Stags twice threw away the lead to allow an average Notts County side to further cement their place at the top of the table. Goals from Richie Barker and Gareth Jelleyman put the Stags ahead but a brace from Glynn Hurst and one from Michael Edwards was enough to give the magpies the three points.
Back in action yet again after only a couple of a days rest Carlrton Palmer's men were back at Field Mill facing table leaders Notts County but as we all know when local pride is at stake in Derby games the form book goes out of the window.
Palmer made no fewer than five giving Simon Brown his first start, Jon Olav Hjelde was back from injury, Fraser McLachan was starting as was Adam Birchall and Stephen Dawson.
As was expected the game got off to a blistering pace with the first shot at goal, although off target came from the visitors when centre half Julien Baudet brought Stag's skipper Barker to ground but the referee let play carry on and Steve Scoffham turned a shot towards goal in the opening five minutes.
At the other end of the pitch in the eleventh minute Brown won the ball and crossed into the centre of the box. As Birchall became surrounded by the white shirts of County he passed back to McLachlan who hit a power driver shot just high of the mark.
15 minutes in Dawson stretching full length tipped the ball to Simon Brown who went as far as he could before crossing centre park where Richie Barker tapped the ball low of the far upright to open the scoring.
The reply came three minutes later when a freekick was poorly dealt with deep in the stags third allowing Glynn Hurst to hit a similar shot into the goal of Kevin Pressman bringing all things even.
A 37th minute corner for County threatened to open the scoring when pressman pulled a great save out of the bag but now off balance fell over and with the ball not cleared was soon fired back at an open net but the shot was high and out of play. In the 39th minute Pilks came out and clobbered Beardsley requiring a stretcher to take him back to the changing room. The retirement of Beardsley meant an early enforced change for the Stags and Jake Buxton was brought into play.
In the 45th minute Kelvin Wilson was lucky to only pick up a yellow card after a blatant two footed challenge on Simon Brown.
There was only three minutes of extra playing time to be added but even though the game had now taken a new turn and was starting to get physical no change was made to the score line.
News during the half time break came in that Beardsley had to go to hospital with a suspected broken Tibia.
Coming back from the break there was two changes with Gareth Jelleyman replacing Adam Birchall for the Stags and Dan Martin took over from Chris Palmer for County. Jelleyman's inclusion was noticed immediately from kickoff when he burst up the left flank and drilled a shot to the side of the County goal.
Just before the hour the Stags extended the lead when Brown knocked a ball across the goal mouth drawing Pilkington off his line. Jelleyman was on hand to find his second of the campaign.
In the 61st minute Baudet became the second magpie in the book for a foul on Brown. This was the third time that County should have had a player removed from the game but again the visitors got away with it.
In the 63rd minute and trailing County made their second change bringing Jake Sheridan on to replace Stacy Long.
Four minutes later Palmer made his second swap taking off Stephen Dawson and replacing him with youngster Giles Coke.
With only 25 minutes remaining former stag Andy White came into play to a mixed reception replacing Steve Scofham up front.
In the 80th minute substitute Sheridan was the latest magpie to find his name adorning referee Mr Laws notebook. For just the latest dangerous and late challenge on Jason Talbot.
County equalised in the 81st minute when Pressman making an heroic save but giving the corner allowed Michael Edwards to find the inside of his far post from the corner.
In the 85th minute Glynn Hurst gave the visitors the lead when they burst through the stags defence and Andy White drilled a shot a goal which bounced free for Hurst to put away with ease.
After another three minutes of extra time the visitors held to on their lead. This was a poor show from the stags and to allow County to win the game is unforgivable especially as they aren't the best side we have played so far this season. Boston United were a much better side the Saturday before.
Mansfield Town: Kevin Pressman, Alex John-Baptiste, Stephen Dawson (Coke 67), Gus Uhlenbeek, Richard Barker, Adam Birchall (Jelleyman 45), Jason Talbot, Fraser McLachlan, Jason Talbot, Fraser McLachlan, Chris Breardsley (Buxton 42), Simon Brown, Jon Olav Hjelde
Sus Not Used:Rhys Day, Callum Lloyd
Notts County: Kevin Pilkington, Michael Edwards, Brian O'Callaghan, Julien Baudet, Glynn Hurst, Chris Palmer (Martin 45), Steve Scoffham (White 75), Rob Ullathorne, Kelvin Wilson, Stacy Long (Sheridan 63), Lewis McMahon
Sus NOT Used:Ruben Zadkovich, Shaun Marshall
Cautions: Wilson (45), Baudet (61), Sheridan (80)
Referee: Mr G Laws
Assts: Mr C Reeves, Mr C Francis
4th Off: Ms A Rayner
