COLIN Daniel's first-half strike ensured Mansfield's season came to a satisfying end as a final day victory condemned opponents Bristol Rovers to non-league football.
The game's only goal came on 36 minutes with Daniel slotting home a well-taken volley, while a stunning Lewis Price save after the break kept Rovers out and saw them relegated with results elsewhere not going in their favour.
The hosts, who needed a point to guarantee League Two safety, might have drawn pre-match encouragement from the fact Mansfield had forgotten their shirts and had to borrow a set.
The Pirates began brightly - John-Joe O'Toole had a long-range volley blocked and Chris Beardsley fired over from a David Clarkson pass.
Mansfield struggled to make any impact early on and might have fallen behind on 21 minutes when Matt Harrold screwed his shot wide from another Clarkson through ball.
Beardsley then volleyed wide from close range as the home side, backed by a sell-out crowd, did their best to get the goal that would ease the tension in the stands.
Mansfield then sprang to life when a curling shot from the left by Sam Clucas was saved at the second attempt by Steve Mildenhall.
Then came the goal that doubled anxiety among home supporters. Anthony Howell crossed from the left and Daniel was allowed space to hook a volley in off the post from 12 yards.
With Wycombe and Northampton winning at that point, Rovers' search for a goal became even more desperate but Mansfield were now looking the more confident side.
The Stags could have doubled their lead just before the break but Ollie Palmer shot over from a good position after a good run through the middle by Howell.
Rovers came out for the second half with renewed determination and Tom Parkes headed wide from a Beardsley corner.
It then took a superb save from Price, with an outstretched right arm, to keep out a Clarkson shot bound for the top corner after a strong run.
O'Toole was wide with a well-struck shot from distance as pressure began to build on the Stags' goal.
There was a moment of controversy on 65 minutes when Mansfield defender Martin Riley brought down Kaid Mohamed as he threatened to break clear down the middle.
But referee Oliver Langford ruled that there was a covering defender and issued only a yellow card.
Rovers' players were left holding their heads moments later as a Clarkson header clipped the crossbar from a Fabian Broghammer corner.
Substitute Broghammer then had a low shot saved, while Clarkson was inches wide with a free-kick from 20 yards.
Mansfield sent on Ross Dyer for Palmer on 74 minutes but Rovers were irrepressible and O'Toole's glancing header from an Alfie Santos cross was inches wide.
The home side's luck was out again four minutes from time when defender Mark McCrystal volleyed against the post from inside the box.
Even five minutes of stoppage time wasn't enough to save Rovers as Mansfield's 700 travelling fans celebrated.
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