A Jefferson Louis penalty on 51 minutes and a John Mullins goal four minutes later put Stags in control of a nervous encounter with so much at stake.

• Holland savours first win as manager

But the Dragons set up a nervous grandstand finish when Marc Williams pulled one back 12 minutes from the end.

Gutsy Stags gave their all in this must-win encounter and must now replicate that endeavour and commitment against visiting Barnet on Saturday if they are to keep alive their hopes of staying up.

Stags had lost 10 and drawn one of 11 home games since Boxing Day, but were deserved winners against a Wrexham side now almost certainly doomed to the drop.

Paul Holland kept faith with the starting XI that earned Saturday's 0-0 draw at Notts County, Rory Boulding replaced new boy Neil Wainwright, who was ill, on the bench.

Both sides launched attacks in the opening seconds with Arnold's low pull-back cut out for Stags and John-Baptiste halting Nicholson at the other end.

The tit-for-tat continued as Boulding out jumped Evans to plant a six yard header straight at keeper Ward from Hamshaw's cross on three minutes and seconds later Broughton wasn't far off target with a dipping effort from 25 yards.

On 11 minutes neat play by Hall worked an opening for Broughton and an angled shot went straight at Muggleton.

Two minutes later Bolland headed just wide at the far post from Hall's right wing corner, then Muggleton grabbed the ball bravely as Nicholson tried to get on the end of a through ball with the Welshmen making the most of the strong widn at their backs.

Then Nicholson's deft touch inside set up Hall 18 yards from goal but he send a hurried shot well over the top.

Wrexham continued to look the more dangerous and a long Williams throw was cleared as far as Llewellyn who lashed a low first time 20 yard shot just wide.

Muggleton did well to safely grab a fourth corner for the visitors and Stags broke quickly, Boulding getting a touch and the ball dropping for Dawson to fire a low shot just wide of the left hand post.

Another Stags corner saw Arnold a couple of foot wide of the same post on 37 minutes.

Then it took a good tackle in the box from Evans in the box to stop Boulding after he had burst past Williams. But the half ended scoreless.
Stags claimed in vain that Paul Hall had handled a John-Baptiste free kick as it entered the Wrexham box in the opening seconds of the second half.

Mansfield forced two quick corners and, from the second, a fallen Evans clearly handled to concede a penalty after feeling he had been fouled himself.

There was a delay while Wrexham protested the wind had blown the ball off the spot and Bolland tried some gamesmanship with comments to Louis.
But the big striker kept his nerve and drilled in a low 51st minute spot kick to break the deadlock.

Soon after Boulding volleyed over from Mullins' flick inside as the home fans turned up the volume.

And they were celebrating again within four minutes of Louis' opener as Hamshaw's clever reverse pass found the run of Mullins into the box and the full back took it on a couple of steps before slotting a low finish under Ward.

Now Stags had a firm grip on one of the most crucial games in the club's history. Ward did well to hold onto a Hamshaw free kick almost on the line with John-Baptiste there ready to pick up the scraps.

Hamshaw then almost caught Ward napping with an unexpected lob that the keeper acrobatically caught and held again on his goal line.
Then Buxton's firm header was too high from a Hamshaw corner.

Buxton agaun got a good clean header onto another Hamshaw corner but straight into the hands of Ward.

The game looked as good as won with 12 minutes to go. But the Dragons had other ideas and a Spender free kick down the right found Nicholson who forced a good save from Muggleton, diving to his right.

But he was helpless as sub Marc Williams reached the loose ball first and tucked it into the empty net to set up a nail biting finish.

Stags almost regained their two-goal advantage as Dawson burst into the box and hit a shot which Ward could only parry and Spender did well to prevent Boulding's follow-up find the net.

Worryingly four minutes were added at the end as Wrexham threw everything forward. But Stags hung in there for the crucial win they so desperately needed.

STAGS: Muggleton, Mullins, Jelleyman, D'Laryea, Hamshaw (Briggs 87), Dawson, M. Boulding (Horlock 90), Buxton, John-Baptiste, Arnold, Louis (R. Boulding 90). Subs not used: White, Brown, Briggs.
WREXHAM: Ward, Spender, Roberts (Proctor 64), Llewellyn, Mike Williams, Evans, Bolland, Aiston, Hall (D. Williams 64), Nicholson, Broughton (Marc Williams 71). Subs not used: Hope, Done.
REFEREE: Nigel Miller of Durham.
ATTENDANCE: 3,435
GOALS: Stags - Louis (pen) 51, Mullins 55.
CHAD MAN OF THE MATCH: Matt Hamshaw