Despite struggling in the Conference, the Stags gave as good as they got in an even first half hour against their League Two neighbours.

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But they were undone on 32 minutes by a low 35 yard free kick that Alan Goodall touched to Jamie Winter whose blast somehow bounced over the dive of Paddy Gamble.

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One of the moves of a thoroughly entertaining match on 51 minutes doubled that lead as Jamie Ward fired home from six yards. and it was all over bar the shouting on 58 minutes when Winter again rifled home, this time from 25 yards, and again from Goodall's pass from a free kick.

Still the Stags kept plugging away to their great credit and they were rewarded with a Nathan Arnold consolation goal 11 minutes from time.

Ahmed passed a fitness test on his groin strain to make the Stags team. But there were five changes from the side which played at York in midweek.

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Moses returned to centre half in place of Chanot, former Chesterfield man Lee replaced Stallard up front and Somner and D'Laryea were restored to the centre of midfield at the expense of Hurren and O'Connor.

Also, Silk came back in at right back for Chris Wood.

The afternoon began with a Remembrance weekend minute's silence before the huge local derby roar growled out amid a terrific atmosphere with 1,664 Stags fans among the 6,612 attendance.

Chesterfield began well and Lester put over a dangerous cross into the Stags box on two minutes which was too high for anyone to capitalise, then Goodall curled a 30 yard free kick at Gamble a minute later.

Sinclair gave the away fans their first moment of excitement as he raced strongly into the home box but was forced wide by Page and Carson gathered safely at his near post when a low cross came in.

Lowry warmed Gamble's hands at the near post with a fierce low shot from a Winter through ball on six minutes.

But on 12 minutes Sinclair was inches away from giving Mansfield the lead. Arnold got to the left by-line and crossed low across the face of goal where Sinclair slid in but just couldn't quite turn the ball on target.

A lobbed through ball by Ahmed almost put Sinclair in behind the defence only to see Carson grab it out the air before he could strike.

We then had end to end thrills as the Spireites struggled to clear a Jeannin free kick from the right but Carson finally grabbed it as it bounced dangerously in front of goal, and the home side launched a swift counter which ended with Ward shooting just over, despite the close attentions of Silk.

A clearance cannoned back off the unlucky Somner toward his own goal and it took a great block from Moses to prevent a low Ward cross reaching anyone. But from the corner Lester was narrowly over with a near post header.

However, the home side grabbed an unexpected lead on 32 minutes.

They won a free kick over 35 yards from goal which looked to be of little threat. But Goodall touched it to his right for Winter to drill in a low shot that somehow skidded over the dive of Gamble and inside his left hand post, the keeper seemed to have got down in time only to see the ball fly over him.

D'Laryea tried to get Arnold away as Stags went in search of a reply but Carson read it well and left his box to belt a clearance downfield that almost put Ward away at the other end.

Silk did well to stay with and take the ball from Ward after Lester's pass had sent him racing into the box.

Stags came close again when Jeannin's free kick was headed back goal by Lee and Sinclair was again inches away from turning it home. The ball was cleared to Arnold on the edge of the box and his shot was deflected wide by the challenge of Downes for Mansfield's first corner.

Chesterfield's second corner was cleared out to Gray who floated the ball to the back stick where Downes got in a header on goal that Gamble clutched above his head as the first half ended with that free kick separating the sides.

A superb flicked header by Ahmed sent Arnold scurrying down the left early in the second half only to see him over-hit his cross as Sinclair tried to sneak in behind his marker.

Jeannin curled a harmless free kick from the right into the keeper's hands soon after.

But on 51 minutes the Spireites swept further ahead following a fantastic reverse pass over the advancing defence by Lester. It set Kerry free on the left of the box and he laid a square pass in front of Ward who just had time to slot home from six yards as Moses challenged in vain.

A Jeannin free kick hit the home defensive wall and when D'Laryea's attempt to put it back in was cleared Ward shot off on a thrilling run down the left before laying an inviting ball across the face of goal which just evaded any other blue shirts to Mansfield's relief.

However, the tie was all but over on 58 minutes as Winter struck again.

Goodall touched a free kick 25 yards goal to Winter to his right who let fly with a powerful shot that found the net to Gamble's left. That was the signal for some of the visiting fans to leave the ground.

Ahmed curled a low shot wide for the visitors a minute later, then Goodall cut out Arnold's through ball from sending Sinclair clear as the Spireites sat firm.

Stallard replaced Lee in the Mansfield attack on 63 minutes.

Looking for his hat-trick, Winter was only a couple of feet wide with a low first time shot from 20 yards as Stags' half-cleared a home corner.

Arnold almost clawed one back on 68 minutes with a shot that took a deflection and flew up and over the keeper but dropped just over the bar for a corner.

Moses might have done better with a far post header from a long Ahmed cross that he chose to head back across goal instead of on target. And then Ahmed sent a tame daisy cutter straight at Carson.

On 70 minutes Arnold managed to wriggle goalside of Gray but, with only the keeper to beat, rolled a poor finish across goal and wide of the far post.

O'Connor replaced Somner and almost carved a goal out straight away on 75 minutes as he came inside onto his left foot to cross for Stallard who swung a leg at it almost on the penalty spot but sliced it over the top.

D'Laryea was on target but without power with a shot on 78 minutes.

But a minute later Arnold did find the net. Picking up possession some 40 yards from goal, he came inside to a central position and from 20 yards beat Carson with a pinpoint low finish.

Ward was just wide with a powerful shot at the other end, then Arnold curled a promising effort over the far angle with the keeper out of position.

Lester ran at the Stags defence and beat two only to see team mate Kerry dive in and take over to send a shot over the top.

Ward picked out Kerry at the near post with a good low cross from the right and his excellent finish produced an equally fine save out of Gamble.

Sinclair sent a tired shot straight to Carson in the final minutes.

CHESTERFIELD: Carson, Lowry (Niven 70), Page, Austin, Ward, Goodall (Robertson 79), Lester, Downes, Winter, Kerry, Grey. Subs: Lee, Picken, Currie, Harsley, Teixeira.

STAGS: Gamble, Moses, Silk, D'Laryea, O'Hare, Arnold, Somner (O'Connor 74), Lee (Stallard 63), Ahmed, Jeannin, Sinclair. Subs: Wood, Kay, Chanot, Herriott, Hurren.

REFEREE: Carl Boyeson of Hull.

ATTENDANCE: 6,612 (1,664 away).