United's unbeaten run fell at the twelfth hurdle tonight as a determined Mansfield side became the first to better The U's in 2009/10. Two goals in five first-half minutes sank United despite a James Constable goal in a spirited second half revival.

Team-wise there was a return for Steven Kinniburgh after a one game suspension, with Kevin Sandwith not involved after an ankle problem, and from Kinniburgh's cross field pass in the third minute Matt Green fashioned the first  opening of the evening as he drifted infield but planted his left footed shot into the side netting.

The Stags had lost their three previous games but had top scorer Rob Duffy available after an ankle injury and he was the focal point as they battered United in the opening exchanges. Jake Speight missed a great chance on 13 minutes as he found himself in front of goal and wide open, only for Luke Foster to appear from nowhere and tackle him. Speight then curled a right footed effort against the right hand post on fifteen with Ryan Clarke beaten before Clarke was smartly off his line to save at the feet of Louis Briscoe as Mansfield surged forward.

Teams have been made to rue missing chances against United this season and on eighteen it almost happened again as Green's shot from six yards was blocked by a Mansfield heel and flashed inches outside the post. Green then drifted on to a precisely weighted pass from Cook but lifted the ball over the keeper and wide of the post and it was a miracle that neither side had scored in such a frenetic opening.

The very next attack saw the breakthrough though as Clarke saved from Speight and was unlucky to see the ball run to the left wing and Ryan Williams. The pint sized winger was quick to see the chance and lofted a superb lob up and over the stranded Clarke  and into the empty net. The goal was the first United had conceded for 560 minutes; over nine hours of football, but within five minutes they had been breached again.

Another swift attack saw United's defence split and Williams with too much space .to roll the ball to the right edge of the area. Speight had looked lively all night and took careful aim before smashing his shot past the flying Clarke to make it 2-0.

With the home fans roaring their team on and the game a million miles an hour it was hard work for the men in white although a Murray free kick from 25 yards on 32 forced Stags keeper Alan Marriott to make a save to his left. Their best moment came on 44 as Constable chested down and Cook unleashed a 30 yard effort which smashed off the bar and flew to safety. A magnificent effort and if it had flown in, a minute before the break, who knows...

The second half was much better and United started to dominate from the off. Mansfield saw Luke Graham make a desperate challenge inside the first sixty seconds as Constable tackled the keeper and was about to take aim at the vacant net, before a quick change to 4-4-2 with serious firepower as Jack Midson came on up front and Cook and Green moved out wide.

Mansfield were very much more inclined to hold what they had rather than push for more goals, which invited pressure but the final ball just wouldn't come despite United getting into great positions. When Simon Clist, now at left back, did provide Midson with some ammunition on 65 his shot drifted just past the angle of post and bar, and as the minutes ticked by United just needed that one lifeline.

It came on 74 and from a familiar route. Murray leads the assist league and his chipped pass found the chest of top scorer Constable who was afforded too much space, turned and drilled his shot into the corner of the net to make it 2-1 and spark a dramatic finale. Goals in four games in a row for Constable and nine for the season.

The magnificent away fans roared their team on, United pushed, and that early tempo looked to have drained Mansfield but their spirit and effort saw them home and United's efforts came to nothing. An injury to Murray may mean problems beyond this game but added to the five minutes of injury time and heightened the tension.

Midson's looping header was tipped over, Cook's header smacked the bar again, and the final few minutes were siege like but, ultimately, fruitless.

A first away defeat in 2009, a superb record by any measure, and United will bounce back. They stay top of the table.

Att: 3.933

Away: 637

Report by Chris Williams

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