A Brian Wake brace with early goals in each half gave Gateshead a much needed victory as Ian Bogie tries to lift the club up the league.
Wake, on his first start since joining from Morton, gave the visiting side the best possible start with a thunderbolt shot from over 20-yards out, leaving Mansfield keeper Andy Marriot no chance.
Gateshead came close to making it 2-0 in the first half as Graeme Armstrong was only denied by the feet of Marriot from a close range effort.
At the start of the second a quick breakaway saw Wake skillfully sidestep his marker and lash home his second, this time in front of the 70+ travelling Tynesider supporters.
Valient defensive efforts by Carl Jones, now fully recovered from injury, James Curtis and a late fingertip save by Paul Farman kept the clean sheet in tact and Gateshead got the three points they fully deserved.