Forest Green Rovers were defeated 4-0 by Mansfield Town at The New Lawn.

Rovers picked up a point last time out after an entertaining 3-3 draw at Colchester, while the Stags were 1-0 victors at home against Notts County.

An early over-the-top ball saw Christian Doidge get the better of two defenders, with his shot seemingly hitting the hand of goalkeeper Christy Pym outside the area, but the referee wasn’t interested.

A minute later, Mansfield had their first effort at goal, but Will Swan could only watch his shot fly past the post.

In the sixth minute, Rovers had another good opportunity, with Manny Osadebe striking after some pinball in the box, but George Williams’ block kept the game goalless.

11 minutes in, the visitors took the lead. After Luke Daniels superbly turned an effort on goal wide, the resulting corner was headed down by Aden Flint into the path of Ollie Clarke on the edge of the box, and he fired into the bottom corner.

Shortly after, a brilliant ball into the box from Fankaty Dabo was almost turned into his own goal by Flint, who saw his header whistle past the woodwork.

After end-to-end action with chances coming thick and fast, the game did start to settle, but it was Forest Green that were looking the far more dangerous of the two teams, building some nice passages of play that just lacked the end product. Despite the scoreline, it was a feeling of positivity heading into the break.

Immediately after the restart, a run down the right-hand side from Swan saw him cut inside and pull it back to George Maris, but his shot sailed over the bar.

Minutes later, it was Swan who was once again a threat going forward, this time shooting and forcing Daniels into a save at full-stretch.

In the 56th minute, McAllister tried his luck with a first-time volley from the edge of the area. He connected well, but it was straight at Pym.

Just before the hour mark, a misplaced pass set Clarke away, but Daniels came out well to deny him. The ball then came out to Swan, but his follow up was once again saved by a scrambling Daniels. However, the Rovers keeper picked up an injury in the process and was unable to continue, meaning a league debut for Jamie Searle.

A Forest Green corner after 68 minutes led to a couple of chances. The first from Thompson was blocked, but the second from Osadebe made its way through the crowd, but only into the arms of Pym.

60 seconds later, the Stags doubled their lead. Swan played Tom Nichols through, and his low curling effort found the far corner.

Rovers almost responded straight away through Doidge, but his attempt on goal was easy enough for Pym.

With just over 10 minutes left, Mansfield made it three. Substitute Lucas Akins sent a low cross into the box, and it was turned home by Swan from close range.

Four minutes into an additional nine, McAllister attempted an acrobatic overhead kick after controlling it well on his chest, and forced a reaction save from Pym who tipped it over the bar.

With two minutes to play, it was 4-0. Akins played the ball to Clarke, who curled it into the top corner and got his second of the game.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Forest Green: Daniels (G/K) (Searle 63’); Inniss (C), Keogh, Robson; Dabo (Jones 73’), McCann, Osadebe, Thompson (Bernard 73’), McAllister; Stevens (Omotoye 84’), Doidge

Mansfield: Pym (G/K); Williams (McLaughlin 80’), Flint (C), Brunt, Bowery; Reed, Maris (Boateng 80’), Clarke; Keillor-Dunn (Quinn 73’); Swan (Lewis 80’), Nichols (Akins 73’)

Attendance: 2,240 (604)

Star Man: Emmanuel Osadebe.