Matt Rhead's late header gave Mansfield a first win in five games against Forest Green at Field Mill.

Kieron Forbes and Matt Taylor fired wide of Liam Mitchell's goal as Rovers dominated a quiet first half.

Taylor also went close after the break when Mitchell saved his downward header from Jared Hodgkiss' fine cross.

Rhead had earlier fired wide from distance, but a header from Exodus Geohaghon's long-throw consigned Rovers to a third successive defeat.

With Wrexham losing at home to Lincoln, Rovers could have overtaken the Welsh outfit and climbed to second in the table but they struggled to break down the Stags and went home empty-handed.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Mansfield Town manager Paul Cox told BBC Radio Nottingham:

"I don't think anyone could say we didn't deserve it today. I thought they boys worked extremely hard and we did create some great chances.

"I am over the moon but it is only one win and this could be a base for us to start from.

"We looked structured, we looked organised and more importantly we looked hungry, which is the main ingredient for success."

Forest Green Rovers manager Dave Hockaday told BBC Radio Gloucestershire:

"We feel like we've run over a black cat or smashed some mirrors or something. It feels like things just aren't quite going for us.

"We've had the best chances in open play and we haven't taken them.

"We defended brilliantly and had to make a few changes really late on. They've given me everything and I can ask for more.

"We've been punished late again, we've got to take that on the chin and we've got to learn."

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (5)

Mansfield Town

  • 34 Mitchell
  • 02 Sutton
  • 04 Dempster
  • 33 Geohaghan
  • 18 Roberts Booked
  • 21 Murray Booked
  • 24 Todd (Briscoe - 77' )
  • 31 Daniel
  • 08 Speight Booked
  • 10 Green (Meikle - 63' )
  • 16 Rhead

Substitutes

  • 17 Beevers
  • 13 Howell
  • 26 Stevenson
  • 07 Meikle
  • 11 Briscoe

Forest Green

  • 23 Russell
  • 02 Hodgkiss
  • 05 Turley
  • 16 Asafu-Adjaye
  • 21 Racine
  • 22 Green (Vieira - 64' )
  • 08 Klukowski
  • 11 Forbes
  • 28 Brogan (Wright - 74' )
  • 14 Taylor
  • 20 Norwood (Koroma - 87' )

Substitutes

  • 03 Stokes
  • 07 Koroma
  • 09 Styche
  • 10 Vieira
  • 18 Wright
Ref: Ross Joyce
Att: 2,019

Match Stats

Shots

9 8

On target

4 2

Corners

6 3

Fouls

17 12

Live Text Commentary

93:19 Full time

Full Time The referee ends the match.

90:00 +2:39 Booking

Booking Jake Speight is cautioned by the ref for unsporting behaviour.

90:00 +2:30

Sam Russell fouled by Jake Speight, the ref awards a free kick.

90:00 +2:10

Louis Briscoe takes a shot. Save by Sam Russell.

90:00 +0:22

The referee blows for offside. Liam Mitchell takes the free kick.

90:00 +0:01

Unfair challenge on Matt Taylor by Exodus Geohaghon results in a free kick. Ben Wright takes the direct free kick.

88:06

Exodus Geohaghon provided the assist for the goal.

88:06 Goal scored

Goal - Matt Rhead - Mansfield 1 - 0 Forest Grn Matt Rhead finds the back of the net with a headed goal from inside the six-yard box. Mansfield 1-0 Forest Green.

85:48

Sam Russell restarts play with the free kick.

85:48 Substitution

Substitution (Forest Green) makes a substitution, with Omar Koroma coming on for James Norwood.

85:48

Matt Rhead concedes a free kick for a foul on Jamie Turley.

85:21

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Matt Rhead by Kieron Forbes. Gary Roberts takes the free kick.

83:50

Corner taken right-footed by Gary Roberts from the right by-line, clearance made by Jared Hodgkiss.

82:26

Gary Roberts sends in a cross, Jamie Turley manages to make a clearance.

81:48

James Norwood gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Lindon Meikle. Gary Roberts takes the direct free kick.

80:50

Adam Murray takes the inswinging corner, clearance by James Norwood.

79:48

Short corner taken by Ben Wright.

79:12

The ball is delivered by Louis Briscoe, clearance by Jamie Turley.

78:54

Corner taken by Adam Murray, clearance by Aarran Racine.

78:39

The ball is swung over by Colin Daniel, clearance made by Aarran Racine.

76:32 Substitution

Substitution Andy Todd goes off and Louis Briscoe comes on.

76:14

A cross is delivered by Ben Wright.

75:33

Shot from deep inside the area by Matt Taylor clears the bar.

73:46 Substitution

Substitution Ben Wright on for Steve Brogan.

72:34

Matt Rhead has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide left of the target.

72:05

The referee penalises Matt Taylor for handball. Liam Mitchell restarts play with the free kick.

69:21

Steve Brogan concedes a free kick for a foul on Lindon Meikle. A cross is delivered by Gary Roberts, Header from close range by John Dempster clears the bar.

69:06

Jamie Turley sends in a cross.

68:40

John Dempster gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Magno Vieira. Magno Vieira restarts play with the free kick.

68:00

Colin Daniel produces a cross, Ed Asafu-Adjaye makes a clearance.

66:17

Andy Todd handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Sam Russell.

65:12

Andy Todd concedes a free kick for a foul on Jared Hodgkiss. Direct free kick taken by Sam Russell.

