Somner's late header ended any home nerves and clinched the Stags' fifth successive home win.

They are top of the table, ahead of Cambridge, on goals scored - 16 to 13.

Earlier Jason Lee failed a fitness test. The striker had limped off a week earlier during the win over Grays and failed to make the midweek 1-1 draw at York.

• Full match report and reaction to follow

That meant the Stags - starting line-up and substitutes - were unchanged from the trip to Kit Kat Crescent . . . with midfielder Jon D'Laryea making his 100th League apearance for the club.

The match had been given the go-ahead only after an early morning pitch inspection, with groundman Michael Merriman saying he was surprised how dry the pitch was at 9.30am after Friday's torrential rain.

• Stags game on after pitch inspection

He added that only 'crazy rain' during the afternoon would affect the conditions, with the pitch able to withstand the expected rainfall on Saturday.

And in the hour before kick-off heavy rain returned to fall at Field Mill, but fortunately it appeared to be just showers rather than the persistent rain.

The Stags last achieved five consecutive home wins in March 2002 with wins over Rochdale, Scunthorpe, Halifax, Oxford and Darlington.

MANSFIELD TOWN: Gamble, Silk, O'Hare, Moses, Jeannin, Arnold, Somner, D'Laryea, Blackwood (Hurran 90mins), Stallard (Robinson 90mins), O'Connor. Subs: Herriott, Shaw, Trimmer.

EASTBOURNE BOROUGH: Hook; Austin, Baker, Pullan, Jenkins (Budd 84mins); Lovett, Smart, Armstrong, N. Crabb (Illugason 74mins); Tait, M. Crabb (Harkin 58mins). Subs: Winterton, Harding.

REFEREE: Mr L. Metcalfe.

ATTENDANCE: 2,536.

1min: The match kicked off in drier conditions as the rain relented and a vociferous crowd backing the Stags.

2mins: Fine turn and 18-yard shot by O'Connor for the Stags, his drive just rolling wide.

3mins: Arnold, clear on the right edge of the penalty area, sees his driven low cross rebound to safety as the Stags dominated the opening minutes.

6mins: O'Hare, unmarked in the area, heads over an Arnold corner for the home side.

8mins: Crabb blasts well over for Eastbourne from their first attack, firing high and wide from 18 yards as the Stags failed to clear a long throw-in.

10mins: Let-off for the Stags. Jeannin committed himself to a tackle, missed and Tait ran clear for Borough, beating the diving Gamble with his low 16 yard shot but watching as it rebounded to safety off the foot of the post.

11mins: As the rain returned, Arnold sped clear down the right for the Stags, but his cross missed everyone and ran out for a throw-in.

13mins: GOAL: Superb turn by Stallard on the right side of the area, winning a tackle and blasting into the top corner for his sixth goal of the season. The move was started by excellent work from D'Laryea on his 100th League appearance.

16mins: Baker's diving header denies the Stags a second goal as Stallard threatened to convert a deep Jeannin cross.

26mins: Jenkins drives over from 20 yards as Borough threaten an equaliser.

28mins: O'Connor shot charged down by Pullan on a Stags breakaway, started by Stallard's lofted pass. Seconds later the striker just fails to convert a Silk cross at the near post.

39mins: Lovett's cross from the right is glanced wide Tait as the visitors continue to look dangerous on the breakaway.

42mins: GOAL! O'Connor challenges the keeper to a misplaced Jenkins back pass and Arnold picks up the loose ball, dances around a defender and fires low and hard into the bottom corner past a defender on the line from 16 yards. It is Arnold's first goal of the season.

45mins: Half-time at Field Mill and the Stags lead 2-0 in the pouring rain.

49mins: Eastbourne force their first corner of the match.

50mins: GOAL! Another misunderstanding between Moses and Gamble and a repeat of the disaster in midweel at York, Crabb nipping in to score past the sliding O'Hare on the goalline.

61mins: Tait's clever lob beats Gamble and just clears the bar as the Stags are under pressure for the first time in the match.

65mins: Amazing scramble in the eastbourne six-yard area, but the Stags fail to capitalise, O'Connor helped on a cross and when the keeper slipped, D'Laryea pounced for what seemed a certain goal. His powerful strike was blocked on the line by Pullan and when O'Connor tried to knock in the loose ball it was hacked away by Jenkins.

68mins: Another let-off for the Stags at the other end, Crabb heading wide from close range after Lovett headed a free kick back across goal.

78mins: Lovett blasts narrowly wide after Tait again won a header for the visitors. The Stags are hanging on in the pouring rain.

79mins: Blackwood denied a clinching goal from O'Connor's cross when a defender just got a touch on the lobbed ball.

86mins: Stallard prods an Arnold cross wide as the weather worsens.

88mins: GOAL! Somner heads in Arnold's cross from a short Blackwood corner to secure victory.