Mansfield Town 3-1 Macclesfield Town

Mansfield closed the gap on leaders Lincoln with a hard-earned home win over gutsy strugglers Macclesfield Town.

The Stags were ahead after only eight minutes when Forest loan recruit Jorge Grant was on hand to tuck away his fourth goal in three games after keeper Kieran O'Hara had blocked Nicky Ajose's initial shot.

But Mansfield failed to press home that advantage against the strugglers and the Silkmen rocked them with an equaliser in the 42nd minute when a corner was half-cleared to Callum Evans, who drilled home a low finish from 15 yards.

It could have been worse for the hosts as three minutes later Scott Wilson curled a shot across goal and off the far post.

After the break, home keeper Jordan Smith denied Wilson in a one-on-one in the 54th minute which proved crucial as three minutes later home skipper Krystian Pearce forced the ball home from close range following a scramble after a corner.

Tyler Walker finally found his 20th goal of the season in the 89th minute after another scramble from a corner, the linesman ruling it had crossed the line before O'Hara grabbed it.

Match report supplied by Press Association.