Paul Stephen reports from Field Mill

Stags proved a cut above the Diamonds tonight in an archetypal game of two halves.

The home side valiantly fought back from twice going behind before converting their first penalty in five attempts to end a barren run of results and end Rushden's fine 11-match unbeaten record.

The visitors had much the better of the opening 45 minutes and went into the half time break with the lead and comfortably on top before Jake Speight equalised shortly after the restart. They went ahead again through Sam Smith but were pegged back by a second goal from Speight before being finally beaten through a late Rob Duffy penalty after playing out the last 10 minutes with only ten men.

David Holdsworth made two changes to the line up from the one defeated 1-0 by AFC Wimbledon three days ago. Andy Burgess had recovered from a stubbed toe to take up his position on the left of midfield against his old club whilst Kyle Nix was recalled to the centre of the park with Ryan Williams and Jon Challinor being rested. Rob Duffy was named on the bench after missing out on Saturday's game as was Steven Istead who made the 16-man squad for the first time since February.

Rushden, who were guaranteed a play off spot over the weekend, rested highly-rated duo Lee Tomlin and Craig Farrell but did include ex-Stag and 13-goal forward Aaron O'Connor among their starting eleven. Notably, tonight's meeting also marked their 1,000^th fixture since the club's formation in 1992.

The visitors made early ground on the Stags when O'Connor fell just short of prodding home Jefferson Louis' right wing cross in the fifth minute. It flashed across goal but stayed in play allowing O'Connor to chase it and whip the ball back across goal forcing Burgess to head it behind for a corner. Mark Byrne took it and found the head of Curtis Osano at the back post where he was completely unmarked and drew a brilliant reflect save from Marriott.

It was a statement of intent as Diamonds had all the early possession and it required well-timed interventions from Luke Foster to prevent O'Connor and then Akurang from going through on goal.

Their domination quickly paid off, however, when O'Connor put the Diamonds in the lead with a magnificent strike right on the quarter hour mark. The former Stag picked up Jefferson Louis' measured pass midway into Stags' half and then shot from 25 yards leaving Marriott with little to do but watch as his powerful low drive flew between Foster and Garner and to his right all the way into the back of the net.

Stags' faithful had to wait a full 25 minutes for a shot from the home side when Perry dragged his effort well wide from 25 yards. It was an isolated attack though as Diamonds continued to use the space well and push forward for a second goal.

O'Connor had his snapshot saved by Marriott on 29 before Louis Briscoe went on a one man mission to try and grab an equaliser when he ran deep into Diamonds half just past the half hour mark. The pacy winder brilliantly went passed Curtis Osano and into the area whilst drawing 'keeper Dale Roberts off his line but his finish was woeful as he blasted the ball high over the bar and into the North Stand.

The visitors resumed their earlier dominance of proceedings and Byrne headed Huke's cross narrowly wide on 39 before Gary Silk deflected Byrne's shot just around the post on 43.

With half time looming, Andy Nicholas managed to turn Kyle Perry's cross goalward when under pressure but Roberts was first to it to ensure that his side went into the break deservedly in the lead.

Rushden allowed Stags back into the game with a defensive blunder three minutes into the second half when skipper Jamie Stuart clumsily played the ball out of defence and into the path of Kyle Perry on the edge of the area after dealing with a long ball. Perry squared it to Jake Speight who shot first time from the edge of the D tucking his shot neatly into the left hand corner for his 13^th goal of the season and to put the home side level.

This upped the tempo considerably and after two corners coming in quick succession, Kyle Perry was unlucky not to put Stags in the lead when he connected with Kyle Nix's ball into the area at the back post. The burly forward jumped highest but planted his header onto the bar where it was hacked away to safety. It was his last touch of the game as Holdsworth chose to replace him with Rob Duffy in the 54^th minute.

Aaron O'Connor earned the first booking of the night less than 10 minutes later when he went down looking for a penalty. After getting onto the end of Curtis Osano's long ball, he ran into the area where he drew a fine save from Marriott. Stags' custodian could not keep hold of the ball though and spilled it prompting O'Connor to try and convert the loose ball where he went down near to Marriott's outstretched arm. Home fans had their hearts in their mouths but referee Jez Simpson did not point to the spot but booked the Rushden forward for diving instead.

David Holdsworth made his second change shortly after by handing Steven Istead his first appearance since the 30^th January at the expense of Gary Silk.

Justin Edinburgh decided to make a substitution of his own by sending on Sam Smith for Cliff Akurang. It proved an inspired move as Smith bagged Rushden's second goal of the night after a mere two minutes on the pitch. In a neat move, the visitors caught Stags' defence flat footed and Jefferson Louis' curling pass put Smith through on goal in the 72^nd minute. Garner could only chase him as he drew Marriott off his line and then fired the ball emphatically into the roof of the net in front of the travelling fans in the North Stand.

Mansfield tried to respond quickly and Garner was unlucky to see his shot drop wide of the post when Byrne failed to clear a cross on 76 before Jamie Stuart sliced the ball just beyond his own post when trying to clear a cross and an own goal looked likely.

The equaliser eventually came in route one fashion in the 77^th minute after Jake Speight ran straight onto the end of a long punt up field from Marriott to lob Dale Roberts from the edge of the box for his second goal of the game and 14^th of the season.

Things got even better for the home side with just under 10 minutes remaining when for a third game in a row, the opposition were reduced the 10 men. Jefferson Louis was the man red-carded after a ruthless tackle on Louis Briscoe midway into his own half. He made little attempt to win the ball and it was his second bookable offence after an earlier foul on Luke Foster to hand Stags a numerical advantage.

Amber and blue shirts piled forward in search of a winner and Jake Speight was gifted a chance to score a hat-trick and take all three points with four minutes remaining when Briscoe skipped behind Rushden's overstretched back four and crossed from the right flank. It flew straight across the six yard box where Speight was waiting but somehow he missed the tap in when it would have been so much easier to score.

The scores looked destined to finish 2-2 until Stags were handed a late penalty following Mark Byrne's cynical trip on Kyle Nix to set up an exciting finale. The pressure was on due to the fresh memories of two late misses from the spot against Wimbledon on Saturday and the fact that Mansfield had missed all of their last four spot kicks. Rob Duffy remained calm and composed, however, to slot the ball past Dale Roberts for his 16^th goal of the season and to hand his side the lead for the first time in the match.

Four minutes added time were played out before Stags' faithful could celebrate the end of a five match winless streak and a ninth home victory of the season.

Sponsors' man of the match: Jake Speight

Attendance: 2,031 (away 178)

Team: Marriott, Mills, Garner, Briscoe, Foster, Silk (Istead '67), Speight, Nicholas, Perry (Duffy '54), Nix, Burgess.