Mansfield will be glad to see the back of Stanley this season – in particular Kal Naismith.

The Stags led 2-1 going into stoppage time when the sides last met at Field Mill in December.

Yet the Reds managed to nick all three points, Naismith winning it with his second goal of the game to ruin Mansfield’s Christmas.

Paul Cox’s men again looked on course for victory on Good Friday after breaking the deadlock through Jake Speight’s 75th-minute strike.

But the Reds’ knack of grabbing important late goals this season resurfaced as Naismith converted a 95th-minute penalty to leave the 662 travelling fans cursing the Stanley substitute.

A fifth straight victory would have put Mansfield ninth, five points off the play-offs with three games left. But Naismith’s leveller all but ended their hopes of a top seven finish while keeping Stanley four points above the relegation zone.

Shay McCartan was one of four players to come into the Reds’ starting line-up after his stoppage-time equaliser at York six days earlier. Another – Lee Molyneux – had an early penalty appeal turned down before being denied by a last-ditch challenge after McCartan’s pass.

At the other end, defender Martin Riley fired over from an early James Jennings free-kick while Colin Daniel hit a half-volley just wide from long range.

Jennings then had a tame effort saved by Marcus Bettinelli before, just after the half-hour mark, McCartan jinked through the visiting defence, only to see his low strike saved by the legs of keeper Lewis Price.

Mansfield replied moments later with Ollie Palmer testing Bettinelli with a low drive from just over 20 yards, which the Stanley keeper tipped inches wide. The Fulham loanee then did well to parry Daniel’s strike.

But the Reds finished the first half on top, with a spell of pressure resulting in Peter Murphy turning on the edge of the box and unleashing a 20-yard volley which Price had to turn over.

Adam Murray dragged a shot wide for the visitors just after the break while recalled Stanley forward Will Hatfield had two efforts kept out by Price.

The end-to-end action continued as Riley sent an unmarked header wide from Clements’ cross while McCartan headed over from Molyneux’s inswinging corner.

Mansfield substitute Sam Clucas then fired into the side-netting from Daniel’s through ball and Molyneux hit a 20-yard free-kick straight into the visitors’ wall.

Clucas had a big impact off the bench and the Stags’ top scorer crossed for Clements to blaze a first-time volley over and although Speight had a goal disallowed for offside, the pressure told moments later.

Jennings found Clucas on Mansfield’s right wing and despite having two men on him, Clucas showed neat footwork to get between Murphy and Michael Liddle and lay the ball back for fellow sub Speight, who fired high past Bettinelli from 10 yards.

Just like at York the previous Saturday, Stanley reacted well to going behind as Luke Joyce hit a 25-yard free-kick just wide while sub Naismith had a shot blocked and scuffed another wide.

Four minutes of stoppage time were indicated and Mansfield almost sealed victory in bizarre circumstances. Bettinelli received a throw-in from Tom Aldred just outside the right side of the box only to see his attempted clearance blocked by Speight and the ball rolled across the goalmouth before bouncing back off the far post and into the keeper’s grateful arms.

A Mansfield injury meant the game would go beyond 94 minutes. Aldred pushed forward in a bid to salvage an equaliser and the centre-half brought the ball down 25 yards out before lifting it over the visiting defence for James Gray to chase.

Referee Richard Clark felt Riley bundled over the Stanley sub and Naismith held his nerve to fire into the bottom-right corner and remain the scourge of the Stags.

It also saw the former Rangers forward go clear as the Reds’ top scorer, becoming the first Stanley player to reach double figures this season.

“Tom loves playing up front,” said manager James Beattie. “I might start him up there next week if he has that sort of influence!

“James Gray was brave and I think it was a clear penalty.

“Kal was bitterly disappointed not to start, which I expect, I understand. But he turned it from a negative to a positive situation and he showed great composure because there was a long time from when the referee gave the penalty to when he blew the whistle for Kal to take it.

“The first half was quite an even affair,” Beattie added. “Mansfield made a few changes that gave them more dynamism and more pace, which is what they got the goal from. But the lads came back and it showed the team spirit they’ve created – and their fitness levels as well.”

Stanley: Bettinelli, Hunt, Winnard, Aldred, Liddle, Hatfield (Naismith 78), Murphy, Joyce, Molyneux (Mingoia 79), McCartan (Gray 65), Odejayi. Subs: Atkinson, Buxton, Webber, Windass.