Battling Mansfield Town sink into drop zone after home defeat by Stockport County

Depleted Mansfield had 10 key players missing but gave their all in a hard-fought clash before were finally beaten by the play-off chasing Hatters, who were forced to come from behind.

A thrilling first half saw both teams going for it hammer and tongue with chances aplenty.

And it was Mansfield who drew first blood when a Nathan Moriah-Welsh corner found the net off Kyle Wootton for an own goal under pressure from Ryan Sweeney on 28 minutes.

But Sweeney then saw the ball deflect into his own net to even things up from a low Jayden Fevrier cross three minutes from the break.

The second half saw less chances but Stags well in the contest until the 69th minute when Jack Diamond headed the Hatters in front.

Stags made two changes to the side as Stephen McLaughlin and Aaron Lewis replaced injured pair Jamie McDonnell and Lucas Akins.

That still left Stags with 10 key players missing with injury, illness and suspension and a very youthful bench.

Stags carved out the first opening on six minutes.

Reed's long ball sent Lewis forward and he set up Evans for a shot that looked intended to beat Hinchcliffe on his near post, but the keeper adjusted and made a fine one-handed save.

At the other end two minutes later Norwood sent a 25 yard volley over from a headed clearance.

Diamond tried his luck from a similar distance on 10 minutes but Roberts was down to grab at the second attempt while Oshilaja had to make a fine last ditch tackle to deny Wootton in the box as he shaped to pull the trigger.

On 16 minutes a long ball forward picked out Evans with no offside flag, but the ball ran off his chest as he tried to control and Onyango was able to dispossess him in the box.

A minute later Roberts was well positioned at his near post to keep out a low Mothersille shot after he was sent into space on the left by Diamon's pass.

Pye was booked for a foul on Evans and the home fans were furious as the whistle went with the ball now with Moriah-Welsh in a promising position.

Stags almost went ahead on 28 minutes when Moriah-Welsh sent a superb cross over that dropped for McLaughlin, Hinchliffe bravely down to deny him and then Onyango blocking Evans' follow-up.

But from the corner Stags were in front.

Moriah-Welsh sent it over and Sweeney and Wooton went for the ball and it came off Wootton and nestled into the net.

It was an own goal, despite Sweeney's celebrations, but it was a much-needed first Stags league goal in 324 minutes.

Lewis blazed over from 20 yards from the next home corner, then on 34 minutes Lewis forced Hinchcliffe down into a save from his low shot after Evans had backheeled a Moriah-Welsh throw to him intelligently.

McLaughlin did well to keep a long ball in play on the left by-line before squaring low and Onyango did well to block Evans at the near post.

Evans was booked on 41 minutes for a tackle from behind.

But on 42 minutes the visitors levelled with a moment of controversy.

Blake-Tracy looked to be fouled by Fevrier but was allowed to run on and cross low and the ball clipped Sweeney in front of goal and into the net for an own goal.

Lewis fired straight at Hinchcliffe on 44 minutes after Cargill had seen his shot on the turn blocked.

Stags then survived a Stockport break on 45 minutes, Diamond swapping passes with Wootton and getting goalside of Sweeney but shooting straight at Roberts.

Stags began the second half on the front foot with the home fans firmly behind them and Lewis was just wide from a corner on the hour mark with Stags on top but both keepers untested fatre the break.

Hills went into the book for a foul on the left on 61 minutes but County managed to eventually hook away the free kick.

Oshilaja was booked for not taking a throw quickly enough on 66 minutes.

But Stockport were ahead on 69 minutes after an excellent move on the left.

Three or four passes put Osborn into space and he curled a cross to the far post where Diamond jumped well to guide a header under the right angle.

Roberts was down to save a low Dia,ond shot from 25 yards on 76 minutes.

Pye was lucky to stay onfield after a pull on Evans brought him down and having already been booked.

Evans' calls for a penalty kick went ignored after clashing with a defender and Stockport then broke upfield to force a save from Roberts.

Lewis was narrowly wide on 82 minutes from 25 yards after being set up by Evans.

Dwyer replaced Reed for the last seven minutes and soon after McLaughlin sent a first time effort over the top.

Stags made three more late changes but, despite six added minutes, there was to be no late Christmas cheer on a bleak afternoon.

STAGS: Roberts, Hewitt, Cargill, Sweeney (Dickov 86), Blake-Tracy (McAdam 90+2), Oshilaja, Reed (Dwyer 83), Moriah-Welsh (Taylor 90+2), Lewis, McLaughlin, Evans. SUBS NOT USED: Mason, Chambers-Morgan, Goodman.

STOCKPORT: Hinchcliffe, Diamond, Fevrier (Lowe 59), Mothersville (Olowu 59), Pye, Wootton, Osborn, Onyango (Gardner 90+2), Norwood (Dodgson 74), Bailey (Hunt 74), Hills. SUBS NOT USED: Addai, Edwards.

REFEREE: Alan Young.