Rampant Mansfield Town earned a second consecutive 4-1 victory on the road to stretch their unbeaten run to 18 games in all competitions with this latest win at Harrogate Town.
Nigel Clough’s men beat local rivals Notts County by the same scoreline ten days ago and produced another scintillating display of attacking football to maintain their magnificent form.
They also finally exorcised the ghost of Harrogate, who they had not previously beaten in the previous seven attempts.
The damage was done by half-time as Mansfield blew away their North Yorkshire hosts with a first-half onslaught to lead 3-0 at the break.
Lucas Akins bagged a brace while Lewis Brunt scored his first goal for the club and George Maris put the icing on the cake with a fourth in the second-half.
Harrogate grabbed a consolation later in the second period, but by then there was little doubt of the outcome.
Centre-half Lewis Brunt, on loan Leicester City, replaced the suspended Baily Cargill after the latter collected five yellow cards.
It was the only change following Stags’ 4-1 victory at Notts County.
Stags began on the front foot and inside the third minute midfielder Lewis Reed tried his luck from 30 yards but his right-footed attempt flew past the crossbar.
The early opportunity was a sign of things to come as Mansfield launched a high-grade assault on the home goal.
Three minutes later, Jordan Bowery, at right full-back, squared for George Maris, though his low effort from the edge of the D flashed harmlessly beyond the post.
From a similar distance, Lucas Akins came closer with a bending left-footed strike, which deflected behind to earn Stags’ first corner.
And Mansfield’s early pressure paid off from the subsequent corner in the eighth minute.
Maris’ inswinger was delivered towards a towering Aden Flint who headed across the penalty area for Lewis Brunt to rifle home from 12 yards.
The one-way traffic continued towards the Harrogate goal and the hosts had goalkeeper Mark Oxley to thank as he dived at full-strength to keep out a stinging 20-yard stop from Lewis Reed.
Davis Keilor-Dunn and Lucas Akins got in on the shooting act but both attempts missed the target.
At the other end, Brunt made a good block inside the box to prevent Jack Muldoon’s strike from making its way to goal.
Midway through the first half, Akins turned cutely through to middle to fire a low drive into the grasp of Oxley.
Ollie Clarke was next to have a crack, this time from 25 yards, but his rasping effort sailed wide.
Stags were purring and Lewis’ corner caused all manner of problems as Flint nodded it goalwards and after Oxley failed to gather, Harrogate somehow managed to clear after a mini-scramble.
On 32 minutes, Reed’s 22-yard free-kick clipped the top of the defensive wall to spin behind for another corner, which on this occasion, Mansfield were unable to capitalise on.
Harrogate could no longer hold back the tide and Mansfield doubled their advantage on 36 minutes.
Akins cleverly fed Keillor-Dunn through the middle and saw his shot well stopped by Oxley. But the Harrogate goalkeeper could do little about the rest as Clarke lashed the loose ball against the upright from the edge of the box, with the rebound drilled home by Akins from a similar position.
And merciless Mansfeld bagged another through Akins less than two minutes later.
Calum Macdonald robbed back the ball on the left touchline to play a neat one-two with Keillor-Dunn before seeing his strike pushed away by Oxley. And Keillor-Dunn was well placed to send it across the goal for Akins to turn and stab home from close range.
Stags remained in fifth gear and Lewis flashed a cross-cum-shot across six-yard box as Harrogate breathed a sigh of relief to see it flash behind.
Harrogate made a double change at the break and within two minutes of the restart Matty Daly went galloping on the inside left before his shot took a deflection to gain a corner.
Substitute Abraham Odoh had a clearer opening on 49 minutes, heading down towards goalkeeper Christy Pym, following a high cross on the right channel.
Harrogate entered the second half with a new found vigour but Stags carved out their first chance of the second period on 58 minutes.
Keillor-Dunn latched onto a lovely long ball from Bowery, showing an exquisite touch to bring the ball down and weave towards the box before firing into an advertising hoarding.
Just shy of the hour, Harrogate’s Sam Folari sped away into the box, only to blast against the top of the stand.
The hosts were determined to pull one back and Flint flung himself in the way of Odoh’s 15-yard hit to prevent a certain goalbound attempt.
Harrogate thought they had a penalty on 66 minutes but instead Kayne Ramsay was booked for simulation and Macdonald also entered the book two minutes later for delaying the restart of play.
Oxley was called upon for Harrogate on 71 minutes, getting down low to beat away Akins’ strike.
But there was no stopping Maris on 73 minutes as Stags again penetrated the Harrogate defence.
Keillor-Dunn showed guile and craft inside the box to slide for Maris, who slammed into the roof of the net to send the Stags’ fans into ecstasy.
It was Maris’ final act as he was replaced by James Gale, with Aaron Lewis making way for Hiram Boateng and Callum Johnson being introduced for Calum Macdonald as part of three substitutions.
Harrogate made another double change before Oxley again was needed to tip behind after Keillor-Dunn produced another moment of inspiration, following outstanding footwork to rifle a shot at goal.
Clarke and Keillor-Dunn were then substituted for George Williams and Will Swan.
Harrogate pulled back a consolation goal on 80 minutes when Levi Sutton’s speculative 22-yard attempt took a deflection off Flint and into the net with the help of the underside crossbar.
Soon after, Callum Johnson was shown a yellow card for delaying the restart of play.
On 84, Gale fed Swan who turned to shoot narrowly wide from 15 yards.
And in stoppage time, Boateng powered a rising effort beyond the target from 18 yards before the referee sounded for full-time as Stags continued their magnificent form.
HARROGATE: Oxley, Thomson, Cornelius (Falkingham HT), M. Daly (March 76), Folarin (Armstrong 76), McDonald, Sutton, Muldoon (Odoh HT), Ramsey, Foulds
UNUSED SUBS: Thomas, Burrell, J. Daly
STAGS: Pym, Bowery, Flint, Brunt, Macdonald (Johnson 75), Reed, Lewis (Boateng 75), Clarke (Williams 79) , Maris (Gale 75), Keillor-Dunn (Swan 75), Akins
UNUSED SUBS: Flinders, McLaughlin
REFEREE: Stephen Martin
ATTENDANCE: 2,305 (458 Stags’ fans)
