Stags go down to local rivals in FCYA (Midland Division) clash.
Our youth team endured a disappointing afternoon as they succumbed to a 5-0 defeat to Ilkeston in the Football Conference Youth Alliance (Midland Division).
The Stags were 2-0 down at the break, then conceded a further three goals after the re-start to succumb to a heavy defeat, which realistically puts paid to their FCYA title hopes.
As the teams emerged onto the pitch, the heavens opened and the first half was played in wet and windy conditions with a bobbly pitch also making conditions extremely difficult.
Ilkeston, with the wind on their backs, adapted the better and enjoyed plenty of early possession and they made it count on the quarter-hour mark when Luis Rose let fly with a curling shot from the edge of the area, which was too much for Stags’ ‘keeper Adam Bishop.
Mansfield struggled to generate any real rhythm with too many passes going astray, but they almost got back on level terms on 25 minutes when George Holloway found himself in a one-on-one, but after rounding the ‘keeper, his effort was blocked on the line by a defender.
The miss proved costly as Ilkeston doubled their lead before the half-hour mark with Rose stabbing home his second goal of the afternoon at the back-post following a low left-wing cross.
The Stags responded with a few half-chances prior to the break.Â
Cameron Dear fired narrowly wide with a low and speculative attempt from 30 yards, whilst Liam Groves, playing in a more familiar outfield role following a brief cameo between the sticks at Solihull Moors last week, was also foiled on a couple of occasions, having broken into the area.
Mansfield had a couple of chances in quick succession immediately after the re-start as Denham Saxton saw a curling shot kept out, whilst Holloway then struck wide from the edge of the area.
However, Ilkeston counter-attacked and put the game beyond reasonable doubt a couple of minutes later with Melvin Adesida keeping his composure to slot past Bishop in a one-on-one.
From this point onwards, Ilkeston dominated and they added a fourth goal thanks to Tyler Johal just after the hour mark, before he wrapped things up with a 20-yard shot late on.
Team: Bishop, Gregory (Chavundura), Holmes, Gibson (C), Shelton, McLeod, Dear, Blake, Saxton (Punter), Holloway, Groves (Slade).
