IT was scrappy and frustrating at times, but a Mark Stallard penalty finally saw off an inventive Grays Athletic side to put Stags second in the BSP on Saturday night.
It was the first time in four years that the Stags have managed to win four on the bounce at home and, on a day, when they failed to create as much as they have in recent games, it was the home side's dogged defending that caught the eye as they served up the clean sheet demanded by boss Billy McEwan.
On an afternoon of few real clear cut opportunities at either end, Stallard's 23rd minute spot kick after a disputed handball decision provided his fifth goal in six games and sealed the points.
McEwan said afterwards that Grays were the best side Mansfield have faced this season to date.
Now he and Stags will look forward to Tuesday night's televised clash at McEwan's former club York City where the visitors could go top for the first time this season.
- Click on the green play icon to view a video slideshow of match action photographs by Chad's Anne Webster, or click on the gallery
Mansfield Town's starting line-up today was back up to full strength with both Lee and Blackwood returning from injury.
Hurren was dropped to the bench while last week's two-goal hero O'Connor was not in the 16 due to a pre-season agreement with Grays that their former striker would not figure in the two games against us.
Before the game there was a minute's applause for long time Stags supporter and Chad bowls columnist Bill Press who died last week.
The contrasting kits were not easy on the eye with the visitors in blue shorts and yellow shorts and socks against Stags' usual amber and blue home combination.
Lee headed away two early Grays corners while a superb break along the right touchline from in his own half by Arnold saw the youngster finally lose possession in the Grays box.
Jeannin sold himself into a lunging tackle on Sloma which the Grays defender skipped over before sending a dangerous cross into the six yard box which Gamble safely gathered.
Lee caught Stuart in the face as he jumped for a flick on which earned the Stags striker a yellow card and the Grays man some treatment.
On 13 minutes Cogan's attempted cross hit Jeannin's hand in the box but the Frenchman was given the benefit of the doubt.
Soon after Jeannin was grateful to see his sliced block spin wide of his goal as he cut out another dangerous Sloma cross.
This was a very low key start by the home side and Grays almost took advantage on 18 minutes.
Welsh burst past Silk on the left and pulled back a long cross towards Cogan who saw Gamble block his shot and Moses then hook clear before Kedwell could find the gaping net.
Then Taylor was well wide with a very hopeful 40 yard punt.
Mansfield desperately needed a tonic and got it with a 23rd minute spot kick.
Blackwood tricked his way into the box from the left and tried to pick out Somner with a low cross that was handled by Ashton. Stallard stepped confidently up and buried his fifth goal of the season.
Silk was lucky when he failed to get away a Cogan cross from the right which sparked an almighty scramble, the ball thankfully eventually trickling out for a goal kick,
For Stags Lee did well to turn sharply between two opponents but blazed a finish well over from 20 yards while Taylor's footwork made him space 18 yards from the home goal but he poked a low shot tamely wide.
On 38 minutes Blackwood's intelligent crossfield pass set Arnold off on another exciting run. But, with Lee free to his left, he went alone and shot straight at the keeper.
Another Sloma overlap saw the left back again put a good ball into the six yard box where O'Hare managed to get it over his own bar to safety for a corner.
Stags began the second half in much better fashion and quickly forced two corners. The second of those was taken short with Arnold feeding Blackwood who bent in a cross that curled through everyone and just wide of the far post.
On 50 minutes Lee flicked a long Gamble kick to Stallard. His return pass was inch perfect and offered a shooting chance which Flitney got down well to save. As he shot, Lee was challenged by Ashton and both players stayed down for treatment afterwards. Ashton returned but Lee, having been in doubt for the game anyway, was withdrawn and replaced by Robinson.
Gamble produced a close range reaction save to preserve the lead on 54 minutes when a corner was flicked towards the post where Taylor hooked the ball on target and gamble parried. It ran loose and was eventually stroked wide by Stuart.
The visitors make two changes and then Ashton was too high with his header from a 64th minute corner.
Arnold was closer at the other end as he beat two opponents and unleashed a goal bound shot which Flitney had to turn away.
Elliott was booked for chopping down D'Laryea. The free kick towards Stallard saw the Stags striker do really well to head it away from the keeper and then hook it back over, having kept it in play only for Blackwood to foul Stuart as he cleared off the line.
Neat interplay again got Grays into the home box where Jeaninn did well to slide in and block Cogan, Molesley eventually pulling the ball wide of goal.
Visiting winger Welsh was booked for returning to the field without permission after treatment.
Grays mounted a late push and on 87 minutes Molesley was inches over from 18 yards as he pounced on a headed clearance by Jeannin. Stuart was then well wide from 20 yards as Mansfield hung on for a hard-earned win and clean sheet.
STAGS: Gamble; Silk, Moses, O'Hare, Jeannin; Arnold, Somner, D'Laryea, Blackwood; Lee (Robinson 52), Stallard. Subs not used: Herriott, Shaw, Hurren, Trimmer.
GRAYS: Flitney; Wilnis, Stuart, Ashton, Sloma; Bailey (Molesley 62), Cogan (Campana 77), Elliott, Welsh; Taylor (Reid 60), Kedwell. Subs not used: Gier, Arnold.
REFEREE: Ross Joyce.
ATTENDANCE: 2,378.
The full article contains 1087 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
