The biggest talking point as fans left the ground was if Stags should have had a 91st minute penalty when Richard Graham appeared to bring down Gary Silk - click here for post-match reaction and manager David Holdsworth's view on the 'stonewall penalty'.

• Click on the green play icon to watch a video slideshow of match action photos by Chad's Roger Grayson

Earlier both sides had their chances in a lively and bruising clash with Matt Somner forcing a good save from visiting keeper Lee Harper inside the first four minutes as Stags forged a succession of opportunities.

But Kettering, 10th in the table with plenty of games in hand to get back among the play-off places after their cup exploits, twice struck the home woodwork in the first 15 minutes through Andre Boucaud and Craig Westcarr.

Stags huffed and puffed and forced 13 corners on the night but couldn't produce that one moment of magic to win it.

Nevertheless, that is an impressive record of five clean sheets in six games for Holdsworth and four wins and two draws to take to Oxford United on Saturday.

• O'Connor ruled out through illness

With Aaron O'Connor missing through illness, Scott Garner serving his one match ban and Michael Blackwood relegated to the bench, the Stags side showed three changes from the one which beat York 10 days ago.

In came Alan O'Hare at centre half – his first start under the new manager – plus Louis Briscoe and fit again Nathan Arnold to form a three man forwards line with Rob Duffy in a 4-4-3 line-up.

With new boy Scott Gardner shaking off the foot injury he sustained on his debut, he kept his place at right back despite Gary Silk being available again after his one game ban.

Visitors Kettering did not include former Stags striker Jason Lee as part of a 'gentleman's agreement' when he made the move though there was an ex-Stags striker on their bench in Chris Beardsley.

Gardner did well in the first minute to play a one-two with Arnold on the right and manage, at full stretch, to stab a low cross in which was cleared.

Stags forced their first corner on four minutes and, taken short, Arnold floated it to the near post where keeper Harper did well to turn aside Somner's powerful header.

That produced another corner and this time it was met by the head of Duffy who got his finish on target only to see Harper well positioned to make a second save.

A third corner soon followed in a very bright start after D'Laryea's 16 yard drive was deflected over. This time O'Hare got the header in which was headed almost off the line at the far post by Boucard.

But Kettering almost snatched an eighth minute lead from nowhere as Boucard let fly with a stinging 25 yard shot that shuddered Marriott's left hand post and bounced back out to Alfie Potter who saw his follow up blocked.

A good crossfield pass from Mayo picked out Arnold on the right who whipped in a waist high cross that Briscoe was just unable to turn home from eight yards as it flew across him.

Amazingly the Stags' woodwork was rattled again on 15 minutes as they conceded a free kick 20 yards out on the left hand corner of the box. Westcarr curled a dipping kick over the wall and watched it bounce off the top of Marriott's crossbar.

Stags then had an agonising wait before an offside flag finally went up as two Kettering players seemed to find themselves in the clear.

Briscoe was unlucky as he cleverly turned between two defenders only for Bennett to nick it away from him as he looked set to finish from eight yards.

Kettering were next to threaten in what was quickly becoming a fast, physical and exciting clash as Westcarr cut in from the left and curled a finish not too wide of Marriott's far post.

Mansfield half scrambled away the visitors' first corner and the ball ran loose to Westcarr who lifted a first time finish narrowly wide.

Good wingplay from Briscoe saw him get to the right byline and curl back an inviting cross which was cleared towards Somner who lifted a hurried finish high into the North Stand.

Loose passing almost allowed Westcarr to get into the box but his first touch as he tried to run at the defence was poor and Marriott easily kicked clear.

Moses then allowed Marna to briefly race away on the left of the box but stayed with him, held him up and finally snuffed out the danger.

Kettering might have gone in front 10 minutes from the break when the visitors' second corner bounced in the six yard box. Marna, with back to Marriott, tried a cheeky backheel which came off the keeper's legs to Geohaghon who poked a good chance tamely wide from eight yards.

