Hayes & Yeading 1 Mansfield Town 1

GARY Silk bagged his first goal of the season in second half stoppage time to rescue a point for Mansfield Town at Hayes and Yeading this afternoon.

The Stags looked down and out as the game moved into the dying stages following Dale Binns' strike three minutes before the break.

But, with Mansfield fans fearing a tenth defeat of the season on the road, Silk popped up to slide in a leveler from point-blank range.

That could prove a vital point at the end of the season for the Stags, who still harbour hopes of reaching the play-offs.

But it was a poor game in West London and for long periods the Stags lacked the invention and conviction they had showed in beating Tamworth 4-2 last time out.

Mansfield started the stronger and in the sixth minute, Clark Masters dived bravely at the feet of Kyle Perry after Rob Duffy put in a precise low cross from the right.

Hayes first threatened when a left-wing cross found its way through to Esmond James, whose shot was well blocked by the retreating Kyle Nix.

From the resulting corner, Scott Garner miss-kicked, presenting Matt Ruby with a good chance close in, but he fired straight at Alan Marriott.

Soon after, Nix broke onto Duffy's flick but was off-balance as he dragged his left-footed shot well wide.

Just after the midway point of the half, Gary Mills tried his luck with a snapshot, but it was always well off target.

Both sides struggled to pass the ball with any authority in the first half hour as openings were few and far between.

There was a moment of consternation for Marriott when he failed to hold a cross through a crowd of players, but Ram Marwa's resulting effort was blocked.

James' jinking run saw him open up space to shoot on the edge of the box, but his curler was well held by Marriott down by the foot of his left-hand post.

But Hayes and Yeading made no mistake in their next meaningful attack.

A poor pass from Mills put Silk under pressure, who was robbed of the ball by Binns.

The winger played a neat one-two with Basham before advancing into the area to plant an angled drive just inside the right-hand post.

As Mansfield tried to hit back, they put together a decent move that saw a United player clear Jon Shaw's cross ahead of the lurking Duffy.

The Stags made two changes at the interval with Ryan Williams and Blair Sturrock replacing the two Kyle's, Nix and Perry.

But there was no immediate improvement as Mansfield still struggled to fashion opportunities.

United's replacement keeper Simon Overland – on for the injured Masters – was relieved when the referee blew for a foul after he had completely missed Andy Nicholas' long throw.

At the other end, Adam Green went for goal from a free-kick, but fired into the hands of Marriott.

After a sustained period of attacking, Nicholas tried his luck first time but his rising drive was always clearing the bar.

Midway through the second period, Mills won a free-kick on the edge of the Hayes and Yeading box, only for Williams to curl straight into the defensive wall.

Moments later, the Stags might have leveled but Challinor's close-range header from Williams' centre was pushed away by Overland.

Mansfield made their final change in the 72nd minute when Andy Burgess came on for Challinor.

The visitors were almost caught on the break by Hayes and Yeading, and Nicholas had to head away from inside his own six-yard box from Green's left-wing centre.

Time was almost up when Mansfield found the salvation of an equalising goal.

Williams crossed for Duffy whose header was fumbled by Overland as Silk pounced to bundle the ball home.