Mansfield Town secured a first victory of the season with a 2-0 victory over local rivals Notts County at Meadow Lane this evening.
The two sides finished exactly a division apart last year, with the Magpies being relegated from League One in 21st while Mansfield finished in the same position in League Two.
However, it was The Stags who were on the front foot for most of the game, and they could have led after just five minutes when Nathan Thomas's shot was tipped onto the crossbar by County goalkeeper Roy Carroll.
Julian Jenner failed to make the most of the home side's first opening when he fired into the side-netting, before a team move ended in Brian Jensen smartly stopping Jon Stead's attempt.
It was the away side who took a lead into the half-time interval, however, when Matt Green played in Chris Clements to slot past Carroll 10 minutes before the break to the delight of over 2,000 travelling fans.
The home side could have levelled soon after the restart when Jenner was denied well by Jensen, before Carroll thwarted Green again at the other end.
Green looked the most likely to double Mansfield's lead, and he came close again when he flashed a header inches wide of the post from a cross from substitute Jack Thomas.
With 10 minutes to go the away side finally did find a second goal when Ryan Tafazolli rose highest in the box to meet Malvin Benning's ball in and headed past Carroll, and that was enough to secure victory for Mansfield.
Tom Nightingale
