James Gale’s quickfire double helped Stags kick off this season’s EFL Trophy campaign with an entertaining 3-2 victory at home to Doncaster Rovers.

The 21-year-old broke his duck for the season, but Doncaster rallied back to net two goals of their own before full-back Callum Johnson headed home a late winner for Mansfield.

Forward McKeal Abdullah was handed his first start and fellow Academy product Finn Flanagan also enjoyed a Stags’ debut later in the second-half.

Eight changes were made from Saturday’s goalless draw at home to AFC  Wimbledon.

In the opening minute, Doncaster forward Jack Goodman was allowed to push his marker, defender George Cooper, before firing at goalkeeper Scott Flinders, who claimed the ball at the second attempt.

And Goodman’s second chance was even better two minutes later when he latched onto a throughball to keep onside and round Flinders. But Stags retreated and Callum Johnson did enough to block any attempt at the near post.

Rovers’ started well and captain Tommy Rowe turned to crack a shot wide from just inside the box after eight minutes.

Stags created their first chance a minute later as Abdullah hit the woodwork.

Swan tried his luck from the left of the box and Abdullah came racing in to the far stick, rifling his strike against the post.

Mansfield began to attack with purpose and were awarded a spot kick in the 11th minute when James Gale was bundled down inside the box.

And the forward made no mistake from 12 yards, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way with a low right-footed hit into the bottom left corner.

Gale notched his second goal a minute later after Stags launched a devastating attack.

Boateng laid it low to Swan on the right, who drifted a lovely ball to the edge of the goal area where Gale confidently headed home.

Gale then turned provider with a brilliant left flank delivery and Calum Macdonald’s first-time header from eight yards flashed against the top of the bar as Stags laid siege to the visiting goal.

Macdonald was then shown the game’s first yellow card for delaying the restart of play.

And on 26 minutes, Doncaster’s Deji Sotona followed him into the notebook for the same offence.

Macdonald had another chance for Mansfield on the half-hour mark. Swan put him in the clear with a lovely forward pass and Macdonald got into a promising shooting position on the left of the box before firing wide of the far post.

Doncaster pulled one back on 38 minutes when substitute Ben Close - with his first touch of the game - headed into the far corner following a flag-kick.

There was concern for Doncaster’s Louie Marsh near the end of the first half who appeared to land awkwardly midway inside the Stags’ half. 

Luke Molyneux was his replacement as the fourth official added ten minutes of injury time, with Marsh stretchered off to warm applause.

In the eighth minute of stoppage time, Lewis Brunt - playing in defensive midfield - was shown a yellow card for a foul on the edge of the Stags’ D.

At the break, midfielder Aaron Lewis replaced George Maris, while Lewis Brunt made way for Baily Cargill.

Two minutes after the break, Molyneux turned on the spin to curl off target from the cusp of the area and at the other end, Abdullah struck low into the palms of goalkeeper Ian Lawlor.

Cargill was given a yellow card for a challenge midway inside the Stags’ half and Rovers’ Will Flint also went into the book for a foul on Boateng. 

On 53 minutes, Swan headed over from ten yards following a crisp cross from Lewis.

Back at the other end, Stags’ defender George Williams made a terrific block from Goodman’s ferocious drive on the right of the box.

Flinders then had to get down low to palm away Ben Close’s rifled shot which took an awkward bounce in front of the Stags’ goalkeeper.

Doncaster made a treble change on the hour and soon after in the Stags’ camp, Jordan Bowery came on for George Cooper.

Rovers drew level on 64 minutes when a floated a cross from the right for Joe Ironside was headed against the upright. And the frontman was left with the simple task of slotting home the rebound.

Stags looked to reply instantly as Gale embarked on a rampaging run to cross for Swan, whose effort on the left of the box was denied by Lawlor.

On 69 minutes, Abdullah was given a warm reception as he left the field to be replaced by Aden Flint.

Johnson then sped away to cross into the box and Lawlor was grateful to gather as it spun into his hands off a Rovers’ defender.

On 73, Molyneux weaved his way into the box to fire a low effort wide of the left post and the same player struck the upright five minutes later with a curling attempt from 18 yards.

Lawlor had to produce a smart one-handed stop to keep out Macdonald’s low drive as both sides vied for a winner.

Boateng was a whisker away from finding the net with a left-footed hit on 83 minutes and at the other end George Broadbent whacked a close range effort against the post.

Macdonald then departed in the 86th minute as Academy product Finn Flanagan made his Stags’ debut. 

And from a corner, Mansfield found a winner on 87 minutes.

Boateng drifted the flag-kick to the towering Flint, who nodded it towards the goal area where Callum Johnson headed it over the line to win the encounter.

STAGS: Scott Flinders, Callum Johnson, George Maris (Baily Cargill, 46), Calum Macdonald (Finn Flanagan, 86), James Gale, George Cooper (Jordan Bowery, 63), George Williams, Lewis Brunt (Aaron Lewis, 46), Will Swan, McKeal Abdullah (Aden Flint, 69), Hiram Boateng

UNUSED SUBS: Christy Pym, Darien Wauchope

ROVERS: Ian Lawlor, Joseph Olowu, George Broadbent, Tommy Rowe (Zain Westbrooke, 60), Owen Bailey, Deji Sotona (Mo Faal), Bobby Faulkner (Ben Close, 35), Tavonga Kuleya, Louie Marsh, Jack Goodman (Joe Ironside, 60), Will Flint

UNUSED SUBS: Louis Jones, Luke Molyneux, Tom Nixon

ATTENDANCE: 1,486 (142 away)