Newly-promoted Eastbourne had just won three successive games without conceding a goal before this one.

• Manager Billy McEwan's post-match reaction

But the Stags looked impressive in the first half and, after surviving a 10th minute shot from Allan Tait that came back off a post, they took a 2-0 lead through Mark Stallard (13) and Nathan Arnold (41).

However, the home side failed to get going after the break, and part-timers Eastbourne roared back with a Nathan Crabb reply on 50 minutes and several other near misses before, in a thrilling finish, Matt Somner's first ever goal for Stags made it safe two minutes from time.

• To view a video slideshow of match action photos by Chad's Jane Hilton, click on the green play icon - or view the photos in our gallery

It was the first time Stags had won five on the bounce at home since 2002.

The game survived a morning pitch inspection and, with Jason Lee failing to recover from his ankle injury, Stags' starting line-up and bench were unchanged from the midweek draw at York.

• Game on after pitch inspection

A flowing Mansfield move in the second minute saw Arnold feed Silk whose low ball to O'Connor saw the striker spin well but drag a low shot just wide.

A powerful low Arnold cross was blocked and hooked away, Austin got in the way of a diving O'Connor header and then O'Hare headed over from the first corner as the home side made a positive start.

On eight minutes Stags failed to clear a throw from the right and the ball was eventually headed to Matthew Crabb who was well over the bar.

However, Borough almost nudged ahead on 10 minutes after Jeannin dived into and missed his tackle on Tait. That gave him room to run on and send in a low shot from 18 yards which beat Gamble but came back off the foot of the keeper's left hand post.

O'Connor offered Arnold space on the right with a square pass and the youngster ran onto it well but over-hit his powerful cross.

But Stags were ahead on 13 minutes after good work from D'Laryea. The young midfielder won a tackle on the edge of the box and then slipped a neat ball inside to Stallard who, on the right of the six yard box, simply blasted an unstoppable finish across Hook.

A great cross from the left by Jeannin was headed across the face of his own goal by Baker in full flight just before O'Connor could apply a finishing touch behind him.

Blackwood did well to hold the ball up in midfield before picking out the excellent run of O'Connor, the ball racing off the wet surface to the keeper just before he could take control and be in the clear.

Stags continued to play some neat football which helped rouse the home fans behind them.

Jenkins did have a brief shooting opportunity on 25 minutes from 25 yards but launched the ball well over.

O'Connor caused more mayhem in the Eastbourne box as he twisted and turned but Pullan stuck with him well and got a leg in the way of his finish.

O'Connor was there again at the near post to meet a Somner cross seconds later but was harmlessly wide.

Six minutes from the break Lovett retrieved a long ball down the right and turned O'Hare to hook in a god cross which Tait met with a glancing header wide of the far post.

But Stags deservedly extended their advantage four minutes from the break, O'Connor chased a Jenkins backpass and his challenge on the keeper was enough to see the ball run loose. It was picked up by Arnold who coolly kept his head and made space to drill an unstoppable finish into the gaping net past two helpless defenders.

Armstrong headed wide from a Lovett cross in stoppage time as Stags left the field to warm applause.

But within five minutes of the restart the visitors were back in the hunt after a second mix-up of the week between Moses and Gamble. Moses let a long clearance from Hook roll towards Gamble who he thought would race off his line. But he was slow to leave and Nathan Crabb nipped in to steal the ball and then managed to poke it home between O'Hare and the post

Harkin was sent on in place of Matthew Crabb on 58 minutes and within a few seconds was booked for upending Blackwood.

Tait pounced on more hesitant home defending to take possession on 61 minutes and, with three defenders around him, still made space to try a chip over Gamble which the Stage keeper was happy to see drop over.

Mansfield had not started the second half well but came desperately close to a third goal on 65 minutes. O'Connor helped the ball across the six yard box and D'Laryea got in a shot which the keeper and Pullan threw themselves in the way of and, with the ball sitting almost on the goal line, Jenkins just managed to hook away before O'Connor forced it over.

Three minutes later Eastbourne were almost level. Stags failed to deal with a long free kick into the six yard box and Lovett headed back across goal for Nathan Crabb to leap unchallenged and guide a header wide in front of goal.

Home nerves continued to be stretched as Borough looked for an equaliser and Lovett was in space to volley into the side netting 12 minutes from the end from a Tait free kick.

Silk saw a shot deflect on target at the other end but Hook had his near post well covered.

Then O'Connor did superbly well to beat two men and dink over a cross which Blackwood shaped to volley home before the slightest touch from a defender spoiled the moment.

Now Mansfield were suddenly starting to look the part and a dangerous low Arnold cross was whisked away for the home side's 11th corner.

The intermittent rain intensified as we entered the final five minutes of an engrossing game.

And the third goal Stags so desperately wanted came on 88 minutes. Blackwood took another right wing corner short to Arnold who sent the ball into the six yard box where Somner jumped to head home from close range and seal it.

STAGS: Gamble; Silk, Moses, O'Hare, Jeannin; Arnold, Somner, D'Laryea, Blackwood (Hurren 90); Stallard (Robinson 90), O'Connor. Subs not used: Herriott, Shaw, Trimmer.

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

REFEREE: L. Metcalfe of Lancashire.

ATTENDANCE: 2,536 (46 away).