COURTNEY Pitt delivered a hammer blow to Mansfield Town's play-off hopes with a superb winning goal for rivals York City at Field Mill last night.
To make matters worse Stags had captain Luke Foster sent off for a second yellow card offence eight minutes from time.
Stags keeper Alan Marriott had at least kept his side in the hunt with a brilliant penalty save to deny York hot shot Richard Br
odie on 64 minutes.
But Pitt's 61st minute 20-yard blast settled York's first win in eight matches to reignite their fading ambitions.
Coupled with Saturday's disappointing 0-0 home draw with Tamworth, the two results leave the Stags with much work to do this week with a tough trip to Histon on Saturday and a home clash with Altrincham ahead next Tuesday and wins ever more essential with only nine games to go.
After a patchy first half, at least the Stags stepped up to the plate with some better football in the second half.
But their five match unbeaten run was halted by Pitt's shot which was a goal worthy of winning any match.
The Mansfield side saw three changes.
Out went Ryan Williams, Kyle Nix and the injured Jon Shaw.
Boss David Holdsworth gave starts to Andy Burgess, his first in two months, Blair Sturrock, his first since 28th November, and Jon Challinor, who was back from injury.
A welcome sight for the Stags was the return from a lengthy injury lay-off for livewire Jake Speight who was given a place on the bench.
Stags lined up 4-3-3 with Sturrock and Briscoe either side of Duffy up front.
Pitt refused to get out of the way of an early Stags free kick which Mills hit straight at him in frustration. The referee ordered a retake and the ball was lofted into the box where former Stag Graham headed firmly clear.
In the fourth minute Gash showed good battling qualities as he burst through two tackles and stayed upright to get in a firm, low 16 yard shot straight to Marriott.
Pitt then put a dangerous ball into the box from the left and Barrett tried a cheeky backheel which failed to find a team mate at the near post.
Briscoe almost slotted the overlapping Silk through on goal only to see Meredith make an important interception as both sides went at each other in an exciting opening.
Brodie showed his talents with a menacing run down the centre with Challinor getting the block on his final shot.
York fans were furious with a Nicholas long throw that they felt was a foul throw for him overstepping the line. Duffy got on the end of it with a header that deflected over for a corner with keeper Ingham coming out confidently to collect Burgess' outswinging flag kick.
At the other end Gash chested down a long clearance for Brodie who could not keep his finish down as it bounced awkwardly for him and the ball ended up in the Quarry Lane stand.
Pitt got in the way of a shot from team mate Barrett on the edge of the Stags box, then Marriott caught a 20 yard half volley from Brodie to his left, taking over the line as he did so for City's first corner on 28 minutes which he then plucked from the air as it came in from the right.
Great interplay from Briscoe and Sturrock down the right saw Briscoe get to the by-lone but his low cross was nowhere near the waiting Duffy and Burgess.
But York continued to look the more dangerous side and when Purkiss slipped the ball between the legs of Nicholas on the right he fired harmlessly into the sidenetting with options to his left.
Brodie then laid off a low pass from Purkiss into the path of Barrett who struck a low first time shot wide of the near post.
The first half ended scoreless with York having the best efforts and the home side blighted by too many overhit long forward balls and keeper Ingham without a save to make.
Within three minutes of the restart Stags had tested Ingham and raised the temperature and noise level in the stands.
A neat inside pass from Sturrock sent Silk racing into the box where he slipped a pass to Challinor whose near post blast was turned round for a corner.
Sangare was booked on 56 minutes for a block on Sturrock as he turned him near the left corner flag, but Ingham grabbed Mills' free kick at the second time of asking.
The best chance of the game arrived on 61 minutes as Harsley floated in a right wing cross and Gash got up to steer a header just wide of the far post with Marriott scrambling.
But within that same minute, the visitors did grab the lead with a thunderbolt of a finish by Pitt.
Given space just outside the home box he let fly with a blast that beat Marriott all ends up.
There was more drama three minutes later as York won a spot kick. Pitt ran at three defenders in the box and went down under the softest of challenges and the well-placed referee pointed immediately to the spot.
Brodie drove it hard and low to Marriott's right but the keeper went down full-length and produced a fantastic block.
Mansfield immediately changed the forward line with Speight and Perry thrown on for Duffy and Sturrock on 65 minutes.
Within three minutes of the restart Stags had tested Ingham and raised the temperature and noise level in the stands.
A neat inside pass from Sturrock sent Silk racing into the box where he slipped a pass to Challinor whose near post blast was turned round for a corner.
Sangare was booked on 56 minutes for a block on Sturrock as he turned him near the left corner flag, but Ingham grabbed Mills' free kick at the second time of asking.
The best chance of the game arrived on 61 minutes as Harsley floated in a right wing cross and Gash got up to steer a header just wide of the far post with Marriott scrambling.
But within that same minute, the visitors did grab the lead with a thunderbolt of a finish by Pitt.
Given space just outside the home box he let fly with a blast that beat Marriott all ends up.
There was more drama three minutes later as York won a spot kick. Pitt ran at three defenders in the box and went down under the softest of challenges and the well-placed referee pointed immediately to the spot.
It was hard to tell who was deemed to have made the chalenge or if it was actually in the box but skipper Foster was yellow-carded.
Brodie drove it hard and low to Marriott's right but the keeper went down full-length and produced a fantastic block.
Mansfield immediately changed the forward line with Speight and Perry thrown on for Duffy and Sturrock on 65 minutes.
Challinor whipped a low shot at Ingham from Speight's lay-off.
On 74 minutes Sangare, already booked, went up with Perry and clearly has his arm up in the Stags' striker's face as they tussled for the ball. But, after consulting with the linesman, he decided to speak to the two players and leave it at that.
The home fans were further incensed on 76 minutes when Gash was booked for the tamest of shoves.
Aware Sangare was walking a tightrope York wisely withdrew him and sent on McGurk to replace him at the back.
Stags suffered a major blow eight minutes from time when skipper Foster was shown a second yellow card for a late tackle on Rankine as he went past him on the right and suddenly Mansfield were down to 10 men.
Rankine flicked a right wing cross first time over the bar soon after as the clock began to run out on Mansfield.
Nicholas also saw yellow for a foul on Brodie as Stags struggled to find a way back into the contest.
Speight almost carved out an equaliser two minutes from time but flicked the ball wide as he got into the box, though appeared to have two defenders fouling him all the way.
As Mansfield pushed on, York broke in stoppage time with Smith sending a stinging shot at Marriott.
