Chris Turner had the rare luxury of naming an unchanged side for the crunch game at Field Mill.

Ross Greenwood, who had been doubtful all week with a leg injury, was passed fit and there was also a welcome return on the bench of Mickael Wolski after recovering from illness.

The Stags almost took the lead inside the first minute when they capitalised on a slip from Greenwood but the ball cannoned off Jonathan D'Laryea and bounced wide.

The Hatters had another let off after 10 minutes when Gavin Peers planted a free header wide of the post.

It was all Stags pressure and Richard Barker was next to chance his arm with a long-range effort that brought a good save out of James Spencer.

On 16 minutes, though, County should have taken the lead when Rob Clare sliped a pass through to Jermaine Easter. The Hatters leading marksman was in the clear but pulled his left-foot shot wide.

Spencer was soon back in action making two saves to deny Stephen Dason and then Barker in as many minutes.

Giles Coke saw a shot deflected onto the top of the bar before the Stags took the lead on 25 minutes when Peers bundled home a free kick from the left.

Just after the half-hour the Hatters pressed the self-destruct button when Michael Raynes and Spencer left the ball for each other which allowed Barker an easy finish.

In an attempt to turn the tide Turner made a double substitution 6 minutes befoe the break when he introduced Wolski and Michael Malcom for Keith Briggs and Tes Bramble.

And the Hatters almost grabbed a lifeline on 42 miutes but Danny Boshell's shot from the edge of the box was blocked.

Half time: Mansfield 2 County 0

The second half turned into a real scappy afair with neither side making the goalkeeper work.

But, with the Staggs semmingly on the way to a vital victory, Malcolm played the ball into Easter's pass and the Welshman beat Kevin Pressman for his 7th goal of the season.

Disappointingly, though, with ten minutes still remaining the Hatters were unable to force an equaliser and, as a result, dropped into the League 2 relegation zone.

Mansfield (4-4-2): Pressman; Peers, Hjelde, John-Baptiste, Buxton; D'Laryea, Coke, Dawson, Rundle; Barker, Birchall (Russell 67)

Subs: Talbot, Day, McLachlan, White

Yellow Cards: D'Laryea 90

County (4-4-2): Spencer; Greenwood, Raynes, Clare, Robinson; Hamshaw, Briggs (Wolski 39), Boshell (Allen 85), Singh; Easter, Bramble (Malcolm 39).

Subs: Ikeme, Le Fondre

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