Striker Jason Lee and misfielder Michael Blackwood picked up injuries in the first defeat of the season at Barrow two days earlier and failed to recover.

That meant a full League debut for midfielder Gavin Hurren, released in the summer from Kidderminster, while Aaron O'Connor replaced Lee up front in a starting 4-3-3 or 4-5-1 formation - after McEwan had played 4-4-2 so far this season.

That saw Nathan Arnold switch to the left side of the three-man attack.

They were the first changes McEwan had made to the starting XI since the first home match against Histon, and followed three identical line-ups.

MANSFIELD TOWN: Gamble, Silk, Moses, O'Hare, Jeannin, Arnold, Hurran, D'Laryea, Somner, Stallard, O'Connor. Subs: Herriott, Shaw, Wood, Trimmer, Robinson.

NORTHWICH VICTORIA: Tynan, Sutton, Brown, Welch, Roberts, Cromwell, Byrne, Flynn, Williams, Stamp, Allan. Subs: Jones, Bailey, Steele, Mullen, Aspin.

REFEREE: Mr P. Davison.

ATTENDANCE: 2,741

The Stags missed a gilt edged chance to take a 10th minute lead. Mark Stallard weaved his way past three defenders to leave Danny Somner free as he raced into the area, the midfielder planted his low shot narrowly wide with just keeper Scott Tynan to beat.

Moments earlier at the other end Jonny Allan's close range header from a Ritchie Sutton cross was well held by keeper Paddy Gamble.

After the early chance in formation, the Stags appeared to revert to 4-4-2 by 10 minutes - O'Connor and Stallard up front and Jon D'Laryea on the left side of midfield with rnold reverting to his normal wide right position.

And in the 25th minute the switch paid dividends, Arnold's corner eventually smashed home by O'Connor for his second Stags goal.

The flag kick was taken short to Alex Jeanin and his deep cross to the far post was headed back by Adie Moses for O'Connor to knock in from close range.

Four minutes later the striker doubled the lead, springing the offside trap, rounding the keeper and rolling his finish just inside the far post as a defender raced back.

Within seconds the livewire striker - who switched to the Stags in the summer after rejecting a new deal at Grays - might have completed a hat-trick, but his header from a Jeannin cross flew wide.

The Stags completely out-passed Northwich in the first half, and with Arnold and O'Connor rampant on the right wing might have added to their lead before half-time.

After a slow start to the second half, Darryn Stamp pulled the visitors back into the game when he converted a Michael Byrne corner on the hour - moments after threatening to do the same thing.

At the other end substitute Anthony Robinson and Stallard, twice, should have made the game safe for the Stags.

And the home side was punished when substitute Lee Steele grabbed an equaliser four minutes from time with a terrific curling 20 yard finish.

But 15 seconds from the end of three minutes of injury time Stallard rescued the home side, ramming in from close range after Northwich failed to clear an rnold free kick.