Every side that has topped the table has done so for one game only this season - and the Stags' tenure at the top lasted just a week as Crawley convincingly shot them down at Broadfield Stadium to leapfrog them as the new leaders.
Gary Silk did give the visitors hope with a 79th minute reply at 2-0 down but it proved too little too late after a poor first half showing by Mansfield and keeper Paddy Gamble making errors for both goals
The Sussex club were quicker and stronger throughout and their towering central defender Adam Quinn was their hero with a powerful display at the back and the opening goal on 16 minutes against the club who had helped him get fit before he rejected Field Mill to sign for Crawley.
Any hopes Billy McEwan had of his half-time team talk lifting his troops were dashed within just 20 seconds of the game restarting as Jamie Cook raced away onto an Alan O'Hare backheader to round Paddy Gamble and double the lead.
Michael Blackwood and Nathan Arnold both came close while Mark Stallard forced a great save from home keeper Simon Rayner before Silk finally found the net.
But it wasn't to be Mansfield's day against a decent side that were chalking up their fourth straight win and sixth game unbeaten.
With Jason Lee failing to shake off his ankle injury and Aaron O'Connor only fit enough for the bench after taking a kick last week, Robinson came in for a full debut.
Crawley, looking to make it four wins in a row to go top, were unchanged.
Neither side were able to get a shot away in a cagey opening during which Stags striker Stallard needed treatment for a cut above his right eye.
The visitors finally carved out the game's first goal effort on eight minutes as Blackwood swapped passes with Stallard and then tried to chip Rayner but the keeper was able to reach up and gather comfortably.
But the home side swept ahead from a 16th minute free kick wide on the right. Weatherstone launched it to the far post and, with Gamble grasping at thin air above him, the colossus of Quinn was able to head home.
Within a minute Stags were almost level as Somner got in a close range header at the far post from Blackwood's cross which Rayner did well to keep out and hold onto from close range.
There was controversy on 22 minutes when Robinson and Killeen were battling for the ball on the halfway line in front of the dugouts and Robinson caught his opponent in the face.
But with the home fans screaming for a red card, the referee decided it was careless rather than malicious and showed only a yellow.
A minute later Gamble did well to get a block on a fierce shot on the turn by Cook, then O'Hare did well to cut out a through ball that almost released Killeen while Cook was again wide with a low shot after another neat turn as the Reds grew in confidence.
Crawley broke quickly from a Stags corner and, although D'Laryea halted their progress, the home side pinned him and Arnold in the corner, won the ball back and a neat dummy from Bulman gave Pinault space for a low shot of the outside of his right boot which curled wide.
A second Stags corner on 38 minutes was taken short to give Blackwood a better angle and his cross in almost curled over the keeper into the net but he held on and set another quick counter attack in motion which ended with Killeen finding Weatherstone for a superb first time blast that Gamble did well to turn aside.
Still Crawley threatened and Forrest was only just over the far angle with an 18 yard chipped effort.
Then Killeen's clever backheel allowed Rents to run on and cross and Stags were relieved that Cook failed to get over the ball or find any direction with his headed finish
It was all Crawley now and Forrest set up Weatherstone only to see him blaze well over.
In a brief respite Arnold beat two men but saw his 15 yard shot blocked for the Stags as a difficult half for Mansfield ended with them deservedly behind.
It had been a poor half for the visitors but worse was to come within 20 seconds of the restart.
Mansfield were caught cold as O'Hare tried to head the ball back to his keeper who hesitated before setting off and Cook stole in to go clear one on one with Gamble who could not prevent the Town player taking the ball round him and rolling it into the empty net.
A minute later Gamble held onto a firm Killeen header from Forrest's right wing cross.
Stags were under siege now and Weatherstone's low cross into the six yard box was met by Killeen who, somehow, managed to lift the ball over the target from four yards. Killeen stayed down with a knock sustained as he tried to finish and had to be stretchered off to be replaced by Fletcher.
Robinson showed his strength and pace on the right but his powerful but disappointing cross hit the near side netting.
On the hour O'Connor was sent on to replace Robinson up front as the visitors looked for inspiration.
A Jeannin backheader put Gamble in trouble anf there were shouts for a penalty as Silk slid in to stop Forrest reaching the ball but the referee felt the challenge was a fair one.
Somner's pass put Arnold into the box for a low on-target shot which the keeper saved on 65 minutes.
A Silk cross was headed away as the visitors began to exert a little pressure.
On 73 minutes a low Jeannin cross from the left bounced through everyone to Stallard, free at the far post. He adjusted the angle well and got away a tremendous shot which looked a goal all the way. But Rayner responded with a fantastic save to claw it away.
But a mistake by home keeper Rayner 11 minutes from time at least gave us a grandstand finish. Arnold's low cross from the right seemed destined for the keeper's grasp. But it bounced back out off him and Silk was there to sweep the loose ball high into the net.
Soon after great work from O'Connor saw him set up Blackwood, but Quinn slid in with a great tackle in the box. Crawley broke and O'Hare had to do the same to prevent Fletcher finishing.
As Mansfield threw bodies forward, there was a danger they would be caught on the break and Gamble had to turn a well struck Douglas shot round his near post near the end.
In the end, despite four added minutes at the end, Stags could not repeat their feat of earning a point from two goals down at Ebbsfleet on the opening day.
CRAWLEY: Rayner, Rents, Weatherstone (Thomas 90), Wright, Forrest, Bulman, Pinault, Cook (Douglas 85|), Killeen (Fletcher 52), Wilson, Quinn. Subs not used: Stevens, Giles.
STAGS: Gamble, Silk, D'Laryea, Moses, O'Hare, Arnold, Somner, Stallard, Blackwood, Jeannin, Robinson (O'Connor 60). Subs not used; Shaw, McGhee, Hurren, Herriott.
REFEREE: Brendan Malone of Salisbury.
ATTENDANCE: 2,013 (262 away fans).
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