Matt Green was the man of the moment last night as his 91st minute strike sealed all three points for Stags as they moved up into the play-offs and continued their assault on the title despite a truly awful display.

It was a case of being as the Stags defensive display being as woeful as the Imps finishing for the most part of the ever fiery encounter. Mansfield surviving numerous openings created by the rampant hosts, on any other night it could have been oh so different.

Junior Daniel saw a goal chalked off during the first half whilst Stags were bizarrely awarded a free kick rather than a penalty during the second. 

In the end the game was sealed by Green who slipped a shot beneath Farman in the 91st minute following Lindon Meikle's cushioned assist following a Jennings cross, much to the delight of the Stags fans who went crazy as Green peeled away to celebrate passionately with the corner flag....

The Stags now move up to 4th with 15 games remaining, five points behind leaders Wrexham with not only a game in hand on the FA Trophy finalists  but them to play both home and away. 

Lee Beevers was arguably the key man for Stags yesterday at Kenilworth Road as he put in a man of the match performance which included playing on through the pain barrier.

The former Walsall man dislocated his shoulder midway through the first half and had it popped back in by physio Simon Murphy and local paramedics before returning to the pitch.

A hostile atmosphere as ever provided the back drop to another fierce encounter which had more twists and turns that spaghetti junction, Lindon Meikle's late strike sealing a 3-2 win and Stags first victory at Luton since 2002.

Matt Green opened the scoring on 31 minute from the penalty spot before Luton took advantage of Beevers' injury six minute later, netting the leveler as a pain and oxygen filled Beevers waited to return to the action - Scott Rendell netting the hatters goal.

On the stroke of half time Junior Daniel put Stags back in control as he stroked home, however within a minute of the second half a slip from John Dempster allowed Andre Grey to drive home Luton's second equilser of the match.
   
The final ten minutes were tense as managerless Luton searched for a win, however a later counter attack proved to be the difference, Chris Clements (restored to the line up moments before the match for the injured Howell who pulled up in the warm-up) saw his shot saved by Tyler - substitute Lindon Meikle thundered home the rebound in the 90th minute to seal the match.

Louis Briscoe's left boot proved the difference last night as Stags collected another three points, seeing off Hyde by a solitary goal.

The Stags wide man opened the scoring 13 seconds into the second half after beating Adam Griffin at left back and seeing his left footed cross nestle in the top corner of the net.


Briscoe's solitary goal would suggest a narrow win for Paul Cox's men but in reality it could have been another malicious mauling if it hadn't been for Hyde's young shot stopper Chris Dilo, the 19 year old Blackburn loanee single handedly prevented Stags from matching the eight goals they bagged against Barrow weeks ago with a string of fine saves.


Junior Daniel, Matt Green, Lee Stevenson and Luke Jones all saw efforts saved by Dilo whilst John Dempster saw strong appeals for a penalty turned down as Stags rather rampantly attacking the Hyde goal. 

At the other end Stags had just the one blot on their paper as Alan Marriott fumbled a free kick on 78 minutes however the ever solid Luke Jones was on hand to smash the loose ball off the line.

A man of the match performance from midfielder Anthony Howell helped Stags back to winning ways yesterday, as they overcame injury-hit Cambridge 3-1 at the One Call Stadium.

In a match that proved tougher than recent wins over Dartford and Barrow, Mansfield were forced to defend strongly on a pitch suffering due to the recent weather - however eager to return to winning ways Lee Stevenson grabbed his 6th goal in as many games on ten minutes after Matt Green and Junior Daniel were both denied by United blocks.

Alan Marriott kept Stags ahead moments later as he pulled off a wonderful save from Liam Hughes, however on the half hour mark Marriott was picking the ball out of the net as Cambridge repeated the previous sequence, Hughes thundering home a header from Ross Jarvis' corner.

Before the break Matt Green tapped in following a goalmouth scramble, however Luke Jones would claim the plaudits after referee Seb Stockbridge judged his header to have crossed the line prior to Green's touch.

Junior Daniel wrapped the game up midway through the second half as he thundered home a Jennings cross in what was a really fluent Stags move down the left hand side.

Mansfield Town's winning run came to an end last night as they were beaten by two second half goals from promotion rivals Newport County at Rodney Parade.

Luke Jones was the pick of the Stags defence that had their work cut out against the divisions best attacking side on a pitch that was covered in mud and about as heavy as Paul Cox's insurance quote for the Barrow winning Aston Martin!

In fairness Stags defended well for the majority of the match and were perhaps unfortunate to be behind on 66 minutes when Andy Sandell tucked home a penalty after Lee Beevers had upended Christian Jolley. 

However there was no excuse for Newport's second goal eleven minutes later as Jolley thumped home a driven effort to cap a fluent counter attacking move down the right hand side. Defeat on welsh soil puts an end to Stags improved away form after Cox's side had won their previous four league outings, the defeat also ends an unbeaten run of as many consecutive matches. 

Lee Stevenson enhanced his reputation as a Stags hero yesterday as he put in an outstanding display as Mansfield destroyed Barrow for a second season running, this time thumping the blue birds by EIGHT goals to one!

Matt Green may well have taken home the match ball with a well deserved hat-trick two of which coming from the spot, however it was Stevenson's delightful display which rightfully earned him the man of the match award.

The former Eastwood man grabbed his fourth goal in as many games on eight minutes when he sensationally opened the scoring from 30 yards, driving into the top corner from Green's cushioned assist.

Tables turned on 16 minutes as John Dempster needlessly gave away a penalty, Danny L Rowe tamley converted to level the scores however despite a short spell of pressure from Barrow, Stags would soon kick on and open the flood gates.

Green restored Mansfield's lead on 23 minutes from the spot after Luke Jones was felled following Junior Daniel's deep cross, Daniel then made it 3-1 on the half hour mark from Adam Murray's acute clipped pass.

Two minutes later Stags struck again on the counter after the referee played advantage following former Stags trialist Matt Flynn's foul on Daniel. Lee Stevenson provided the assist with a stunning 40 yard defence splitting pass into the path of Green who lofted over the on rushing keeper.

Mansfield then grabbed a 5th for the second time in as many matches before the break, Adam Murray firing home after Blue birds keeper Pearson had spilled James Jennings' fierce corner. 

After the break Stags showed no mercy and Green grabbed his hat-trick, again from the penalty spot, when Luke Jones was fouled by Mike Pearson on 51 minutes.

The seventh and eight goal arrived within the space of a minute, Stevenson slotted home from a give and go with substitute Rhead on 68 minutes, Anthony Howell's looping header from Jennings' deep free kick wrapped things up on 69 minutes.

One more goal would have sealed Stags' biggest ever victory and in truth it could have happened, and maybe even into double figures too, alas no but the three points is what counts!

A man of the match performance from Anthony Howell helped Stags on their way to a five star performance against play-off chasing Dartford at the One Call Stadium.

It was yet another classic tale of 'A game of two half's' for Mansfield who, despite being one up at the break, were poor in the first half and were stretched by Dartford from start to finish.

Paul Cox introduced Louis Briscoe at the break and it proved to be a substitution that changed the game, the wide-mans muscle allowed Stags to move forward and Howell and Co to come into the match.

Adam Murray gave Stags the lead on five minutes after he thundered in from 25 yards, midfield partner Anthony Howell doubling the lead on 54 minutes, firing in from debutant Jame Jennings' deep free kick.

Luke Jones then acutely nodded in the third nine minutes later following Junior Daniel's deep assist before Matt Green converted from Briscoe's assist with eleven minutes remaining before Lee Stevenson completed the rout from the penalty spot on 84 minutes after he was felled by Tom Bonner.