Fresh from a two-week break, Mansfield Town’s under-18s travel to Northamptonshire on Thursday, to take on Bugbrooke St. Michaels in the first round of the FA Youth Cup.
The Badgers compete in the Northamptonshire Senior Youth League South, and currently find themselves in fifth position with two wins and two draws from four games.
The Northamptonshire outfit last played a competitive fixture in late October, when they ran out 7-0 winners against the lowly Eynesbury Rovers, with Munashe Tichawona bagging a hat-trick.
Mansfield's youngsters come into the game after a narrow 2-0 loss to Grimsby Town, and the young guns will be looking to build on some promising performances in the last few weeks, including a thrilling encounter against Lincoln City which saw striker Jack Deakin notch a hat-trick of his own.
The Stags made it to Round Four of last season's competition, and were eliminated by Premier League Burnley after a thrilling opening three matches.
Mansfield saw off the likes of Doncaster Rovers, Rotherham United and Queens Park Rangers before the Clarets ran out 3-0 winners at One Call Stadium.
A win for the Stags in Thursday's game will see them take on Burton Albion under-18s in Round Two.
Thursday’s match kicks off at 7:45pm at The Sett stadium in Bugbrooke, although visiting spectators are not permitted to the fixture.
