Three goals in 20 second half minutes propelled Stevenage back to the top of the table, after valiant Mansfield had led through a wonderstrike by striker Jon Shaw.

Stags were later reduced to ten men through a baffling decision by referee Ian Smedley on 88 minutes, but by then the result was beyond Town.

Boss David Holdsworth made wholesale changes, six in total, from the side which lost to Gateshead three days ago.  The move aided a much improved performance against a side who had not lost a home league game for 14 months.

The first half went according to plan with midfielder Gary Mills impressing in midfield after a four month absence. 

Kyle Nix also returned after a slightly longer lay-off, and Jon Challinor completed the midfield three as a 4-3-3 formation was adopted.

The hosts, who have now netted 35 home goals, more than other BSP side, were quickly out the traps but were restrained to long range chances in an ill-tempered first half.

Stevenage posed the game's first threat when Tim Sills headed wide at the near post from an acute angle inside two minutes.

Two minutes later, ex Stag Chris Beardsley let fly from 25 yards but it flew harmlessly wide.

Mansfield then tested home goalkeeper Chris Day on 10 minutes through a Rob Duffy shot, but the referee had spotted an infringement and play was halted.

Stags struck the bar seven minutes later when Jon Shaw smashed an audacious floater at goal from 35 yards after it fell to him on the right following another Gary Mills free kick.

A four minute delay then saw the referee brandish as many cards following a skirmish while the ball was out of play.  Both sets of players were needlessly involved in front of both benches after it appeared that Borough's Jon Ashton had pushed Stags' Kyle Perry.  The burly pair were subsequently cautioned and were followed into the book by Rob Duffy and Chris Beardsley, who shared their indifferences soon after the tussle.

Stags then struck the woodwork again.  Mills hit the left hand upright direct from a free-kick on the left wing as Mansfield came close to breaking the deadlock.

The bitter cold air swept through the stands, but the temperature was rising on the pitch.  By now the game was heading towards boiling point and Kyle Nix was the next name in the book after he pushed the crouching Chris Beardsley following a foul midway inside the Stags half.

Alan Marriott was called into the action to routinely save a hopeful drive Scott Laid drive and at the other end, Jon Challinor attempted to curl it in to the net, but Marriott's opposite number claimed it with equal ease.

But home goalkeeper Chris Day stood no chance moments later as Stags got the breakthrough with a little over five minutes of the first half to play.

Striker Jon Shaw, making his full debut, powered home his first goal for the Stags with a thunderous first time effort, leaving Day clutching at air as he flung to his left.  It was a picture goal unleashed with maximum accuracy from 20 yards.

In the last minute of normal time, Mitchell Cole smashed the ball well wide from 20 yards when he should have done better following a poor defensive clearance.

Stags searched for a second goal when Jon Challinor got a shot away from inside the area five minutes into the second half, but it sailed over after neat build up play.

Stevenage drew level on 53 minutes when the hosts won a free kick on the right, and they didn't look back.

Stags failed to clear effectively after the ball was drifted in and Yemi Odubade's shot took a deflection off Stags' Luke Jones to squirm agonisingly in the net.

Mills was subsequently shown the yellow card and hit an ambitious effort well over moments after the re-start.

Odubade then grabbed his second to put Borough ahead on 69 minutes following good work on the right  .Ex Notts County midfielder Stacy Long drilled in a low pass across the goal for Chris Beardsley to hit the ball against Rob Duffy who cleared on the line.  But the Welshman could do nothing about the second attempt as Odubade rifled it home.

Andy Drury then entered the fray to seal the points with the home side's best goal having taken the field just 45 seconds earlier.  He took the ball on the edge of the box before curling a beautifully weighted shot over Marriott and into the net.

Moments before the goal, Ryan Williams replaced Jon Challinor in midfield.

A second change followed as Blair Sturrock came on for Rob Duffy on 78 minutes and Jon Shaw was soon to depart to make way for Louis Briscoe.

Guilt-edged chances were at a premium but valiant Stags continued to plug away when Kyle Perry floated an effort wide from 20 yards.

Goalscorer Drury then went on a mazy run across the Stags' box before being halted in his tracks.  Then Odubade got it all wrong on the right of the box, blazing over the stand as Stevenage grew in confidence.

Referee Ian Smedley then took centre stage with a decision which perplexed the entire stadium.

Defender Luke Jones had collided with goalkeeper Alan Marriott from inside the area and when Yemi Odubade, in close proximity, went down in the area, the referee pointed to the spot after consulting his assistant.

Jones was given his marching orders, being deemed as the last man, and will now miss two games if the decision isn't overturned.

But Marriott was to deny Odubade of his third as he watched his tame penalty all the way.

Stacey Long then pulled the trigger from 20 yards as Stevenage tried to make up for their spot kick miss.

In the closing moments, Blair Sturrock did well to create a chance from almost nothing and his goalward effort bobbled on to the post before the onrushing Perry hit the side netting as Mansfield's luck petered away.

Despite the loss, it was a much-improved display from a valiant Mansfield who now travel to Tamworth on Saturday to try and reclaim a play-off spot.