Mark Stevenson reports from Bridge Road

Mansfield Town recorded their biggest post-war away win with a 5-0 demolition to leave Histon in tatters.

Stags had not won by this margin on the road in 80 years, and it was no less than they deserved as they taught Histon a masterclass in attacking football.

The hosts were torn apart with a five-star Stags' display, with classy winger Andy Burgess leading the onslaught, and in the end it was more of a parade than a contest.

It was a result delivered in style.  Stags taunted their hosts with elegant approach play and pin-point accuracy in the final third and with consistent displays such as this until the end of the term, hopes of a play-off berth would be fully re-ignited.

Stags' boss David Holdsworth made two changes from the mid-week loss at home to York City.  Promising defender Scott Garner made his first start since Hayes & Yeading in late February, replacing the suspended Luke Foster at the heart of the defence.  Kyle Perry, who looked impressive on his return, started in attack at the expense of Rob Duffy, who was left out of the squad.

It was Histon, however, who registered the first effort at goal.  Glen Southam smashed a long-ranger over the bar with five minutes played.

A minute later, Stags' central midfielder Jon Challinor shot from a similar distance, but with the same outcome.

Garner headed over the bar from just inside the area following a free kick from stand-in skipper Gary Silk, who performed admirably at right-back, typical to his form this season.

Ex Notts County defender Adam Tann too headed off target from a free kick near the halfway line, and it was half-chances such as this which the hosts were made to regret.

Kyle Perry should have opened the scoring on 15 minutes when ex-Middlesbrough 'keeper David Knight, who had a dreadful afternoon, smashed a goal kick at the back of his own defender.  The ball fell into the path of burly Perry, who, after a run, dragged his shot wide from inside the area.

Stags won their first corner of the game with 20 minutes of the first half remaining, but it came to nothing.

Soon after, they began to impose their mark on the game and never looked back.

Mansfield's period of dominance started with one of the best moves of the contest with 30 minutes played.  Louis Briscoe, who acted as apprentice magician on the right flank, with experienced trickster Andy Burgess on the other, slid the ball to Perry who casually tapped it to Gary Mills before the midfielder blasted the ball marginally wide.

By now Stags were flourishing in confidence and an opening goal was only a matter of time.

Histon, however, against the run of play, broke away after dispossessing Andy Nicholas in the middle of the park.  Charlie Sheringham, son of striking legend Teddy, broke forward and cut inside Michael Brough, but his goalward effort was blocked by a diving Scott Garner.

On 38 minutes, Stags attacking prowess paid dividends when Scott Garner almost broke the net with the game's opening goal.Andy Nicholas' left wing throw was flicked on to the 20-year-old, blasted home from ten yards.

Mansfield almost scored a picture goal on the stroke of half time. The move was started by Blair Sturrock, one of Stags' chief tormenters.  His pass to Perry was mimicked with equal accuracy onto the advancing Louis Briscoe, whose shot was aimed straight at Knights.

Stags entered the half-time interval only a goal to the good but it was in the second period when the hosts were put to the sword.

Histon tried to find an equaliser a minute after the restart, with Andy Pugh hitting tamely on the turn from 12 yards. But the hosts appeared light years away from a Stags' team born-again with new found confidence.

Stags pressed their foot on the pedal and found their second goal through Louis Briscoe.

He had all the time in the world to cross forcefully on the byline and before it was put behind for a corner.  Briscoe would get his reward from Andy Burgess' resulting flag kick, however.  Kyle Perry's first attempt was well saved from close range, but Briscoe made no mistake with the second attempt, in front of the travelling fans.

Shortly after the hour mark, Histon's Gareth Gwillim drifted in a right wing free kick towards the goalmouth, but nobody could meet the cross.

Things got from bad to worse for Histon, but even better for Mansfield.  Goalkeeper David Knight hit another awful loose kick against a Mansfield player following a poor back-pass, and was this time punished.

Blair Sturrock, in his best game for the club, was the man who blocked the attempted downfield clearance, and as the ball trickled agonisingly past Knight, Sturrock was left with the simple task of putting the ball into an open goal.

Gary Mills was then replaced by Matt Somner with 25 minutes remaining.

Andy Burgess, Stags' star player, showed his true class by stylishly scoring a fourth.  Louis Briscoe's low cross was missed in the centre, but Burgess picked it up on the far side and 'nut megged' his man.  The angle still seemed acute, but Burgess picked his spot beyond Knight to add to Stags' joy.

Jake Speight was introduced into the action with 20 minutes left, coming on for Louis Briscoe and was responsible for wielding the final knife in Histon hearts.

It was Burgess who was in the thick of the action again - crossing beautifully for Perry.  His knock down found Speight who acrobatically found the net.