This game was effectively over as a contest at halftime. AFC Mansfield had raced into a 3-0 lead courtesy of goals from 3 defenders. Joe Cheeseman, Matty Plummer and Grant Allott. Allott added a 4th in the 2nd half and ex Bull Declan Brewin scored a consolation goal for Rainworth in the last 2 minutes.
The win saw AFC Mansfield surge into 6th place in the league while their opponents now sit precariously just above the drop zone. In truth, the form guides had pointed to this outcome which gave The Bulls their 7th straight win.
The Bulls were at their visitors from the word go and Ben Townsend did well to deny Ollie Fearon after 9 minutes with a fingertip save forcing the ball over the bar. Matty Plummer then had a header cleared off the line as it looked only a matter of time before AFC Mansfield scored.
AFC continued to push forward and an unforced error from Jack Weatherall gave them a corner on 12 minutes. Lynton Karkach curled the corner kick into the 6-yard box and Joe Cheeseman rose above everybody to thump his header past Townsend.
The game ebbed and flowed until the 36 minute when Karkach found space on the left, cut into the box and delivered a peach of a ball onto the head of the onrushing Plummer who powered his header past Townsend.
Karkach was upended a minute before the break 25 yards out. Danny Naylor stepped up and curled his effort around the wall and although Townsend go a touch to it he only forced it onto the post. The ball cannoned back off the post and along the 6-yard box where Grant Allott had the simplest of finishes to make it 3-0.
Townsend was left stranded when Fearon got to a forward ball before him, the striker trying an audacious lob from 20 yards that bounced a yard from goal before being hooked away.
Karkach fed Fearon around the hour mark but the usually deadly Fearon fired wide from the edge of the box.
Townsend must have experienced deja vu on 65 minutes when another curling Naylor free kick was tipped onto the post and Allott was on hand to head home in the 6-yard box.
After a few substitutions, the game seemed to be running out of steam and both sides looked as if they had settled for the scoreline. Ex Bulls player Declan Brewin had other ideas and with just 2 minutes remaining pounced on a loose ball and rounded keeper Jason White before firing into an empty net. A momentary loss of concentration for The Bulls defence and only the 4th goal they have conceded in 7 games.
AFC Mansfield: White, Plummer, Annable, Allott, Cheeseman, Milner, Wall, Naylor (Dudley 70), Fearon, Karkach (Paling 72), Ghaichem (C). Subs not used: Timons, Wilson & Sheppard.
Rainworth MW: Townsend, Ludlam, Claxton (Mansell 14), Goodwin, Griffin (Adlington 45), Weatherall, Brewin, Herbert (Parkin 78), Langford, Poole, Sykes. Sub not used: Munson.
Referee: Mr Tim Walker (Belper)
Assistants: Mr Aidan Murphy (Loughborough) & Mr Anthony Quinn (Loughborough)
Attendance: 151