Lincoln United missed an opportunity to close the gap on the leaders Eastwood to six points after drawing 1-1 with AFC Mansfield in the UCL Premier North Division.
The Whites’ have two games in hand on the league leaders, but dropped points at Ashby Avenue.
After a slow start to the game, the Bulls nearly took the lead on 18 minutes from a free-kick. Just outside the box, James Matthews bent a right footed effort towards the top right corner, but Jack Steggles did brilliantly to tip it round the left-hand post.
Then on 36 minutes, the visitors took the lead. Kaylum Mitchell, who came in for the injured Ryan Ingram, sent a powerful right-footed shot towards goal from just outside the box and the ball squirmed into the back of the net, despite the efforts of Steggles to hold onto it.
During two minutes of added on time at the end of the first half, Lincoln United nearly found their equaliser. Jack McMenemy found himself unmarked five yards out from goal, but he was only able to steer his header over the bar.
In the second-half, it took a while for the Whites to create many clear-cut opportunities.
On 81 minutes, from close range, Scott Matthews’ effort was blocked and then the ball fell to McMenemy again who brought it down from a flick on by substitute Paul Grimes, but the shot was blocked by a Mansfield defender and the effort was sent spinning over the bar.
Two minutes later, referee Adam Brierley-Lewis pointed towards the spot for a Lincoln penalty and after Owen Vincent had struck the woodwork. The ball was adjudged to have hit the hand of a Mansfield defender.
Captain Elliott Dye stepped up from the spot and made no mistake, stroking the ball straight down the middle, after Mansfield goalkeeper Josh Turton dived the wrong way.
Then on a fast breakaway in the 95th minute, Mansfield dragged an effort just wide of the post to see the game end level.
The draw keeps United third with an eight point gap to the league leaders, ahead of their clash with Melton Town in a week’s time at Ashby Avenue.