Returning hero was Aaron O'Connor with a 70th minute winner on his comeback from injury while the FA continue to probe his summer signing.

The Stags had a lot of first half possession and openings, but failed to seriously test home keeper James Bittner and trailed to Andrew Sandell's 11th minute goal.

• Billy McEwan post-match reaction

But, switching to 4-3-3, the second half saw an end to end thriller in which Stags finally found their shooting boots and netted three times in a breathtaking 13 minutes in which four goals flew in.

First Scott Bartlett's attempted tackle on Nathan Arnold only succeeded in him sending the ball spinning into his own net on 57 minutes.

Liam Feeney put City back ahead within two minutes before Mark Stallard's seventh goal of the season squared things up again four minutes later.

But Arnold set up O'Connor for the winner 20 minutes from the end and the only clouds on a sun-filled afternoon in Wiltshire were the sight of Stags skipper Adie Moses limping off at half time and O'Connor following him seven minutes after his winning goal, though neither are thought to be too serious.

Jason Lee was the man to miss out to accommodate O'Connor's return while central midfielder Jon D'Laryea also found himself relegated to the bench as Gavin Hurren was brought in for a fine, versatile display in midfield for the first half and the centre of defence after the break.

After Tuesday's nights 11th second horror goal at Altrincham, there was to be no quickfire lead for a depleted Salisbury -missing four key players - as Gamble raced out his box to head away before Tubbs could reach the first long ball forward.

He did the same soon after to kick clear ahead of the same player.

Then Feeney ran at Jeannin after the ball deflected into his path and his low cross was poked well wide by Turk first time at the near post.

Stags' first threat from a neat move down the right was halted by an offside flag as Stallard turned well in the box.

Sandell was penalised for clattering into Gamble as they jumped together for a 50-50 challenge at the edge of the box.

A Jeannin pass on 10 minutes sold O'Connor short and the striker was booked for his subsequent attempt to keep the ball as he caught Herring.

But seconds later Stags were behind. Feeney launched a long ball to the far post from the right which sailed over Gamble and Silk and picked out Herring. He headed the ball in front of goal where Sandell swept the ball past the keeper from seven yards.

Soon after Gamble was down to save a low Tubbs effort.

Blackwood took Stags' first corner but it was easily headed clear and Jeannin's lob back at goal was comfortably held.

On 18 minutes O'Connor did well to turn two men and get away in the box. But, from a tight angle on the right, he drilled a low ball across goal with no one there to finish.

Stags forced a second corner on 21 minutes. This time Blackwood got the bal further over and O'Hare rose to head wide a decent chance from six yards.

A third corner followed soon after but this time Blackwood put too much on it and it curled out beyond the far post for a goal kick.

Stags had a let off when Feeney just failed to get a finishing touch onto a low Tubbs ball in from the right. But the visitors broke quickly down the centre through Arnold who tried to slip O'Connor beyond the last defender but the keeper was down quickly and bravely to smother any hope he had of putting the ball beyond him.

Dangerous crosses from O'Connor and then Jeannin were headed away as Mansfield tried to step up the pressure.

But on the half-hour a loose ball was picked up by Feeney who touched the ball into the path of Sandell and he curled over the left angle.

Another low O'Connor cross was cut out and a Hurren shot from 20 yards charged down as Stags continued to press.

On 37 minutes Tubbs sent in a hopeful dipping shot from 25 yards wide on the right which bounced once and was grabbed by Gamble before it could sneak inside the far post.

Stags hit back with two more corners but still Salisbury held firm.

Gamble was a little lucky when he failed to hold onto a long Feeney cross from the left but was able to grab at the second attempt before Sandell could capitalise.

O'Connor sent a hopeful volley wide from 20 yards on 43 minutes. Soon after, when City failed to clear a left wing throw, Arnold had a low shot which took a huge deflection and span to safety when it might have caused Bittner big problems as he was wrong-footed.

But the home goal stayed intact at the break.

A slight injury to Stags skipper Moses saw the big central defender replaced by D'Laryea as a precation for the second half with Hurren pulled back into the heart of defence.

Arnold also pushed up into a three-man attack for the second half. And O'Connor soon rode a foul challenge from Bevan and was allowed to go on and drill a low ball in front of goal which was just in front of the reach of the incoming Arnold.

Tubbs was cautioned on 50 minutes for a late challenge on Somner as the visitors continued their strong start to the second half.

An Arnold corner was met by O'Hare but Clohessy headed away from in front of goal for a second corner which saw another frantic scramble in front of goal but City clung on.

Hurren saw the game's third yellow card for hacking down Tubbs on the right touchline.

Stags finally hauled themselves level with a bizarre goal on 57 minutes. Stallard turned well and fed the ball to Arnold. As he tried to finish, Bartlett came in with a tackle and, as they clashed, the ball span wildly towards goal and crept just inside the helpless keeper's right hand post.

Stallard might have given Stags a lead almost immediately but Bittner got a hand to his six yard header.

And City then broke up field to regain the lead. Feeney was sent through and, with one defender and the keeper in front of him as he entered the box, he poked a low shot inside the right hand post to regain the home lead on 59 minutes.

The goal continued to rain down as Stallard levelled the game again on 63 minutes. O'Connor ran at the defence before making space for Somner to cross from the right. His ball over found Stallard lurking at the far post and he tucked away a superb finish.

Arnold had a deflected shot saved a minute later and then Blackwood headed over at the far post while Bartlett sliced an inviting loose ball well wide for City as the game continued to ebb and flow.

On 70 minutes Stags took the lead for the first time as O'Connor tucked away a cool low finish under Bittner after Arnold had controlled a dropping ball on the edge of the box and spun to feed the ball into space.

Two minutes later former Stags star Clarke joined the action in place of Beavan.

Arnold twice won tackles to keep possession on 77 minutes and the ball ran luckily for O'Connor. He ran at the keeper and rounded him but was forced wide and by the time he had tried to square it for Arnold to finish, the defenders were back in position and the moment had gone.

O'Connor finally limped off with cramp with 13 minutes left to be replaced by Robinson.

City won their first corner of the game with 11 minutes but it was headed away.

With eight minutes to go the home side made a double swap while Stags sent on Lee for Stallard.

Sub Griffin had an immediate chance from a right wing cross for the home side but nodded wide of the near post from eight yards when he should have made Gamble work.

In a thrilling finish climbing by O'Hare conceded a free kick which Clarke floated in and Lee headed out. Robinson then broke from inside his own half and almost went clear but was eventually reeled in at the edge of the box by Bass and his tired finish was blocked.

Turk was booked for hauling back Robinson as he tried to break again in the last minute of the 90 and was also ordered from the field to clear up a cut head from his tussle with Robinson.

Three minutes of stoppage time were added but Mansfield soaked them up comfortably for once for a magnificent victory.

SALISBURY: Bittner; Clohessy, Cook, Bass, Beavan (Clarke 72); Feeney (Griffin 82), Turk, Herring, Bartlett; Sandell, Tubbs (Matthews 82). Subs not used: Davies, Widdrington.

STAGS: Gamble; Jeannin, Moses (D'Laryea ht), O'Hare, Silk; Blackwood, Hurren, Somner, Arnold; O'Connor (Robinson 77), Stallard (Lee 83). Subs not used: Wood, Herriott.

REFEREE: Nick Kinseley of Wickford.

ATTENDANCE: 1,494 (away 209).