A John Akinde penalty briefly gave Barnet hope of a late comeback at home to Mansfield Town but the Stags prevailed 3-1 thanks to a late Luke Gambin own goal.

Both sides finished with ten men in a clash with came to life in the second half after a forgettable first period in which Reggie Lambe gave the visitors a half-time lead.

Barnet's Josh Clarke was sent off for two bookable offences before the break but Martin Allen's men improved only to fall 2-0 down when Matt Green finished off a good move.

Substitute Akinde then halved the deficit from the spot with 12 minutes remaining before Chris Clements was sent off for a second booking to level the sides up.

But as Barnet chased an equaliser Gambin put through his own goal at the death to wrap up the win for Mansfield – their first at Barnet since 1998.

Allen made five changes from the side beaten at Notts County on Tuesday night, handing Nicky Bailey the first start his second spell with the Bees.

Gavin Hoyte, Sam Togwell, Tom Champion, Shaun Batt all dropped to the bench with Andy Yiadom serving a one-match ban after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season against the Magpies.

Nelson, Luke Gambin, Bailey, Michael Gash and Aaron McLean came into the side and those switches meant Brentford loanee Clarke started at right-back for the first time since his Barnet debut.

With a biting wind swirling in over the North and South Terraces it was little surprise the fare on offer was poor.

Equally, it was no surprise the first goalscoring opportunity came from an error, Mansfield’s Craig Westcarr the beneficiary as Bondz N’Gala miscued his clearance and allowed the striker through on goal. However, Jamie Stephens got down sharply to push his effort to safety.

That was it for action until the Bees saw a strong penalty appeal for handball waved away after 30 minutes. Curtis Weston hooked a hopeful ball into the edge of the penalty area where former Bees loan Krystian Pearce appeared to handle.

Referee Trevor Kettle disagreed, though, and the Stags broke ruthlessly.

Less than a minute after the handball appeal, Adam Murray’s side were in front. Chris Clements flicked Green’s loft forward into the path of Lambe to volley home, leaving Stephens with no chance.

The opener at least livened up proceedings with Stephens called upon three minutes later to beat away an effort from Clements which looked bound for the top corner.

Things went from bad to worse for Barnet seven minutes before the break as Clarke was sent off for a second yellow; the full-back penalised for cynically halting the progress of Lambe as the visitors broke.

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Josh Clarke trudges towards the tunnel after his afternoon was ended. Picture: Len Kerswill

There was still time for one Mansfield chance before the half was out. But yet again it was all Barnet’s doing, Stephens spanking a clearance straight at Westcarr only for the ball to fly off the Stags striker and back into his grasp.

Barnet made a bright start to the second period but could not test the veteran Brian Jensen in the Mansfield goal.

And, minutes after introducing Akinde in place of Stacey in an attempt to find an equaliser, Barnet fell 2-0 behind.

Clements combined with Westcarr to slip in Green and he slid beyond Stephens, leaving the Bees with a mountain to climb.

The changes didn’t have the desired effect and save for a couple of penalty area scrambles, Barnet failed to trouble their visitors.

Mansfield, on the other hand, were looking increasingly dangerous on the break and went close twice in quick succession when Green and Westcarr were denied by Stephens and N’Gala one after the other.

Akinde had his first real sight of goal with 15 minutes to go, getting between Pearce and Jensen to cause confusion but only managing to nod agonizingly wide.

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John Akinde gets between Krystian Pearce and Brian Jensen to head wide. Picture: Len Kerswill

But just three minutes after that sighter, Akinde hauled the Bees back into the contest.

Racing onto a ball into the penalty area the striker drew contact from Jensen and went down. Referee Kettle took the bait and Akinde promptly thumped home the penalty to set up a grandstand finish.

The goal lifted Barnet and it took a strong palm from Jensen to claw Elliott Johnson’s powerful drive away from the top corner as the Bees took charge.

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Elliott Johnson came as close as anyone for Barnet with a thumping drive. Picture: Len Kerswill

And with eight minutes remaining Mansfield midfielder Clements was given his second yellow for a trip on substitute Batt.

From the resulting free-kick on the left Akinde stooped to head towards goal where Jensen was able to scoop up his effort.

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Barnet man-of-the-match Luke Gambin was credited with Mansfield's third. Picture: Len Kerswill

But there was a sucker punch to comer as with a Gambin own goal restoring the Stags’ two-goal lead after an almighty goalmouth scramble.

Barnet: Stephens; Clarke, Nelson, N'Gala, Johnson; Stacey (Akinde 57), Bailey (Muggleton 61), Weston (c), Gambin; Gash (Batt 73), McLean.

Subs: McKenzie-Lyle (GK), Hoyte, Togwell, Champion.

Mansfield Town: Jensen; Collins, Pearce, Tafazolli, Adams; Rose (Blair 59), Chapman (c); Clements, Lambe, Westcarr (McGuire 68); Green (Beardsley 90).

Subs: Shearer (GK), Yussuf, N Thomas, J Thomas.

Referee: Trevor Kettle.

Attendance: 1,775 (299 away supporters).