Youngsters Caine, Sinclair and Knowles shine as Mansfield Town breeze past Retford United in convincing fashion

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The Stags started their pre-season campaign with an emphatic 9-1 victory over Retford United as the players were able to get valuable game time under their belt.

Nigel Clough named a 21-man squad that travelled to Cannon Park for the encounter against Retford United, but a few players such as James Perch, Ferrand Rawson, George Maris, George Shelvey, Jason Law, Ryan Burke and Jordan Bowery did not travel for the game.

This allowed Nathan Caine, George Cooper and Ethan Hill to gain a spot into the side and to experience what it is like being in and around the first-team environment.

The first glimpse of class from the Stags came inside the first two minutes. Stephen McLaughlin did well to deliver the ball into the box, but Harry Charlsey failed to keep his header down as it flew over the goal.

Retford had an attack of their own in the fifth minute. Liam Frost was able to break through, but unfortunately for him, he dragged his effort wide.

It took Mansfield Town 20 minutes to break the deadlock, and it was some strike to open the scoring. Oli Hawkins was able to take a touch and curl a fantastic effort into the top corner from 25 yards that gave the amber and blues the lead.

Stephen Quinn doubled that lead only four minutes later. The hosts cleared the ball only as far as the midfielder, who saw his deflected shot go into the back of the net.

Another signing got in on the act on the half-hour mark. McLaughlin made another surging run with his ball finding Danny Johnson with the forward scoring to make it 3-0 in the Stags favour.

The Badgers pulled one back with five minutes to go in the first half from a free kick. Brandon Kane stepped up to take it and he placed his shot well into the bottom corner to reduce the deficit for Retford.

Bad luck struck just before the half-time interval as goalscorer of the second goal, Stephen Quinn, was forced to leave the pitch with what looked to be some sort of knee/calf injury.

Johnson scored his second of the game in the 57th minute as a lovely assist from Tyrese Sinclair saw Stags’ number 11 make it 4-1 for Mansfield Town.

A whole host of substitutes were introduced on the hour mark as James Clarke, George Cooper, Jaden Charles, Jimmy Knowles, Nathan Caine, Ethan Hill, Corey O’Keeand a trialist were given the final half-hour to impress and express themselves in front of the first-team manager Nigel Clough.

Youngster Knowles made his stamp on the game as he went on to make it 5-1 for the Stags with a good finish from close range.

A combination between Sinclair, Knowles and Caine saw the latter finish the move to make it six with the amber and blues firmly in control of the match.

Mansfield were awarded a penalty in the 77th minute as Knowles was bundled over inside the box. Sinclair and Knowles deliberated on who should take the penalty, but it was the former who stepped up and made no mistake from 12 yards to make it 7-1.

Sinclair scored his second three minutes later as Hill played a ball into his feet for the forward to calmly finish from the edge of the box.

In the 89th minute, the final goal of the game was scored by Nathan Caine. Tom Kay saved Knowles’ initial effort with the youngster firing in the rebound.

The game, first and foremost, allowed the first-team squad and a few members of the under-18’s squad to get a runaround and get minutes under their belt.

It also allowed Nigel Clough to look at the youngsters especially Caine and Knowles to see what the attacking duo are about and how they could be integrated into the senior team.

New signings Hawkins and Johnson also impressed as they chipped in with three goals between them showing early signs of their goalscoring abilities.

Next up for the Stags, they travel to Derbyshire to face Northern Premier League side Matlock Town as the amber and blues look to continue their winning start in pre-season.

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