Swindon Town recorded a huge three points courtesy of a hard-fought 1-0 win against Mansfield Town this afternoon at The Energy Check County Ground.
There were chances galore at both ends of the pitch in an entertaining first-half, but it was the home side who were able to boast a slender lead at the break thanks to Matty Taylor's strike, which proved to be the winner.
Town Boss Dave Flitcroft made two changes in total with Matt Preston returning from suspension to replace the injured Olly Lancashire, with Marc Richards handed the Captain's armband.
Keshi Anderson returned from a fatigue injury to take his place in the Starting XI, while James Dunne dropped to the bench.
There was no place in the Matchday Squad for Kellan Gordon who will have to serve a three-game ban, although there was a spot on the bench for Second-Year Scholar Joe Romanski.
It was a big game for both teams with Town looking to cut the gap on the top three, while the Stags were hoping to move into the automatic promotion spots themselves.
Both sides had chances in what was a fast start to proceedings as Luck Norris flicked a shot over the bar from Matty Taylor's cross, while Danny Rose warmed the palms of Reice Charles-Cook at the other end.
Marc Richards then went down inside the area under a challenge but any appeals for a penalty were swiftly waved away by Kevin Friend.
Attack seemed to be the order of the day for the two sides with plenty of clear-cut chances being created.
Ollie Banks found himself in plenty of space 25-yards out but his drive was high and wide, while Kane Hemmings' lofted effort at the other end dropped onto the roof of the net.
Town came closest to opening the scoring inside the first twenty-minutes as Timi Elsnik and Matty Taylor combined well before the former glanced a shot into the side netting.
Mansfield were carving out opportunities too, however, and they were getting closer as Kane Hemmings flashed an effort wide from 30-yards, before Will Atkinson's glancing header from Malvind Benning's cross dropped inches wide of the post.
Keshi Anderson was the next player to try his luck with a thumping effort from 30-yards out, and it forced a good save from Conrad Logan who had to tip the shot over the bar.
Mansfield once again responded with a chance of their own, although Alex MacDonald could only drag a tame shot well wide.
A bouncing ball caught a Mansfield defender out and Richards looked to take full advantage of the mistake, but his dipping half-volley dropped wide of the post.
Hemmings was denied by Charles-Cook at the other end and that proved costly with the opening goal of the game going the other way just seconds later.
Town broke on the counter from a Mansfield corner through Anderson who played in Elsnik, who in turn picked out Taylor and the defender was able to hammer home a superb effort.
It was nearly 2-0 at the break as Banks latched onto a loose pass before slamming a thunderous effort just wide from 25-yards out.
Logan pulled off a stunning stop to keep out a point-blank effort from Richards five minutes into the second-half, although the offside flag was already up.
Just like the first-half, Mansfield were also creating plenty too and they went close to drawing level when MacDonald lashed inches over from 30-yards out.
Norris was able to lay the ball off to Elsnik moments later but the attacker could only leather a shot straight into the gloves of Logan.
Chances were not arriving at the same pace in the second-half as they were in the first, with Town doing a good job of frustrating their guests.
Mansfield did have openings though with MacDonald blasting a first-time effort from distance over the bar, before Anderson saw his header hacked off the line by Bennett at the other end.
Richards saw his header claimed by Logan while Banks was off-target with a long-range free-kick.
With time running out, it was Mansfield who were doing most of the attacking as Rose sent a volley over the bar, and that proved to be that with Town holding on for a big win.
TEAMS & STATS:
SCORERS - Matty Taylor (38).
SWINDON TOWN (3-5-2) - Charles-Cook; Purkiss, Preston, Menayese; Knoyle, Banks, Elsnik, Anderson (Paul Mullin 90), Taylor; Norris, Richards (C).
SUBS NOT USED - Moore, Romanski, Robertson, Iandolo, Dunne, Woolery.
MANSFIELD TOWN (4-4-2) - Logan; Anderson, Pearce (C), Bennett, Benning; MacDonald, Atkinson, Byrom (Ricky Miller 59), Hamilton (Matt Penney 67); Rose, Hemmings (Alfie Potter 81).
SUBS NOT USED - Olejnik, Digby, Spencer, King.
BOOKINGS:
MANSFIELD TOWN - Joel Byrom.
Referee - Kevin Friend.
Attendance - 6,031.
