A Jason White error gifted the Shrews a lead inside 75 seconds but a Micky Boulding hat-trick turned the game on its head.

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Holland said: "The pleasing thing was we had a kick in the teeth inside the first couple of minutes but we responded well, even though I believe we can play better.

"I feel sorry for my mum as she looks at the Ceefax all the way through and she has not been well recently.

"Mickey Boulding was superb. He was not 100 per cent fit and hasn't trained for two weeks. But he ran himself into the ground and it just shows that with quality, if you leave him until the last minute and play him he will repay you.

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"He has come up trumps again for us.

"Jason may have been responsible for the first goal. But I have always said I have every confidence in him or I wouldn't play him and he came back and was positive and punched things.

"This was only the first game of a trilogy. We will enjoy this result - and others have gone for us for a change - but we have a lot of hard work ahead of us still.

• Mansfield Town 3 Shrewsbury 1

"If we had lost this game I am sure some people would have crucified me if they knew I had given the lads three days off this week as I thought they looked mentally and physically tired.

"It was even more pleasing as the whole squad dug in today with players like Dan Martin and Simon Brown coming on and throwing their bodies in the way."


Shrews boss Paul Simpson said: "What I have seen today from my players is the reason why we are scrapping around at the bottom of the table.

"I have learned a lot more about them today and most of it is disappointing.

"We got off to a great start albeit from a goalkeeping mistake. March Pugh chanced his arm and I am sure the keeper will say it was a mistake.

"After that we relaxed and thought the game was won and you can't do that.

"All credit to Mansfield - they battled and have a proper goalscorer in Mickey Boulding who stuck three away.

"Right through the team we were a bit of a shambles in that first half. We showed no great desire to affect the game.

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"We did give it a bit more of a go in the second half and had a couple of really good chances. To be fair the keeper has made one great save with his legs but you have to put away chances like that when you get them."