A dramatic injury-time goal from Phil Buxton earned AFC their first win in the NPL East Division in more than three months, as the Bulls edged past Carlton Town in a thrilling Boxing Day encounter.
Joa Iaciofano scored his sixth goal for the Bulls in as many games, firing low into the bottom corner from a tight angle with just two minutes played.
The Millers drew level only six minutes later when Ben Hutchinson tucked home from the penalty spot after being brought down by Jordan Annable.
The visitors took advantage of another set piece and turned the game on its head as Kyle Stovell found the top corner from a free-kick routine.
Annable made amends in the second half by earning the Bulls a penalty, which Iaciofano converted to bring the hosts back level before Ollie Fearon's low drive on 66 minutes earned the striker his first goal for AFC since his return to the Forest Town Arena.
To the Bulls' frustration, Hutchinson drew Carlton level again from the spot after Jason White was penalised, but Phil Buxton forced the ball home at the death from a throw-in to win AFC a crucial three points which help to close the gap on the teams above in the table.
The Bulls remain bottom of the NPL East Division but a win on New Year's Day could lift them as high as 16th, with vital games-in-hand remaining on other teams at the bottom end.
MATCH DETAILS
Final score | AFC Mansfield 4-3 Carlton Town
Scorers | Iaciofano (2', 54' pen), Fearon (66'), Buxton (90') - Hutchinson (8' pen, 71' pen), Stovell (27')
AFC Mansfield XI | White, Marsden, Ghaichem (C), D'Laryea, Lawrence (Ryan 85'), Broadhead, Annable, Healey (Lindley 69'), Iaciofano, Fearon, Buxton
Unused substitutes | Dawes, Wall, Crosby
Yellow cards | White (71')
Red cards | N/A
Carlton Town XI | Steggle, Ebanks, Bartle, Robinson, Bertam, Frost, Davie (Rollinson 79'), Clark (Walker 69'), Stovell, Hutchinson (C), Opoku (Blake 64')
Unused substitutes | Pick, Smithson
Yellow cards | N/A
Red cards | N/A
Attendance | 105
Man-of-the-Match | ?