But has it so rarely been used before a game as Stags boss Billy Dearden arrived at a sun-kissed County Ground today with a side boasting names more likely to figure in the club's youth team.

Robbed of so many first teamers through an injury list reaching ridiculous proportions, he then watched his young side brushed aside by promotion-hunting Swindon to leave the Stags still needing a point to be safe from the drop.

Dearden gave a start to young defender Chris Wood after his early recall from his loan spell at Ilkeston Town in midweek, while 17-year-old trainee winger Jamie McGhee was given a spot on the bench.

Simon Brown overcame a hamstring injury to take his starting place in the youthful-looking line-up, which took to the field in front of more than 10,000 fans enjoying a party atmosphere to watch the Robins clinch what they hoped would be promotion.

And the home side made their intentions clear from the kick off when they won their first corner after just 17 seconds.

That early warning was not heeded by an inexperienced Yellows' side, who went behind in the fourth minute when Barry Corr forced the ball home from close range.

The gangly forward pounced on ex-Stags' favourite Lee Peacock's fizzing ball across the box after Blair Sturrock's drive had hit the post earlier in the move.

Corr almost made it two in the eighth minute when his header was palmed round the post by Jason White, then from the resulting corner hit the upright from a flick-on.

In the 12th minute an unmarked striker Sturrock should have done better when in space 12 yards out, but headed wide from Roberts' cross on the right.

Roberts was creating havoc down right, giving poor John Mullins the run-around on several occasions in first 15 minutes.

But despite their dominance, there was always a feeling that the Swindon defence could be there for that taking if really tested.

In the 19th minute Michael Boulding's left wing cross caused all sorts of problems in the box before eventually find an unmarked Barry Conlon.

He laid the ball back to Calum Lloyd, but his 20-yard drive was blocked.

It was the Stags' first attack on goal and they had to wait until 10 minutes before the break to actually win their first corner.

But sandwiched in between was an audacious attempt from Welsh livewire Roberts, who shot wide from 45 yards after spotting White off his line on the half hour.

White then pulled off a fine save to push Zaaboub's shot round the post seven minutes later.

But from Zaaboub's resulting corner, experienced defender Jon Olav Hjelde headed past his own 'keeper when under pressure from Corr to give the Robins a 2-0 lead.

Skipper Alex Baptiste was the unlikely Stags man to fashion Dearden's side's first effort on goal when he blasted wide from 35 yards in the 39th minute.

And at the other end, Roberts fluffed two golden chances to make it three just 60 seconds later.

He fired his first shot straight at Hjelde from eight yards, then hit the rebound tamely wide.

Robins 'keeper Phil Smith was called into action for the first time just two minutes before the break when he tipped over Conlon's looping header following a long punt from White.

Mansfield started the second half brighter, with Conlon pulling a left shot wide after a neat turn on the edge of the box.

Then on 48 the striker sent a header straight at Smith at the far post after rising above the defence to meet Baptiste's floated cross from the left.

The action was coming thick and fast, but mainly in front of White's goal where the lively Swindon forwards were failing to capitalise on their dominance.

Sturrock once again was the culprit in the 49th minute when he fired wide after a weaving run by Roberts into the box.

Then just six minutes later the striker - son of Robins boss Paul Sturrock - wasted another chance to make it three when he shot straight at White after being put through by Peacock.

The Stags looked a more coherent side in the second half and on the hour Conlon let rip with a 20-yard left foot drive that left Smith scrambling to his right to palm the ball round his post.

Three minutes later Swindon missed another gilt-edged chance, this time Peacock heading wide a Zaaboub free kick from just six yards.

But by then then the damage had already been and the Stags' winless streak now stands at eight games.

Swindon fans wrongly came onto the pitch to celebrate promotion at the end - something they will almost certainly clinch in the next week.

But for Stags' supporters there is now a different wait - to secure that much-needed point that would finally see them safe from the dreaded drop.

Swindon Town: Phil Smith, Jamie Vincent ©, Sofiene Zaaboub (Michael Timlin 84), Jerel Ifil, Christian Roberts (Aaron Brown 80), Lee Peacock, Barry Corr, Andy Nicholas, Michael Pook, Blair Sturrock (Lukas Jutkiewicz 74), Ashley Westwood. Subs not used: Ashley Grimes, Claude Gnapka.

Mansfield Town: Jason White, John Mullins, Jon Olav Hjelde, Alex Baptiste ©; Barry Conlan (Jamie McGhee 83), Simon Brown, Micky Boulding (Rory Boulding 83); Callum Lloyd, Danny Sleath, Chris Wood (Nathan Arnold 70), Ashley Kitchen. Subs not used: Carl Muggleton, Nathan Arnold, Lewis Trimmer.

Ref: K. P. Stroud.
Att: 10,472.
Stags Man of the Match: Alex Baptiste