It was a cracking game to mark Billy McEwan's return to his former club and an exciting spectacle for the live Setanta Sports TV audience.

• Billy McEwan post-match reaction

Both sides created plenty of openings with Stags unfortunate to be behind at the break after a mix-up between Mansfield skipper Adie Moses and keeper Paddy Gamble let in Onome Sodje.

But Gamble went on to make a string of fine saves to keep the Minstermen at bay and Blackwood's lightning reaction to tuck away the rebound after Aaron O'Connor had hit the post made sure of an excellent away point.

With Lee ruled out injured, there was a return up front for O'Connor for Mansfield.

Sodje got a 20-yard shot away for York after just 12 seconds, but Gamble watched it bounce safely into his grasp.

Sodje burst into the box again soon after, but Moses' challenge took the pace off his attempted shot this time.

The home keeper was troubled on five minutes as Arnold did well to get in a dangerous cross from the right which Stallard seemed about to bury with a diving header, until Ingham grabbed it almost off his head.

A minute later York broke quickly and Russell's nicely weighted pass put Sodje in the clear, only to see Gamble throw out a hand to his left and brilliantly turn away what looked a nailed-on goal.

Arnold forced Ingham into another save with a low shot at the near post from a short corner routine at the other end.

Then O'Connor almost beat Ingham to a through ball but the keeper got there first to divert it for a corner as O'Connor tried to stab it past him.

McGurk bravely got his head in the way of a Blackwood drive from Arnold's intelligent pulled-back pass.

It was a bright and enterprising start from both sides. But Stags were starting to dominate things and a lengthy spell of passing down the right ended with O'Connor spinning in the box and laying back for Silk, who skied his first time finish.

But there was another scare as Sodje's flick found McBreen who was wide of the far post from a good position.

Stags then had to defend two City corners. Soon after Russell had a shot deflected wide, then on 29 minutes Sodje left fly from 20 yards and wasn't too far wide of the far post with a piledriver.

The deadlock was finally broken 10 minutes from the break after a mix-up between Moses and Gamble let in York danger man Sodje for the easiest goal he will score all season.

Sodje was chasing a long ball forward and Moses, deciding Gamble wasn't going to get there, chose to intervene and got a head on the ball. But it only served to put it out of Gamble's reach and perfectly into Sodje's path — and he had little trouble gratefully finding the open net.

Stags almost levelled on the restart as Arnold won a free kick just outside the box. Jeannin's effort hit the wall, but ran to D'Laryea who made space before shooting hard and low — seeing Ingham parry and recover in time to hold onto it before it could spin over the line.

But Mansfield were back in the game on 51 minutes. Stallard controlled a long throw and cued up O'Connor for a tremendous strike that came back off the near post.

Blackwood was far from favourite to reach the follow-up with the keeper and two defenders there, but instinctively stuck in a leg and found the net.

York lost the pace of Sodje with injury on 56 minutes, which would have pleased the Stags defence.

But Brodie was not far wide of the angle with a decent curling 25 yard free kick a few minutes later.

Silk got to the right by-line but over-hit his long cross, then City hit back with a corner which saw two headers blocked and Blackwood finally clear from a yard in front of goal.

Wilkinson had a shy at goal on the turn from 15 yards but, after controlling on his chest, the ball sat up too high and he bundled well over.

Then McBreen broke on the left and crossed long for Brodie. With neither D'Laryea nor Gamble able to clear, Brodie got in a close range effort which Gamble did well to block at his near post.

On 78 minutes Gamble made another fine save, diving to his left to turn away a 20-yard Brodie strike.

And the action swung straight to the other end as Robinson won a tackle and broke before feeding Blackwood who finished wide of the near post.

Another City corner saw Gamble twice claw headers away from the line in a heart-stopping aerial scramble before safely taking the resulting corner.

The keeper was there again to stop Farrell's shot from the edge of the box. Then Bore raced down the right and crossed low only to see McBreen turn it over.