James Constable's second half brace made it ten points out of twelve and continued to gather momentum for United as they head for the play-offs. Constable's second half strikes sealed a win which was more comfortable that the scoreline suggests and augurs well as United put in a fine team performance 

United started in sprightly fashion and both James Constable and Matt Green had presentable chances in the first four minutes as their three man front line with Jack Midson opened well. Adam Chapman is never afraid to add firepower from midfield and powered in a ninth minute effort which brought the first save from Stags keeper Alan Marriott.

Chapman's vision and range of passing adds another dimension to the centre of the park where the ever willing Dannie Bulman and Simon Clist knitted things together with typical enthusiasm and endeavour, but the first quarter of the game was farly uneventful in front of  both goals. The shape and  style were neat enough and the best move of the half saw Clist and Kev Sandwith play a one two down the left and the latter cross to the near post where the alert Midson's run and glancing header ended with the ball sliding wide of the far post with Marriott beaten.

The best moment of the half though came on 34 as Chapman bent a curling shot from the left edge of the penalty area which was destined for the top right corner until Marriott tipped it to safety at full stretch. Sandwith then nodded a Chapman corner wide of the mark on 40 and United had had all the chances while playing decent football in the first half. 

Incidentally, the importance of Clist to the cause should never be underestimated. After 42 minutes he was unfortunate when stabbing an effort wide of the mark as the ball dropped over a defender's head, but twenty seconds later he was making a vital tackle at the other end of the pitch as the yellow boots of Jake Speight looked to be taking him away from everyone and towards Ryan Clarke. 

The usually predatory Constable fired over the bar at both ends thirty seconds either side of the interval and then the elusive Alfie Potter wriggled free on 57 to fire a shot straight into the arms of Marriott from the edge of the box.  Potter's arrival wide on the right as a sub for Green was soon followed by Rhys Day coming on for Mark Creighton after 58 minutes to face his former club.

The Stags still hadn't tested Clarke by the hour mark despite a half chance at that point which Duffy and Speight got into a muddle over and allowed the excellent Damian Batt to clear. Most of the action continue to come at the other end where Constable's touch eluded him at the vital moment as he advanced at goal but couldn't pick out first Midson to his left or Potter to his right a minute later.

Potter slammed a shot into the side netting after 70 minutes after another slaloming run through the tiring Stags defence then extended Marriott to his left on 72 with a left footer which produced a decent low save.

A goal was coming, sure as eggs are eggs and on 73 it was from a familiar source. Potter was the key with a superb first touch which left Andy Burgess on his backside and only able to admire the through pass which followed. Fellow sub Sam Deering was on to it in a flash and running at Marriott who blocked his effort but will have been dismayed to see the ball running to Constable. His left footed finish was emphatic and United were 1-0 up.

22 goals that count (25 in total) for Constable and two in three games so he is running into form at the right time, as is Potter who was superb when he came on. Midson also worked his socks off for the team and was only denied on 78 by Marriott once again as the 'keeper plunged to the base of his right hand post to clutch Midson's downwards header after a booming cross from Potter once more.

Stevenage may have sealed promotion but the season is far from over for Chris Wilder, his team, and the fans who chanted the manager's name and basked in the glorious sunshine.

In truth Mansfield were a shadow of the side that were the first to defeat The U's this season and a second goal was a truer reflection of United's supremacy. It came with four minutes left as United swept forward once more. Midson threaded Deering through and he impishly stopped on a sixpence to turn back and square the ball for Constable. His shot was deflected up and over Marriott who got a hand to it but was powerless to keep the ball out of his  net.

2-0 and job done. There will be bigger fish to fry in coming weeks but United are starting to play with a little bit of a swagger once more and need fear no-one when the play-off positions are finalised.

Att: 5712

Away: 232

Fifty/50 winner : 94655 (£1138)

Report by Chris Williams

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