Mansfield Town 3 Darlington 1

Last updated : 04 October 2003 By Footymad Previewer

Angry Darlington boss Mick Tait slammed rookie referee Trevor Kettle after the ten-men Quakers received eight yellow cards as their six-match unbeaten run came to a controversial end.

Referee Kettle dismissed David McGurk three minutes into the second half for what appeared a fair challenge - and within 17 minutes Mansfield had grabbed two goals to secure victory.

Tait said: "The sending off was a disgrace. I have asked the referee how he can sleep at night after making such decisions." Half-time substitute Wayne Corden inspired the Stags to their third victory of the week and second place in the Third Division.

The wingman, dropped for the previous two matches, crossed accurately for Iyseden Christie to restore Mansfield's lead in the 59th minute and then curled in a trademark 20-yard free kick six minutes later.

Afterwards Mansfield manager Keith Curle said: "That's the beauty of having a strong, quality squad. Players are now desperate to get into the team and that showed with Wayne." Unchanged Mansfield, now the top scorers in the division, had gone close to a first minute breakthrough when Rhys Day headed Liam Lawrence's floated free kick narrowly wide.

But in the 13th minute another Lawrence cross unlocked the defence. This time Tony Vaughan looped his header into an empty net with keeper Michael Price stranded.

Yet another Lawrence free kick almost doubled the lead, but this time Day's 23rd minute header struck the post.

Christie and Lawrence then squandered clear shooting chances, Christie drilling his low shot on the turn wide from 18 yards and Lawrence seeing his close-range drive blocked by the alert Price.

And the Stags were made to pay for their profligacy in the 45th minute when from their first serious attack Darlington levelled.

Ashley Nicholls was fouled by Day as he burst into the area and although Stags keeper Kevin Pilkington superbly kept out Ian Clark's penalty - his second spot-kick save of the week and his only save in the whole match - Clark reacted the quickest to head in the equaliser from the rebound.