Inexperienced team heavily beaten in North-East.
A youthful reserve team endured a miserable afternoon in the North-East as they were defeated 8-0 by a much more experienced Hartlepool United team in the Final Third Development League (East Division).
The Pools fielded many players who have appeared regularly at first team level and were 6-0 up at half-time, before adding a further two goals in the second half.
Nicky Featherstone opened the scoring inside two minutes when he latched onto a through ball from Brad Walker and powered a shot past Stags’ custodian Frazer Hampson.
Jordan Jewson doubled Hartlepool’s lead, before Jack Blackford added a third goal on the quarter-hour mark.
The Pools soon went 4-0 up as Walker curled home an effort from 12 yards, following some good link up play between Jewson and Blackford.
Mansfield managed to keep Hartlepool at bay for the next quarter of an hour or so, but the hosts made it 5-0 thanks to another effort from the impressive Walker.
The experienced Darren Holden added his name to the score-sheet on 34 minutes when he latched onto a pass by a trialist and slotted the ball past Hampson.
After the re-start, Mansfield defended well, but they were unable to stop Hartlepool from adding two further goals by Skidmore and Jewson.
The Stags could have bagged a consolation goal with around 20 minutes remaining, but Joe Fitzpatrick saw a penalty kick saved by Jon Maxted.
For an up-to-date reserve team fixture list, click here.
