Spirited point for Mansfield Town on the road

Mansfield Town navigated heavy rain for a spirited battling draw away to high-fliers Cheltenham.

But Graham Coughlan’s struggling side have now not won in 11 games in all competitions in what continues to be a frustrating start to the new season.

A point, however, saw the Stags climb one place in the table as they look to kickstart their season with a much-needed victory.

Midfielder Liam Sercombe had the first decent chance of the contest, but his ambitious volley flew well wide of the target for the Robins.

But the Stags rallied and nearly caught the home side cold with a good counter-attacking.

Harry Charsley combined well with Andy Cook, but the Irish midfielder rifled a shot just wide of the target.

A minute later midfielder George Maris blasted wide with a sweet first-time strike as the visitors pushed for the opener.

Mansfield were the better side and defender Farren Rawson connected well with a Stephen McLaughlin free-kick, but his goalbound header was saved by Cheltenham shot-stopper Josh Griffiths.

Defender James Perch then found himself walking a tightrope for the remainder of the afternoon after he was booked for a crunching sliding challenge on Robins’ midfielder Matty Blair.

The Robins created little and the Stags grew in confidence as a consequence. And in the 27th minute Maris saw his powerful shot blocked in the box as the pressure mounted.

West Brom loan goalie Griffiths then thwarted George Lapslie with a smart save just after the half hour mark.

Charlton loanee Lapslie hit the target with a powerful strike, but Griffiths was more than equal to the effort.

McLaughlin also found himself in referee Neil Hair’s notebook unnecessarily for simulation, before Stags keeper Marek Stech saved William Boyle’s header from a Ben Tozer delivery.

The Robins were on the front foot and Sercombe lashed a right-foot strike well over.

And they came within a whisker of taking the lead just before the hour mark, but Alfie May’s shot was brilliantly cleared off the line by Charsley.

May shot wide after good link-up play with Chris Hussey as the Stags were forced to dig deep to avoid conceding.

The visitors responded and Cook fired wide after being played in by Kellan Gordon, while at the other end Chris Clements went close with an effort which just missed the target.

Nicky Maynard had a chance to win it for the Stags with five minutes left, but the striker shot wide from a good position.

Cheltenham: Griffiths, Raglan, Tozer, Boyle, Blair (Thomas 59), Sang (Addai 83), Clements, Sercombe, Hussey, May (Williams 69), Reid. Subs: Freestone, Harris, Horton, Chapman.

Mansfield: Stech, Menayese, Rawson, Sweeney, Gordon, Perch, Lapslie, Maris (Maynard 78), McLaughlin, Charsley, Cook (Reid 78). Subs: Bowery, O’Driscoll, Clarke, Sinclair, Stone.

Referee: Neil Hair