Terrible run goes on as Mansfield Town are beaten at Luton Town

Picture by Gareth Williams/AHPIX.com; Football; Sky Bet League Two; Luton Town v Mansfield Town; 2/4/18 KO 15.00; Kenilworth Road; copyright picture; Howard Roe/AHPIX.com; Luton's Glen Rea celebrates putting them 2-1 ahead against Mansfield

Kane Hemmings gave the Stags an early lead at Kenilworth Road, but second-half strikes from James Collins and Glen Rea condemned Mansfield to defeat and extended their winless run to seven.

Mansfield remain eighth two points behind Coventry City who occupy the last play-off place despite being beaten 6-2 by Yeovil Town.

Boss David Flitcroft made one change to the team that lost to Accrington Stanley on Good Friday, with Johnny Hunt replacing the suspended Malvind Benning and the visitors started strongly.

CJ Hamilton was particularly lively on the left flank and, after making inroads into the Luton area, had a big appeal for a penalty which was ignored by referee Kevin Johnson.

Luton left-back Dan Potts thought he had opened the scoring on 26 minutes but Rhys Bennett produced a magnificent block to deny him.

Visiting goalkeeper Conrad Logan then had to be alert to deny Elliot Lee from close range after the attacker had been sent clear down the right.

Just after the half hour, Mansfield made the breakthrough when Hemmings turned and fired in a low, left-footed shot.

Mansfield were forced back early in the second half, with Logan making a spectacular save from Lee before Rea’s long-range effort clipped the crossbar

Luton’s pressure eventually told when Pelly-Ruddock Mpenzu burst forward before cutting it back for Collins to turn home from close range.

Lee Angol then saw his effort deflected just wide after pinball in the Luton box.

On 68 minutes, Hemmings cynically halted a Luton counter, and when Logan spilled Alan Sheehan’s free kick, Rea was quickest to turn home the loose ball.

Mpenzu forced another fine save from Logan, with seconds left, and James Justin’s follow-up ricocheted just wide.

Luton Town (4-3-3): Shea; Stacey, Cuthbert (Rea 44), Sheehan, Potts; O Lee, McCormack, Mpanzu; Collins, Hylton (Jervis 70), E Lee (Justin 83)

Substitutes not used: Stech, Cornick, Downes, Gambin

Mansfield (4-4-2): Logan; White (Miller 89), Diamond, Bennett, Hunt (Anderson 89); MacDonald, Mellis, Atkinson (Potter 71), Hamilton; Hemmings, Angol

Substitutes not used: Digby, Pearce, Olejnik, Byrom

Referee: Kevin Johnson

Attendance: 9,592