Notts County Reserves were 2-0 winners over Mansfield on Tuesday afternoon.

Goals from Kion Etete and Elliott Ward - his second in as many matches - secured victory at Ilkeston Town's New Manor Ground.

The result meant Steve Chettle's side recorded back-to-back Central League wins, and have beaten Stags three times this season. 

After an even opening five minutes, Etete claimed Notts' first chance as he showed good technique to bring a bouncing ball under his spell before volleying narrowly wide from just outside the box.

Desire was his next attribute on display as, moments later, he chased down a pass back to Sam Wilson to win the ball in a sliding challenge on the goalkeeper before picking himself up to roll into an empty net on seven minutes.

The visitors had got into a couple of promising positions but struggled to create much inside the opening quarter of an hour until last season's top scorer Danny Rose worked space for a shot on the edge of the box. He curled it towards the bottom corner but Shaun Brisley made an important intervention to divert it clear. 

Etete was full of running and pressed high to win the ball back in the corner of the pitch before finding Remaye Campbell. The striker's cross picked out Cedric Evina but he scuffed his effort and Wilson made the save.

Sam Osborne tested the Stags' keeper twice in quick succession after cutting in from the right-hand side - the first fired into his chest, before forcing him to get down to his right to turn a shot away.

And Notts' pressure paid off on 26 minutes as Ward rose highest at the back post to nod home a Dan Jones' corner for the second game in a row.

Campbell had two opportunities within five minutes around the half-hour - first well challenged by Wilson as he looked to latch onto a pass from Etete, before scuffing a shot from the edge of the box after receiving the ball from skipper Declan Dunn. 

Rose had been Stags' main threat and in the last action of the first half squandered their best opening - dragging wide at the back post after controlling the ball well on his chest.

The second period took no time in getting going with goalmouth action within the opening minute. Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain surged down the right wing before cutting back for Will Patching to shoot from the edge of the box - his effort beat the keeper but not Aiden Walker who had got back on the line to make a key block

Mansfield were straight back down the other end and Notts had the woodwork to thank for preserving their lead after a loose pass from Ward allowed Zayn Hakeen through on goal. He curled an effort towards the far corner which took a touch of Brisley and carried it onto the upright with Max Culverwell stranded between the sticks.

The action showed no sign of slowing down - and neither did Etete as he raced through on goal on 48 minutes, only to be dragged to the ground by substitute Iyrnah Gooden, who was fortunate to escape with a yellow card. Patching looked to bend the resultant free-kick into the bottom corner but Wilson turned it around the post.

Etete must have thought he'd got his second when, from inside the six-yard box, he got a toe to the set piece that followed but a pair of Mansfield defenders stopped the ball crossing the line and they smuggled clear.

After the frantic opening to the second half the game settled down, with the next chance coming on 63 minutes as Hakeen miscued a volley when a free-kick was headed to him in space inside the area.

He had another opportunity to halve the deficit on 76 as he raced onto a ball in behind, but Culverwell stood up well to deny the forward one-on-one.

Further pressure came from Mansfield but they were unable to test the Notts stopper, with a wild half-volley from Gooden their closest effort as Notts comfortably saw out the game.

Notts: Culverwell, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Brisley, Ward, Jones, Osborne, Patching, Dunn (C), Evina, Etete (WIlde 60'), Campbell.

Subs not used: Brooks, Kennedy-Williams, Bucalossi, Simmons.