Crawley Town 0-2 Mansfield

Heckingbottom was solid in defence and also got on the scoresheet

Paul Heckingbottom's glorious late free-kick sealed an impressive away win for 10-man Mansfield against Crawley.

Heckingbottom curled in a low shot from the edge of the box to settle Stags nerves five minutes after Matt Somner was sent off for two yellow cards.

Jake Speight smashed the visitors ahead from two yards when Crawley failed to clear a Ryan Williams corner.

Mansfield missed several chances to add to their lead while Danny Forest had Crawley's best chance but fired wide.

Calum Willock also shot wide for the hosts but apart from that they created precious little against the Stags, who remain in fourth spot in Blue Square Premier.

Somner's 69th-minute dismissal for two cautions in quick succession gave Crawley hope but David Holdsworth's men were worthy winners.

They spurned several excellent chances to add to their lead, with Kyle Perry twice missing one-on-one chances and fellow striker Blair Sturrock seeing an effort cleared off the line.

The lively Speight could have also added to his tally but was denied by substitute keeper Nick Jordan - on as a half-time replacement for the injured Simon Rayner.

Crawley Town: Rayner (Jordan 46), Giles, Broadhurst, Wilson, Quinn, Rusk, Forrest (Ademeno 61), Pinault, Cogan (Malcolm 46), Smith, Willock.

Subs Not Used: Hutchinson, Killeen.

Booked: Giles, Broadhurst.

Mansfield: Marriott, Heckingbottom, Jones, Silk, Garner, Somner, Williams, Brough, Speight (Mills 83), Perry (Duffy 85), Sturrock (Istead 71).Subs Not Used: Eley, Armstrong.

Sent Off: Somner (69).

Booked: Somner, Perry, Brough.

Goals: Speight 11, Heckingbottom 77.

Att: 883.

Ref: S Burt (Hampshire).