Mansfield Town's preparations for the league two season continued in disappointing style this weekend as the majority of the squad were tested against Coventry City and Boston United.

First up was League One Coventry on Friday evening, a 90th minute penalty saw Stags beaten as they twice squandered the lead after goals from trialist Calvin Andrew and the impressive Sam Clucas.

Less than 15 hours later, the remainder of the squad were embarrassed as they gifted Conference North outfit Boston three cheap goals and could only respond with a second half strike from substitute Ben Hutchinson.    

Two goals from Ben Hutchinson and further strikes from Ross Dyer and trialist Jordan Ball saw Mansfield Town crowned champions of the newly formed Green Energy Challenge Trophy.

The Trophy is expected to be competed between the Stags and the Wrens annually as the respective chairman of both clubs continue their childhood friendly rivalry and the two clubs continue to form strong ties.  
Stags were in control throughout, Manged by Richard Cooper whilst Adam Murray and boss Paul Cox headed elsewhere as the search for a striker continues.  

Paul Cox's Stags slipped to a narrow defeat yesterday afternoon as they returned to the One Call Stadium for the first time since winning the Conference in April.

A snap shot from Radoslaw Majewski squirmed underneath Alan Marriott after just 52 seconds to gift Forest the lead and ultimately the victory. 

Stags were much improved in the second half in the boiling heat and tested the Forest keeper on numerous occasions, however failed to find the killer touch.  

Following the Stags trip to Malta last week, Paul Cox's men returned to the UK and were beaten by Evo-Stick neighbors Worksop Town 4-1 at Sandy Lane.

The Stags side included four trialists, two of which were strikers, and only seven players from the title winning squad from the previous season.

Leon Mettam put the hosts ahead on 21 minutes before Tom Denton netted the second shortly after the hour mark. A communication error between Dempster and new keeper Ian Deakin gifted the hosts a comical third on 88 minutes before substitute Tom Mullen completed the rout in the final minute. Trialist Jordan Roberton netted for Stags. 

AT LAST! Mansfield Town made their triumphant return to the Football League yesterday as Matt Green's 27th goal of the season sent Stags up, two points clear of Kidderminster.

There we're seven outcomes of the day possible but Paul Cox's magnificent men had there eyes on only the one: WINNING! 

Infront of another sell out crowd Stags kicked on from the off and came close on a few occasions before Louis Briscoe was fouled inside the box, five minutes before half time. Matt Green stepped up with confidence to convert the spot-kick, a goal which proved pivotal at Full Time as Kidderminster had thumped & relegated Stockport County.

The scenes of jubilation will remain forever, below enjoy our usual selection of post-match stuff, along with a few additional treats. Simply click on the relevant title to view/ listen. 

Matt Green was again the hero last night as he scored twice to help Stags come from behind at Hereford, moving them two points clear at the top of the table with ONE game remaining.

Green, along with Lindon Meikle, put in a man of the match display as Stags demonstrated their desire and belief to overturn Ryan Bowman's eight minute opener.

Lindon Meikle's clipped cross made the leveller on 37 as Green nodded in, before substitute Matt Rhead flicked into Green's path in the dying seconds to steal the points and make it advantage Mansfield going into Saturday's show down with Wrexham.

The match is available in two parts due to a recording fault, meaning there are roughly three minutes not recorded (60-63)

Matt Green's 24th goal of the season yesterday could well have sent Mansfield back into the football league, however the promotion tale took another twist as Stags lost their grip on top spot, losing 2-1 at Braintree.

Stags were two points clear at the top of the table prior to kick off and would have gone five clear had they won at Braintree. 

Matt Green got the Stags off to an excellent start on eight minutes as he fired them ahead from Lee Beevers' exquisite long range pass. The Stags, buoyed by the opener kicked on but failed to get a second, Green slammed against the post whilst Daniel, Briscoe & Stevenson all saw efforts blocked.

The second half was a total nightmare, Braintree levelling on the hour mark through Matt Paine with a tame long range effort which should have been closed down, before Kaine Sheppard netted what proved to be the winner 14 minutes later.

Stags then cursed Braintree keeper Nathan McDonald as he thrice denied Matt Rhead, time proved to short in the end and Braintree wrecked the Stag Party, ruined further by the 5.15pm kick off as Kidderminster moved back to top of the table, beating Wrexham 2-1.

Simply Mansfield need to win their next two matches to go up as Champions. 

Lee Stevenson was arguably pick of the bunch last night as Stags finally topped the blue square bet premier and put themselves in pole position to take the crown with a 3-1 win over Macclesfield Town.

The Stags in beating the other MTFC equaled yet more records as they grabbed their 28th win of the season, leveling the achievement last met in the 1967-77 campaign - moving onto 89 points, their highest total accumulated in one term, set last season. 

More importantly the victory over the silkmen takes Stags two points clear of now second placed Kidderminster. Should Stags win at Braintree, the pressure is pilled on Kidderminster as they have to WIN to stay in the race, theoretically Stags could be back in the football league by 7pm Saturday night!

It was a night where Stags should have felt immense pressure after squandering the chance to top the table last week, however they played like Champions and were comfortable winners of a Macclesfield side that have failed to reach their targets of the play-offs this term. Matt Green opened the scoring and broke the tense atmosphere on 17 minutes as he flicked home Adam Murray's left sided free kick before Luke Jones doubled the Stags lead with a thumping header, again from a Murray free kick four minutes prior to the break.

Four minutes into the second half a delightful strike from Lee Stevenson made it 3-0 to keep the momentum flowing, the only disappointment coming in the final minute as Pablo Mills, a former Stags trialist, headed home a mere consolation for the visitors.