Stags come from behind to beat West Midlands opponents.
Our youth team maintained their 100% record in the Football Conference Youth Alliance (Midland Division) as they came from two goals behind to beat Chasetown, 3-2, at Kirklington Road.Things didn’t look good for the Stags early on as they fell behind when Brad Colson got between two defenders and slotted the ball beyond an on-rushing Frazer Hampson, after just nine minutes.
Ollie Roome and Anthony Dwyer had powerful efforts saved by the visiting custodian, before Chasetown doubled their lead courtesy of a finish by Frazer Ward.
It was a very disjointed performance by John Ramshaw’s team in the first half, but after the re-start, they showed exceptional character to turn things around.
The comeback started on the hour mark when Cameron Dear threaded a low pass through to Anthony Dwyer, who drilled the ball beyond past the ‘keeper at his left-hand post and into the net.
The Stags began to pile on the pressure and made it 2-2 on 65 minutes.
Skipper Rory Thomson’s long free-kick into the danger zone wasn’t dealt with and Roome was allowed time and space to drill a low ball through the area towards Gray, who couldn’t miss from a few yards out.
Looking refreshed and rejuvenated at being back on level terms, the resurgent Stags continued to attack and right-back Tom Slone, who overcame a nasty fall on his wrist early on, whistled a drive over the target, having caught a glimpse of goal inside the area.
Thomson was off-target with a drive from the edge of the area just a few minutes later, before Dwyer stepped up and drove a powerful free-kick high over the woodwork with a quarter-of-an-hour remaining.
Roome was also left frustrated as only the woodwork denied him a goal. The 17-year-old linked up with Dwyer, his strike-partner, and twisted turned his marker inside the area, but his low shot came back off the post and spun across the line, before being cleared away.
However, with just five minutes remaining, the Stags completed a remarkable turnaround to snatch the points. Roome squared a perfect ball for Walker, who emphatically beat a despondent ‘keeper with a top-corner finish.
