Milton Keynes Dons suffered a heavy 4-1 loss to promotion rivals Mansfield Town at Stadium MK, putting their hopes of automatic promotion effectively out of reach.
The match began with both sides battling for possession down the Dons' left flank, with both sides having several throw-ins early until a long ball from Dean Lewington finally put the home side into the opposition box - with Stephen Wearne unable to chase the ball down in time.
Max Dean had the Dons' first half-chance of the match after seven minutes of play, with a beautiful piece of skill to set himself up from long range. His effort, however, was sliced and the ball sailed well wide of the mark.
Michael Kelly mistimed his attempt to collect a pass, almost gifting Mansfield a corner, but his recovery allowed the Dons to take the lead in the 14th minute of the match.
Kelly managed to get the ball out to Jack Tucker, who launched the ball up the pitch, picking out Max Dean, who took on a defender one-on-one, cutting inside on his left foot and striking the perfect ball into the far corner, beating Christy Pym and putting the home side 1-0 up.
After the opening goal, the Dons began to dictate play, retaining possession and passing around the halfway line to slow down the tempo and keep themselves from giving the visitors a chance to attack.
The Dons will feel aggrieved after Mansfield equalised at the half-hour mark, with the visitors gifted a free kick that they did not appear to deserve moments before.
Wearne was about to overlap his opponent into the box when the player fell onto the ball without any noticeable contact.
Despite the Dons about the attack, the linesman and referee gave a free kick, allowing the visitors to immediately counter-attack, with Boateng cutting a pass into the box from the goalline, seeing it smashed into the net to bring things to 1-1.
After the visitors' goal, the Dons began to scramble. They struck the woodwork before Hiram Boateng's follow-up went wide of the mark, with the Dons fortunate not to go 2-1 down.
The home side began to rediscover themselves as time dwindled in the first half, getting back on the front foot when inside the visitors' half. The half-time whistle blew, giving them a chance to regain their focus and come out on a more positive footing.
The second half almost started in the worst way for the Dons as star striker Max Dean hit the deck after chasing down a ball over the top, clutching his ankle. Fortunately, he was able to continue after a moment receiving treatment.
Dean was then immediately into the action as he was fouled, allowing Lofthouse to run unchallenged. He keeps his head down, however, and runs into trouble before he can get a pass away.
The Dons then found themselves 2-1 down after a scamble in front of the net saw Kelly produce a couple of miraculous saves, but no defender could get the ball clear and the visitors tapped the ball into the net comfortably.
Mike Williamson's side fought back, with Lewis Bate sending a dangerous ball across the face of goal, with Wearne narrowly missing a header at the back post.
After another narrow miss, with the visitors called for a foul in a counterattack, the Dons tried to pick out Dean with a long-range ball, but it was just too far for the striker to chase.
After a period of sustained pressure, Lofthouse took a chance from long rang but saw his effort sail comfortably over the bar.
Dean forced Pym into making a save down low after a long counterattacking run, striking on his left foot but not getting enough power behind it.
After Lewington was subbed for Ellis Harrison, the Dons changed their shape and continued to go on the offensive, with Jack Payne striking hard and low from range, forcing Pym to dive towards the corner but his effort went wide of the mark.
A long-range free kick from the Dons turned to misery when Mansfield won possession and counterattacked, with Keillor-Dunn racing the length of the pitch and putting the visitors 3-1 ahead in the 90th minute.
The home side's misery was compounded with Gale scoring Mansfield's fourth just moments later.
The loss effectively guarantees the Dons will need to contend playoffs, with Mansfield creating a gap of five points between third and fourth place.
MK Dons Lineup: Kelly, Lofthouse, O'Hora, Tucker, Lewington (69' Harrison), Harvie, Gilbey, Payne (79 Kemp), Bate, Wearne, Dean
