BURTON Albion’s Professional Development Phase side suffered their first defeat in the league this season, after losing 1-0 to Mansfield.
The young Brewers started on the front foot, creating opportunities on the wings, however they couldn't find the breakthrough.
They conceded at the start of the second half, despite looking to get back on level terms, they were unable to find an equaliser.
The home side had an early opportunity to take the lead, Ronnie Wakelin’s free kick was struck just over the crossbar.
They continued to threaten, with Charlie Knowles playing the ball down the wing to Jack Newall whose surging run into the box was stopped by the Mansfield defence.
Kiyan Baker-McKay was threatening for Albion, getting crosses into the box from the wing on multiple occasions, however Kai Svark and Newall could not quite find the target.
Their next chance came from Svark, who forced Mansfield goalkeeper Anthony Nunes into a good save at his near post after he shot from the edge of the box.
There was a penalty call at the end of the first half after Baker-McKay was brought down in the box after a good through ball from Newall, however the linesman had his flag raised for offside.
Mansfield came out strong in the second half, with their corner finding Lewis Warnerby at the back post who had a shot that was saved by the foot of Kamil Dudek in the Albion goal.
Their pressure continued and from their next corner from Alfie King was picked out by substitute Callum Johnson who found the back of the net to break the deadlock for the Stags in the 52nd minute.
Burton looked to get back into the game and were able to find the ball in the Mansfield half more where they looked to create chances.
Going into the last quarter of the game, Burton won a corner which was taken by Wakelin, who put the ball down the throat of the Stags goalkeeper who dropped the ball, winning another corner. Wakelin looked to find one of his teammates, and after the ball came back out to him, he was able to pick out Newall whose header was towards the goalkeeper.
Burton's pressure meant that Mansfield were able to break away, however a strong tackle from Baker-McKay stopped McKeal Abdullah from increasing Mansfield’s lead.
The final chance of the game came after Wakelin played a free kick on the edge of the box short towards Svark who fired wide of the off the far post.
The Young Brewers will look to respond to this loss on Wednesday when they take on Port Vale at the Pirelli Stadium in the first round of the FA Youth Cup.