The battle of the MTFC went the way of Mansfield Town after a disappointing display by the Silkmen from the first whistle to the last.

There was just one change for the Silkmen when the team was announced and that saw Jamie Tolley making his first appearance of the season, coming in for the suspended Terry Dunfield.

The game came to life with only six minutes on the clock when the home side took the lead, after Luke Dimech give a away a free kick. The ball was played into the area by Dan Martin and after it was not cleared fully found Matthew Hamshaw. The midfielder's shot was well saved by Tommy Lee but the ball bounced up and it was the Stags centre forward Simon Brown who reacted quickest to head the ball over a stranded Lee.

The Silkmen were shocked to be losing so early on and their usual passing game was missing, the home side's back line coming under little pressure. The Silkmen did however have the first corner of the game after good work down the right from Levi Reid and Carl Regan, the latter's cross blocked by the defender. But the resultant short corner came to nothing and was cleared by the home side.

Two minutes later the Silkmen had Lee to thank when poor defending let Michael Boulding in but the ball got stuck at his feet. He was able to get a shot away but Lee did well and the ball was cleared only Tolley to give away a needless free kick 30 yards from goal. The free kick was taken and looked to be going wide but got a deflection; wrong footing Lee who watched the ball hit the top of the bar. Lee got across the goal to collect the ball on the way down but he was only able to push the ball into the path Brown who had the simple task to head the ball over the line for his second goal of the game.

The home side added a third two minutes later when a pin point ball from Matthew Hamshaw on the right went over the top the Silkmen back four finding Nathan Arnold who calmly slotted home for 12 yards out. The Silkmen looked at six and sevens and it was no surprise when the home side added a fourth.

Before the Silkmen could get hold of the ball, full back Gareth Jelleymen was able to find Simon Brown who chipped the ball over the on rushing Lee and into an empty net for his 14 minute hat-trick.

With the game over as a contest the Silkmen struggled to make any impact having their first shot with half an hour gone, but Francis Green's shot was easy for Carl Muggleton in the Mansfield goal to deal with. Green had a another attempt a few minutes later but again failed to trouble Muggleton.

It could have been five before half time when a corner was played towards the back post finding unmarked Jake Buxton whose header was well saved on the line by Lee who was able to punch the ball clear.

The Silkmen had one last chance before half time when a ball from Kevin McIntyre found Green whose cheeky flick nearly beat Muggleton. The loose ball fell to Martin Gritton but he was not able to get any power in his shot that was saved by a grateful Stags' keeper.

Half time

The Silkmen made a half time substitute with Simon Wiles replacing Levi Reid

The early exchanges did little to suggest the away team were going to get back into the game and with fifty four minutes on the clock the game was well and truly ended as a contest. After the ball was given away cheaply, some good work between Brown and Boulding saw the Stags' leading scorer slot the ball through the legs of a increasingly frustrated Lee in the Silkmen's goal.

Ian Brightwell made the last throw of his dice on hour mark with Dimech and Thomas being replaced by Evans and McNulty. The Silkmen changed the system moving to a 3-4-3. It had the desired effect, the resultant possession leading to a number of chances, but none that were to trouble the Stags' keeper to any degree.

The Silkmen kept pushing forward looking for a goal and almost had one when a good move, started by Tolley, found sub Wiles on the right. His first time cross found Green but his shot was well blocked and cleared away. Two minutes later a Gritton shot was well saved but the ball found unmarked Gareth Evans who from six yards out somehow hit the ball and over with a empty net waiting.

Despite the obvious disappointment the travelling band of Silkmen fans stayed to the very end and showed their appreciation in the best way possible.

Dean Bamford