The full back settled a scrappy game on a muddy and badly cut-up Dripping Pan surface with his immaculate 22nd minute free kick, as the Stags made it two wins out of two for new boss David Holdsworth.

That took them to 15th place and just 13 points from the play-offs . . . all in front of just 598 fans, the lowest ever to watch a Stags first team league or cup clash.

• Click here for al the post-match reaction and interviews with matchwinner Paul Mayo, fellow debutant Curtis Woodhouse and manager David Holdsworth

The Stags wasted several good chances in a first half they completely dominated, which would have given them much more breathing space in a far more even second half.

Debutant Curtis Woodhouse three times went close in the first half and Aaron O'Connor struck the woodwork.

The injury and suspension-hit home side raised their game after the break and 12 minutes from time almost levelled, but keeper Alan Marriott made a fine save to deny Josh Klein-Davies an unlikely equaliser.

The Stags were without injured Nathan Arnold and opted for a 4-3-3 formation. Woodhouse and midweek signing Mayo made their debuts and 10 of the 16 were players brought to Field Mill by Holdsworth.

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Cash-strapped Lewes had three key players suspended. Experienced defender Danny Cullip, defender Andy Pearson and central midfielder and manager's son Joe Keehan, the only ever-present all season, all missed out with bans, while new experienced signing Guy Butters was injured.

Mansfield began on the front foot and a good right wing cross from Silk just evaded Woodhouse at the far post, the midfielder kicking at thin air.

In the second minute Wilkinson stabbed a 20-yard shot over for the home side.

However, three minutes later, Woodhouse missed a great chance for the visitors. Duffy slipped O'Connor into the box to put him one-on-one with the keeper.

Banks did well to take the ball off the Mansfield striker's toes as he tried to round him, but the loose ball ran to Woodhouse who, with the goal gaping, missed the target from 16 yards with his low finish.

Wheeler had a low shot from a tight angle on the right blocked for the Rooks' first corner, which was easily cleared, in the 11th minute.

Woodhouse was presented with another chance in the 14th minute when D'Laryea picked him out with a cross from the right, but with a free header from six yards the debutant was unable to get over the ball and headed over.

A minute later another good flick from Duffy again gave O'Connor sight of goal and he flashed a powerful shot against the near post.

Lewes struggled to clear Mansfield's first corner and conceded a free kick just outside the box on 22 minutes.

That proved to be their undoing as newboy Mayo stepped up to curl a superb left-footed free kick into the top right hand corner to give the Stags a deserved and overdue lead.

Duffy almost doubled Mansfield's advantage with a powerful diving header from a precise Woodhouse free kick on 33 minutes, but the ball flew narrowly wide of the far post.

With Mansfield calling for a foul throw, the referee allowed Lewes to play on and St Aimee swung a hopeful boot at the ball from long range to earn an unlikely corner, which Marriott gathered under pressure.

Mayo tested Banks with a low 25 yard effort, but the keeper was behind it to leave the Stags with just a slender advantage at half-time to show for their total dominance in the first half.

There was a momentary worry when Moses' attempted clearance got caught under his feet in a muddy patch and Charles stole in to lope forward, until Mayo came across to save the day.

A low O'Connor cross in front of goal was cleared after good work from Briscoe.

Mansfield won a corner and Woodhouse sent it to the near post where Garner back heeled the ball across the face of goal. But all the Stags could win was another corner.

Woodhouse curled that in from the right and it came off a home head towards goal, where Charles cleared off the line.

A third corner followed soon after as Mansfield pressed for the all important second goal.

However, a Lewes break saw Charles steer Wheeler into space. But he struggled to dig his shot out of the mud and Marriott saved easily.

On 58 minutes Ameobi replaced Briscoe and his strength and pace immediately won the Stags' fourth corner of the half. But Woodhouse's delivery was not as good this time and easily hooked away at the near post.

Soon after Stags fans finally got to see the first long throw from debutant Mayo, but again the under pressure Rooks cleared their lines.

Holdsworth made another change on 69 minutes as Blackwood took over from O'Connor.

Neither side had been able to take a grip in a dour second half on a badly cut-up pitch.

But Ameobi should have sealed the points 14 minutes from time when a superb Blackwood cross from the left picked him out six yards from goal. But the sub, at the far post, was unable to steer his header on target.

Marriott had been virtually untroubled all afternoon, but in the 78th minute he pulled off a crucial save.

Charles had a shot charged down and the ball ran lose and Klein-Davies fired a powerful shot on target which the keeper beat away at his near post.

From the resulting corner Wheeler flicked on at the near post and Moses headed away from almost on the line at the far post.

Tackles began to fly in as Lewes mounted a raid down the right and when players clashed as the ball ran out of play, Charles was booked.

There was more danger when tags allowed a long throw from the left to bounce in their box, and Standing popped up to hook just over the bar with Marriott helpless.

Lewes gave it their best shot as the game entered three minutes of added-on time, but the Stags survived one or two scary moments, including a home corner which saw all 11 Lewees players challenging in the box.

However, Mansfield hung on for a second successive win under Holdsworth.

LEWES: Banks, Barness, Standing, Breach, Fisk, Wheeler, Wilkinson, St Aimie (Cox 78mins), Charles, Klein-Davies, Hall (Foreman 88mins). Subs: Winterton, Rivers, Liburd.
MANSFIELD TOWN: Marriott; Silk, Moses, Garner, Mayo; Somner, D'Laryea, Woodhouse; Briscoe (Ameobi 58mins), Duffy, O'Connor (Blackwood 69mins). Subs: Whatsize, Howell, Shaw.
REFEREE: Keith Yeo, of Essex.
ATTENDANCE: 598
BOOKINGS: Lewes - Charles, 82mins foul.
GOALS: Mansfield - Mayo, 22mins.

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