The Stags made one change from the side which faced Hull City, Andy White coming in for Adam Barrett, with David Kelly switching to right wing, Martin Pemberton to left back and skipper Les Robinson to centre half.  Shayne Bradley picked up a knock earlier in the week and was forced to miss that game but the Stags were boosted by the return of Craig Disley who joined the rested Adam Barrett on the bench.  The Stags kicked off playing with a very strong wind that made the whole game somewhat of a lottery.

The Stags began on top with Hassell dominant in all the Stags attacks down the right hand side.  It was Hassell who was first to test Woodman in the United goal, firing a low left foot shot at the keeper after a mazy run had seen him get into the penalty area.  Corden was next to have a crack, curling a right foot shot just wide of Woodman's far post.  Indeed Oxford found it almost impossible to get into the Stags half, with all Woodman's kicks either being blown out of play or straight back at him!!  However, the Stags seemed reluctant to try their luck from range, though Williamson was unlucky when his curling left foot effort from 20 yards flew straight at the U's keeper.  The Stags got the goal they desperately needed just before the half hour when Williamson's deep cross after some great skill was volleyed home by Kelly on the far post.  Pemberton was replaced by Barrett, the left back had clearly taken a knock.  Moments later Corden almost added a second himself but again his shot flew just wide.  Hassell once more got forward to good effect and saw his right foot shot easily saved.  It looked as though the Stags would not get the 2nd goal they desperately needed when Adam Murray scored his third for the club since his loan move began.  Andy White scrapped well for the ball on the edge of the box and put a deft short pass to Murray who blasted home off the underside of the bar from 20 yards.

Half Time:  2-0

At half time the Stags made one substitution and a tactical change.  Off came Andy White for Craig Disley and the formation was switched to 4-5-1 with Greenacre in attack on his own and Disley joining Williamson and Murray in central midfield.  It always looked like a two goal lead playing against a strong wind would prove tough to defend and the Stags could hardly have got off to a worse start.  Robinson was put under pressure by Scott and as the striker moved towards the bye-line he fell under challenge from the Stags skipper.  Referee Fernandez, a long time enemy of Stags fans, pointed to the spot without hesitation.  Moody converted the kick expertly.  The Stags then came under immense pressure and only some fine defending from Reddington and his colleagues in the back four prevented an equaliser.  Indeed twice the Stags had to rely on fortune, once when a cross flew low across the Stags 6 yard box but three Oxford players failed to convert and then right at the end Brookes lobbed Pilkington only to see the ball bounce over the bar.  In between Disley burst through on goal, but a poor touch sent him wide and his cross was cleared, the Stags only real attack of the half.  However, the home side hung on for 3 vital points.

Boss Stuart Watkiss was a relieved man after the game and told Mansfield 103.2 reporter James Bradley of how the conditions affected the game.  "We knew it was going to be tough and the wind made it a game of two halves.  We got the vital goal on the stroke of half time and I was delighted with the way we defended 2nd half.  I was very happy with the effort and commitment."  Watkiss added that he was relieved the side now have a week off, with no midweek game.  "We had to reshuffle the pack and it is important that we now have a free week as some of the players have a few niggles."  He then looked forward to the three consecutive away games at Swansea, Orient and Torquay.  "If you want to get out of this division you have to go to these teams and get a result." 

The game was definitely spoiled by the wind and a 2 goal lead looked fragile at half time with the Stags having to play into a very strong wind 2nd half.  However, the side defended well and Craig Disley did some fine work having come on as a 2nd half substitute.  David Kelly worked hard on the right and Stuart Reddington had a fine 2nd half.  However, Bobby Hassell prompted most of the Stags attacks in the 1st half and defended very well 2nd half and is therefore Man of the Match.

Man of the Match:  Bobby Hassell   

Report by Rob Wheldon

Click here for Martin's report