Shock for Mansfield Town reserves as they throw away a 3-0 lead to crash at Scunthorpe

Mansfield Town reserves’ 100 per cent Central League (East Division) came to an abrupt halt as they wasted a 3-0 lead to lose 5-3 at Scunthorpe United.
Keiran Murtagh.Keiran Murtagh.
Keiran Murtagh.

Stags were 3-0 up inside 17 minutes at Glanford Park with Keiran Murtagh (pictured), Louis Briscoe and Lee Stevenson all finding the net in a superb first half showing.

The hosts pulled one back on 34 minutes through Hakeeb Adelakun, but Mansfield were still creating chances and looking comfortable winners.

However, it all went wrong in the last 20 minutes. Adelakun made it 3-2 before Godden put the Iron level from the penalty spot.

With seven minutes remaining the comeback was complete as Adelakun sealed his hat-trick and in added time Curtis Bateson raced through to make it 5-3.

“It was a surreal game,” said Stags boss Paul Cox. “We could have been five or six up by half-time, it wasn’t a bad performance.

“But the lads took their foot off the pedal against a very young, spirited side and when you do that it will come back to bite you.

“It was our first defeat and sometimes a short, sharp shock can do you good.”

STAGS: Deakin, Marsden, McCombe, Birch, Black, Briscoe, Stevenson, Murtagh, Meikle, Dyer, Speight.

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