The game also produced Mansfield's long-awaited first clean sheet in 20 games and, on the back of last weekend's draw at Barnet, continued to show there could be light at the end for the League's bottom club.

The Magpies, under new boss Ian McParland for the first time after three straight defeats, started both halves strongly.

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But Stags had the better chances in the first half, former Stags keeper Kevin Pilkington making good saves to deny Simon Brown and Nathan Arnold.

Gary Silk also had to clear a John Mullins header off the goal line.

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But the game swung on Austin McCanns's foul on Matt Hamshaw on 57 minutes which gave Stags a penalty, Boulding safely tucking away his seventh goal of the season.

And when Boulding blasted Brown's flick past a helpless Pilkington soon after, there was no way Stags were going to let Notts back into the contest.

Mansfield remain bottom but, with results improving and players returning from injury, all of a sudden things are very much looking up at the Mill.

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With Bell, Buxton and Martin all shaking off knocks, Stags' starting XI was the same as the one that began the previous Saturday at Barnet.

It was only the second time this season Stags have kept the same side.

Two more players returned to the bench as well with McAllister back from illness and Jelleyman from injury.

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But it was decided not to risk Jon D'Laryea yet after midweek talk of him being on the bench after seven months' out with an ankle injury.

In the opening seconds Hamshaw only just overhit a ball over the top which Arnold almost capitalised on but saw it bounce into Pilkington's arms.

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Notts hit back with a corner that was cleared. Then Dudfield accelerated down the left and got in a dangerous cross which saw Martin get in a vital header and then a block in a momentary scramble.

Parkinson then fed Butcher for a low shot that was blocked for a corner by Bell.

Space

Notts continued to apply the early pressure and Buxton did well to get in the way of a Weir-Daley finish after the former Forest man had tried a volley on the turn.

But Pilkington had work to do on 10 minutes as Boulding's headed flick sent Dawson down the centre. He played the ball into space in front of Arnold to his right but the keeper was able to palm away the youngster's finish.

Arnold had another effort blocked soon after when referee Mr Kettle played advantage after Boulding was chopped down.

• Micky Boulding audio interview

Arnold got up well to head the ball on for Brown on 15 minutes, but his first touch let him down as he went slightly too wide and Pilkington was able to get down and smother his finish.

MacKenzie was lucky to escape a caution for a cynical trip on Dawson as the Irishman turned him.

Pilkington was relieved to grab the ball after another scramble in front of him after a testing Hamshaw cross.

Boulding wasted a good chance on the break as he allowed the ball to run too far away from him and lost possession with Dawson screaming in space to his right.

Mayo's cross caused chaos in the Stags box and Dudfield had a shot charged down by Buxton while Parkinson saw his follow up crash into the side netting.

But Stags almost grabbed a 31st minute lead. Hamshaw floated in Mansfield's first corner of the game from the right and Mullins met it with a firm header that looked a goal all the way until Silk made a goal line block.

Then Arnold dragged a poor low shot wide from 20 yards.

Martin had to get a block in on a Parkinson drive which saw the ball loop back over his own bar and onto the roof of the net.

The corner was taken short and Mackenzie eventually sent over the cross which saw Hunt power a free header over when he should have hit the target.

Hamshaw ran excitingly at the visitors' defence and looked like he might go all the way. But Hunt rescued the Magpies with a timely tackle.

There was a hold up while Mullins had treatment for a head injury, but he was soon back in the action.

Mullins' block on a Mayo blast gave County their fourth flag kick of the afternoon and a fifth followed straight away which saw Butcher pull a low shot wide.

Notts won two more corners before the break but the half ended goalless.

Pilkington safely held onto a low curling Bell free kick from just outside the box early in the second half.

Gifted

But Stags were gifted a 57th minute penalty from which they took the lead.

Muggleton fired a free kick downfield and Hamshaw was clearly held as he turned McCann in the box.

McCann was booked and Boulding stepped up to drill a low finish centrally for his third spot kick success of the season and seventh goal.

MacKenzie was booked a minute later for a comment to the referee and Notts then sent on Weston for Parkinson.

Pilington raced out his box to head clear ahead of the chasing Arnold. The ball reached Dawson who had a momentary chance of hitting the empty net but was bumped by an opponent before he could get in his shot by which time Pilkington was back in position.

But it was 2-0 on 61 minutes. Brown did well to jump and get a flick-on over Tann towards Boulding to his left just inside the box and the in-form striker crashed an unstoppable finish past Pilkington.

A superb run by Mullins down the right saw him leave three opponents in his wake before the ball ran loose and Arnold had a shot blocked.

Martin was booked for diving into a tackle on 65 minutes as the action hotted up.

Boulding tested Pilkington from distance and then Hunt did well to clear before Brown could pounce as Mansfield rubbed in their advantage.

Brown saw the afternoon's fourth yellow card on 70 minutes for a foul on Silk.

Four minutes later Boulding almost had a hat-trick as he sent a diving header inches wide from Martin's left wing cross to the near post.

Hamshaw tried his luck from 25 yards but it was easy for Pilkington.

Buxton had just been warned before he committed another foul on Sam on 82 that earned him a caution.

A cutting pass by Bell released Arnold into space but he fired straight at the keeper from 20 yards.

A neat move down the left saw Boulding cross hard and low and Brown only just missed getting the decisive touch in front of goal.

Sam was inches wide with Muggleton rooted with three minutes to go as Notts looked desperately for a way back into it.

Brown was well over at the other end with a hurried shot in stoppage time. But it didn't really matter in the end as the home celebrations started.

STAGS: Muggleton, Mullins, Bell , Hamshaw, Dawson, Brown, M. Boulding, Buxton, John-Baptiste, Martin, Arnold (Jelleyman 90). Subs not used: White, Holmes, McAllister, Sleath.

NOTTS COUNTY: Pilkington, McCann (Sam 81), Tann, MacKenzie, Dudfield, Parkinson (Weston 59), Silk, Mayo, Hunt, Weir-Daley, Butcher. Subs not used: Sandercombe, Somner, Austin.

REFEREE: Trevor Kettle, of Rutland.