Bobby Mimms held his hands up after the game- with his poor throw out beginning the move that led to the Stags downfall against Rochdale.  The ex-Blackburn keeper threw the ball towards the half-way line Rochdale intercepted and from Paul Connor's cross, Clive Platt headed past Mimms for the only goal of the game after 32 minutes.

Before that, Mimms had been forced into action by Wayne Evans- who mishit a cross that drifted towards the top corner before Mimms backtracked and pushed the ball over the bar.

Stags did have the ball in the net in the first half but Shayne Bradley, who shone in attack, was judged to be offside by the referee's assistant.

Mimms redeemed his error in the second half with a man-of-the match performance that included a fine save from Dave Flitcroft and an even better stop from Dale sub Graham Lancashire.

The introduction of Liam Lawrence at half-time sparked the Stags into life and the youngster nearly netted with a curling free kick that just drifted wide of the post- but the Stags main failure was not testing Dale' keeper Neil Edwards who had a trouble free afternoon in goal. 

After the game, Stags assistant boss Mark Kearney said: "We conceded a sloppy
goal but overall we did very well against a good strong Rochdale side."

"The team have pulled their socks up in the second half and have given the
supporters who traveled across something to be positive about. We want to
give them more to cheer about at Field Mill on Tuesday against Darlington.".

Attendance:  3,114

Stags:  Mimms, Reddington, Robinson, Asher, Jervis (Boulding 80), Lawrence, Hassell (Blake 80), Williamson (Lawrence 45), Disley, Clarke, Greenacre, Bradley.  Subs Not used: White, Pilkington

Dale:  Edwards, Evans, Monington, Bayliss, Hill, Ford, Flitcroft, Jones, Oliver, Connor (Lancashire 72), Platt.  Subs Not Used:  Baker, Hadland, Coleman, Ware

Bookings:  Stags:  Disley, Lawrence

Referee:  R. D. Furnandiz (Doncaster)