Barry Cooper Reports:
The Setanta cameras were in attendance for tonight's game as the Stags looked to put a nightmare 48-hours behind them, against a Stevenage side reeling from a 3-0 defeat against Torquay on Saturday. But following a dramatic and controversial but enthralling evening in Hertfordshire, ten-man Mansfield fell to a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Stevenage Borough.
The first panic of the game came at the back for the Stags, when Mitchell Cole's early cross troubled keeper' Paddy Gamble. The on-loan stopper from Nottingham Forest couldn't gather at the back post and he pushed the ball away for a corner.
Gavin Hurren was then fouled by Gary Mills - not the former Notts manager it should be pointed out, which brought about the game's first free-kick, but poor delivery from the set-piece by Jeannin saw a good opportunity wasted.
The first shot in anger came moments later from Stevenage though Morison's shot was blocked. However it wasn't long before Borough were back on the attack, O'Hare's tackle earned the home side a corner, but Morison's flick failed to trouble Gamble and in fact made its way out for a throw in to the visitors.
Lawrie Wilson took a knock in the face from Michael Blackwood's challenge which forced him off for some treatment. Aaron O'Connor then got to the by-line following Gary Silk's ball, but his cross was cleared at the back post before Mark Stallard could get any contact. The home side were later forced to make a change with Eddie Anaclet replacing Wilson, who had suffered a broken nose in the earlier incident with Blackwood.
As the game continued to ebb and flow, a terrific 50-yard cross field ball from Maxime Chanot to Nathan Arnold wide left, the winger's lay off found Blackwood but he was sent tumbling by Bostwick. Arnold's cross from the left-hand side was headed over for another Stags corner.
But disappointingly O'Connor's cross sailed over Hurren's head for yet another throw-in. A strange happening throughout the half it was, with so many crosses finding their way for throw-ins. But the game continued in a lively theme, with both sides looking to press at every given opportunity.
Stags showed some good composure as they were passing the ball around the back four without much interruption from the Hertfordshire outfit, enjoying plenty of good possession football in keeping with the good tempo during the game.
Mansfield's first effort of note was from O'Connor's 25-yard strike, but his effort was well wide when a pass wide to his right was probably the better option, much to the frustration of Billy McEwan.
Morison's flailing arm then caught Maxime Chanot in the face but the on-loan star was able to continue. The best chance of the first half came on 37 minutes when Oliver's header was gathered by Gamble before Conference's player of the month, Steve Morison, could force the ball home.
Gamble was forced into a save down to his left from McMahon's low drive. Stags came back and forced another corner, but in keeping with the nature of the first period, the quality from Blackwood was lacking.
Controversy reigned supreme once more right on half time and indeed four minutes into added time, when Chanot's tackle on Mitchell Cole was harshly adjudged to be a foul and subsequently brought a penalty for Stevenage. A big call from referee Gary Sutton but Steve Morrison smashed the ball straight down the middle of the net, to give the home side the lead going into the interval.
Aside from the penalty, Mansfield would have been content with their first-half performance, they looked calm and assured on the ball without really creating as much as they would have liked.
Half-Time: Stevenage Borough 1-0 Mansfield Town
In what was seemingly a prelude to the second halves events, Billy McEwan started the second half upstairs sat next to Chairman Andrew Perry. McEwan discussed the decision regarding the penalty with Gary Sutton, but he clearly took offence and requested the Stags boss spend the second half in the stand.
Then on 49 minutes, Stevenage's livewire striker Morison was able to run unchallenged to the by-line, past Jeannin, but his shot was blocked at the near post by Gamble. Stevenage buoyed by the controversial penalty certainly started the second period the brighter.
Mitchell Cole then went close on 55 minutes, Chanot slipped on the edge of the area but Cole could only slide the ball wide of Gamble's left-hand upright.
But on 57, Stags pushed forward and grabbed the equaliser. Following neat play from Michael Blackwood, Gavin Hurren picked up the ball and rifled home a terrific 20-yard effort into the bottom left corner from the right edge of the penalty area, giving the travelling Stags supporters something to cheer.
Then, Aaron O'Connor turned the game on its head in the 59th minute.
A long ball from Gamble, flicked on by a Stevenage defender to Arnold, his through ball found O'Connor who lashed the ball underneath Chris Day from six-yards to give the visitors the lead.
That goal gave Mansfield the belief they needed and it brought the game to life. Disappointingly for Mansfield, Mitchell Cole fired Stevenage straight back into the game on 64 minutes, from the corner of the 18-yard box, Jeannin couldn't get close to Cole and he executed a sumptuous volley past Gamble into the bottom right corner.
Matt Somner, who before tonight had played every minute so far this season, replaced frustrated Frenchman, Alex Jeannin, after 66 minutes of what was turning into a pulsating game at Broadhall Way. Stevenage then came back at the Stags, Morison's looping header forced Gamble into a flying save down to his right, before the lively Cole could nod in Stevenage's third.
Stallard who was having a quiet evening by his standards, unfortunately suffering from a tight calf, was replaced by Jason Lee in the 70th minute, and the former Forest man took the captain's armband as the Yellow's looked to force a third goal.
However, ten minutes from time, disaster struck for the Stags and Maxime Chanot, when the defender gave away a free-kick 18-yards out, on the right flank. Chanot was then booked for something he seemingly said to referee Sutton.
McMahon whipped in the ferocious free-kick and Gamble couldn't hold the ball at the near post, Michael Bostwick pounced to stab home from a yard out.
The evening then got worse for Mansfield and Chanot, when the defender was dismissed for a second bookable offence in the 83rd minute, following a challenge with Stevenage's Steve Morison.
Eddie Anaclet was booked for a late tackle on O'Connor. Was there going to be time for the Stags to come from behind again? Aaron O'Connor forced a mistake from substitute Anaclet inside the area, but the Stags player volleyed wide from only seven yards. McEwan's face in the stand said everything, the frustration was there for all to see.
Nathan Arnold was replaced by Anthony Robinson as the ten-men looked to equalise with three minutes of added time to play. O'Connor's late corner was frustratingly sent straight into the welcome hands of Day and that signalled the end of Mansfield's charge.
In the dying seconds, the home side nearly made sure of the points, but Cole and Morison were thwarted by Gamble. Goalscorer Bostwick was booked literally in the last second but Mansfield fell to their second defeat in four days.
Full-Time: Stevenage Borough 3-2 Mansfield Town
