Mansfield’s promotion hopes dented as Crawley boost their own hopes of moving up

Crawley Town’s Nicholas Tsaroulla celebrates scoring his side’s first goal of the game during the Emirates FA Cup third round match at the People’s Pension Stadium, Crawley.

Classy Crawley coasted to a powerful statement 4-1 victory at promotion rivals Mansfield.

That made it four away wins in a row with 13 goals scored and knocked Nigel Clough’s Stags out of the top-three places amid their heaviest defeat of the Sky Bet League Two campaign.

Crawley began on the front foot with a strong wind at their backs and were rewarded with the opening goal after just four minutes.

Mansfield struggled to clear a Nicholas Tsaroulla cross and the ball finally ran to former Stags defender Kellan Gordon, whose low finish found its way across Christy Pym and just inside the far post.

Davis Keillor-Dunn blazed a chance over for the home side following an error from Dion Conroy.

However, Crawley were 2-0 up in the 24th minute when a great run down the middle by Ronan Darcy ended with Tsaroulla cutting inside onto his pass and lifting a great finish over goalkeeper Pym from 15 yards.

Any home hopes of a fightback were wrecked by two Crawley goals in as many minutes.

Poor defending allowed Danilo Orsi to control and tuck away a six-yard finish from a low Tsaroulla cross in the 55th minute and a minute later the pace of Klaidi Lolos saw him race down the centre to net low from 16 yards.

Mansfield bagged an 80th-minute consolation goal when Hiram Boateng tucked away a George Williams cross from eight yards.