Dale stunned by in-form Stags

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Dale had only lost one in the last 13 games, but were behind on 71 minutes when Martin Riley headed home from a James Jennings corner.

Stags made it safe three minutes from time in similar fashion as Matt Rhead powered in a header from another Jennings delivery.

And Dale were undone from a set-piece once more a minute into stoppage time with Ryan Tafazolli heading in from a Chris Clements free-kick.

This was Mansfield’s fourth win on the bounce and kept alive their outside play-off chances, with the gap to seventh down to six points with four games left.

Scott Hogan thought he had won a penalty on 28 minutes but he was penalised for backing into Riley.

Soon after Ian Henderson sent Hogan clear down the centre. Loanee keeper Lewis Price got down to save and was then relieved to see Peter Vincenti’s attempted chip into the gaping goal come back off a post.

Henderson blazed over from the right with Stags looking for an offside flag and then Price gathered a low 20-yard Matt Lund shot to his left.

Visiting keeper Josh Lillis made his first real save in stoppage time as he dived to his right to deny Ollie Palmer.