Desperate Stags knew that victory would lift them out of the bottom two with only four games left and, against a side that won seven of their last eight games, only conceding once in those, they even had the temerity to go ahead with a scrappy goal on 39 minutes - eventually awarded to Mickey Boulding for his 23rd of the season.

• Holland fumes over key refereeing decisions

• The Stockport defeat is discussed in this week's Stags Talk. Click here to listen now.

But County were only behind for five minutes as Mansfield keeper Carl Muggleton could only punch a County corner into his own net.

Although having to soak up some fearsome pressure from a very good side, Stags more than matched the Hatters on a dreadful surface after the break.

• To view photos from the match by Richard Parkes, look in our gallery

But they were undone on 74 minutes when Buxton was harshly sent off as last man for his foul on Tommy Rowe in a crowded box as Rowe was about to shoot and the classy Liam Dickinson coolly bagged the winner from the spot.

Stags began with the same starting XI for the fourth successive game.

Mansfield began the night just three points from safety with this game in hand and unbeaten in their last three.

John-Baptiste slid in to concede a corner with his tackle on Dickinson but first Hamshaw and then John-Baptiste got it clear.

Then Dickinson's pace got him to the right by-line and he crossed hard and low but couldn't find the incoming Rowe.

A second corner followed on three minutes which saw Muggleton have to get a hand in the way of Dicker's on target far post header.

But Stags won a corner of their own a minute later and Mullins saw his header blocked in front of goal.

Dickinson ran menacingly at the Mansfield defence once agin but this time Buxton stepped in with a perfectly timed tackle and brought the ball away to safety.

County forced their third flag kick in six minutes which Rose curled in superbly and Muggleton grabbed hold of ti at te second attempt after initially spilling it under pressure.
On 10 minutes Stags were opened up by a long ball down the left touchline by Rose which Buxton failed to reach and Dickenson was suddenly goalside of him only to curl the ball wide of the far post when he should have at least worked Muggleton.

Buxton almost nudged Stags ahead five minutes later as Louis was fouled wide on the right and Hamshaw sent in a tempting free kick, Buxton rising well but nodding it just the wrong side of the far post with County holding their collective breath.

Dawson missed a tackle on Rowe in the box but his low attempted finish was deflected wide for another corner.

After soaking up a spell of Stags pressure County came forward agaia on the right as the dangerous Dickinson shrugged off the challenge of Buxton and forced Muggleton to his knees at the near post to hang onto his low cross-cum-shot.

On 32 minutes Boulding tried to set Arnold away with a low pass. But as the youngster took possession and Stags looked threatening, the referee blew and brought play back to book Owen for catching Boulding late as he made the pass.

Mansfield's best moment so far arrived on 35 minutes as Dawson put Arnold into the Stockport half and he ran at them, leaving three in his wake before forcing Ruddy into his first save with a low finish.

Within a minute a poor header clear went straight to an unmarked Taylor whose dipping finish went over Muggleton but was never going to come down enough in time.

Amazingly, Stags suddenly found themselves ahead in bizarre circumstances six minutes from half time.

Louis led a break out of Mansfield's half and found the overlapping Hamshaw outside him. He crossed it hard and low and Boulding went in with the keeper who seemed to foul the Stags man for what everyone though would be a penalty. But the ball span up and back inside the post and over the line before County cleared it.

The referee consulted with his assistant who confirmed it was a goal - his goal-signalling buzzer to the middle man was not working - and the goal stood, apparently off either the keeper or Dicker.

It was the first goal Ruddy had conceded in 526 minutes of football and went in off him. However, the referee said at half time that he was awarding the goal to Boulding as he had flicked it goal wards in the first place.

Another great run from Arnold again saw him leave three opponents for dead before he was finally blocked in the box.

But a minute from the break County were level with what looked like another own goal as Muggleton tried to get away a Gleeson corner but saw his attempted push under pressure slice back into his own net.

In stoppage time Mullins was booked for his nudge on Dickinson as he went past him.

Half time terrace talk surrounded who had scored the goals. But one fact was clear - we were all square at 1-1 for the second half.

Former Stockport star Briggs received warm applause from the home fans as he replaced Jelleyman at the start of the second half at left back.

And he immediately made a contribution as he cleared a dangerous Rose cross right in front of goal as Taylor tried to get on the end of it.

Dawson was wide with a tame shot on the turn on 53 minutes. Then Boulding's first time touch on D'Laryea's low ball found Louis who, in turn, sent a first time flick over keeper and bar.

Stockport's response was to send on Proudlock and Pilkington for Taylor and Gleeson.

Soon after Rowe flashed a 20 yard effort just wide of the far post with Muggleton rooted.

Ruddy was lucky when he dropped a Hamshaw free kick in the box but it ran kindly for the home side as a defender cleared.

Owen made a superbly timed tackle as Arnold almost went clear onto Louis' intelligent reverse pass as Stags continued to impress.

But Mansfield were dealt a cruel blow 16 minutes from time.

Rowe ran at the away defence down the centre and John-Baptiste missed a tackle to allow him in on Muggleton where Buxton brought him down from the side.

A spot kick was given and, to further rub Mansfield noses in it, Buxton was immediately red carded as the last man before Dickenson buried the penalty, sending Muggleton the wrong way.

Desperate Mansfield, who did not deserve to be behind, quickly went in search of parity and Boulding was too high from 20 yards while Arnold's low shot from the same distance as always at Ruddy.

County came back with three corners, the first skidding right across the Mansfield goal line, and from the third Blizzard had a shot smothered by Muggleton with John-Baptiste then hooking clear.

Louis and Dawson were replaced by Horlock and Wainwright for the last eight minutes as Stags looked to salvage something for the 10 men.

Rose was inches wide with a 20 yard first time piledriver as County made their numbers count and kept the ball.

As Stags pressed forward near the end Stockport broke and D'Laryea's slip almost let Proudlock go clear. But he recovered well and Proudlock was forced to square to Dickinson whose shot was beaten away by Muggleton.

Arnold was robbed in the home penalty box to set off another Stockport broke which saw Dickinson take a great first touch outside the Stages box but delay his shot too long and John-Baptiste was able to block for the corner.

In stoppage time Wainwright fired straight at Reddy but there was no be no way past him again as more precious points slipped away from the Stags who were again cheered from the field by the away fans at the end of another decent showing without reward.

STOCKPORT: Ruddy, Rose, Taylor (Proudlock 56), Owen, Dicker, Raynes, Gleeson (Pilkington 56), Dickinson, Rowe, Blizzard, Smith. Subs: Logan, McNulty, Logan.

STAGS: Muggleton, Mullins, Jelleyman (Briggs ht), D'Laryea, Hamshaw, Dawson (Wainwright 82), M. Boulding, Buxton, John-Baptiste, Arnold, Louis (Horlock 82). Subs: White, Brown.

REFEREE: Kevin Wright of Cambridgshire.

ATTENDANCE: 4,982 (302 away).