Mal Benning own goal sees Mansfield Town beaten at Leyton Orient

Newcastle loanee Kell Watts cancelled out James Dayton’s opener before Mal Benning’s own goal in the 74th minute sealed victory for the Londoners.

The struggling Stags headed to the capital desperate to end a dismal run of just two wins in 16 league outings and four without a win.

Basement boys Stevenage lost at Bradford City but defeat meant Graham Coughlan’s charges failed to further increase their 10-point gap above the dreaded drop zone.

Coughlan made one change from the side which were held by a late leveller at Morecambe last time out.

Harry Charsley dropped to the bench and was replaced by CJ Hamilton in a change of system.

The Stags started brightly down south and Nicky Maynard thought he had opened the scoring early on but was denied by the linesman’s flag.

Stags then had a massive let-off as Daniel Happe hit the post for the O’s before Conor Wilkinson lashed the rebound over.

Lee Angol almost scored against his former club as he fired wide, then Ryan Sweeney could only nod over for the visitors before Bobby Olejnik kept out Wilkinson’s header.

Down the other end Maynard was kept out by ex-Swindon stopper Lawrence Vigouroux after a fine counter.

However, the O’s struck on the stroke of half-time.

It was a super strike as Dayton cut inside before beating Olejnik at his near post.

Just before the hour Maynard was frustrated by Chilean keeper Vigouroux.

First the striker could only fire straight at the keeper before seeing a fine curling effort well kept out after catching the hosts on the counter.

But the Stags’ endeavour finally paid off on the hour mark.

Watts rose highest to convert Mal Benning’s pinpoint delivery and level proceedings with a fine header.

Provider Benning then tried his luck from range but his deflected effort nestled safely in Vigouroux’s grasp.

But Benning got on the scoresheet at the wrong end as substitute Jordan Maguire-Drew’s teasing cross went in off the defender with 16 minutes to go.

James Clarke, who came off the bench at half-time for the visitors, lashed his left-footed effort wide.

Benning was desperate to make amends, but fired wide of the mark late on.

Hamilton nearly nicked a point at the death but narrowly missed the target in added time.

It left Stags with just two points from four successive games against fellow strugglers ahead of Saturday's visit of Newport County.

LEYTON ORIENT: Vigouroux, Marsh, Coulson, Happe, Brophy, Dayton (Wright, 66), Casse, Clay, Wilkinson, Angol, Johnson (Maguire-Drew, 70). Unused subs: Sergeant, Widdowson, Judd, Kyprianou, Sweeney.

MANSFIELD: Olejnik, Sweeney, Pearce, Watts, Riley (Clarke, 45), Bishop, Tomlinson, Benning (Charsley, 88), Hamilton, Rose, Maynard. Unused subs: Stone, Preston, Evans, Knowles, Davies.

REFEREE: Josh Smith.

ATTENDANCE: 3,587 (181 away).