MATCH REPORT: Macclesfield Town 1-1 Mansfield Town - Stags draw a fourth consecutive League Two match

Mansfield Town drew a fourth successive League Two game after they failed to capitalise on a dominant first half showing and allowed winless Macclesfield to level in the second period.
Mansfield Town's Neal Bishop celebrates with goal scorer  Malvind Benning as Town go 1-0 up: Picture by Steve Flynn/AHPIX.com, Football: Sky Bet League Two match Macclesfield Town -V- Mansfield Town at Moss Rose, Macclesfield, Cheshire, England copyright picture Howard Roe 07973 739229Mansfield Town's Neal Bishop celebrates with goal scorer  Malvind Benning as Town go 1-0 up: Picture by Steve Flynn/AHPIX.com, Football: Sky Bet League Two match Macclesfield Town -V- Mansfield Town at Moss Rose, Macclesfield, Cheshire, England copyright picture Howard Roe 07973 739229
Mansfield Town's Neal Bishop celebrates with goal scorer Malvind Benning as Town go 1-0 up: Picture by Steve Flynn/AHPIX.com, Football: Sky Bet League Two match Macclesfield Town -V- Mansfield Town at Moss Rose, Macclesfield, Cheshire, England copyright picture Howard Roe 07973 739229

The impressive Mal Benning’s far post header was the difference between the two sides at the break when he nodded in Otis Khan’s far post cross just after the half hour mark.

However, Stags failed to press home their advantage and were made to rue that after the break.

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Home boss Mark Yates made three substitutions at the break and that paid off when Harry Smith struck just after the hour.

The visitors failed to clear a James Pearson ball in from the right which fell to Smith who was able to fire under Robert Olejnik from eight yards.

James Pearson’s long throws looked a threat for Macclesfield and after one of his hurls into the box was cleared back out to him on the right, the right back’s cross picked out midfielder Danny Whitaker who could only volley over.

Alex MacDonald and Craig Davies both went close for the Stags in a dominant first half display, which was undone after the break when they failed to add a second.

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Otis Khan’s 25 yard free kick whistled over the bar in the second half and Tyler Walker drilled just wide of the near post as Stags looked to regain their advantage.

Benning went close to adding his second of the afternoon when he his powerful drive was parried wide by O’Hara.

However, they could have lost the game in the dying minutes when Smith raced clear on goal and after ignoring unmarked team mates in the centre, his shot was smothered behind.

Macclesfield: O’Hara 6, Pearson 6, Kelleher 6, Grimes 6, Lowe 5 (Evans 46 6), Fitzpatrick 5, Whitaker 6, Arthur 4 (Maycock 46 6), Wilson 4 (Napa 46 7), Blissett 6, Smith 6. Subs not used: Marsh, Taylor, Welch-Hayes, Vincenti.

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Mansfield: Olejnik 6, Gibbons 5, Pearce 6, Sweeney 5, Hamilton 7, Benning 7, Bishop 6, MacDonald 5 (Mellis 71 5), Khan 7 (Sterling-James 77 6), Walker, Davies 5 (Rose 62 5). Subs not used: Logan, Atkinson, Graham, Butcher.

Referee: A Backhouse.