In reply, Briscoe and Arnold worked the ball well down the left but, just as Arnold tried to play the final killer pass, the ball was poked out and Stags had to settle for corner number five.

Marriott palmed away the Poppies' third corner towards Alfie Potter whose first time shot was always passing wide.

Two huge thrown from Geohaghon caused flutters in the home defence, the second cleared to Graham whose first time finish was much closer than Potter's but still wide.

Kettering were building up a head of steam and a Graham cross from the right only just evaded the heads of both Branston and Westcarr before a whistle was blown for a foul as the ball bobbled dangerously around in front of goal.

The home side won a corner of their own in first half stoppage time which Woodhouse put into the box and Moses sent a firm header wide as an entertaining half finished scoreless.

Mansfield re-emerged to win two quick corners, the second played short and Woodhouse floating the ball to the far post where Duffy sliced an ambitious overhead kick wide.

Kettering hit back with one of their own which was cleared to Boucaud who hooked it back goalwards where Marriott and Duffy got in each other's way and the ball bounced wide of the open goal.

Luke Potter rose to meet another Graham corner from the right but his header lacked power or direction as it fell harmlessly wide.

The Stags again won successive corner kicks but the deadlock remained unbroken as we reached the hour mark.

Gardner limped off on 63 minutes to be replaced by Silk just before Kettering easily cleared the home side's 11th corner kick.

A lunge by Briscoe on Bennett earned the Stags man a delayed yellow card when the ball next went out of play on 64 minutes.

Another home move of promise saw Briscoe burst into the box. He tried to square to Woodhouse instead of shoot but Woodhouse was held up and D'laryea eventually ran in to try to shoot and home fans called optimistically for a penalty as he went over but play continued.

But D'Laryea did get a sot away on 68 minutes after Mayor's cross had been helped away, but it was always straight to the keeper.

Club top scorer Stallard made his first appearance under Holdworth when he came on for Arnold for the last 18 minutes as they switched to a 4-4-2.

Beardsley came on for Marna on 77 minutes, seconds before a clash between Duffy and Geohaghon saw the Kettering man push Duffy to the ground to earn a caution.

He was joined in the book a minute later by Artus for a foul on Briscoe after several warnings. Somner then cut down Artus to make it 2-2 on yellow cards.

Nine minutes from time Blackwood replaced Woodhouse as Stags went for one final push.

Two minutes from time the visitors won a free kick 28 yards from goal which Westcarr struck sweetly past the wall but the ever-reliable Marriott was safely there once more.

Stags had what looked a certain penalty denied in stoppage time as Graham definitely made contact across Silk in the box to bring him down. But to the fury of the players and home fans, the referee played on.

The final whistle was greeted with booing for the official as the sides had to settle for a share of the spoils.

MANSFIELD TOWN: Marriott; Gardener (Silk 63mins), Moses, O'Hare, Mayo; Woodhouse (Blackwood 81mins), D'Laryea, Somner; Arnold (Stallard 72mins), Briscoe, Duffy. Subs: White, Mackenzie.

KETTERING: Harper, Branston, Potter A (Wrack 70mins), Marna (Beardsley 73mins), Potter L, Artus (Solkon 82mins), Graham, Boucaud, Geohaghon, Westcarr, Bennett. Subs: Eaden, Dempster.

REFEREE: Mr M. Brown

ATTENDANCE: 2,355

BOOKINGS: Stags - Briscoe, foul; Somner, foul. Kettering - Geohaghon, foul; Artus, foul.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Adie Moses.

• Do you want to get the latest Stags headlines sent straight to your email inbox every morning? Then click here to subscribe.


• Click here for all the latest Stags news


• Click here for our new Stags fans blog by Craig Priest


• Click here for sports editor John Lomas' latest blog


• Listen to the latest edition of our podcast StagsTalk, click here