Away Dale specialists returned to form with a bang putting the sorry Stags to the sword as skipper Gary Jones marked his record breaking 346th appearance with a brace.
Swirling winds around Field Mill made for a difficult game but after winning the right to play by dint of their sheer hard work Keith Hill's young side produced a stunning second half display that could have seen them win by a wider margin.
Dale started the brighter and might have taken the lead after just 6 minutes but following good work by Kallum Higginbotham striker Rene Howe missed the target from 10 yards. The same two players combined 10 minutes later though on the right hand side with Higginbotham winning the ball,then finding Howe who in turn found Jones and the skipper rifled home from 12 yards.
Mansfields only real chance of the game saw Keith Briggs meet a Matty Hamshaw corner with a powerful downward header 3 minutes later but Adam Rundle on station on the post hooked the ball to safety.
After a tussle with the very physical Jefferson Louis Dale defender Nathan Stanton had to leave the fray after 40 minutes with an eye injury but teenager Marcus Holness again proved an more than able deputy.
Kallum Higginbotham headed wide when well placed in the dying moments of the half but within 10 minutes of the restart the visitors were home and hosed.
On 48 minutes Dave Perkins released Rundle and his hard low cross was cleverly turned home at the near post by Adam le Fondre and 7 minutes later after a wickedly whipped Rundle free kick was hooked away Jones returned it with interest from tthe edge of the box.
On 68 minutes rampant Dale added a quality 4th goal as Simon Ramsden volleyed the ball forward Le Fondre flicked it on and Howe raced away to round keeper Muggleton and roll it into the vacant net.
The dying stages saw Muggleton keep the scorline down as he brilliantly clawed away a rising drive from Rundle and then somehow tipped a close range effort from substitute Ben Muirhead onto his upright.
Within minutes of the final whistle the very likeable Bill Dearden parted company with the Mansfield and whilst his side are looking increasingly like facing the drop Dale can look forward to a massive local derby on Tuesday at Stockport and a real tilt at the Play off's  

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