Mansfield Town put up battling performance on Saturday, in their League One mid-table clash with visiting AFC Wimbledon, the visitors netting twice to earn a share of the spoils.

Now winless in eight, the Stags have struggled for any kind of form, with progression in the FA Cup proving a hinderance to league endeavours, and have slipped to sixteenth in the table.

Hosting the Dons, managed by former Notts County player, Johnnie Jackson, and with an ex-Stags loanee, Nathan Bishop between the sticks, they looked like it could have been a day for three points when Jon Russell had them 1-0, and 2-1 to the good inside the opening half hour.

However, a second half penalty from Matt Stevens, after defender Deji Oshilaja was penalised for a foul on Marcus Browne, let the visitors head back south with a point.

Adeboyejo slipped away from Ryan Johnson before pulling back the ball for Russell to net his first Stags goal after seven minutes, but the visiting Dons quickly responded when Tilley and Browne combined, the former seeing his effort going in past the near post just seven minutes later.

Nigel Clough’s side restored their advantage just before the half hour mark, Tyler Roberts lifting a lovely pass after a chested control and burst past his marker, Russell doing the rest to finish past Bishop and into the bottom corner.

Decked in double green, the visiting Dons came close to equalising in the early throes of the second half, Myles Hippolyte seeing his effort wide of Liam Roberts’ goal, but they did level proceedings ten minutes later, Oshilaja’s foul on Browne leading to a spot-kick, and Stevens sends Roberts the wrong way.

Both sides created chances as the game wore on, with Roberts and Bishop standing firm in their respective goals, defenders also doing their duty with some great blocks, the two sides eventually sharing the spoils off a 2-2 draw.

Next up for Mansfield, before their big day in the FA Cup on Saturday (7 March), they travel to second bottom Rotherham United, looking for a much-needed, three points.

MANSFIELD TOWN – Liam Roberts, Kyle Knoyle, Deji Oshilaja, Frazer Blake-Tracy, Lucas Akins, Jon Russell (George Abbott, 64), Louis Reed (capt), Stephen McLaughlin (Elliott Hewitt, 75), Regan Hendry (Aaron Lewis, 64), Tyler Roberts (Will Evans, 58), Victor Adeboyejo (Rhys Oates, 58)

Meanwhile, Notts County’s hopes of claiming automatic promotion from League Two took a knock when finishing with ten men in a 1-0 loss at home to Grimsby Town.

Lee Ndlovu was dismissed with sixteen minutes remaining after a high challenge on Harvey Rodgers; goalless at the time, the visitors eventually took advantage of the extra man when Charles Vernam fired home from eighteen yards, with five left on the clock.

It was a result which saw Martin Paterson’s Magpies slip to fifth in the table, seven points off leaders Bromley; there is however just three points separating the chasing pack of Cambridge United (second), MK Dons (third), Swindon Town (fourth) and Notts County (fifth).

Next up for County is a trip to Walsall, who sit tenth in the table, this coming Saturday )7 March), the Magpies looking to burst back into the automatic promotion positions.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @mansfieldtownfc spoils shared after an entertaining draw.