Mansfield Town ended a run of five games without a win with their first goal in 474 minutes in a 3-1 win over Hartlepool United.

Strikers Matt Green, twice, and Adi Yussuf grabbed the goals, but wingman Nathan Thomas was man of the match with a terrific performance.

The Stags, minus captain Nicky Hunt who was ruled out for two months with a hamstring injury before kick-off, made five changes from the team defeated in the FA Cup at Oldham.

Mitchell Rose was switched from midfield to take on the right back role and central defender Lee Collins, solid in the absence of suspended Krystian Pearce over recent weeks, was dropped to the bench.

The pace of former Stags striker Rakish Bingham twice posed early problems for the home side.

A spectacular reaction save by Brian Jensen tipped a Bingham flick-on on to the bar before the Stags responded with three quick chances. Twice Nathan Thomas beat the full back to put in teasing crosses that Craig Westcarr and Matt Green just failed to convert, while Rose beat two players before firing over on the other flank.

Westcarr again misfired as the ball broke at a corner as the Stags created chance after chance. Green finally put one away in the 24th minute to break the deadlock, sliding in to meet yet another curling left wing cross from Thomas.

But 13 minutes later the visitors were level through a fortuitous equaliser, Pearce heading his clearance from a deep free kick against Blair Adams before the ball looped past stranded keeper Brian Jensen.

Mansfield restored their lead in the 58th minute with a terrific solo goal by substitute Adi Yussuf, who received a long throw, turned and rifled into the top of the net from 20 yards with his first touch.

They made it 3-1 nine minutes later through another fine goal, this time a team effort. Substitute Lee Collins cut inside and beat three defenders before passing to Yussuf who played in Green for a confident close range finish.

MANSFIELD TOWN: Jensen, Rose, Pearce, Tafazolli, Adams, Chapman, Clements, Thomas N, Westcarr, Lambe, Green. Subs: Shearer, Collins, Blair Yussuf, Thomas, McGuire, Fitzpatrick.