With long term absentees Liam Lawrence, Dave Jervis and Allen Tankard the Stags also had to face Scunny without Craig Disley, who may feature against Hull on Tuesday night.  However, defender Bobby Hassell returned and filled the right back slot with skipper Les Robinson moving to left back, Pemberton filling the left midfield role and Corden switching to the right.  Paul Wheatcroft dropped to the bench.  The Iron were without winger Peter Beagrie through injury.

The home side could have been ahead as early as the 2nd minute, Greenacre nodded down a long ball to Kelly whose shot was blocked but deflected to Corden who perhaps had more time than he thought and he dragged his first time shot wide.  Both sides were clearly eager and there was rarely time to settle on the ball, only the excellent Murray in the middle and Hassell at right back seemed to have any time on the ball at all.  Kelly fell theatrically inside the area which lead to a brief confrontation between he and Scunny centre half Jackson but for the most part the game was a midfield battle with neither side able to dominate.  Torpey had the Iron's best chance of the opening 25 minutes, but Pilkington blocked his shot from the right.  However, this was to all change with a freak goal for the visitors on 27 minutes.  Skipper Les Robinson rolled the ball back to Pilkington but the ball took a wicked bobble just as the keeper was about to clear and completely missed his kick for Quailey to run through and tap home.  This completely knocked the Stags back and the rest of the half was a scrappy affair, not helped by fussy refereeing from Mr A Kaye.

Half time:  0-1

Though no substitutions had been made at half time, the Stags made a slight tactical change with Murray playing in a more advanced role.  This was to pay almost immediate benefit as the Stags drew level with just 6 minutes of the 2nd half gone.  Hassell put a great ball through to Murray who rounded the keeper and slotted home from an acute angle.  The Stags were buoyed by the equaliser and began to dominate, playing some terrific attacking football and putting the visitors firmly on the back foot - the home crowd urging the side on.  Murray was again involved in the next Stags chance, cutting open the Iron defence with a pass to Greenacre who shot was saved by Iron keeper Evans.  Kelly then should have done better when released by Reddington, he did well to win the initial header but after cutting in from the right fired a weak shot straight at the keeper.  A foul on Pemberton on the left gave Murray the chance to put in a curling cross but Greenacre's header on the far post flew wide.  However, the Stags did take the lead on 70 minutes.  Corden was found on the right by Kelly, he beat his marker and curled in a fine cross which was headed home by Murray.  Bradley replaced Kelly and almost made the game safe within minutes of coming on, he beat keeper Evans to a bouncing ball and with the keeper stranded managed to get the ball to Corden, however, Corden's shot was blocked with the keeper nowhere.  In the last 5 minutes the visitors pumped the ball forwards at every opportunity and right at the end with Pilkington stranded Hassell made a superbly timed challenge and cleared the danger.

A great win which puts the Stags 9 points ahead of today's opponents with 2 games in hand.  More importantly the Stags are now 7 points clear in 3rd place and will travel to Hull on Tuesday night full of confidence.  For the 2nd time in a week the Stags showed tremendous character by coming back from a goal behind and were just about deserved winners on the back of a fine 2nd half showing.  The central defensive pairing of Barrett and Reddington again looked very good and Martin Pemberton did well in yet another different role, wide on the left.  However, the star performers were undoubtedly Bobby Hassell at right back who had an immaculate game and Adam Murray, who scored twice and barely played a poor pass.  Man of the match is between these two and is a real tough call, for me it just goes to Murray for the goals.

Man of the Match:  Adam Murray

Report by Rob Wheldon

Click here for Martin's report