Mansfield Town recorded an impressive 3-1 win at Crawley as three separate scorers helped Stags to a well-earned victory.

Baily Cargill, Davis Keillor-Dunn and George Maris were on the scoresheet while the hosts ended the game with ten men in a contest littered with cautions.

Mansfield produced a professional performance and goalkeeper Christy Pym was scarcely called upon throughout the contest.

It was just the tonic for Nigel Clough’s men, who begin a busy festive period in fine fashion, in the first of five games during a 17-day period.

Crawley’s Will Wright was shown the game’s first yellow card for a late challenge on midfielder Ollie Clarke and moments later right-back Callum Johnson crossed into the box, where Lucas Akins nodded wide from 12 yards, in Mansfield’s first chance.

The next Stags’ delivery was even deadlier and proved Crawley’s undoing on 12 minutes as Stags made the breakthrough.

On the right-hand flank, Rhys Oates darted to the goalline before whipping a delightful ball into the six-yard area for Cargill to power a header home.

At the other end, Crawley’s Liam Kelly scurried forward before sending a crashing 25-yard drive over the stand behind the goal.

Midway through the first-half, Mansfield’s Davis Keillor-Dunn attempted an audacious lob inside his own half of the field. 

Spotting the goalkeeper off his line, the ex-Burton man sent Luca Ashby Hammond backpedaling, but fortunately for the Crawley ‘keeper, he saw the effort fly narrowly past his post.

The lively Rhys Oates directed a curling attempt wide before Crawley’s Dion Conroy was next to see a yellow card for a foul. Oates then entered the book for a foul on ex-teammate Kellan Gordon. 

The hosts wasted a real chance to test Stags’ goalkeeper Christy Pym on 32 minutes when Danilo Orsi turned inside the box to blast off target.

With 11 minutes remaining in the first-half, Clarke received a yellow card for a challenge on Gordon.

Stags then conceded a spot kick as Akins was adjudged to have pulled  Adam Campbell inside the box from a free-kick.

And Orsi made no mistake from 12 yards, lashing into the roof of the net to level

There was then another yellow card - for dissent to the referee by Crawley captain Ben Gladwin.

Crawley’s confidence was increasing and Nick Tsaroulla came close with a lofted effort which crept over the angle.

In first-half stoppage time, Lewis Brunt struck low and wide from outside the box in the final chance of the opening period.

At the break, Stephen Quinn was introduced for Ollie Clarke in Stags’ midfield.

Brunt had the first chance of the second-half as he headed into the grasp of a diving Ashby Hammond following Keillor-Dunn’s crisply-taken corner.

On 55 minutes, Stags were thankful for the woodwork when Will Wright rifled a 25-yard piledriver against the bar.

But Mansfield were ahead just a minute later.

Quinn delivered a sensational cross from the left side and Keillor-Dunn ghosted beyond his man to apply the finish from close range.

Referee Scott Simpson brandished another yellow card, on 58 minutes, to Liam Kelly for dissent, before Brunt also met the same fate for a foul on Orsi moments later.

As the encounter ticked beyond the hour, Oates burst forward from the halfway line but his ultimate attempt from the right of the area was comfortably claimed by the goalkeeper.

Stags extended their advantage on 64 minutes.

Quinn linked up with Akins down the left flank as the former crossed to the latter. And after Akins’ strike was blocked, the ball spun into the path of Maris who placed it coolly into the net with a first-time finish from just inside the box.

On 69, Crawley were reduced to ten men within the blink of an eye when Jay Williams committed a foul on Quinn on the left touchline and received a second successive yellow card for his subsequent reaction.

Crawley made a treble change, but Stags’ confidence was sky high and Keillor-Dunn tried his luck from the right of the box to force the goalkeeper to turn behind.

On 80 minutes, Brunt was withdrawn as Stephen McLaughlin returned to action and ten minutes later, Calum Macdonald, 

John-Joe O’Toole and George Williams replaced Davis Keillor-Dunn, George Maris and Lucas Akins.  

It was plain-sailing in the closing moments as Stags cruised to an impressive win.

CRAWLEY: Hammond, Gordon (Darcy 74) Conroy, Kelly, Maguire, Gladwin, Orsi, Tsaroula (Adeyemo 74), Williams, Campbell (Lolos 74) Wright

UNUSED SUBS:  Addai, Johnson, Forster, Swyer

STAGS: Pym, Johnson, Flint, Cargill, Bowery, Brunt (McLaughlin 80), Maris (Williams 90+1) Clarke (Quinn HT), Keillor-Dunn (Macdonald 90), Oates, Akins (O’Toole 90+1).

UNUSED SUBS: Flinders, Boateng

REFEREE: Scott Simpson

ATTENDANCE:  2,817 (452 Stags’ fans)