It was a sickening blow so soon after the superb midweek away win at Lincoln City.
- To view match action photos by Chad's Angela Ward go to the gallery or click on the green play icon for a video slideshow
But bottom side Wrexham produced the good with an excellent 2-0 home win over Play-off hopefuls Darlington while Stags were stung by a late Bees breakaway winner as they looked for an offside flag that never came.
New signing Jefferson Louis certainly made his mark with a goal just seven minutes after coming on for his debut as a substitute to square tings up at 2-2.
But the headlines went to Brentford's debut-making Nathan Elder whose own goal put Stags in front before he went on to snatch the late winner.
- Boulding handed 18th goal of season
That continued an amazing run of success for new boss Andy Scott who came in when the Bees had lost five on the bounce and have now gone on to take 20 points from a possible 27, winning four times away from home. That was their fifth win in six games.
Stags knew it would be a tough one against a record like that but more than played their part in a thrilling end to end encounter and probably deserved a point from it, though the visitors will point out that home keeper Carl Muggleton again had to make as string of fine saves over the 90 minutes.
Newcomers Atkinson and Louis had to make do with places on the bench.
But there was a defensive reshuffle with Martin out suspended, Jelleyman going to left back, Mullins to the centre and young Wood in to play right back.
Brown was dropped to the bench to allow Holmes in to partner Boulding up front.
The afternoon began with a minute's silence for former Stags player Brian Lambert who died recently.
Mansfield began in enterprising fashion, playing some neat football and almost grabbed a fifth minute lead.
Hamshaw and Dawson's training ground routine corner was cleared. But Hamshaw put Dawson back into space on the right and his excellent deep cross picked out Buxton who saw his header come back off the bar and Mullins had a follow-up blocked on the line.
A Holmes pass then sent Boulding sprinting into acres of space but, having neatly cut inside the defender, he harmlessly dragged a poor finish wide of the near post.
Stags won a free kick 30 yards from goal which Hamshaw curled straight into Hamer's arms, then Boulding was only just beaten to the ball by Hamer right on the edge of his box as he chased Bell's forward ball.
It was a fine start by the home side and they crowned it with a goal on 15 minutes. Hamshaw's free kick was headed goal wards by Boulding and, as Elder stretched out a leg to block, he only succeeded in turning it past his keeper.
Boulding pointed to himself as he tried to lay claim to the goal and after the game referee Jon Moss said he felt it was going in anyway and Bouldng was finally credited with his 18th of the season which will have cheered both him and Elder.
Within two minutes the Bees generated their first threat of the afternoon as Connell was allowed a free header on Dickson's free kick which flew narrowly wide.
Connell posed more danger on 20 minutes as he burst through a square defence with no offside flag showing. But he was forced wide and, when he tried to chip a cross over Muggleton, the keeper did well to reach up and grab it.
Connell next picked out the run of Poole who sent a powerful first time effort at goal which took a deflection off Wood. But Muggleton was able to parry and Jelleyman headed clear.
From the corner, taken by Dickson, Elder saw the Stags keeper make another fine save from his on-target header.
Just as you could sense Stags would score after their spell of pressure, it looked like Brentford were about to level. And they did so on 25 minutes from a 25 yard free kick, conceded by Buxton.
O'Connor produced a superb curling effort which no keeper would have stopped, finding the net just under the angle.
The frenetic action settled down for a time then though Boulding did see his shot on the turn blocked on 34 minutes. Then Halshaw tried to get Boulding away but two defenders stuck with him as he tried to line up a shot and it eventually lacked enough power to trouble Hamer.
Muggleton was back in action on 43 minutes as Stags found themselves defending three on three. Poole's low shot forced the keeper to dive full length to block and Jelleyman slid in beat Shakes to the loose ball with the empty net beckoning.
Dawson was just wide with a poked shot from 18 yards for Stags and Mullins came up with a saving tackle as Dickson raced in on goal at the other end as the half ended honours even.
The Bees almost stung Stags immediately after the break as Connell set up Smith for a low 20 yard effort that was only just the wrong side of Muggleton's right hand post.
Buxton was cautioned on 53 minutes for his late tackle on Shakes.
The visitors won two corners and Heywood headed the second of those straight at Muggleton.
At this point the visitors were simply passing Stags out of the game and it was no surprise when they virtually walked in a splendid second goal.
Smith was the architect with some neat footwork and Connell was ahead of him to steer home a pinpoint finish as he received the killer pass.
Stags immediately sent on new boys Atkinson and Louis in place of D'Laryea and Holmes and within seconds Louis had a fierce shot blocked for a corner.
Buxton was very lucky on 63 minutes when he seemed to hold Connell back in the box but nothing was given.
And a minute later the scores were level again as sub Louis found the net within seven minutes of coming on.
Boulding did the spadework as he battled through a sea of legs and tackles just inside the box to poke the ball into his new strike partner's path and he made no mistake from close range before sprinting to the home dugout to celebrate.
Connell was furious again when he again went down under Buxton's challenge in the box but this time seemed to be looking for it and again received nothing.
Another good Stags move saw Hamshaw feed the overlapping Wood and his excellent first time cross found Atkinson who was unable to steer it on target.
This was much better from Stags though the impeccable Muggleton had to make another fine save to keep out a low effort from Shakes on 71 minutes.
Boulding did well to control a sliced cross from Wood and set up Hamshaw for a volley which he miscued well wide.
Louis tried to nudge the ball to Boulding but was tackled and then stayed down, thankfully he was able to continue after treatment.
Louis' persistence won Stags a free kick 20 yards out and Hamshaw watched his kick sail through a sea of bodies in the box and just wide of the far post with Hamer beaten.
A quick Stags break saw Louis race forward and eventually see his finish deflect up and over the top.
But Stags were caught out by a Brentford breakaway five minutes from time which produced the winner.
Mansfield defenders were looking for an offside flag as a gaping hole appeared down the centre with two opponents racing after a long through ball unchallenged.
Elder took the ball on towards Muggleton before lifting it expertly over him to atone for his own goal and seal the points.
Buxton prevented an undeserved fourth goal with a goal line clearance from Connell's shot after Shakes had skipped past two defenders on the by-line at the end of another afternoon of misery at the Mill.
STAGS: Muggleton, Mullins, Jelleyman, D'Laryea (Atkinson 57), Bell, Hamshaw, Dawson, M. Boulding, Buxton, Holmes (Louis 57), Wood. Subs not used: White, Brown, Arnold.
BRENTFORD: Hamer, O'Connor (Stone 79), Sankofa, Smith, Pead, Connell, Poole (Parkes 77), Elder, Heywood, Dickson, Shakes (Montague 90). Subs not used: Brown, Osborne.
REFEREE: Jon Moss of West Yorkshire.
ATTENDANCE: 2,511 (402 away).
STAGS MAN OF THE MATCH: Carl Muggleton.
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