MANSFIELD Town's hard-earned point at relegation rivals Macclesfield Town on Saturday afternoon saw the Stags slip a further point adrift of safety.
With Notts County winning and Dagenham and Redbridge drawing, Mansfield are now four points adrift with only three games left though know they have the better-looking run-in.
- Click on the green play icon for a video slideshow of photographs from the match by Richard Parkes
But now they cannot be safe, if at all, before the last game of the season at relegation rivals Dagenham.
Despite a depleted side and being away from home, Stags turned in another excellent display today, lacking only a goal to show for their efforts.
Stags were already without skipper Jake Buxton and keeper Carl Muggleton and then lost Gareth Jelleyman and top scorer Michael Boulding during the course of the 90 minutes.
It was a tight, tense 90 minutes with very few real chances.
Macclesfield's chief threat came from the pace of Danny Thomas and Francis Green.
But Mansfield's reshuffled defence coped well and Stags dominated the possession over the 90 minutes but came up against a brick wall of Macclesfield's big, strong five-man rearguard.
With skipper Buxton suspended, Mullins moved into the centre of defence and also pulled on the captain's armband with Briggs covering for Mullins at right back.
Thankfully Jelleyman passed a fitness test on his Achilles tendon injury but, with keeper Muggleton struggling with a knock again, it was decided to leave him on the bench and go with White.
Among the crowd was Manchester United star Wayne Rooney to support young brother John who was among the Silkmen substitutes.
In the opening minute John-Baptiste headed out of defence into the Macclesfield half where Boulding turned well and tried a well struck shot from long range which was not too far wide.
Dawson needed lengthy treatment after coming out worst in a tackle but was eventually able to limp back into the action.
Louis did well to slip the ball between Ashton's legs near the right corner flag and drill over a cross that passed just too high for Boulding to get a head on.
White had his first save to make on 10 minutes as Briggs slipped, allowing Green to cross into the six yards box where Evans' header was thankfully straight at White from close range.
Stags were gifted a corner from an over-hit back pass but it was easily cleared. Soon after another poor Hamshaw corner was headed away by the first man.
Jelleyman's afternoon lasted just 20 minutes as he had to limp off to be replaced by Wood with Briggs switching to left back and Wood going to right back.
Dawson brought down Ashton on the restart and when the free kick was cleared to the edge of the box Evans lashed the ball just wide of White's right hand post.
Another good Stags move saw Briggs get the ball over from the right and Louis rose well but seemed to be trying to head it down for someone else to finish when he might have done better to go for goal.
From a third Mansfield corner Briggs saw his volley blocked. But at this stage the visitors were firmly on top.
Macclesfield suffered an injury blow on 31 minutes when Tolley was forced off, replaced by Jennings.
Stags soon forced corner number four which was worked short to Dawson in space who pulled a disappointing low shot well wide.
Louis headed a long Ashton throw out for Macclesfield's first corner 10 minutes from the break but White got his fist to it.
On 40 minutes Thomas dazzled Wood with some step-overs before crossing to the far post where Dunfield volleyed just wide.
Arnold's misplaced pass set the home side up on a break and it took a good interception from John-Baptiste to stop Thomas going clear.
Ashton pulled the ball back to Evans on the edge of the box in the home side's next raid but Evans fired wide. Then Green had a shot blocked as the home side ended the half the stronger.
Ashton was booked for a body check on Louis in stoppage time and Boulding saw his free kick hit the home wall.
Just before the whistle Briggs' sent a long range daisy cutter straight to Brain as the half ended scoreless.
White safely gathered an early Dunfield corner and was also well behind a 25 yard effort from Green from the left.
Mansfield's first menace came from Arnold as, 20 yards, out he switched feet to his right and, having made the time and space, curled a finish well over the angle.
Stags wasted a corner with a short routine that broke down and was cleared.
The best chance of the game came for the visitors on 57 minutes, engineered by a great run by Hamshaw who went past a series of tackles but poked a finish agonisingly wide.
Two minutes later Hamshaw was not too far wide from 25 yards.
Boulding was then on target with a downward header from a Hamshaw free kick but it was never really going to trouble Brain.
It was his last action as he came off, presumably with a knock, on 61 minutes. Wainwright came on to play left wing and Arnold was pushed up front.
A minute later Briggs got to the by-line, Hamshaw flicked on at the near post and Arnold's far post finish was blocked by Jennings who spread his body really well to deny the youngster what looked a certain goal.
The dangerous Thomas went off on another pacey run down the right which saw Wood try to upend him but miss and then Mullins managed to chop him down and earn a yellow card for his troubles.
Both side made further changes as the injured Evans was replaced by Reid for the Silkmen while Stags gave Brown a game in place of Arnold.
Walker was booked for his challenge on Hamshaw in full flight.
Soon after Louis was well over from 20 yards, Green repeating the feat at the other end from the same range.
Three minutes from time Mansfield thought they had snatched it as Dawson fed Louis on the left but an offside flag went up as he lashed it low inside the near post.
With Stags completely on top, they were given four minutes added timed to find a winner but couldn't produce that moment of magic they needed.
MACCLESFIELD: Brain, Ashton, Hessey, Brisley (Edghill 79), Dunfield, Tolley (Jennings 31), Thomas, Walker, Green, Evans (Reid 66), Creswell. Subs not used: Symes, Rooney.
STAGS: White, Mullins, Jelleyman (Wood 20), D'Laryea, Hamshaw, Dawson, M. Boulding (Wainwright 61), John-Baptiste, Arnold (Brown 71), Louis, Briggs. Subs not used: Muggleton, Horlock.
REFEREE: Eddie Ilderton of Tyne and Wear.
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