re-start, as Jason Gregory was harshly judged to have fouled Luke Robinson inside the area, who duly slotted home the subsequent spot-kick.
The Stags should have been awarded a penalty of their own, when Callum Marshall’s blatant push on a clean-through Flint somehow went unnoticed by the officials.
But any lingering hopes Guiseley may have harboured were extinguished as talisman Flint expertly steered a 20-yard effort into the top corner on the hour-mark.
Our fabulous young guns remain at the Football Conference Youth Alliance (North Division) summit, six points above title-rivals Gateshead.
Stags: Hopkins, Coupe (Simpson), Birch, Gregory, Marsden, Turner (c), Thomas, Green (J. Jones), Hawkins, Lamb, Flint (Harris). Unused Subs: Fell, M. Jones.