Bourne Town are beaten by AFC Mansfield in the United Counties League

Bourne Town were unable to mark their return to step five of the non-league pyramid with a victory after a game of 'fine margins' at the Abbey Lawn on Saturday.

The Wakes went down to a 2-1 home loss against visiting AFC Mansfield in the United Counties League Premier Division North match.

However, last season's Division One champions created the lion's share of the chances but were beaten by a more clinical Bulls side.

Bourne boss Michael Goode felt his side's overall performance deserved more but the lack of a ruthless streak was the difference in the levels from last season.

He said: "I thought we played really well in the first half and were very controlled.

"We had some good chances and also scored a goal while they scored with their only shot on target in the first half.

"There is enough to suggest that we will be absolutely fine at this level but the fine margins of this division compared to last year mean that, if you have five chances in a game, then you have to take more than one.

"They've probably had three chances all game and scored with two of them which was the difference because I think we probably deserved something from the game on the overall performance and, looking back at it, it's a missed opportunity to get three points."

Bourne began brightly against a Mansfield side who included several players who featured for the Wakes' title rivals Clipstone last season.

Zac Allen was inches away from connecting with a Zak Munton cross after some good pressure from Will Bird had created the opening.

Munton fired the next shot just wide of the Mansfield goal while the Bulls' early threat was nullified by commanding performances from Bourne's central defensive duo of Richard Jones and new signing Brad Marshall.

Bourne's best chance to break the deadlock then fell to Munton who headed over when well placed from Brad Gothard's cross.

Allen saw another shot deflected wide while Robbie Ellis sent a header past the post from the resultant corner.

As often happens, the failure to take chances is punished and Mansfield duly obliged by taking a 28th minute lead as Kaylum Mitchell drilled his finish into the far corner of the home net.

Bourne again rallied and finished the half strongly to get back on level terms in the 42nd minute when Bird laid the ball off nicely into the path of Allen who drove his shot home emphatically past Josh Turton in the visiting goal.

Mansfield came close to regaining the lead at the start of the second half when a well-worked corner routine ultimately ended with Kasper Rajter rattling the post with his shot.

Bird then had an opening for Bourne but failed to connect fully with his shot when well placed before Mansfield again took the initiative.

A long punt forward saw Ryan Ingram shrug off the challenge of Martin Tudosa before lobbing his finish into the home net.

Bourne almost produced an immediate response as an Allen corner sparked a scramble in the box with both Ellis and Gothard seeing shots blocked on the line by last-ditch challenges.

The home side's frustrations started to grow as the game wore on and Munton was sin-binned for dissent for 10 minutes with 15 minutes remaining.

There was still a sense that Bourne would grab an equaliser as the game entered the final stages and the ball fell invitingly for Bird in injury-time but he guided his shot inches past the far post and the Wakes had a rare taste of defeat following last season's all-conquering campaign.

They will now look for a rapid return to winning ways when they host Wisbech Town at the JJ Mac Stadium on Wednesday night.

Wakes: Swan, Tudosa, Gothard, Ellis (Flack), Marshall, Jones, Munton, Archer, Bird, Eyett, Allen. Subs not used: Arber, Wilson, Cox. Attendance: 347.