Davis Keillor-Dunn netted a brace as Mansfield saw off Newport County with a much-deserved 2-0 win at One Call Stadium.
The forward took his personal goal tally to 11 goals as Mansfield stretched their unbeaten league run to an impressive 17 games.
This latest triumph was never in doubt as Mansfield controlled possession from start to finish, with the ex-Burton man scoring in either half to seal a fifth successive league victory for the Amber and Blue.
Boss Nigel Clough made one enforced change to the lineup as Baily Cargill replaced the suspended Calum Macdonald at left full-back.
As the game crept into the second minute, Newport forward Omar Bogle wriggled into the area but blasted wide from 16 yards.
Stags were soon ahead from their first serious charge at goal two minutes later.
Midfielder George Maris sent a delightful pass into the path of Rhys Oates on the right flank and after his cross into the box was poorly cleared, Davis Keillor-Dunn capitalised by firing home his tenth goal of the season from 14 yards.
At the other end, Newport had an opening when Louis Reed was dispossessed 25 yards from his own goal, allowing Will Evans to charge forward. But the striker’s effort was blocked by Stags’ defender Aden Flint.
Soon after, Flint looked to turn provider and launched a searching pass to lightning frontman Rhys Oates, who was only a stride away from connecting outside the area.
Stags were applying pressure and almost scored a fine goal on 17 minutes.
Keillor-Dunn showed an excellent first touch to bring down defender Lewis Brunt’s superb 45-yard pass into the box, before seeing his shot claimed by goalkeeper Nick Townsend at the second attempt.
Stags were dominating the ball and Reed was next to try his luck with a curling shot which was stopped en route to goal by a Newport defender.
Mansfield missed the chance to double their advantage on the half-hour mark as Rhys Oates was bundled down in the box after darting past Scot Bennett.
However, Townsend was equal to the penalty kick, pushing away Oates’ strike as Stags were unable to profit from the follow up.
Referee Thomas Kirk then brandished two yellow cards in quick succession with Omar Bogle and manager Graham Coughlan the recipients for persistent foul play and dissent, respectively.
Stags ended the half in the ascendency and in stoppage time, Johnson cleverly beat his man on the right flank to send in a dipping cross which clipped the top of the bar.
Directly from the restart, Newport emerged with a new-found gusto and Stags’ goalkeeper Christy Pym felt the ball for the first time when he was got behind Evans’ direct attempt.
Mansfield’s first attack of the second period was sparked by midfielder Aaron Lewis, who sent Oates darting forward with a low pass. But the frontman’s delivery into the box swept across the goal area.
Lewis had a crack at goal on 51 minutes, as Townsend got down low to beat away with one hand, though the Newport ‘keeper could do little about the effort a minute later as Stags finally netted a second.
Maris split the defence in two with a fine pass, and Keillor-Dunn finished the move with an accomplished strike from 12 yards as Townsend was rooted to the spot.
Keillor-Dunn could have had a hat-trick on 54 as he again breached the Newport defence before curling off target on the right of the box.
Newport didn’t give up the ghost and on the hour Evans saw his bending effort held by Pym after Bogle provided on the inside right flank.
On 68, Brunt made a brilliant block as he flung himself in the way of Evans’ goalbound strike.
Baily Cargill nodded into palms of Townsend following a free-kick before Stags made their first change a minute later with Lucas Akins replacing Rhys Oates in attack.
And it didn’t take Akins long to register a shot on target, swivelling near the penalty spot to fire into Townsend’s grasp.
Maris side-footed over from the edge of the area prior to a double change in the Stags’ camp as the returning Stephen Quinn took to the field, replacing Lewis, and Hiram Boateng was introduced for Maris.
On 83 minutes, Mansfield were gunning for a third goal and Boateng got in on the shooting act by cracking a half-volley narrowly wide from 19 yards.
Keillor-Dunn was determined to take home the matchball and only Townsend prevented him for the prize with a smart save from the forward’s driven 18-yard strike.
In the final two changes of the encounter, Jordan Bowery and Davis Keillor-Dunn made way for James Gale and Will Swan in the 89th minute.
STAGS: Pym, Johnson, Flint, Brunt, Cargill, Reed, Lewis (Quinn 80), Maris (Boateng 80), Keillor-Dunn (Swan 89), Oates (Akins 74), Bowery (Gale 89)
UNUSED SUBS: Flinders, Williams
NEWPORT: Townsend, Payne, Delaney, McLoughlin, Bondswell (Clarke 55), Waite, Morris, Bennett, Wood (Palmer-Holden 50), Bogie, Evans
UNUSED SUBS: Maxted, Thomas, Young, Sanca
REFEREE: Thomas Kirk
ATTENDANCE: 6,877 (223 Newport fans)
