The Stags hope to secure point needed for League Two survival when hosting Scunthorpe United

Mansfield Town are within touching distance of the 50-point mark as they face fellow survival hopefuls Scunthorpe United with both sides needing a positive result.

Safety is more or less in sight for both sides, but Nigel Clough and Neil Cox will want their teams to end the season on a positive note with a handful of games remaining.

The amber and blues travelled to the Lamex Stadium to face an in-form Stevenage with the Boro only losing once in their last five league matches.

Clough’s men had early penalty claims waved away by referee Samuel Barrott as Jamie Reid was fouled in the Stevenage penalty area.

Joe Martin had a great chance to give the hosts the lead, but a vital stop from Aidan Stone denied the defender from scoring.

Mansfield were in front in the 24th minute. The ball fell kindly to Ryan Sweeney from a corner with the defender tucking the ball into the back of the net.

The first 45 minutes went in the Stags’ favour as they kept on knocking on the door but were unable to get a second as the half drew to a close.

Stevenage were able to start the second-half positively as Jack Aitchison had a go at Aidan Stone’s goal with his effort off target.

Luke Norris and Elliott List also had chances but the Mansfield goalkeeper was equal to them as the Stags held on to a vital three points moving them up to 18th on 49 points.

Mansfield’s opponents this time around, Scunthorpe United, were so close yet so far from pulling off the shock of the weekend.

The Iron travelled to the New Lawn to face a Forest Green Rovers side that has been out of form in recent weeks and without Mark Cooper, who was sacked after their poor run seeing them lose four of their last five matches.

The hosts started the game positively and were finally rewarded in the 21st minute through Jordan Moore-Taylor as he gave the Rovers the lead.

An unlikely equaliser for Scunthorpe was scored by Harrison McGahey in added time of the first-half as the sides were level at the break.

Abo Eisa then gave the visitors the lead seven minutes into the second-half as Cox’s men completed the turnaround and were destined to a fantastic three points.

Ebou Adams and Chris Stokes had other ideas though as the pair put Forest Green in front with 10 minutes to go, and were able to run out as 3-2 victors on Saturday afternoon.

In the reverse fixture between Mansfield Town and Scunthorpe United, the Stags ran out as 3-2 victors on Boxing Day which kickstarted their fantastic winning streak.

George Lapslie put the amber and blues ahead after 16 minutes with Manny Onariase’s own goal doubling the Nottinghamshire club’s advantage just before the half an hour mark.

An own goal from Ferrand Rawson in the 37th minute set the game up for a very interesting second 45 minutes. Jordan Bowery was able to get on the scoresheet on the hour mark with John McAtee scoring for Scunthorpe 10 minutes later, but the Stags were able to hold on and take all three points back home to Nottinghamshire.

Mansfield have only lost once in the last 10 matches against the Iron at the One Call Stadium, a stat they would like to remain intact against the Lincolnshire side.

Scunthorpe have been unable to defeat the Stags in their last four attempts and you would have to go back to January 2014 where the Iron came out on top, running out as 2-0 victors in Nottinghamshire.

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