Mansfield Town 2 Altrincham 0

FROM the balmy April weather to the relative apathy of supporters concerning the end result, this-end-of-term encounter had the feeling prior to kick-off of a pre-season friendly.

Yet, come full-time, a stirring Mansfield Town display had raised the interest level several notches.

For a start, the home fans were purring over the performance of some of the Mansfield youngsters.

Scott Garner was handed the captain's armband in the absence of Curtis Woodhouse, scored the opening goal and put in an excellent display.

Tom Naylor, just 17, was handed his debut by boss David Holdsworth alongside Garner – but you wouldn't have known it.

He put in a nerveless showing, was rock-solid and showed why he is so highly rated by his boss.

Then there was Curtis Shaw, who had waited patiently for his chance before starting for the first time at Woking on Saturday.

He was desperately unlucky not to score, showing an ability to bomb forward and worked just as hard on his defensive duties at the other end.

Next on the list was Ollie Hotchkiss, another teenager, whose range of passing was excellent, asking questions of the Altrincham defence time and again.

And let's not forget Nathan Arnold, who took his second half goal clinically and illustrated his talent with one of his best performances in a Mansfield shirt since Holdsworth took over.

The experienced players were no less impressive. Alan O'Hare filled in admirably for the injured Curtis Woodhouse (groin) at left-back, while Aaron O'Connor was a livewire up front in place of Louis Briscoe (ankle).

Ryan Williams supplied his usual array of dangerous crosses into the box, while Gary Silk needed no invitation to bomb on down the flank.

In short, it was a top-notch team performance that had the mouths of the Mansfield fans watering about the team's prospects for next season.

Yes, this game was a meaningless affair in the overall scheme of things. Yes, their opposition were no world-beaters. And yes, the Stags only managed two goals in the end.

But some of their football was a joy to watch – the most creative they have been going forward all season – and cannot do confidence any harm.

If Mansfield can combine the defensive grit they have shown in the early days of Holdsworth with attacking displays like this, they ought to be top 10 contenders at the very least next season.

After a quiet opening, the game suddenly sprang into life in the 10th minute, a fantastic pass from Hotchkiss releasing Arnold who advanced into the area before drilling a low, angled shot that Richard Acton did well to push around the post.

As Mansfield continued to enjoy the majority of possession and territory, Duffy beat Acton to Gary Silk's left-wing cross but the ball dropped wide.

Matt Doughty got in Altrincham's first shot on target from long range, but Jason White was always well behind it.

Mansfield may have had a penalty when the ball struck James Smith's hand from a Williams centre. It was reminiscent of how Garner conceded a spot kick in the Stags' game against Barrow.

The Stags should have gone in front in the 19th minute when Duffy and O'Connor combined to send Curtis Shaw racing clear, but his low shot was blocked by Acton's knees.

From the resulting corner, Michael Welch almost put through his own goal from point-blank range before Hotchkiss was superbly denied by Acton.

His 20-yard howitzer was heading for the top right-hand corner until Acton took off to claw the ball over.

But the hosts finally made the breakthrough just before the half hour with the bit of good fortune they had been seeking.

Hotchkiss' free-kick into the box resulted in a melee and the ball dropped kindly for Garner, who stabbed the ball home from six yards.

It should have been 2-0 soon after as Shaw won the ball and put O'Connor away but he delayed his shot for too long and his effort was blocked.

As the game restarted, Greg Young's last-ditch tackle foiled Duffy as he raced on to Arnold's through pass.

In the 49th minute, Arnold played the ball into Shaw whose shot on the turn was flicked over by the alert Acton.

But that was only delaying the inevitable as Arnold made it 2-0 on 52 minutes. He robbed Greg Yound and drilled the ball past Acton.

Hotchkiss was frustrated again by Acton before Anthony Danylyk crashed a rare Robins shot against the bar at the other end.

Alty rallied in the closing stages, but White produced a fine save to keep out Welsh's free-kick.

Come full time, Mansfield were applauded off the pitch by their followers – and deservedly so.