Both sides battled hard through the first half to no goalscoring avail, although in the dying moments of the second half, Abdullah netted a superb penalty to confirm Mansfield the win away from home.

Ian Deakin named a 21-man squad coming into the match, although to aid in the amount of competitive game time, the Blues boss stuck with the same starting XI for 60 minutes before making any changes.

The Blues began sharply with L’Varn Brandy looking to cause as much danger as possible cutting in from the wing. Just two minutes in, the forward curled an effort from just outside the Stags’ box but could not quite find the target.

Shortly after, Tom Cursons reacted the quickest to pounce onto a defensive mistake and lift a strike over Louie Turner, but the Blues forward could only find the post before the ball was recovered.

Jordan Bowery had a huge chance for Mansfield mid-way through the first half, as Louis Bonser played a superb low-driven cross into the Blues’ box for the Stags forward to slide onto, although he could not quite redirect the ball goalwards.

Tame chances fell for both sides late in the first half – Cieron Keane had the first with a 25-yard strike that dipped just over the crossbar, before Abdullah fizzed an effort towards goal, but the young striker could not find the right side of the far post.

A competitive first half came to an abrupt end with the rain pouring down at Grange Park – but that combative performance from both sides did not change in the second.

In the 57th minute, George Cooper rose highest to connect with George Maris’ floating free kick, but the Stags once again simply could not find the target.

Substitute Micah Jebbison then had a chance in the latter stages of the second half – the Blues winger floated past his marker down the right, made his way into the box, and fired an effort towards goal that was comfortable for Turner to stop.

Mansfield eventually netted the opener in the dying moments of the match. Maris’ desire inside the Blues’ box forced a foul and a subsequent penalty, in which Abdullah slotted home with a powerful strike.

Seconds later, another chance fell to Abdullah as he dragged the ball out to the right of the Blues’ box and fired a strike across goal, although the forward saw his effort trickle past the post.

The final chance of the match fell to Jebbison, who displayed his magic footwork to weave his way into the box, past two Stags defenders, and take a strike on goal, although Turner was once again equal to it and the game subsequently finished in favour of the Mansfield XI.