Mansfield Town maintained top spot in Sky Bet League Two with a resounding 5-1 win at Bradford City.

Stags were 3-0 ahead inside a mesmerising opening 18 minutes as they laid siege to the City goal with wave after wave of attack.

And to complete a sensational first-half, forward Will Swan scored in stoppage time to put the game beyond Bradford’s reach.

Former Stags’ striker Andy Cook climbed off the bench to net a consolation for the hosts in the second-half, but by that stage the damage had long been done.

And late in the second-half substitute Aaron Lewis scribed his name onto the scoresheet with a close range finish to make it 5-1.
Four changes were made from Tuesday’s lineup at Tranmere.

Jordan Bowery, Stephen Quinn, Hiram Boateng and Davis Keillor-Dunn returned to the starting XI as George Williams, George Maris, Aaron Lewis and Tom Nichols were moved to the substitutes’ bench.

Stags showed their attacking intent from the kick-off and forward Will Swan was released on the left channel, however, his cross into the box evaded the advancing Boateng.

Bradford missed a real chance to break the deadlock in the fourth minute when Lewis Richards whipped a dangerous ball into the goal area, but a sliding Tyler Smith was unable to connect.

Four minutes later, Jamie Walker was the first name in the referee’s notebook for leaving a flailing arm on midfielder Louis Reed.

And the Stags were ahead from the resulting free-kick.

Quinn delivered with consummate accuracy 30 yards from goal and defender Baily Cargill was afforded time and space to head home from the right of the box, as diving goalkeeper Sam Walker could only clutch thin air.

And as the game continued as break-neck speed, Stags doubled their advantage in the 14th minute.

Mansfield overloaded the box and after Quinn struck the base of a post, Cargill’s low drive was denied momentarily by Walker, though he could do little about the third attempt as Akins lashed into the net from 10 yards.

At the other end as part of a frantic opening spell, Tyreik Wright played in Jamie Walker who somehow managed to steer it wide when it looked easier to score.

Stags looked imperious every time they attacked and extended their advantage in the 18th minute and Davis Keillor-Dunn, the man with the golden touch, applied the finish.

Stags again came forward with purpose, with Swan spearheading the charge, and he picked out the unmarked Keillor-Dunn who broke into the box before steadying himself to smash low past Walker.

The scorer was booked in the 20th minute for delaying the restart of play.

Rampant Mansfield again poured forward and Swan set up Quinn to clip over the bar from the edge of the box.

On 26 minutes, stunned Bradford made a substitution as as Liam Ridehalgh was replaced by Kevin McDonald.

On the half-hour mark, Boateng sent a fine throughball for Swan to chase but the frontman was denied a shot on goal as Ciaran Kelly made a last-ditch challenge.

Mansfield came close again on 40 minutes as Keillor-Dunn did well to keep the ball in play on the goalline before drifting a cross in towards Swan who struck narrowly wide, under pressure from a Bradford defender.

Merciless Mansfield netted another goal two minutes into stoppage time at the end of the first-half.

Keillor-Dunn was again the chief tormenter, and the architect, as he knocked a reverse pass to Swan who cut inside to drill home Stags’ fourth with the aid of a slight deflection.

At the break, Stephen McLaughlin and George Maris replaced Baily Cargill and Davis Keillor-Dunn.

Bradford entered the second-half with a new-found spirit but it was Stags who came closest to another goal. On the hour, Swan teed up Akins whose 14-yard attempt crashed back off the post and a minute later Swan fired low but Walker smartly stopped with his legs.

Bradford made a treble change on 62 minutes which included former Stags’ striker Andy Cook entering the fray while three minutes later Aaron Lewis replaced Stephen Quinn in Stags’ midfield.

Substitute Harry Chapman curled a hopeful attempt into the rising palms of Christy Pym while at the other end Lewis slipped in Swan who advanced one-on-one with Walker. And as the in-form forward looked to dink it over the Bantams’ goalkeeper, Walker pushed it behind with his fingertips.

Bradford netted a consolation in the 73rd minute as Cook diverted home from close range following Chapman’s inviting cross on the right.

On 82 minutes, forward James Gale was introduced for Akins to make his first appearance since 21 November.

Stags sent the home fans flooding to the exists by scoring a fifth goal on 86 minutes.

Lewis’ strike from the left of the box was pushed back into his path by Walker and the midfielder made no mistake at the second attempt by finding the net on the rebound.

Bradford were relieved to see Maris’ 20-yard effort flash wide of the post on 89 minutes and in stoppage time Bradford’s Jonathan Tomkinson was booked for hauling Nichols to the ground.

Moments later, Walker produced a superb stop to prevent a sixth goal as he denied a stooping Flint from point-blank range.

There was no let off for Bradford and Gale was next to try his luck in the game’s final chance.

BRADFORD: Walker, Tomkinson, Kelly (Oyegoke 83), Ridehalgh (McDonald 26), Richards, Gilliead, Smallwood, Oduor (Chapman 62), Wright (Kavanagh 62), J Walker (Cook 62), Smith

UNUSED SUBS: Doyle, Halliday

STAGS: Pym, Bowery, Flint, Brunt, Cargill (McLaughlin H/T), Reed, Boateng, Quinn (Lewis 65), Keillor-Dunn (Maris H/T), Akins (Gale 82), Swan (Nichols 77)

UNUSED SUBS: Flinders, Macdonald

REFEREE: Martin Coy

ATTENDANCE: TBA