Wrexham had to be content with a point in a hard fought game, but it was a fine save by Mansfield goalkeeper Jason White that denied them another late winner, tipping a Lee McEvilly header over the bar deep into stoppage time.

Wrexham returned to The Racecourse fresh from their late victory last Saturday at Bristol. Manager Brian Carey made two changes for this vital match with Robbie Garrett replacing Jeff Whitley, missing through illness, and Matty Done coming in for Mark Jones who dropped to the bench. It was a lovely spring afternoon with the sun shining on The Racecourse as Mansfield kicked off attacking the Kop end of the ground.

Mansfield started with early pressure and gained a corner after some slipshod defending by home debutant Richard Walker. The ball was played into the area but Wrexham defended it well. Matty Done responded with a scintillating run and cross but White held the cross.

It was certainly an end to end start as with three minutes on the clock Jelleyman fired over the bar.

With only 5 minutes gone Wrexham lost the services of skipper Neil Roberts, limping off to be replaced by Mike Carvill. Wrexham gained their first corner a minute later; taken by Done it was headed over his own bar by Hjelde for another corner. Done again swung it in but nothing came of it. McEvilly won Wrexham another corner on nine minutes as they exerted early pressure on the visitors.

Danny Williams was yellow carded for a foul with 11 minutes gone.

The game settled into a pattern with both sides probing for an opening without creating a goalscoring opportunity. Matty Done did go down under a challenge from Mullins on 17 minutes but despite the appeals from the crowd referee Singh waved play on.

A minute later Spender cleared a weak effort off the line after home debutant keeper Anthony Williams struggled to clear on the edge of his area. Another penalty appeal, this time for handball against Mullins, was turned down by Mr Singh as Wrexham continued to push forward looking for the all important first goal.

With 24 minutes gone Wrexham's best opportunity came when Lee McEvilly released Mike Carvill, but the young striker delayed his finish and was crowded out by a defender and the goalkeeper. A minute later Jelleyman was booked for a foul on McEvilly. Done sent over the cross but Proctor was flagged offside.

Anthony Williams dived to his left on 29 minutes to make an easy save from a long range Hodge strike but goalscoring opportunities were certainly few and far between.

After 36 minutes a good run by Done, his far post cross was headed back across goal by McEvilly but there was no Wrexham player in the area to apply the finish.

Mansfield replaced a limping John Hjelde on 38 minutes with Asa Charlton. Soon after Done went chasing a long diagonal ball from Garrett and was upended by goalkeeper White. With the Wrexham fans' calling for a penalty White was shown a yellow card and a free kick awarded right on the edge of the area. McEvilly fired in a superb effort which clipped the bar.

There were two minutes added time at the end of the first half but neither side could break the deadlock and the half ended goalless.

Second Half

Mansfield replaced Dawson with Danny Sleath at the start of the second half. Wrexham started the half well with McEvilly releasing Done, the winger's cross was good but eluded all his colleagues and ran to safety. Both sides settled into the half but continued to cancel each other out.

With nine minutes of the half gone a Matty Done throw in was flicked on by Lee McEvilly and Michael Proctor headed over the bar from 8 yards. Wrexham pressed forward whenever they could, urged on by another best crowd of the season, but were frustrated by the Mansfield defence.

After a spell of pressure from Mansfield Gritton headed wide from a long cross delivered in by Charlton. With 61 minutes gone Gritton missed an absolute sitter heading wide from six yards out, completely unmarked. This seemed to wake up the Wrexham supporters who started to really get behind the team.

Referee Singh booked both Michael Proctor and Matthew Hamshaw for facing up to each other after Hamshaw fouled the Wrexham man. Mark Jones came on for Proctor immediately after this with 65 minutes gone and took up a position wide on the right.

A good spell of pressure saw Wrexham earn a corner, taken by Done Mansfield struggle to clear the danger and Mike Williams crossed to the far post where McEvilly agonisingly couldn't apply the finish from close range. Mike Williams was starting to get forward more and earned another corner with 73 minutes gone. Wrexham kept up the pressure and Done won yet another corner.

Simon Brown got himself booked for a foul on Walker with 76 minutes gone. Mansfield boss Billy Dearden brought on Nathan Arnold for Boulding a minute later.

Wrexham kept pushing forward but had to be careful in case they were caught on the break by the lively Simon Brown. A Lee McEvilly volley was deflected wide for a corner with 6 minutes left, taken by Mark Jones it was headed well over by the burly striker at the far post.

The tension was tangible as the crowd tried to lift Wrexham for one final effort as Lee Roche replaced Simon Spender with three minutes left.

We went into four minutes added time with the game still goalless. Wrexham won a corner taken by Jones, McEvilly headed back and a remarkable reflex save by White tipped the ball away. Mansfield broke away and Anthony Williams did well to save a fierce drive. It was the last action and the Red Dragons had to be content with a point.

Wrexham (4-4-2): Anthony Williams, Simon Spender (Lee Roche 87) , Richard Walker, Shaun Pejic, Mike Williams, Michael Proctor (Mark Jones 65), Danny Williams, Robbie Garrett, Matty Done, Neil Roberts (Mike Carvill 5), Lee McEvilly.
Subs: Michael Jones, Gareth Evans.

Mansfield Town (4-4-2): Jason White, John Mullins, Jon-Olav Hjelde (Asa Charlton 38), Alex Baptiste, Gareth Jelleyman , Matthew Hamshaw, Bryan Hodge, Stephen Dawson (Danny Sleath 46), Michael Boulding (Nathan Arnold 76), Martin Gritton, Simon Brown.
Subs: Carl Muggleton, Barry Conlon,

Referee: Jarnail Singh
Attendance: 7,752
Away: 266

Bookings:

Wrexham: Danny Williams (foul), Michael Proctor (retalitation)

Mansfield Town: Gareth Jelleyman (foul), Jason White (foul), Matthew Hamshaw (foul), Simon Brown (foul)