MANSFIELD Town boss Paul Cox expects the Stags to enjoy better times next season.
Colin Daniel's first-half header helped them finish their season on a high note with a 1-0 win at Bristol Rovers that condemned the Pirates to relegation into non-league and sealed an 11th-placed finish in League Two.
A six-game unbeaten run stretching from March into April gave Mansfield the momentum to secure what looked like an unlikely play-off place, but a draw to Accrington on April 18 halted their charge.
And despite having not a great deal to play for on the final day with their play-off aspirations already over, Cox instead took pride from watching his players fight for the win against Darrell Clarke's men.
But he admits he took no satisfaction in seeing opponents Bristol Rovers relegated.
"You don't enjoy seeing grown men cry on the pitch at the end of the game," said Cox. "I asked my lads to play with pride, but we respect Bristol Rovers as a big club and I am sure they will be back.
"The game that killed our season was against Accrington.
"At that point we had real momentum and thought we were on course for the play-offs.
"The lads have shown a lot of pride and we will look to do better next season.
"Rovers have thrown the kitchen sink at us in the second half and we had to dig in."
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 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.
Rovers' search for a goal became 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 post from inside the box.
Even five minutes of stoppage time wasn't enough to save Rovers as Mansfield's 700 travelling fans celebrated a final-day victory.
Cox could only sympathise with his opposite manager but believes he will be all the better for the experience.
"I know Darrell Clarke and can only imagine what is going through his head at the moment," he said.
"We take no pleasure in sending a club out of the League. It's a harsh way to learn, but he will emerge a stronger person for it."
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