Stags youngsters put six past Spireites

Dan Fletcher’s mesmeric hat-trick helped Mansfield’s youth team thump Chesterfield 6-1 on Thursday evening

His electrifying pace tormented the Spireites’ defence, and he was even on hand to provide an assist.

Defender Kyle Hempshall chalked up his first goals of the season, with a first half brace.

The young Stags asserted their dominance right from the off, as Fletcher began his assault on the score-sheet by waltzing past three defenders, and finishing with consummate class.

Hempshall registered his first of the night, pouncing from three yards after Chesterfield’s keeper spilled Chris Spencer’s long range free-kick.

Spencer himself should have scored soon afterwards, but missed a penalty. It didn’t prove to be any sort of let-off however, as Hempshall once again reacted from close range, finishing a Charlie Brownlie cross to make it 3-0.

It wasn’t all plain sailing for Mansfield though, who were indebted to their goalkeeper Harry Waldram. He denied Chesterfield a route back into the game with a stunning save from a free kick.

Into the second half, and the Stags remained relentless in their quest for more goals, and were treated to something special on the hour-mark. Dan Fletcher ran half the length of the pitch before cutting inside and arrowing his effort into the bottom corner.

Fletcher grabbed his third, and Mansfield’s fifth, with a bullet header from a Conor Green corner in the 72nd minute. The provider then became the scorer, as Green completed the rout to seal an emphatic victory.

The Stags would’ve been disappointed to not keep a clean sheet however, as Chesterfield converted a consolatory 87th minute penalty. Yet it was too little, too late for the Spireites.