PERHAPS the best way to sum up just how abysmal Mansfield Town were in Cheshire is that they, rather than opponents Northwich, had the look of a team on the brink of relegation.

It was supposed to be the game where the Stags put their recent travel sickness behind them, where they would prove a point to their manager, where they would relegate their struggling hosts.

Instead, it was an embarrassing and miserable fifth away defeat on the trot for David Holdsworth's side – and, in truth, never looked like being anything else.

The platform was there for those soon to be out-of-contract players to show why they deserve new ones.

Yet many performed as if they don't care where they end up next season – or don't believe they are good enough to be at Field Mill.

It was as if they were suffering a collective bank holiday weekend hangover.

The tone was set right from the first few minutes when Northwich came out of the blocks quickly and created openings.

And, once encouraged by Mansfield's soporific response, they took a firm grip on the game and never let go.

Even from those early moments, it seemed not a question of if the Vics would win, but by how many.

At the back, the Stags constantly struggled to clear their lines and looked vulnerable to balls played aerially into the Stags box, whether from open play, free-kicks, corners or long throw-ins.

In midfield, Northwich were so much quicker to the second ball and found room out wide that the visitors could not.

And, up front, admittedly with a lack of decent service, Mansfield's attackers conjured just one decent opening against a side who have shipped 74 goals this season.

In reality, Northwich didn't have to be particularly enterprising to win the game. They just did the basics well.

Not surprisingly, Stags boss David Holdsworth was upset by what he saw and refused to defend his players.

He insisted it was not a lack of effort that had brought the Stags' downfall, more that their application was channelled incorrectly.

If anyone's contribution was typical of Mansfield's woes it was Aaron O'Connor, although he was not alone in having a big off-day

Like the whole team, he shone in the second half against Barrow and was rewarded with a welcome goal.

But at the Victoria Stadium there was none of the same threat as his assured hold-up play and passing from the weekend were sadly absent.

Making two changes – Jason White replacing the suspended Alan Marriott and O'Connor preferred ahead of Rob Duffy – the Stags should have been a goal down early on when Lee Elam headed straight at White from close range.

The chances kept on coming as Joel Bryom and Luke Horrocks went close before Simon Grand made the breakthrough by heading in a right-wing corner virtually unchallenged.

Mansfield's only attempt on goal in the first period – and even that was an inadvertent one – saw Ryan Williams' attempted cross sail onto the top of the bar.

Just before the break Danny Meadowcroft headed over when he should have scored and he was again left holding his head in his hands as another effort soon after the restart was ruled out for offside against Aaron Burns.

The Stags could have drawn level against the run of play when Williams picked out Louis Briscoe six yards from goal only for the right-winger to head over.

That moment of promise proved to be a false dawn and Elam made up for his earlier miss when he tucked away Byrom's cross to finish off Mansfield, aided by some atrocious defending. There was one plus point in the shape of a first senior appearance for 17-year-old Conor Higginson as a substitute.

Overall, though, it was a massively disappointing day for the 300-plus Stags fans.

What is most frustrating for them – as well as Holdsworth – is the stark contrast between performances depending on the venue.

At home, the team look full of confidence, creativity and endeavour. On the road they look scared, one-dimensional and introverted.

It is an issue Mansfield will have to resolve before next season if they are to figure in the play-off shake-up, when defeats of this nature would be hugely damaging.