Mansfield Town earned a fifth win in six games and made it 16 goals in their last three home matches as they eased past Cambridge United.

Lee Stevenson found the net after a scramble to put the hosts ahead, but the visitors levelled when Liam Hughes headed in a Rossi Jarvis corner.

Luke Jones poked in from close range to put Paul Cox's side back in front.

And Colin Daniel rounded off a fine passing move from inside the penalty area to complete the victory.

Mansfield remain one place outside the Blue Square Bet Premier play-off places, but are only three points adrift and have at least one game in hand on all of the five teams above them.

Cambridge are 10th in the table following a third consecutive defeat.

VIEW FROM DRESSING ROOM

Mansfield Town manager Paul Cox told BBC Radio Nottingham:

"They put in a performance today. I thought the first 20 minutes they were a little bit wobbly.

"But then after 20 minutes we really did settle down and we got our shape back.

"In the second half we were thoroughly professional and we played some great stuff."

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (4)

Mansfield Town

  • 01 Marriott
  • 04 Dempster
  • 05 Jones
  • 17 Beevers Booked
  • 29 Jennings
  • 13 Howell
  • 21 Murray
  • 26 Stevenson Booked
  • 31 Daniel
  • 10 Green
  • 11 Briscoe Booked (Meikle - 87' )

Substitutes

  • 02 Sutton
  • 14 Clements
  • 07 Meikle
  • 12 Wright
  • 16 Rhead

Cambridge United

  • 01 Hedge
  • 02 Roberts
  • 04 Coulson
  • 12 McAuley
  • 22 Wassmer
  • 06 Shaw (Brighton - 57' )
  • 16 Jarvis
  • 18 Berry Booked
  • 08 Reed (Taylor - 89' )
  • 09 Gash
  • 17 Hughes (Anderson - 74' )

Substitutes

  • 24 Ross
  • 03 Anderson
  • 25 Hudson
  • 26 Brighton
  • 32 Taylor
Ref: Seb Stockbridge
Att: 2,508

Match Stats

Shots

18 8

On target

9 5

Corners

12 6

Fouls

7 5

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:22 Full time

Full Time The referee blows his whistle to end the game.

90:00 +2:08

The ball is crossed by Colin Daniel, clearance made by Rory McAuley.

88:41 Substitution

Substitution Jamie Reed leaves the field to be replaced by Bobby Joe Taylor.

86:51 Substitution

Substitution Lindon Meikle replaces Louis Briscoe.

86:42

The ball is sent over by Lee Beevers.

84:16

Lee Stevenson sends in a cross, Luke Jones challenges Jonathan Hedge unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Jonathan Hedge.

84:00

The ball is swung over by James Jennings, clearance made by Luke Berry.

83:26

James Jennings takes the outswinging corner, clearance by Charlie Wassmer.

83:00

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by James Jennings from the right by-line, clearance made by Josh Coulson.

82:32

Corner taken left-footed by James Jennings from the left by-line, Charlie Wassmer makes a clearance.

81:24

Jamie Reed is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Alan Marriott takes the indirect free kick.

79:06

Kevin Roberts crosses the ball, clearance by Luke Jones.

77:33

Luke Berry has an effort at goal from 20 yards. James Jennings gets a block in.

76:53

Free kick awarded for a foul by Colin Daniel on Kevin Roberts. Rossi Jarvis crosses the ball in from the free kick, Adam Murray makes a clearance.

74:43

The ball is swung over by Louis Briscoe.

72:51

James Jennings shoots direct from the free kick.

72:51 Substitution

Substitution (Cambridge Utd) makes a substitution, with Joe Anderson coming on for Liam Hughes.

72:51 Booking

Booking Luke Berry is cautioned by the ref for unsporting behaviour.

72:34

Free kick awarded for a foul by Luke Berry on James Jennings.

70:37

Assist by James Jennings.

70:37 Goal scored

Goal - Colin Daniel - Mansfield 3 - 1 Cambridge Colin Daniel grabs a goal from just inside the penalty area to the top right corner of the goal. Mansfield 3-1 Cambridge Utd.

69:01

The ball is sent over by Louis Briscoe, Rossi Jarvis manages to make a clearance.

65:34

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Liam Hughes by James Jennings. Jonathan Hedge takes the free kick.

64:09

Rossi Jarvis challenges James Jennings unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by James Jennings, save made by Jonathan Hedge.

62:30

Corner taken by James Jennings from the left by-line, save by Jonathan Hedge.

62:21

Centre by Colin Daniel, Charlie Wassmer makes a clearance.

61:43

Jamie Reed is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Alan Marriott restarts play with the free kick.

60:47

Long distance effort from Colin Daniel misses to the left of the goal.

58:43

Rossi Jarvis crosses the ball, John Dempster manages to make a clearance.

58:22

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Rossi Jarvis from the left by-line.

58:11

The ball is swung over by James Brighton, blocked by Luke Jones.

56:29

Kevin Roberts takes the free kick.

56:29 Substitution

Substitution James Brighton on for Tom Shaw.

56:29 Booking

Booking Lee Stevenson booked for unsporting behaviour.

56:15

Lee Stevenson challenges Jamie Reed unfairly and gives away a free kick.

53:37

Corner taken right-footed by Rossi Jarvis.

