NATHAN Arnold was the hero for Stags as they recorded yet another 1-0 win today, this time against bottom side Lewes at Field Mill.
It took new manager David Holdsworth's superb record as boss to nine games with six wins and two draws including seven clean sheets.
- Click on the green play icon to watch a slideshow of match action by Chad's Roger Grayson
Home fans were hoping for a goal glut against a Lewes side that had just lost 12 games on the trot.
But the visitors battled gamely until Arnold produced a textbook lob over keeper Rikki Banks 20 minutes from time to break their hearts.
Alan Marriott only had one big save of note to make while Banks made great stops to deny Neil MacKenzie, Scott Garner and Arnold while O'Connor also saw an overhead effort pass just wide and rattled a post in the second half.
- Holdsworth upset by boo-ing fans. Click here for post-match reaction
But in the end one goal proved enough and set Stags up for their big midweek game at Cambridge on Tuesday.
Midfielder Neil Mackenzie was brought in for his first start under Stags manager David Holdsworth, replacing the injured Matt Somner, who was ruled out with a neck problem picked up on Thursday.
Holdsworth - just six goals in his eight games in charge ahead of the match - was looking for Mackenzie to use his attacking guile and range of passing against the lowly crisis club, who were looking to end a run of 12 consecutive defeats.
And Mackenzie almost broke the deadlock with a curling drive on the half hour which forced keeper Banks into a flying save.
Michael Blackwood had shrugged off a virus to keep his place on the left of midfield, though Ryan Williams replaced him after 50 minutes. Louis Briscoe sufficiently recovered from a back injury to be named on the substitutes' bench and also came on for the last half hour.
The Stags, beaten just once in eight matches under Holdsworth, were looking to score more than one goal in game for only the second time under the manager and named a 4-4-2 formation.
Lewes gave teenage striker Rhys Henry (19), on loan from Southend, a debut alongside 17-year-old Freddie Foreman. And at the heart of the defence they had the vastly experienced Danny Cullip and Guy Butters.
Lewes were followed by just 22 fans, the lowest away attendance at Field Mill this season.
Ahead of the match, soldiers from the Mercian Regiment about to be deployed to Afghanistant parade into the ground as guests of the club, including their mascot, a ram.Stags chairman Andy Perry receives gifts from the regiment on the pitch and says: "We are issuing them with season tickets for the next two seasons. They and their family know they will have a home in Mansfield Town."
Stags gave the ball away from their own kick off at the start of the match and within 25 seconds a low Wilkinson shot deflected for a Lewes corner.A minute later on a Stags breakaway Duffy had a powerful effort deflect for a corner at the other end in an exciting start.
Banks made his first save in the away net as a low Mayo effort from 25 yards took a deflection off Cullip's heel and forced him down full length to his left to gather.
Stags second corner reached Duffy at the far post and he put it back into the middle of the six yard box where Banks eventually grabbed the ball after a scramble.
Undaunted Lewes went down the other end to force three corners.
But in the 14th minute we came as close as we had to a goal as Arnold ran at the Lewes defence down the right and sent over a low early cross which O'Connor controlled and then sent inches wide with an acrobatic overhead effort.
Duffy just failed to connect as he swung his leg at a powerful Blackwood cross soon after.
When Stags could only clear a long throw from the right as far as Keehan, he scuffed a disappointing finish straight at Marriott.
A long MacKenzie free kick from the right passed through everyone to Moses and the central defender did well to control a fast-moving ball and then poke a shot straight at the keeper.
But Stags were almost caught out on 20 minutes as Keehan was allowed far too much time and space just outside the box and he was only narrowly wide with a well driven shot that looked like it might fly in.
Marriott was comfortably behind a low swerving shot of the outside of Wilkinson's right boot from 30 yards.
Blackwood cut in from the left but saw his shot blocked on the edge of the box.
And on the half hour banks pulled off his best save so far as Arnold's break down the right saw Stags produce a quick set of passes which ended with a bending shot from MacKenzie 18 yards out that forced a flying save from Banks to his left.
When Lewes laboured to clear the resulting corner, Duffy nodded the ball to Garner and the teenage defender tried an overhead kick which was straight down Banks' throat.
On 33 minutes Arnold's vicious drive was finger-tipped over by an increasingly busy Banks for another corner.
Then Arnold looked at the referee for a penalty after Fisk prevented him finishing from a high Blackwood cross which would have been a harsh one on Lewes.
On 43 minutes Arnold sent a tame half volley wide after Duffy had won a MacKenzie free kick at the far post.
A minute later Blackwood headed the ball across goal where O'Connor rose to nod straight at the well placed Banks.
A few boos were heard from the home fans as the game remained in stalemate at the half time whistle.
To be fair Stags had passed the ball around well and created chances. But the visitors would be the happier with their first 45 minutes' work.
Five minutes into the second half Duffy nodded down a long Mayo ball forward and O'Connor stepped up to smash a fine shot against the left hand post.
Williams immediately came on for Blackwood down the left.
Banks got down well to cut out a low Silk cross with Duffy on hand to finish if he had not hung onto the ball.
MacKenzie's sliding tackle on Foreman halted a Lewes breakaway from Stags' second corner of the half.
On 63 minutes Banks again came to the visitors' rescue as he turned over a goalbound Garner header after Arnold had crossed from a short corner.
A minute later Briscoe replaced O'Connor up front for the Stags. And within 60 seconds he had jumped into a tackle on Wilkinson to earn a booking.
Stags finally conjured up the long-awaited breakthrough on 70 minutes. Williams played the ball across the park towards Arnold on the right and, with Banks advancing, the youngster calmly lobbing home, the ball seeming to take an age to bounce over the line.
Stags now began to move in for the kill and forced two more corners.
But there was danger when, from the second, Lewes broke thanks to a cutting pass down the centre from Cullip which sent Foreman on his way. He fed the overlapping Wheeler who shot hard and low but saw Marriott make a superb parry.
Garner conceded a needless free kick on the right on 84 minutes but D'Laryea cleared the kick and soon after Duffy headed away the visitors' first corner of the half.
Marriott had one more save to make in stoppage time but Cox's stinging shot from 20 yards was always straight at him.
In stoppage time Fisk was booked for a trip on Briscoe as Stags held onto the points.
MANSFIELD TOWN: Marriott; Silk, Moses, Garner, Mayo; Arnold, Mackenzie, D'Laryea, Blackwood (Williams 51mins); Duffy, O'Connor (Briscoe 64mins). Subs: Woodhouse, Havern, White.
LEWES: Banks; Barness, Cullip, Butters, Fisk; Wheeler (Rivers 84mins), Keehan, Williamson, Standing; Foreman (Cox 80mins), Henry. Subs: Breach, Winterton, Hall.
REFEREE: Robert Madeley, of West Yorkshire.
ATTENDANCE2,434 (22).
BOOKINGS: Stags - Briscoe, foul, 66mins. Lewes - Fisk, 90mins, foul.
SCORELINE: Mansfield - Arnold, 70mins.
STAGS MAN OF THE MATCH: Arnold.
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