A Ross Duggan hat-trick handed AFC a place in the quarter-finals of the NCEL League Cup with victory over ten-man Rossington Main.
The visitors took the lead in the first half but a quick double from Duggan turned the tie on its head before Adam Watson saw red for Main early in the second period.
Niall Doran then drew Rossington level but Duggan headed home a 76th minute winner, whilst Main 'keeper Jan Budtz almost forced the tie to go to penalties.
Kabuya Kianga fired Main ahead in emphatic style to stun their hosts, volleying home from a corner with 26 minutes played.
But the lead barely lasted another three minutes, as Bulls top-scorer Ross Duggan broke free from his marker levelled at the back post.
Duggan then completed a four-minute turnaround with a neat finish into Jan Budtz's top corner from 15 yards out, as AFC looked to assert their dominance in the tie.
The second half then started in disaster for the visitors from Division One, as defender Adam Watson was given his marching orders with a second yellow card brandished just before the hour mark.
But the Main refused to lie down and earned a golden opportunity to bring the tie back level from the penalty spot after striker Tyla Bell was felled inside the Bulls' area.
Substitute Niall Doran then stepped up to take the spot-kick, but he was denied by AFC stopper Hugo Warhurst.
Doran was desperate to make up for his penalty error, and it took him a grand total of just three minutes to frustrate AFC with a finely executed finish with half an hour of football to play.
But Matt Chatfield's side proved to be too much for their brave visitors from Doncaster, as Duggan completed a clinical hat-trick by heading home a cross from substitute Luke Walker on 76 minutes.
Main goalkeeper and skipper Budtz had done well to keep the tie at neck-and-neck, and he almost completed a remarkable comeback deep into injury time, only to see his goal ruled out for offside.
AFC became the first side to progress to the League Cup quarter-finals, as they hope to reach a second final in two attempts.
Attentions return to the Premier Division on Saturday, with bottom side Athersley Recreation visiting for what is expected to be a hotly-contested relegation battle.
MATCH DETAILS
Final score | AFC Mansfield 3-2 Rossington Main
Scorers | Duggan (29', 33', 76') - K. Kianga (27'), Doran (66')
Bulls XI | Warhurst (GK), Slone (Walker), Hough, Harrison (McMillan), Wilson (Weatherer), Annable (C), James, Dear, Duggan, Ryan, Webster
Unused subs | Stancliffe (GK), Saleh (GK)
Yellow cards |
Rossington Main XI | Budtz (GK) (C), Stalton, Billam, Williamson, Dorgan (Doran), Watson, Oliver (M. Kianga), Hunter, Bell, Dodsworth, K. Kianga (Mann)
Unused subs |
Yellow cards | Dorgan (42'), Watson (45'), Stalton (90')
Red cards | Watson (57')
Man of the Match | Ross Duggan
Attendance | TBC
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