Mansfield Town 5 Halifax Town 1

Blake 5, Greenacre 15, 71, 88, Williams 84

Fitzpatrick 33

By Martin Shaw at Field Mill

Att. 2,397

This was another all-action encounter at the new look Field Mill. After the scintillating, but ultimately frustrating, 4-4 draw with Macclesfield, this game provided another 6 goals, but fortunately on the occasion it was Stags scoring the majority. However, one should not be fooled by the scoreline and in truth, 5-1 was a harsh scoreline for the Yorkshire visitors. Chris Greenacre produced a memorable display and capped it with his first ever hat-trick to take his season`s tally to six and leave him out in front in the Division III goal scoring list. Stags are now the Division`s top goalscorers with 14 from 6 games, 2 more than leaders Chesterfield. In fact only Walsall, with 15 from 6 games, have scored more goals than Stags in any of the four divisions.

With Ian Bowling suffering from broken toes, Bobby Mimms retained his place in goal after two impressive clean sheets. There was a place on the substitute`s bench for goalkeeper Kevin Pilkington who had been on trial at Field Mill in pre-season and starred in the friendly at Matlock. Jon Fortune returned to the side in place of John Andrews and striker Danny Bacon replaced suspended midfielder Darrell Clarke, as Stags reverted to two up front in a bid to claim their first league win of the season and indeed their first league win since March. Halifax included former Notts County striker Gary Jones, who pipped Stags` striker Steve Whitehall to the Division III Golden Boot three years ago.

Stags opened the game kicking towards a surprisingly largely empty Quarry Lane stand and were ahead as early as the 5^th minute. Lee Williams produced a perfect cross from the right wing that was met with a header from Mark Blake that looped over Halifax keeper Lee Butler into the top of the net. Stags were already playing some wonderful football and after Chris Greenacre had been unlucky to have an effort blocked, it was Greenacre who put the Stags two ahead on 15 minutes. Following good play from Danny Bacon, Greenacre found himself unmarked 12 yards out and he lashed a left-footed drive under the keeper into the net. Stags continued to pour forward and I was dreaming of a cricket score but midway through the first half, the balance of the game changed in dramatic fashion.

From being completely under the cosh, Halifax took control of the remainder of the first half and after Gary Jones had missed an absolute sitter when unmarked from 10 yards and then headed against the bar from a corner, it was no surprise when they pulled it back to 2-1. With Stuart Hicks off the field receiving attention from Barry Statham, and following sloppy play from Bacon and Robinson, former Shrewsbury striker Steve Kerrigan crossed from the right and the unmarked Ian Fitzpatrick could not miss from two yards out.

Half-time 2-1

At half time, I really feared that Stags were about to blow their chance of victory. And for the first 25 minutes of the 2^nd half, the home side lived on their nerves as Halifax dominated possession without creating many clear-cut chances. But it all changed on 70 minutes when, against the run of play, Greenacre made it 3-1. Lee Williams played the ball across the face of the goal for an unmarked Greenacre who could not miss from one yard … though he nearly did, as his left-footed shot was slightly miscued and only just crept inside the left post. This goal completely changed the complexion of the game as Stags ran riot in the final 20 minutes. Greenacre was denied a blatant penalty when he bamboozled Halifax defender Clarke on the bye-line, ran into the box and was clearly tripped from behind but amazingly, the referee waved play on.

On 84 minutes, Greenacre shot from 12 yards which the keeper did well to parry but the rebound fell to Lee Williams who gleefully side-footed the ball under the keeper into the net. Four minutes later, Michael Boulding ran at the defence and his great shot from 18 yards was parried by the keeper. Lee Williams picked up the loose ball and played it into the centre where an unmarked Greenacre lashed it into the net. Halifax were now on the ropes and Boulding missed a golded opportunity to make it six on 90 minutes as he again ran at the Halifax defence and seemed certain to score but his shot from 15 yards was deflected just wide by the Halifax keeper.

So, Mansfield collected their first league win of the season, indeed their first league win since March with another Jekyll and Hyde performance. Stags were quite simply breathtaking for the first 25 and last 20 minutes, but for the 45 minutes in-between, looked extremely vulnerable and barely capable of holding the ball in midfield. Chris Greenacre provided a quite simply outstanding performance leading the attack and aside from his hat-trick, was unlucky not to score 3 or 4 more goals. There were also notable performances from Lee Williams, seemingly relishing the role pushing further forward, and Danny Bacon who once again looked an outstanding prospect when given a rare opportunity. In a post match interview, Stags` assistant boss Mark Kearney indicated that Bacon`s opportunities could be few and far between. But further performances like this will make it impossible for him to be dropped even when expensive signing Shayne Bradley returns from injury. Michael Boulding also looked extremely sharp coming on as a late substitute for Bacon. In midfield, there were good performances from Mark Blake and Bobby Hassell whilst Wayne Corden failed to make much of an impact on the game. At the back, Stuart Hicks was in commanding form but Jon Fortune looked a little rusty and needs more games to settle into the side and show his undoubted class. Les Robinson was praised after the game by Kearney for his role as sweeper. However I feel he may be more effective at right back or in midfield. Jamie Lomas had a promising game at right wing-back linking well with the impressive Williams. Bobby Mimms looked extremely secure in goal and provided the assurance from crosses that Stags had been lacking early in the season.

An excellent result for the Stags and they must look to build on this at home to Hull on Tuesday night. Like Halifax, Hull have failed to register a league win this season.

Man of the match: Chris Greenacre

Mimms 7 Fine handling and one excellent punch clear from a dangerous cross

Lomas 7 Linked well with Williams

Robinson 6 Praised by Kearney for his role as sweeper

Hicks 8 Commanding performance

Fortune 6 Looks a little rusty but will certainly improve

Williams 8 Involved in most of Stags` attacks. His best performance for some time

Blake 7 Terrier-like in midfield

Hassell 7 Highly committed in midfield

Corden 6 Did not really get into the game

Greenacre 9 Simply outstanding

Bacon 7 Formed a good partnership with Greenacre

Subs:

Boulding (for Bacon, 71 mins) 7 Looked very sharp and nearly scored on 2 occasions

Jervis (for Hicks, 84 mins) 6

Williamson (for Williams, 88 mins) 6

Not used: Pilkington, Asher.