63:41 Substitution

Substitution Magno Vieira joins the action as a substitute, replacing Paul Green.

62:30 Substitution

Substitution (Mansfield) makes a substitution, with Lindon Meikle coming on for Matt Green.

61:32

The ball is sent over by Jared Hodgkiss, Matt Taylor takes a shot. Liam Mitchell makes a save.

58:23

Colin Daniel produces a cross, Strike from close range by Matt Rhead clears the bar.

57:40

Free kick awarded for a foul by Yan Klukowski on Exodus Geohaghon. Liam Mitchell restarts play with the free kick.

57:27

The ball is sent over by James Norwood, clearance made by Exodus Geohaghon.

56:59

Jake Speight concedes a free kick for a foul on Ed Asafu-Adjaye. Direct free kick taken by Sam Russell.

56:02

Steve Brogan takes the direct free kick.

56:02 Booking

Booking The referee books Adam Murray for unsporting behaviour.

55:50

Adam Murray gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ed Asafu-Adjaye.

55:19

A cross is delivered by Colin Daniel, Jared Hodgkiss makes a clearance.

54:05

The ball is sent over by Andy Todd, clearance made by Aarran Racine.

50:51

Unfair challenge on Matt Taylor by Andy Todd results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Steve Brogan.

50:10

The ball is crossed by Gary Roberts, blocked by Kieron Forbes.

49:46

Jake Speight takes a shot. Paul Green gets a block in.

48:58

Paul Green challenges Matt Rhead unfairly and gives away a free kick. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Gary Roberts from left wing, Jamie Turley manages to make a clearance.

46:07

Unfair challenge on Kieron Forbes by Adam Murray results in a free kick. Steve Brogan takes the direct free kick.

45:01

The second half has started.

45:00 +1:03 Half time

Half Time It is the end of the first-half.

45:00 +0:37

James Norwood challenges Adam Murray unfairly and gives away a free kick. Liam Mitchell takes the direct free kick.

44:59

Centre by John Dempster, Paul Green makes a clearance.

44:31

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jamie Turley on Exodus Geohaghon. Free kick taken by Gary Roberts.

43:44

Foul by Paul Green on Matt Rhead, free kick awarded. Gary Roberts takes the free kick.

42:11

Matt Green takes a shot. Blocked by Aarran Racine.

42:11

Matt Green takes a shot. Aarran Racine gets a block in.

41:08

Foul by Matt Rhead on Kieron Forbes, free kick awarded. Steve Brogan crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from right channel, clearance by Andy Todd.

39:34

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Liam Mitchell by Yan Klukowski. Free kick taken by Liam Mitchell.

36:56

Yan Klukowski has a header from inside the six-yard box and clears the crossbar.

36:28

Ed Asafu-Adjaye delivers the ball, clearance made by Andy Todd.

35:55

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jamie Turley by Matt Green. Sam Russell takes the direct free kick.

35:23

Effort on goal by Kieron Forbes from inside the box misses to the right of the target.

34:30

Free kick awarded for a foul by Paul Green on Matt Rhead. Gary Roberts takes the direct free kick.

33:48

Steve Brogan decides to take the corner short, save by Liam Mitchell.

33:32

Centre by Yan Klukowski, clearance by Andy Todd.

31:01

Unfair challenge on Aarran Racine by Matt Green results in a free kick. Sam Russell takes the direct free kick.

28:08

Matt Taylor fouled by Ritchie Sutton, the ref awards a free kick. Sam Russell restarts play with the free kick.

26:03

Direct free kick taken by Steve Brogan.

26:03 Booking

Booking The referee shows Gary Roberts a yellow card.

25:55

Gary Roberts gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Steve Brogan.

25:11

A cross is delivered by Andy Todd, save by Sam Russell.

24:30

Shot from outside the box by Paul Green misses to the left of the goal.

23:04

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Gary Roberts.

22:21

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Gary Roberts from the right by-line.

21:50

Colin Daniel takes a shot.

21:32

Andy Todd delivers the ball, Jamie Turley makes a clearance.

20:01

Unfair challenge on Jared Hodgkiss by Matt Rhead results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Sam Russell.

18:02

Foul by Steve Brogan on Jake Speight, free kick awarded. The ball is delivered by Gary Roberts, Header by Exodus Geohaghon from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the goal.

17:47

The ball is crossed by Matt Taylor, Gary Roberts makes a clearance.

16:27

Adam Murray gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Steve Brogan. Steve Brogan restarts play with the free kick.

13:48

Yan Klukowski produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the area which goes wide of the left-hand post.

11:23

Ed Asafu-Adjaye delivers the ball.

10:43

Effort from the edge of the area by Matt Taylor goes wide of the right-hand upright.

9:49

Short corner taken by Jared Hodgkiss.

9:04

Yan Klukowski produces a cross, James Norwood takes a shot. Ritchie Sutton gets a block in.

7:28

Gary Roberts concedes a free kick for a foul on Yan Klukowski. Sam Russell restarts play with the free kick.

6:14

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Matt Rhead by Paul Green. Free kick crossed right-footed by Gary Roberts.

4:00

The ball is swung over by Kieron Forbes.

3:03

The assistant referee signals for offside against Steve Brogan. Liam Mitchell restarts play with the free kick.

2:30

Corner taken by Gary Roberts.

0:00

The match gets underway.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association