Mansfield’s impressive club-record run of 11 successive home league wins was halted by promotions rivals Sutton who pulled off a deserved 3-2 League Two victory.
With Port Vale winning, sixth-placed Stags now have a six-point gap between them and the third automatic promotion place, although they still have a game in hand.
Sutton, meanwhile, climbed up to seventh with the win as they took advantage of Newport and Tranmere dropping points.
Mansfield gifted their opponent a ninth-minute lead following an error by defender Farrend Rawson.
After having the ball rolled to him on the edge of the box by keeper Nathan Bishop, Rawson was dispossessed by Omar Bugiel who rounded Bishop and calmly netted.
The hosts were then rocked by a second Sutton goal four minutes into the second half as David Ajiboye was allowed to turn home his eighth goal of the season from six yards, tucking away Enzio Boldewijn’s cross from the left by-line.
Stags were handed a lifeline in the 78th minute as a long John-Joe O’Toole ball forward saw Sutton defender Ben Goodliffe loop a header over his own keeper.
But United were 3-1 up two minutes later as substitute Richie Bennett raced clear to slot past Bishop with Stags screaming for an offside flag.
Mansfield pulled another goal back in the seventh of added time when Matty Longstaff saw his low 18-yard shot deflect home but it was nothing more than a consolation.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Mansfield
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Bishop
- 4Hewitt
- 6Rawson
- 35O’Toole
- 14PerchSubstituted forWallaceat 85′minutes
- 34Akins
- 44M Longstaff
- 25StirkSubstituted forMarisat 74′minutes
- 16QuinnBooked at 57minsSubstituted forJohnsonat 67′minutes
- 12Hawkins
- 9Bowery
Substitutes
- 7Murphy
- 10Maris
- 11Johnson
- 23Wallace
- 24Stech
- 26Law
Sutton United
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Bouzanis
- 22Kizzi
- 5Goodliffe
- 6John
- 24Milsom
- 7Ajiboye
- 10BeautymanSubstituted forDavisat 90+2′minutes
- 15Eastmond
- 20Boldewijn
- 16OlaofeSubstituted forWilsonat 76′minutes
- 9BugielSubstituted forBennettat 68′minutes
Substitutes
- 3Wyatt
- 4Rowe
- 8Davis
- 13House
- 19Korboa
- 25Wilson
- 26Bennett
- Referee:
- Neil Hair
- Attendance:
- 6,134
Live Text
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Match ends, Mansfield Town 2, Sutton United 3.
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Second Half ends, Mansfield Town 2, Sutton United 3.
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Goal! Mansfield Town 2, Sutton United 3. Matthew Longstaff (Mansfield Town) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner following a set piece situation.
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Offside, Sutton United. Robert Milsom tries a through ball, but Donovan Wilson is caught offside.
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Attempt saved. John-Joe O’Toole (Mansfield Town) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
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Substitution, Sutton United. Kenny Davis replaces Harry Beautyman.
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Kieran Wallace (Mansfield Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Richie Bennett (Sutton United).
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Foul by Matthew Longstaff (Mansfield Town).
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Craig Eastmond (Sutton United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Lucas Akins (Mansfield Town) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Robert Milsom (Sutton United).
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Foul by Jordan Bowery (Mansfield Town).
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Joe Kizzi (Sutton United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, Mansfield Town. Conceded by Robert Milsom.
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Attempt blocked. Danny Johnson (Mansfield Town) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kieran Wallace.
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Substitution, Mansfield Town. Kieran Wallace replaces James Perch.
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Corner, Mansfield Town. Conceded by Craig Eastmond.
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Goal! Mansfield Town 1, Sutton United 3. Richie Bennett (Sutton United) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by David Ajiboye.
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Attempt missed. Oliver Hawkins (Mansfield Town) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by James Perch with a cross.
