Mansfield Town claim a first home league win of the season after beating Cambridge United

The striker showed his quality with well-taken goals either side of Emmanuel Longelo’s second half leveller.

The former Sheffield Wednesday man swept home after an excellent ball from the impressive Elliott Hewitt gave him a simple task just before the break

But Gregory’s winner was far from simple with his beautiful curling effort from just inside the box worthy of winning any game.

It was a deserved win for Stags who battled away in typical workmanlike fashion to knock Cambridge out of their passing stride and off their game.

The visitors did indeed look good on the ball when they got into their stride, with notable spells of possession early in both halves.

But, aside from their very well taken counter-attack, United too often made poor decisions in the final third and failed to hurt Stags when opportunities presented themselves.

Stags were left breathing a huge sight of relief after a great save by Christy Pym and a block on the line by Aaron Lewis sealed the win.

Josh Stokes failed to trouble Christy Pym with an effort from the edge of the box inside the first five minutes.

Will Evans turned an Elliott Hewitt cross over the bar as Stags countered on 19 minutes.

Tom Nicholls blazed a good chance over while unmarked from 14 yards after Hewitt picked him out on 24 minutes.

Shayne Lavery headed straight at the keeper minutes later from Emmanuel Longelo’s inswinging cross.

Lee Gregory opened the scoring for Stags on 39 minutes after some good link up play involving Evans and Hewitt left him with a simple task to slot home in the bottom corner.

Lavery had a shot comfortably saved just before the break with the wide angle always against him.

But Cambridge levelled when Longelo smashed after James Brophy slotted him in following a brilliant counter-attack on 50 minutes.

Louis Reed saw a long-range effort deflected wide before Baily Cargill fired over from the subsequent corner just before the hour.

The Cambridge bench were screaming for a penalty after Lavery went down following a challenge from Deji Oshilaja on 65 minutes.

Mansfield hit the front three minutes later when Gregory curled home a beauty into the top corner from just inside the box.

Will Evans had a shot easily saved from distance with 15 minutes to go as Stags looked to put the game to bed.

Pym saved brilliantly to block from Dan N’Lundulu deep in stoppage-time before Aaron Lewis brilliantly cleared off the line to keep out Sullay Kaikai with the last kick of the game.

Stags: Pym, Hewitt (Akins 59), Oshilaja, Cargill, McLaughlin, Read, Boateng (Baccus 59), Quinn (Lewis 78), Nichols (Bowery 67), Evans (Waine 78), Gregory.

Subs: Flinders, B. Quinn.

Cambridge United: Reyes, Andrew (O’Riordan 22), Rossi, Stokes, Brophy, Digby, Smith, Bennett, Barton (Nlundulu.64), Lavery, Longelo (KaiKai 68)

Subs: Cousins, Gibbons, Morrison, Njoku.

Referee: Martin Coy

Chad man-of-the-match: Lee Gregory