Goalkeeper Jamie Annerson saved a penalty and made a string of fine stops but he was unable to prevent the Blades slipping to defeat in the reserve league.

In the penultimate fixture of the season in the totesport.com league, United's miserable run of form continued at Mansfield Town's Field Mill ground.

United, again fielding a predominately youth side, were hampered further by injuries to striker Nathaniel Foster and Jack Adams in the first 15 minutes of the encounter. However, Dempsey went close with a volley and Roberts hit the side-netting after being put through by a poor back header.

Mansfield's only notable opening of the first half saw the Blades goalkeeper at full stretch to deny Ovington, although the Stags did take the lead a minute into the second period. A quick-break down the left caused problems for United and WEIR-DALEY fired an angled strike past Annerson.

The home side had a chance to double their lead moments later when Dempsey upended Gardner in the penalty area. However, Annerson saved the resultant spot-kick from Weir-Daley.

Annerson then went on to make stops from Gascoigne, Ryan and Ovington, with the latter an impressive one-handed tip over the crossbar. The United custodian, however, could do little about Mansfield's second on 83 minutes when substitute LANGFORD fired home.

United were given a lifeline with five mintues remaining when S-LATEF finished clincically after good work by Roe, but the Stags held on to claim the Central Section points on offer.

Mansfield: Marriott, Reid, Turner, D'Laryea (Wilkie 54), Purcicoe, White, Gardner, Gascoigne, Weir-Daley, Ryan (Higginson 62), Ovington (Langford 70). Subs: Herriott, Logan.
Blades: Annerson, Starosta, Roe, Senicanin (Brown 58), Dempsey, James, Roberts, Tahar, Foster (Adams 8, Gee 14), S-Latef, Chappell. Sub: Billard.