53:11

Luke Berry has an effort at goal from 20 yards. Blocked by John Dempster.

52:32

Rossi Jarvis takes a outswinging corner from the right by-line to the near post, James Jennings makes a clearance.

52:17

Michael Gash sends in a cross, Anthony Howell gets a block in.

51:24

Direct free kick taken by Rossi Jarvis.

51:24 Booking

Booking Louis Briscoe receives a caution for unsporting behaviour.

51:17

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kevin Roberts by Louis Briscoe.

50:06

Shot from 18 yards from Colin Daniel. Jonathan Hedge makes a save.

48:30

James Jennings takes the outswinging corner, Josh Coulson makes a clearance.

48:17

Centre by Matt Green, clearance made by Luke Berry.

45:01

The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.

45:00 +1:24 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to end the first period.

45:00 +1:04

Louis Briscoe produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the left of the target.

45:00 +0:55

Centre by Colin Daniel, clearance by Charlie Wassmer.

44:56

Shot by Louis Briscoe from 25 yards. Jonathan Hedge makes a save.

44:24

James Jennings takes the outswinging corner, Charlie Wassmer manages to make a clearance.

43:33

Shot on goal by Matt Green from just inside the area goes over the target.

42:53

Luke Jones has an effort at goal from the edge of the box that misses to the right of the target.

42:21

James Jennings takes the inswinging corner, clearance made by Rory McAuley.

41:58

Shot by Louis Briscoe. Save by Jonathan Hedge.

38:40

The assist for the goal came from James Jennings.

38:40 Goal scored

Goal - Luke Jones - Mansfield 2 - 1 Cambridge Luke Jones gets on the score sheet with a goal from close in to the top left corner of the goal. Mansfield 2-1 Cambridge Utd.

38:06

Corner taken left-footed by James Jennings,

37:54

The ball is delivered by Anthony Howell, Charlie Wassmer gets a block in.

35:24

Michael Gash crosses the ball, save by Alan Marriott.

34:14

Long range effort from James Jennings misses to the left of the target.

32:40

The ball is sent over by Luke Berry, Jamie Reed takes a shot. Save made by Alan Marriott.

30:19

Assist by Rossi Jarvis.

30:19 Goal scored

Goal - Liam Hughes - Mansfield 1 - 1 Cambridge Liam Hughes scores a headed goal from inside the area. Mansfield 1-1 Cambridge Utd.

29:57

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Rossi Jarvis from the right by-line,

29:38

Tom Shaw has an effort at goal from 12 yards. Save by Alan Marriott.

27:49

Louis Briscoe delivers the ball, Matt Green takes a shot. Blocked by Liam Hughes.

25:14

The assistant referee flags for offside against Matt Green. Jonathan Hedge restarts play with the free kick.

24:10

Shot from just outside the box by Louis Briscoe goes over the bar.

23:37

Liam Hughes challenges Colin Daniel unfairly and gives away a free kick. James Jennings crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from left wing, Liam Hughes makes a clearance.

21:14

Effort from the edge of the area by Lee Stevenson goes wide of the right-hand post.

19:37

Corner from the right by-line taken by James Jennings, Charlie Wassmer makes a clearance.

19:24

The ball is crossed by Colin Daniel, Charlie Wassmer manages to make a clearance.

17:15

Free kick taken by Kevin Roberts.

17:15 Booking

Booking Lee Beevers booked.

17:07

Lee Beevers challenges Jamie Reed unfairly and gives away a free kick.

15:58

Colin Daniel crosses the ball, Rory McAuley manages to make a clearance.

15:32

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by James Jennings, Liam Hughes makes a clearance.

15:01

Corner taken left-footed by James Jennings, clearance made by Charlie Wassmer.

14:07

Louis Briscoe sends in a cross.

12:24

Centre by Michael Gash, Luke Berry has a headed effort at goal from just inside the penalty area that misses to the left of the target.

12:08

Colin Daniel sends in a cross.

11:14

Shot from just outside the penalty box by Colin Daniel misses to the left of the target.

10:52

Adam Murray fouled by Luke Berry, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Alan Marriott.

10:12 Goal scored

Goal - Lee Stevenson - Mansfield 1 - 0 Cambridge Lee Stevenson scores a goal from close range to the bottom left corner of the goal. Mansfield 1-0 Cambridge Utd.

9:38

Shot from 12 yards from Louis Briscoe. Jonathan Hedge makes a save.

8:23

Unfair challenge on Lee Beevers by Liam Hughes results in a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by James Jennings.

8:23

Free kick awarded for a foul by Liam Hughes on Lee Beevers. James Jennings takes the free kick.

8:03

Outswinging corner taken by Rossi Jarvis from the right by-line, save made by Alan Marriott.

7:26

Corner taken right-footed by Rossi Jarvis, Liam Hughes takes a shot. Save made by Alan Marriott.

5:35

Anthony Howell takes a shot. Save by Jonathan Hedge. Corner taken by James Jennings.

3:38

Rossi Jarvis fouled by Adam Murray, the ref awards a free kick. Rory McAuley restarts play with the free kick.

2:48

Shot from just outside the area by Jamie Reed misses to the right of the target.

2:02

Louis Briscoe delivers the ball, clearance by Rory McAuley.

1:38

The ball is swung over by Luke Berry.

0:00

The match has kicked off.

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