Southampton’s Dom Ballard scores on return from injury in pre-season

Ballard restored Southampton’s lead in the first half in his first game back after suffering a serious knee injury while on loan at Reading last season.

Derrick Abu had opened the scoring with a sensational free-kick before Marcus Daws drew the Stags level.

A trialist added a third following the break as Saints fielded a completely new side before Daws grabbed his and Totton’s second of the afternoon.

New under-21s head coach Simon Rusk took charge of a Saints lineup comprised of under-21 and under-18 starlets.

Tyler Dibling and Sam Amo-Ameyaw played no part due to being with the senior squad, while Cam Bragg was left out ahead of a loan away from the club.

Senior boss Russell Martin and his assistant Matt Gill were in attendance at Snows Stadium to observe the next crop of Southampton players.