Two goals in the opening 10 minutes of the game paved the way for Grantham’s win over a mixed Mansfield side which contained a number of under 21 players with some older trialists.

Grantham began the game at a high tempo pushing Mansfield back from the off and went ahead after just 4 minutes when Danny Durkin got onto the end of a ball over the top to lob over young Mansfield keeper Alex Roughton to put Grantham ahead. Three minutes later it was two when Jamie McGhee cut across the pitch to fire home a great strike into the top corner from 30 yards. Mansfield had a chance on 10 minutes when Josua Cook met a cross at the far post but his shot was comfortably saved by Jake Turner. Grantham continued to take the game to Mansfield but shots from Jack Beckett and Jamie MCGhee both cleared Roughton’s crossbar as did a strike at the other end from Mansfield’s Tyler Blake. A run the length of the pitch on the half hour by McGhee was followed by an exchange of passes with Danny Durkin before Ryan Grant got a head to McGhee’s cross but his header passed narrowly over. Danny Meadows had a shot saved by Roughton before on 37 minutes he played in Grant Ryan and the Grantham striker made no mistake to put Grantham three up at half time.

Grantham introduced Ben Saunders, Lee Shaw, Luke Shaw and Curtis Burrows for Jack Beckett, Danny Meadows, Grant Ryan and Jamie McGhee at half time. Mansfield also made a number of changes but the names of their subs were not listed. A multi passing move in the box involving Ben Saunders, Curtis Burrows and Lee Shaw saw Shaw bring a save from Roughton om 54 minutes. Grantham thought they could have had a penalty on 58 minutes when Lee Shaw went down under a challenge but referee Mr Chester didn’t agree. Mansfield began to come more into the game and Lewis Carr produced a good block in the box on 64 minutes as the Stags threatened. Grantham introduced Sam Hankin for the impressive Danny Durkin on 67 minutes. Lee Shaw brought a good save at his near post from Roughton on 68 minutes and the keeper did well to save Hankin’s header under the bar 5 minutes later. Mansfield who had begun to show more as an attacking force pulled a goal back on 74 minutes when one of their un named subs found room in the box to beat Turner at his near post. Grantham returned to the attack and Ben Saunders got round the keeper on 75 minutes but a Mansfield defender got back to clear his shot. Grantham should have added a fourth goal on 78 minutes when Luke Shaw was brought down in the box and this time Mr Chester pointed to the spot. Shaw got up to take the penalty but his strike narrowly cleared the crossbar and the game ended with a 3-1 win for the Gingerbreads.

Grantham

J Turner, S Purcicoe, E Storey, L Carr, S Galinski, J Beckett, D Meadows, M Hollingsworth, G Ryan, D Durkin, J McGhee

Substitutes all used – B Saunders, Lee Shaw, Luke Shaw, C Burrows, A Kirby, S Hankin

Mansfield

A Roughton, A Porritt, O Humphrey, J Fitzpatrick, D Ricketts, J Carta, C Healey E Samba, T Blake, A George, J Cook

Substitutes – Not named

Ref Mr M Chester