SO often boss Paul Cox has praised Mansfield Town’s loyal fans this season for helping his side close in on their play-off dreams.
And the Field Mill faithful once again played their part in record numbers as nearly two thousand Stags fans made the short trip down the A38 to watch Mansfield tighten their grip on the play-offs with a highly entertaining 6-3 win against plucky Alfreton.
From the first whistle to the gripping end the highly-anticipated local derby delivered high drama as seven goals were shared in one of the most entertaining 45 minutes of football of the season.
Alfreton came out all guns blazing as they looked to slay their famous neighbours and took the lead through Moult.
Shell-shocked Mansfield got into their stride and levelled the game after former Alfreton man Anthony Howell drilled home after Stewart had saved shots from Green and Meikle.
Jarman then drilled through the legs of Marriott to put Alfreton 2-1 up, before gritty Mansfield rolled up their sleeves to take a firm grip on the memorable contest with goals from Riley (31 minutes), Green (33 minutes) and a long-range thunderbolt from Howell just before the break putting Stags 4-2 up.
Alfreton gave themselves hope in first-half stoppage time after Marriott failed to hold a Jarman free-kick allowing Brown to prod home from close range.
But Stags tightened up defensively in the second-half before Geoghagon wrapped up victory in front of a 48 year record high crowd at Alfreton a minute from time.
Mansfield capped a stunning game deep into injury-time. Matt Green broke the offside trap from a defence-splitting Adam Murray pass to cooly poke home past Stewart.
Full report in Wednesday’s Chad - plus all the latest from Field Mill.
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