FRUSTRATED Mansfield Town were held to a goal-less draw by struggling Grays Athletic at Field Mill this afternoon.

The Stags did everything but score and had countless shots and dominated possession against the relegation-threatened Essex club.

But they were kept at bay by an inspired goalkeeping display from Stuart Robinson and some less than clinical finishing.

Chief culprit was Rob Duffy who missed his first penalty in six attempts midway through the second half.

It means Mansfield have now not won in their last four home games.

Grays got off the first shot on target but Harlee Dean's long-range effort was straight at Alan Marriott.

The visitors then won a free-kick right on the edge of the Mansfield box but Bradley Hudson-Odoi smashed it into the defensive wall.

With the hosts struggling to find their rhythm, Danny Bunce blasted well off target.

It took the Stags until the 18th minute to fashion their first decent chance. Paul Heckingbottom fed Kyle Perry and he teed up Jon Challinor, who dragged his shot wide from the edge of the box.

Just past the midway point of the half, Louis Briscoe took a Perry lay-off in his stride and stormed into the right-hand corner of the box before pulling his shot wide of the far post.

Grays had two efforts on goal but both Peter Rnkovic and Hudson-Odoi picked out Marriott.

Briscoe's determination opened up a shooting opportunity for him but he trickled his shot through to keeper Stuart Robinson.

The winger then latched onto Ollie Hotchkiss' pass but his pull-back to Rob Duffy was behind the striker and the opening was gone.

Briscoe was involved yet again when he picked up Perry's pass only to blaze way over the top.

Mansfield might have gone in front in the 39th minute when Perry beat keeper Robinson to Challinor's long throw but could not poke a close range finish over the line.

In the closing stages of the first half, Michael Brough did well to block a powerful low drive from Richard Graham.

Mansfield began the second half well and it needed a last ditch clearance to prevent Perry having a tap in from a Duffy cross.

At the other end, Hudson-Odoi let fly from distance, but it was always rising over the bar.

But Ryan James went a lot closer when he drilled into the side-netting with a snapshot.

However, the Stags had a great chance to go in front in the 57th minute after they were awarded a penalty.

Gavin Hoyte was adjudged to have brought down Louis Briscoe in the box as the wide man looked to run onto Silk's pass.

Duffy stepped up but struck his kick too close to Robinson, who made a save diving to his left and then was quickly on his feet to claw away the loose ball.

The Welshman was desperately unlucky moments later as he crashed a shot against the underside of the bar from 20 yards out. He believed the ball was over the line but the referee and assistant were unmoved as Perry headed the rebound over the top.

Perry then miscued after he had been brilliantly played in by a deft header from strike partner Duffy.

But Grays almost hit Mansfield with a sucker punch when substitute Billy Bingham flashed a drive inches wide of the post with Marriott rooted to the spot.

Athletic won their first corner in the 77th minute but Hoyte headed over the top from Bunce's ball in.

Mansfield went close to a breakthrough again in the 80th minute when Hotchkiss had a dip and Robinson palmed his shot onto the bar.

The Grays keeper came to his side's rescue again with time running out with a fantastic double save.

First he pushed away Lee Morris goalbound drive and then drew himself at the feet on Andy Burgess to keep out the rebound.

Morris had another opportunity to score soon after but his header was into the arms of Robnison.

With three minutes left, Silk played a superb cross in behind the Grays defence but Morris, at full stretch, could not get there to divert the ball home.

In stoppage time Robinson was called in action again as he beat out a well-struck shot by Burgess.

Mansfield: Marriott, Silk, Jones, Brough, Heckingbottom, Briscoe, Hotchkiss, Challinor, Burgess Duffy, Perry. Subs: Sandercombe, Somner, Williams, Armstrong, Morris.

Grays: Robinson, Mawer, Hoyte, Crowther, Bunce, Graham, Cissoko, Dean, Hudson-Odoi, Rnkovic, James. Subs: Edwards, Agombar, Logombe, Hall, Bingham.

Referee: Darren Bond (Wigan).