Draw has Stags in need of favours
DAVID Flitcroft has conceded that the advantage in the play-off race lies with Mansfield’s rivals.
The Stags threw away two crucial points after they were held to a late 1-1 draw at home to Port Vale.
It leaves the Nottinghamshire side trailing Lincoln and Coventry by three points, having also played a game more.
“When you dominate a team, you have to make sure you take away their hope,” he said.
“We had the three points. It was in our grasp and we let it slip.
“Knowing football, it will go to the wire but this was our game to assert the pressure on the other teams.
“We have given them the advantage now but there will be twists and turns.
“We now have to win six points and hope someone slips up.”
The battling point means the Valiants are now officially safe from relegation.
Delighted Vale boss Neil Aspin said: “When I took over, I knew it would be a tough job, but I always thought we would get safety.
“We may lack in some areas but we do not work in effort.
“The lads have trained well and played most of the time to the best of their ability and that is all you can ask for.
“They have done well to get to safety from the position we were in.
“Tom Pope has been key – we would have been relegated without his goals.”
Danny Rose forced Sam Hornby into two early saves,before CJ Hamilton tested the Vale shot-stopper on 14 minutes.
An inspired Hornby frustrated the Stags yet again on 31 minutes when he saved from Rose on a superb counter-attack.
Danny Pugh breathed a sigh of relief just before the break when his defensive header nearly flew into his own net.
Hornby pulled off another blinder on 56 minutes to turn away a Paul Digby thunderbolt.
Alfie Potter and Rose both wasted great chances to break the deadlock, Potter scuffing wide from seven yards and Rose heading over from six.
Paddy Logan saved well to deny Luke Hannant on 66 minutes after a rare break by Vale.
And it proved to be a crucial save when Stags finally hit the front on 72 minutes after Charlie Raglan’s clearance hit Kyle Howkins and went into his own net.
Hornby made a great reflex save two minutes later as Howkins nearly scored another own goal. It proved a crucial save when Pope headed home from Dan Turner’s pass.