Mansfield completely dominated the first half on the dreadful Meadow Lane surface and Nathan Arnold was desperately unlucky when he fired against the near post in the best chance of the half.

• Derby point could prove vital - Holland

Notts came out more determined after the break in a more even second half, though Stags still shaded it without managing to find a way past Russell Hoult.

• To watch a video slideshow of match action photos by Chad's Angela Ward, click on the green play icon

With County's previous five games seeing them only score once and only concede once, plus the importance of this game to both local rivals' survival hopes, it always looked likely to be a tight one.

And so it proved with the seven-point gap remaining with seven games to go, though bottom club Wrexham fell a point behind Stags after defeat at Barnet and are Tuesday night's visitors at Field Mill in what should be another nerve-shredder.

Mansfield boss Holland made three bold changes for the derby.

Muggleton returned in goal in place of White, D'Laryea was back in midfield at the expense of Briggs and Louis, back from international duty, partnered Boulding up front with Wainwright dropping to the bench and Arnold moving back into midfield.

The Magpies looked to have suffered a major pre-match blow when keeper Hoult was hurt in the warm-up and had to helped of, but the physio staff seemed to work wonders as he trotted out gingerly for kick-off.

And former Stags keeper Kevin Pilkington, already out injured, was roundly booed by the away fans as he walked onto the pitch to wave his arms at County's three sides of the ground to rouse home support against his former club.

The Magpies welcomed back central defensive rocks Edwards and Johnson to their side after missing out on Monday and also included former Stags wing ace Corden with another ex-Stags on the bench in MacKenzie.

The game began in a highly-charged atmosphere with Stags roared on by a huge 3,317 following.

Mullins forced the visitors a second minute corner right in front of those away fans but Hoult managed to gather under pressure from Buxton. He also safely caught a curling Hamshaw cross.

Hoult had his first save4 to make on eight minutes as Louis got a head onto a D'Laryea cross but the header lacked any real power and the save was routine down to the keeper's left.

Johnson held onto Louis to concede a free kick but again it was easy for Hoult as Jelleyman floated the ball into his hands.

It took Notts 13 minutes to get away an attempt at goal as Butcher beat Dawson to the ball but pulled a dreadful finish well wide from 30 yards.

Butcher got away a better effort from 20 yards four minutes later but it was straight at Muggleton and safely held.

Boulding was looking hungry and back to his best and when he easily went past Edwards on 18 minutes, the defender's trip earned him a yellow card. But Arnold's tame free kick was straight at the home wall.

On 21 minutes Dawson exchanged passes with Boulding, made room and unleashed a powerful 25 yard shot which was always going over.

Stags kept the pressure on and Edwards had to hook clear as Boulding tried to get away onto a Hamshaw through ball.

Another Hamshaw forward ball was neatly trapped by Louis who then turned well to get in a shot that brought Hoult into a save to his left.

Mansfield desperately needed a goal to show for their dominance and it almost came on 25 minutes. Mullins put Boulding into space on the right and he spotted Arnold's perfectly timed run inside him and fed the youngster into the box. But his finish from eight yards crashed high against the near post.

Soon after Louis wrestled with Edwards in the box and managed to head the ball on target but straight into the arms of Hoult.

Boulding produced a great turn and shot on 27 minutes from a Mullins pass but again Hoult was perfectly placed.

Boulding then tried one from over 30 yards but it sailed over the crossbar.

As Louis was penalised for handling, Notts defender Johnson signalled for treatment, having gone down on the edge of the box. But the ex-Premiership star was able to continue.

Jelleyman's nutmeg won Stags another corner which Hoult clawed acrobatically away for another.

When that came over Louis had his shirt pulled which went unnoticed and Boulding finally hooked the ball back over his shoulder and Mullins leapt well but headed wide of the far stick.

Mayo was tamely wide from over 35 yards in a rare Notts attack.

In stoppage time Boulding needed treatment after a clash of heads, but the sides left the field scoreless, despite Stags' complete dominance.

Almost inevitably Notts began the second half much improved and Butcher soon had a shot charged down.

Then Hamshaw lost possession allowing Crow the chance to make some ground and pull a powerful shot wide.

A long Mayo throw caused shredded nerves in the visitors' box as it bounced dangerously around until John-Baptiste finally whacked it well clear.

There was confusion between Hoult and Johnson as the keeper cane for a D'Laryea through ball but his defender headed it wide of him towards goal but Johnson was still in control and hooked away before Boulding could punish the mix-up.

The Hamshaw almost got Boulding in but the striker was crowded out and had to settle for a corner. That was worked for Hamshaw to get in a strike on target but straight at Hoult.

Notts replied with a corner of their own which Louis headed away.

Muggleton had to run out his box to chest the ball away from the incoming Crow and then completed the clearance as Notts again threatened.

Then a Corden free kick flew through a crowded box to Muggleton.

Buxton's tackle from behind on Smith just inside the Mansfield half earned the Stags skipper a yellow card on 67 minutes.

With the home fans screaming for a foul by Louis on Tann which left the County captain on the floor, play was waved on and Boulding, with other options to his right, chose to shoot and it went tamely to Hoult.

On 70 minutes Notts produced their best move to the game with a string of passes culminating with Crow firing at Muggleton.

At this point Stags threw on Brown in place of Louis who had put in an excellent afternoon's work.

Corden had a pot from 30 yards which was well struck but again Muggleton did not really need to move to gather as it came straight down his throat.

Boulding tried to help the ball on for Brown, who looked offside. There was no flag but he was quickly crowded out and saw his shot blocked.

Stags won another corner which Hamshaw played short to Brown who sent a dreadful overhit cross into touch as the rain lashed down on the sodden surface with time running out.

Mullins' tame header was easy for Hoult from a Dawson cross, then Butcher crashed the ball well over from a John-Baptiste headed clearance as both sides continued to hunt for the winner.

Brown cut in from the left on a promising run but was wide of the near post with a venomous finish.

And in the three minutes of stoppage time Brown's long cross from the left went over everyone to find Hamshaw unmarked at the first post and he blasted a volley over the crossbar.

Then Weir-Daley saw a low shot deflect wide of the post with Muggleton wrong-footed in a heartstopping finale.

NOTTS: Hoult, Edwards, Tann, Smith, Silk, Mayo, Crow, Butcher, Johnson, Jarvis (Weir-Daley 79), Corden. Subs: Canoville, MacKenzie, Lee, Hunt.

STAGS: Muggleton, Mullins, Jelleyman, D'Laryea, Hamshaw, Dawson, M. Boulding, Buxton, John-Baptiste, Arnold, Louis (Brown 71). Subs: White, Wainwright, Horlock, Briggs.

REFEREE: Mark Haywood of West Yorkshire.

ATTENDANCE: 10,027.