Hereford, with six regular first-teamers sidelined through injury or suspension, slumped against fellow-strugglers in this Third Division match on Saturday.

United's unfamiliar line- up included new loan signing Micky Forsyth, from Notts County, who made his Bulls debut in the back three with John Brough, and Wayne Sutton, while Gary Cook was given his first start in attack alongside Chris Hargreaves.

The brightest spot in the game for Hereford was the performance of the younger players. Cook showed some nice touches up front, left-back Mark Hibbard continued to confirm the favourable impression made in his league debut the previous Saturday, and Phil Preedy grabbed the United goal. Nineteen-year-old Rob Warner also returned to league action for the first time since suffering a broken leg against Mansfield at Edgar Street at Easter last year.

The Stags had not previously managed a single goal at Field Mill this season but took just nine minutes to lose that unenviable record. Ben Sedgemore sent in a cross from the right which flashed past Mark Sale's attempt at control to Warren Hackett on the left flank. The full-back returned the ball into the centre where Sedgemore was waiting to crack a 20- yarder past Andy DeBont.

Either side of the interval Hereford held their own territorially, but the good work was undone after eight minutes of the second half when Brough appeared to make a clean challenge on Stewart Hadley in the penalty area. Blackburn referee Eddie Wolsenholme saw the incident differently, however, and pointed to the spot, allowing John Doolan the chance to crack the penalty kick into the corner of the net.

Five minutes later Hargreaves should have scored when put clear by Cook but keeper Ian Bowling was out quickly to save as the Hereford forward took too long over his shot. With the introduction of substitute Preedy, Here-ford assumed a more attacking formation and it was the 20-year-old who clawed United back into the game, receiving Har-greaves's flick from a Warner throw-in to steer a right-foot shot into the corner of the net.

As Hereford pushed forward, they were more exposed at the back and DeBont had to make two good saves to prevent Mansfield from increasing their lead, but Hereford then missed a great chance to draw level when Preedy sliced an 87th-minute left-foot shot wide from close range after an attempted clearance by Bowling.

With Hereford intent on attack, there was always a chance that Mansfield would steal another goal and so it proved, with John Walker's 20-yarder, three minutes into injury time, taking a huge deflection off Brough and into the corner of the net.

David Norton, Brough and Forsyth all received yellow cards for Hereford.

Hereford: DeBont, Norton, Hibbard, Forsyth, Brough, Sutton (Preedy 59 min), Warner, Stoker, Cook, Hargreaves, Mahon (Bartlett 81 min). Sub not used: Townsend.

Attendance: 1,889.