Retford United 1-9 Mansfield Town (Friendly) 13.07.2021

Nigel Clough’s Sky Bet League Two outfit, Mansfield Town, put in a commanding, first pre-season outing when away to lower league rivals, Retford United, racking up a more-than-comfortable 9-1 victory.

Naming a number of first-teamers, the Stags led 3-1 at the interval and pushed on afterwards, winning the majority of rebounds in home ‘keeper Tom Kay’s goalmouth to move out-of-sight with seemingly, some ease.

Retford though, they shouldn’t be too disheartened at the outcome, as over 500 spectators showed up at Cannon Park for this marquee, annual friendly encounter.

Both sides created opportunities in the opening exchanges, and it was to be nigh on twenty minutes in when the visitors struck first, Oli Hawkins with the opener with a 25-yarder into Kay’s top corner.

Within ten minutes, one had become three as first a corner was not dealt with fully, Stephen Quin supplying the finish via a deflection, and, on the half hour, Danny Johnson added the third, with his first of the evening; Stephen McLaughlin surging through on goal, releasing Johnson, who finishes from the left of the box.

The Badgers gave themselves something to cheer, and after several chances from Liam Frost went begging, when, five minutes before the break, they grabbed a much-welcomed, consolation effort; a free-kick was awarded and, direct from the resulting set-piece, Brandon Kane fired past Owen Mason in the visitors’ goal.

The hosts’ twitter-feed delightfully summed up the first half saying; “The Stags got three in quick succession but Kane pulls one back before the break to keep the Badgers alive.”

For all they were alive at the interval, the second period would see the Stags gallop out of sight, adding six further goals without reply.

A number of changes were made, including seven on the hour by the visitors when 4-1 to the good, and that was it.

Johnson would added his second within eight minutes of the restart, with an assist from substitute, Tyrese Sinclair, who, having come on himself at the start of the half, made a devastating impact, as did Jimmy Knowles and Nathan Caine.

Knowles would be first up, within five minutes of joining the fray, sliding home from close range for number five; the hosts Igor Mlynarski would show some deft skills to dance through the Stags, but his final effort was blocked and that man Sinclair, for the visitors, would rattle the woodwork from fully 35-yards out.

Into the final twenty, and another four goals were still to be registered, Caine grabbing his second on 72 minutes and, four minutes later a penalty from Caine was dispatched into Kay’s bottom left-hand corner – a second, devastating, ten-minute spell of the game was wrapped up in the 79 minute when Sinclair grabbed his second of the game, firing home from the edge of the box.

Mansfield completed the rout in the dying minutes when another rebound, following yet another save from Kay in the home goal, was finished by Caine, thus completing a devastating, second-half performance from the visitors.

Mansfield make the trip to Matlock Town for their second, pre-season friendly, this coming Friday evening, whilst Retford, this having been their fourth summer outing, travel to Swallownest on Saturday afternoon.

Starting XI’s

Retford United: Tom Kay, Stuart Ludlum, Tom Brook, Jay Paling, Danny Booth, Aaron Fell, Brandon Kane, Adam Daughtrey, Igor Mlynarski, Liam Frost, Mark West.

Mansfield Town: Owen Mason, Kellan Gordon, Rollin Menayese, Elliott Hewitt, Stephen McLaughlin, Ollie Clarke, Stephen Quinn, Harry  Charsley, George Lapslie, Oli Hawkins, Danny Johnson.

Venue: Cannon Park

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @mansfieldtown Stags too strong for non-league Retford.