Mansfield Town

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Mansfield 1-0 Ebbsfleet

Mansfield Town consolidated third spot on the Blue Square Bet Premier table with a 1-0 win over Ebbsfleet at Field Mill on Saturday.

A goal from Matt Green eight minutes from time was all that was required to see off a determined Ebbsfleet outfit.

Mansfield enjoyed the best of the possession throughout and had the ball in the back of the net in the eighth minute but Adam Smith was adjudged to have committed a foul while executing a scissor kick.

Despite being under the cosh, the visitors came close to opening the scoring inside the first quarter with Michael West and Liam Enver-Marum fashioning chances while Alan Marriott in the Stags goal was forced into a save by a Nathaniel Pinney header.

At the other end, Lance Cronin did well to stop a Green strike after he was put through by Adam Murray.

It was Martin Riley who came the closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half though, with the defender's header cracking into the post.

The Stags began the second period as they began the first, putting further pressure on their visitors but despite a host of corners they were unable to open the scoring.

Indeed, Marriott was once again called into action at the other end of the pitch with Paul Lorraine making the Mansfield keeper work with a good header.

The game looked set to peter out to a draw, but Green had other ideas, opening the scoring in the 82nd minute.

A great pass from Murray put Green into space and the striker did well to shield the ball before tucking it into the left-hand corner.

The result means that Mansfield are now looking very comfortable in the play-off places, seven points clear of sixth placed Luton. Ebbsfleet meanwhile drop further down the table after their second defeat in five days but are some way off the relegation scramble.

Mansfield Town bookings: Green.

Ebbsfleet United bookings: Lorraine.

Att: 2 630.

Ref: Harrington.