Mansfield took the lead just after the 20-minute mark thanks to Tyrese Sinclair and nearly doubled their lead just seconds later when Jimmy Knowle won the ball on the halfway line, powered forward but fired just wide of Dan Wallis’ post.

Just four minutes later Knowle got his goal, latching onto a through ball and sliding the ball past Wallis in the Basford goal.

Basford came close to halving the deficit in the 41st minute when Courey Grantham headed James Reid’s free kick against the bar and Jack Thomas fired over but the score remained unchanged.

Reid nearly got a goal for himself just after half time. After a good run through the heart of the Mansfield defence he could only fire over Aidan Stone’s bar.

Knowle grabbed his second goal after breaking free on the right channel and slotting home, giving the home side a comfortable three goal cushion.

Basford fought back, Liam Hearn confidently converted a penalty on 70 minutes before Ryan Wilson’s 25-yard screamer gave Basford a lifeline.

Basford continued to put the pressure on, doing everything to grab an equaliser however, Mansfield held on to secure a well fought 3-2 victory.

Basford’s next game is away to Tamworth on Saturday 3rd August at 3pm.

Line up: Dan Wallis, Josh Law (Ryan Wilson 63), Dom Roma (Liam Bateman 63), Matt Thornhil © (James Reid 33), Lewis Carr (Stefan Galinski 63), Steven Johnson (Brad Gascoigne 63), James Carvell (Liam Hearn 63), Callum Chettle, Courey Grantham (Kane Richards 63), Jack Thomas, Zak Goodson

Unused subs: Kieran Preston, Prince Mancinelli, Dennel Stokes