Mansfield Town return to winning ways with comprehensive win over Grimsby Town

A brace from skipper Krystian Pearce and two Lee Angol penalties helped Stags wrap up their first win in four attempts.

It was nothing more than the home side had deserved during a match which they bossed throughout.

Mansfield held a 1-0 lead going into the break before they turned on the second style to seal the points thanks to two goals inside seven minutes from Pearce and Angol’s late spot-kick.

The Mariners did spoil the day a touch after pulling a consolation goal back when Sam Jones scored yet another penalty with five minutes to go

The win now sets Stags up perfectly for Tuesday’s big match with fellow promotion-rivals Wycombe as they look to finally kick-start their season.

Mansfield made three changes from the team who drew 1-1 at Carlisle United last Saturday.

Hunt, Butcher and MacDonald came in, while Benning, Atkinson and Anderson were dropped.

Stags started fast with Lee Angol forcing a good save out of James McKeown inside a minute.

JJ Hooper then fired a shot wide of the target as the Mariners showed their intent early.

Kane Hemmings forced McKeown into a fine save on 18 minutes after a good one-two with Alex MacDonald.

Paul Dixon fired a long range effort over for the visitors, before Zak Mills sliced a shot wide from 15 yards.

Mansfield hit the front on 34 minutes after David Mirfin was fouled in the box by Mills.

And his time Angol made no mistake from the spot as he banished the memories of two Mansfield penalty misses in the last two games.

Conrad Logan got down well to save a low shot from Martyn Woolford following a scramble in the box on the stroke of half-time.

Scott Vernon wasted too much time in the box and tried to take the ball on his chest instead of heading at the Mansfield goal just after the restart.

Siriki Dembele then dragged an effort badly wide from 15 yards as Russell Slade’s men came out fighting.

Hemmings failed to take a great pass from Johnny Hunt into his stride on 52 minutes allowing McKeown to come out and smother the ball.

But the Mansfield lead was doubled just two minutes later when skipper Krystian Pearce smashed home Joel Byrom’s corner.

MacDonald fired a shot just past the post on the hour mark after a good flowing move by the home side

And it was game over four minutes later when Pearce got his second of the game when he prodded a rebound after McKeown had pulled off a superb save to deny Rhys Bennett.

It got even better for Stags on 79 minutes when Angol was hacked down in the box for Mansfield’s second penalty of the match.

And he picked himself to smash the ball into the roof of the net from 12 yards.

Grimsby pulled a consolation goal back when Sam Jones scored the third penalty of the game with five minutes to go.

It had been awarded after Bennett brought down Diallang Jaiyesim.

Mansfield: Logan, Bennett, Pearce, Mirfin, Hunt, Butcher (Atkinson 82), Mellis (Potter 88), Byrom, MacDonald (Anderson 71), Angol, Hemmings.

Subs: Diamond, Olejnik, Spencer, Rose.

Grimsby Town: McKeown, Mills (Davies 60), Clarke, Osborne, Dixon, Dembele (Jaiyesimi 74), Rose, Berrett, Woolford, Vernon, Hooper (Jones 59).

Subs: Collins, Summerfield, Matt, Killip.

Ref: Paul Tierney.

Stags MOM: Lee Angol