It was a physical but thrilling battle between the two ex-Football League clubs with Cambridge defending an unbeaten away record against Stags' 100 per cent home record.

And it was the visitors who struck first as Daniel Brown buried a superb volley on 33 minutes.

• McEwan salutes Stags fans


• O'Hare savours first Stags goal

But Stags began the second half in purposeful fashion and O'Hare's first goal for the club was their hard-earned reward.

Frustratingly, referee Mark Brown's fussy display saw the flow of the game broken up, five yellow cards handed out and twice saw him bring the play back for a Stags free kick when they were bearing down on goal.

Both sides had their moments, but a draw was a fair outcome.

Lee returned from his ankle injury after missing three games to replace Robinson up front in the only change. O'Connor had missed training all week and didn't even make the bench.

O'Hare's slip in the opening minute allowed McEvilly to stride forward and get in a low shot straight at Gamble from 20 yards.

On five minutes Blackwood found himself on the right and cut inside before lifting his finish well over.

Jeannin overlapped well down the left on nine minutes but his cross was just too high for Somner who couldn't get over his header and Potter was able to claim it as it dropped.

Lee was warned for a challenge on Hatswell which left the defender holding his face, but no card was shown on 11 minutes.

A minute later Blackwood hoisted a long cross over from deep on the left and lee met it with a firm header from 15 yards which beat keeper and crossbar.

Tempers blew up on 14 minutes after a Hatswell lunge on Lee went unpunished and Somner raced in for 'afters' to nudge Hatswell which earned him a booking.

Lee was again in trouble for holding an arm across a defender as he jumped on 20 minutes.

Stallard did well to get in a shot on the turn as he stumbled after he was challenged by Hatswell in the box but it lacked enough power to seriously worry Potter.

McEvilly should have opened the scoring on 27 minutes when he was picked out unmarked by Jardim's left wing free kick just six yards from goal but somehow diverted his header over the goal.

Home hearts were in mouths a minute later after the already-booked Somner unceremoniously halted Jardim almost on the halfway line. But thankfully the referee chose only to give him a last warning and the red card stayed in his pocket.

But the visitors did break the deadlock on 33 minutes with a stunning volley. Lee leapt well to head clear a long Tonkin throw from the left only to see Brown meet the dropping ball with a rasping 20 yard volley that flew across Gamble into the net.

By now McEvilly, who had been ill all week, was physically sick on the pitch but somehow completed the half and the following 45 minutes too and remained their biggest threat throughout.

Two minutes from the break, Stallard's flick was controlled in the box by Lee but the ball bobbled as he tried to get in a shot and his eventual shot contained no power and was gathered by Potter diving to his left.

Potter was lucky when he misjudged Mansfield's first corner and no home player was behind him to apply a finish.

Stags were furious with the referee again two minutes after the restart as Blackwod looked to be away when the referee brought play back for Gleeson's foul on D'Laryea for which the United man was booked.

Stallard sent a diving header the wrong side of the near post from an Arnold free kick.

But it was a fine start to the half from the home side and was rewarded with a 51st minute equaliser. Arnold was brought down just outside the box on the right and Blackwood floated in a free kick which O'Hare rose to head home at the far post - his first goal for the club.

Cambridge replied with a long distance effort well over from Hatwell and then when Stags failed to deal with a Tomkin throw from the left and allowed the ball to bounce without closing down McEvilly who was able to stab a low effort inches wide.

Stags were again halted in full flight as Brown stayed down with a head injury as the home fans screamed their anger.

Lee was booked for a silly late trip on Gleeson as he raced past him on 58 minutes and Stallard lucky not to join him for his challenge on the same player soon after which left him needing treatment.

Still the tackles flew in and Hatswell was booked as Stallard received treatment for his biting challenge in the centre circle.

A loose ball from Blackwood gifted the ball to Holroyd but his low shot was easy for Gamble.

On 73 minutes Stags froze in horror as McEvilly got goalside of the defenders to round Gamble and net but the home side were rescued by an offside flag.

Arnold, Somner and Blackwood launched a move that set up D'Laryea for a curling on-target effort that Potter grabbed.

Then Stallard beat a defender in the box but lost the ball under his feet and the moment had gone.

It was anyone's game at this stage and Cambridge boldly withdrew midfielder Brown to bring on striker Crow.

But it was Stags who came close as Arnold ran into a blind alley so pulled the bal back fro Silk to swing in a cross that Lee headed just over.

Stallard saw the afternoon's fifth yellow card for his tackle on Challinor on 79 minutes.
Crow's left wing cross to the far post on 82 minutes was only just too long for McEvilly to turn on target.

Three minutes later MvEvilly did get a header on target from a Jardim free kick but it was at an easy height for Gamble to catch.

Then Moses found Lee with a long header forward which saw the veteran control on his chest and turn well to hook just over the top.

In stoppage time a neat backheel by Stallard and cross by Silk was cleared to D'Laryea who blasted over from 18 yards as his chance to be the hero slipped away.

In the last of four stoppage time minutes McEvilly' chance of being the hero also disappeared as he had a shot charged down in the Mansfield box.

But neither side deserved to lose a decent game of football and a draw was the right result.

STAGS: Gamble, Silk, Moses, O'Hare, Jeannin; Arnold, Somner, D'Laryea, Blackwood; Stallard, Lee. Subs not used: Herriott, Shaw, McGhee, Hurren, Robinson.

CAMBRIDGE: Potter; Gleeson, Bolland, Hatswell, Tonkin; Jardim, Carden, Brown (Crow 77), Challinor; McEvilly, Holroyd. Subs not used: Coulson, Convery, Jones, Drench.

REFEREE: Mark Brown of Hull.

ATTENDANCE: 3,171 (526 away).