Mansfield slipped to a fourth successive defeat as a late strike from Ade Adeyemo earned Crawley a deserved 1-0 win.

The visitors had dominated the second half but left it late before finally breaking Stags’ resolve.

A scrappy first half saw few real chances. Former Mansfield striker Will Swan had two efforts on target but goalkeeper Christy Pym was down to smother his low effort in the seventh minute and then caught his rising 33rd-minute shot at his near post.

The home side came closest to a first-half opener when Baily Cargill headed into the side-netting at the far post.

Pym made a fine save in the 55th minute as he turned away a powerful low shot from Tyreece John-Jules and then had to block a low Rushian Hepburn-Murphy effort after 67 minutes.

A minute later Crawley saw successive shots blocked and Pym then made a fantastic save to keep out Dion Conroy’s rising volley.

Crawley’s pressure was rewarded in the 81st minute as Pym saved from Swan on a breakaway but could not hold onto the ball as sub Adeyemo followed-up to slam home from close range.

Aden Flint almost headed Mansfield level from a corner in stoppage time, but Charlie Barker superbly blocked on the line.