Danny Johnson brace shoots down the Stags

Mansfield Town's Malvind Benning (C) in action with Leyton Orient's Dan Kemp (L) and Leyton Orient's Jobi McAnuff. Picture: Craig Brough/AHPIX LTD

Two awful backpasses led directly and indirectly to Johnson taking his season's tally to 19 goals for the play-off chasing O's, who have now won four in a row.

For Stags it was sixth game without a win as they continue to chase the two elusive victories boss Nigel Clough feels they need to be absolutely safe this season.

Overall it was a scrappy game with few chances and Mansfield very much architects of their own downfall ahead of a tough trip to Exeter City on Easter Monday.

The afternoon began with a minute's silence in memory of former Stags skipper Lee Collins, who died this week aged 32.

Mansfield then began the game on the front foot only to find themselves behind on five minutes.

They had a huge let-off as Stone made a superb save to deny Johnson in a fourth minute one-on-one after the Orient striker latched onto a terrible short backpass by Gordon.

But from the ensuing corner, Ling flicked on at the near post and Johnson turned home his 18th goal of the season from close range.

Mansfield created more problems for themselves with two inexplicably poor kick outs by Stone on 26 minutes, the first gifting Clay the chance to set up Johnson for a shot just over the bar.

Two minutes from the break Clay got on the end of a McAnuff cross, but his header from eight yards sailed over the bar as Stags went in a goal down and not having seriously troubled Orient keeper Vigouroux.

Two minutes after the restart Lapslie got away a fierce low shot, but it was straight at the keeper.

Maris was then well over from Bowery's square pass on 59 minutes as Mansfield enjoyed more possession than in the first half.

But the home side shot themselves in the foot once more on 77 minutes as a poor backpass from Reid wide on the right let in the lurking Johnson to easily round Stone and roll in his second of the game.

STAGS: Stone, Benning, Rawson, Bowery, Maris, Gordon (R. Sweeney (83), Perch, Quinn (Charsley 81), Reid (Sinclair 81), Law (McLaughlin 76), Lapslie (Clarke 76). Subs not used: Stech, Ward.

ORIENT: Vigouroux, Ling, Widdowson, Cisse, McAnuff (Kyprianou 67), Clay, Kemp, Brophy, Akinola, Turley, Johnson. Subs not used: Sargeant, Judd, Dennis, J. Sweeney, Abrahams, Young.

REFEREE: Robert Madley.