Mansfield held on for a breathless 5-4 home victory over promoted Cardiff at Field Mill, sealing 10th place in League One and their best finish for 39 years on the final day of the season.
The Stags led 3-0 at half-time thanks to Ryan Sweeney's early header and a quickfire double from Lucas Akins, before withstanding a determined Cardiff fightback to extend their unbeaten run to six games.
Stags Race Into Command
Mansfield were ahead after just 99 seconds. Seconds after Jon Russell had been denied by an excellent Harry Tyrer save, Sweeney outmuscled Joel Colwill to nod in Nathan Moriah-Welsh's cross at the far post.