AS a well-known television commercial would have described Jon Challinor's debut: "He did exactly what it says on the tin."

Overall, the midfielder did not enjoy the most auspicious of starts for Mansfield in an ugly game dominated by gusty winds and driving rain.

It was not the kind of first game to get the fans licking their lips with anticipation, nor talking fervently about his contribution.

At times in the first period he was virtually anonymous and towards the end he looked every bit the physically shattered figure of a man who has missed so much first team football at Cambridge United this season.

But what the new signing did give the team, which they have been lacking from central midfield this season, is that most precious commodity in football – a goal.

Mansfield's regular starters in the middle of the park this season – skipper Gary Mills, Matt Somner, Kyle Nix and, more latterly Michael Brough, have managed just one strike between them this season – Nix's free-kick in the defeat at Barrow.

Yet it took Challinor, a frequent goal-getter at the likes of Exeter and Aldershot at this level earlier in his career, just 68 minutes to open his account.

It was not a classic goal by any means, in fact, as the player admitted afterwards, Paul Heckingbottom's whipped free-kick, nodded on by Blair Sturrock, simply hit him, rather it being a deft well-placed finish.

But the most important thing was that Challinor was in the right place four yards out to accept the chance, however fortuitously.

It is for that precise reason that the Northampton-born player has been brought to Field Mill by manager David Holdsworth.

And if he can continue to find the net between now and the end of the season, while improving his game in other areas when his fitness improves, he could prove to be an astute acquisition.

Only time will tell on that front, but what Challinor certainly achieved in the short-term was avert a second successive home defeat that would have sparked discontent among some home supporters.

There were boos at half-time when their team trailed and while there were not too many clapping a disappointing draw come full time, the jeers of derision were few and far between.

From the fans' point of view, they had expected Mansfield to see off Eastbourne, a side without a win in seven matches and one who were beaten by the Stags at Priory Lane only last month.

The hosts went into the game in the play-off zone while their opponents were looking over their shoulders towards the relegation places.

But that counted for little once the action got under way and it quickly became clear Mansfield would not have it all their own way.

Any hopes Mansfield had of quickly settling into a rhythm were dashed when the hard-working Kyle Perry had to make way, seeing Louis Briscoe move up front and substitute Craig Dobson operating down the right.

It was makeshift striker Briscoe who failed to take advantage of the Stags' best two openings of the half as he drilled into the side-netting from Duffy's cut-back and then overran the ball when put in on goal by Dobson.

For their part, Eastbourne's Paul Armstrong should have done better when he mis-kicked following Liam Enver-Marum's neat skill to tee him up.

Another opportunity went begging when Joe Benjamin raced clear with Jones off the pitch receiving treatment, but he shot straight at Alan Marriott with the retreating Heckingbottom applying the pressure.

But the Sports were in front a minute from the break when Kayne McLaggon took Enver-Marum's neat flick in his stride, cut in from the right past Jones and found the left corner with an angled drive that deflected in off Brough.

Mansfield tried to respond after half-time only for Ryan Williams to lose control when in a fine shooting position.

The home fans grew increasingly restless each time a Mansfield pass went astray until midway through the second half Challinor struck.

With the introduction of Sturrock for Dobson livening things up, the Stags went in search of a winner.

The closest they came was when the Scotsman fired into the left-hand corner from the edge of the box but was adjudged to have handballed in controlling Duffy's flick and the effort ruled out.

The Stags have now failed to win in their last three home games having won seven out of their first nine games on their own patch.

But they will quickly get a chance to put that right when they play host again tomorrow as Luton Town visit Field Mill

Challinor may have some work to do to win over the doubters, but another goal against the Hatters wouldn't half do his cause some good.