Bury 0 Mansfield Town 0 - 22nd October 2013

Mansfield Town had John Dempster sent-off for a flying tackle on 62 minutes, but survived a hairy-raising finish to pick up a point at struggling Bury.
Junior Daniel is folied by Bury 'keeper Brian Jensen  -Pic by:Richard ParkesJunior Daniel is folied by Bury 'keeper Brian Jensen  -Pic by:Richard Parkes
Junior Daniel is folied by Bury 'keeper Brian Jensen -Pic by:Richard Parkes

Stags had some good chances in the first half, had what looked a blatant penalty denied and also lost influential centre half Martin Riley to injury on a night when little went right for the visitors against a managerless Shakers side without a win in seven and now without a goal in four.

But Paul Cox, sent to the stand for dissent in an amazing 10th minute of stoppage time, will be proud his men dug in when the night turned against them and picked up their second away point and second clean sheet in four days ahead of Saturday’s visit of Plymouth Argyle.

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Murtagh, Sutton and Stevenson were dropped to the bench as Stags went 4-4-2 with Palmer, Daniel and debut-making Blake coming in for his first ever Football League game.

Jensen was down bravely in the second minute at the feet of Palmer as he tried to get on the end of a Rhead flick.

Stags looked hungry in the early stages and a good break down the left by Daniel petered out on the edge of the box

A Clucas shot was then blocked as far as Daniel, who whipped in a dangerous cross that Jensen had to hold onto.

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On 13 minutes Blake’s low 20-yard effort was turned around full length by Jensen to his right.

Rhead then headed narrowly wide from Palmer’s right wing cross as Stags continued to force the pace.

However on 26 minutes the Shakers almost shook Stags with an opening goal.

Hylton’s flicked header put Soares away down the centre but, with Marriott advancing, he sent a finish over the bar.

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On 33 minutes Palmer seemed to be charged over in the box and the Mansfield players were furious when the referee decided the offence was just outside the box. Jennings then fired his free kick into the wall.

Mansfield threatened again as Dempster and Rhead helped on a long Beevers free kick and Clucas’ acrobatic finish on the turn was straight to Jensen.

Both side had good chances in a thrilling end to the half with Daniel seeing his shot well blocked by the keeper.

Two minutes later Marriott made a great reaction save to deny Harrad. Sedgewick had fed the overlapping Beeley whose right wing cross was turned on target first time by Harrad, Marriott acrobatically blocking to his right.

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Daniel’s pace won Mansfield a corner which was nodded back into the mix by Dempster, Clucas unable to connect with a cheeky flicked backheel six yards from goal.

However, a quiet start to the half by both sides erupted on 62 minutes.

A succession of flying tackles by both sides ended with Dempster flying in on Harrad with studs showing.

Harrad stayed down, both sides squared up for a bout of pushing and shoving, and eventually out came the red card for Dempster.

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Bury were inevitably lifted as Sedgwick forced a low save from Marriott after a Clucas clearance ricocheted to him.

Mayor was then inches over with a close range header after Sedgwick’s right wing cross skimmed off a head towards him.

Soares tested Marriott from 25 yards, the keeper safely down.

Bury went for the jugular and Marriott had to tip superbly over from Soares’ rising 20-yard piledriver while Hylton was only just wide with a far post header.

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It was agonising viewing for the 351 away fans as Mansfield were barely able to get out of their box.

Incredibly seven minutes were somehow found to add on from somewhere, and it crept into an 10th in which Cox was sent to the stand for dissent, but Cox’s remaining men stood tall and survived a harrowing finish.

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