Mansfield Town held at Colchester United after conceding late goal

Mansfield Town were held to a 2-2 draw at The Colchester Community Stadium. (Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images)

James Perch seemingly secured the points with his first goal since October at the JobServeCommunity Stadium.

But Frank Nouble’s late leveller ensured the Stags travelled home with just a point.

Tommy Smith’s early own goal handed the visitors the lead before Callum Harriott ended the club’s agonising 450-minute wait for a goal as they came from behind twice to snatch a point.

But the Stags maintained their impressive unbeaten run as it stretched to eight games without defeat.

And the visitors have picked up a monumental 17 points from a possible 21 during that fruitful spell since Boxing Day.

The Stags feared for their Football League status when experienced manager Nigel Clough took the helm in at the start of November.

But the club are now closer to the coveted play-off spots than the dreaded drop zone after their remarkable revival.

The game was moved back 24 hours due to fears about adverse weather conditions.

And Clough named a pair of changes from the side which drew at Walsall last time out.

Captain Ollie Clarke replaced the injured George Lapslie whilst defender James Perch came in for Kellan Gordon, who was rested as a precaution due to discomfort in his knee.

And the Stags fortunately took the lead as George Maris’ cross caused carnage in the hosts’ box with Smith left red faced as he put the ball into his own net four minutes in.

The U’s came close to levelling as Frank Nouble was sprung clear before he fired into the side netting.

But the hosts drew level six minutes before the break as Harriott blasted home the club’s first goal in more than seven and a half hours of football.

Stags’ defender Stephen McLaughlin had the first sight of goal after the restart as he crashed a low rasping effort just wide.

The game became edgy as both sides tried desperately hard to cancel the other out.

Both sets of players put themselves on the line to keep the other side at bay.

But Perch completed a fine team move with nine minutes to go before Noble slotted into the far corner to rescue a point.

Colchester: George, Welch-Hayes, Doherty (Clampin, 69), Smith, Eastman, Lapslie (Chilvers, 80), Senior (Stevenson, 69), Poll, Harriott, Poku (Oteh, 85), Nouble.

Unused subs: Gerken, Sowumni, Sarpong-Wiredu.

Mansfield: Stone, Sweeney, Rawson, Perch, McLaughlin, Clarke, Maris, Quinn (Benning, 80), Charsley, Bowery, Reid.

Unused subs: Stech, O'Keeffe, Clarke, O'Driscoll, Law, Sinclair.

Referee: Chris Sarginson (Staffordshire)