Owain Thomas reports from Field Mill for mansfieldtown.net
Two stunning goals from Aaron O'Connor and Scott Garner gave Mansfield their victory over play-off bound Stevenage in a pulsating game. It also means Mansfield preserve their unbeaten home record since David Holdsworth's arrival.
O'Connor's goal prompted a mini pitch invasion from the Stags fans who were quickly ushered off the grass, but they continued their celebrations a few minutes later at the final whistle. The win, coupled with Eastbourne's defeat at Barrow, lifts Holdsworth's side into twelfth position, and gives them a spot in the top half of the table. That is something that most Stags fans couldn't have dreamt of when Holdsworth took over in the New Year.
Garner gave Mansfield the lead in the 71st minute with a rocket from 25 yards out that left goalkeeper Chris Day clutching thin air, but after Scott Laird pegged the Stags back, Aaron O'Connor stepped up with two minutes to go to curl in the winner.
Lost in the final commotion was Mitchell Cole's sending off in first half injury time when he kicked out at Garner, and Laird's fine equaliser for the ten-man visitors.
After Cole's dismissal, Stevenage came out for the second half in positive fashion, and at times dominated Mansfield as their control and composure was too much for the Stags even with the extra man. Indeed, Alan Marriott kept his side in the game on several occasions, diving bravely at the feet of Stevenage forwards.
But it was Garner who lit the touch paper to the end of season fireworks with his fantastic strike. After a Mansfield corner was cleared and pumped back forward, the ball dropped to the deputising captain 25 yards out, and he hit a thundering volley on the turn that gave Day no chance.
Stevenage pushed back, and with five minutes to go Laird sweetly met a cross at the left corner of the Mansfield area that flew past the diving Marriott. Just three minutes later though, after combining with Nathan Arnold, O'Connor found himself just inside the visitors' box and curled an exquisite low shot just inside Day's far post to settle the match.
Holdsworth made five changes to the side that beat Altrincham on Tuesday night. Jonathan D'Laryea returned to claim the captain's armband, while Alan Marriott made an immediate return after serving his three-match suspension. Adie Moses and Scott Gardner also came back into the back-line that has proved so strong at Field Mill since the New Year, while Daryl Clare took Aaron O'Connor's place upfront alongside Rob Duffy.
The game got off to a physical and frenetic start, as both sides pushed forward, and held nothing back in the challenge. A point proved as Holdsworth was forced to make two substitutions within 24 minutes. First the returning D'Laryea hobbled off just 6 minutes in, then Rob Duffy was forced to leave after being challenged just before he could pull the trigger six yards out. Garner took the armband from D'Laryea, and he led by example throughout. After Tuesday night's goal-scoring performance against Altrincham, he may be staking a claim for next season's captaincy.
The first half continued with both sides pushing forward, but not able to capitalise or create any clear cut openings. Then with just seconds to go until the break came the key moment of the half. Cole reacted angrily to a physical battle with Garner near the Mansfield corner flag, and kicked out at the captain after he cleared the ball.
That was just the warm-up to Garner and O'Connor's magic moments.
Attendance 3614 (785 visitors)
Stags Man of the Match: Scott Garner
