FURY AS STAGS PAY THE PENALTY
Richard Walker's last-gasp strike robbed Mansfield of two points in a night of controversy at Field Mill.
The Bristol Rovers striker pounced in the third minute of injury-time to level the game at 3-3 when Peter Shirtliff's side looked to be on their way to a crucial victory.
It was Walker's second strike of a pulsating game, after converting a first half penalty that left Shirtliff and Mansfield furious.
Referee Bob Desmond stunned everyone in the stadium when he penalised Allan Russell in the 41st minute for shirt pulling.
Walker blasted powerfully past Kevin Pressman to make it 2-2, after Mansfield had raced to a two-goal lead inside 25 minutes.
Shirtliff couldn't have asked for a better start as his side showed no after-effects from Monday's defeat at Northampton.
Even without Richie Barker and Simon Brown for the second time in three days, Mansfield looked full of goals with Gus Uhlenbeek their chief architect.
The Surinam winger created both the opening goals and forced saves from Scott Shearer on two other occasions with speculative efforts.
It was from the winger's throw that Mansfield took the lead on 14 minutes as Nathan Arnold collected his first senior goal for the club.
When Rovers only managed to half clear the ball, it fell invitingly for Arnold to strike on the half-volley and give the goalkeeper no chance with a low shot into the bottom right-hand corner.
The home side's movement, particularly from Uhlenbeek, looked too much for Rovers to handle as they looked like scoring each time they went forward.
It was his run that brought about a free kick on the edge of the area and led to the second goal in the 25th minute.
Uhlenbeek stepped up to take the kick, but as Rovers waited for a cross, he cut the ball back to Adam Rundle, who fired through a sea of legs and past Shearer.
It was the least Mansfield deserved and they might have had more with Uhlenbeek nearly catching the Rovers keeper out with an early chip and later with a spectacular 30-yard effort.
But the game was turned on its head as the visitors dragged themselves level before half-time.
James Hunt halved the deficit three minutes later when he connected with a Chris Carruthers cross from the left.
The Rovers midfielder dived at the near post to glance a header past Pressman and in off the post.
They thought they'd equalised moments later when Craig Disley had the ball in the back of the net following a goalmouth scramble - only to see it ruled out for an earlier foul on Pressman.
If that decision looked harsh, Rovers certainly got the benefit of the doubt five minutes from time when they were awarded a penalty - Walker giving Pressman no chance as he powered it into the roof of the net.
Mansfield refused to let the setback knock them out of their stride and went on to control the second half.
Russell thought he was about to follow in Arnold's shoes by opening his account early in the second half when latching on to his strike partner's flick-on. He did well to hold off Steve Elliot, leaving himself one-on-one with Shearer. But with the goal to aim at, he could only manage a tame shot from 12 yards that was easily blocked.
But Russell didn't have to wait long to get off the mark, firing Mansfield ahead in the 74th minute.
Again Uhlenbeek was involved, beating Carruthers down the left before crossing from the byline.
Substitute Adam Birchall couldn't get a shot away, but the ball broke to Russell, who hit a controlled shot through a crowded penalty area.
D'Laryea could have extended the lead shortly after, but fired wide from four yards. Then Giles Coke unwittingly headed over from close range when unexpectedly latching on to a rebound from Birchall's effort in the final moments.
It looked like both chances would only have been icing on the cake as injury-time ticked away, but the cost of both became painfully clear with just 60 seconds left to play.
After failing to clear their lines, Mansfield allowed substitute Lewis Holdane to loop a header to Pressman's far post and in came Walker to bundle it over the line.
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more reaction to the game in today's Evening Post
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Bristol Evening Post :
LAST-GASP WALKER IS ROVERS SAVIOUR
Bristol Rovers twice fought back from behind and were rewarded when Richard Walker's last-gasp leveller deep into stoppage-time earned them a point at icy Field Mill. The outlook appeared bleak when they went 2-0 down inside 25 minutes, Nathan Arnold and Adam Rundle giving the Stags a two-goal cushion. But skipper James Hunt promptly nodded them back into contention and they were level just before the break when Walker fired home a controversially-awarded penalty.
Allan Russell looked like breaking Rovers' hearts when he restored Mansfield's advantage on 73 minutes, but Walker was ideally placed to prod home a dramatic close-range equaliser with seconds left on the clock and seal a hard-fought point.
Rovers were able to name an unchanged side for the eighth game in a row but were clearly facing a tricky night on a slippery surface with the temperature well below freezing.
Neither side had seriously threatened before Mansfield took the lead in the 14th minute. A throw-in down Rovers' left was only cleared as far as Arnold, who promptly fired a low left-foot shot from 14 yards past Scott Shearer.
The home side continued to set the pace and some neat work down the right by Gus Uhlenbeek saw him take a return pass and fire in a cross which Shearer had to intercept diving to his right.
Uhlenbeek was involved again as Mansfield extended their lead in the 25th minute. The winger was fouled by Chris Carruthers as he tried to move into the penalty box, then cut the resulting free-kick back towards Rundle, who hit a left-foot shot from just inside the area that evaded the onrushing Steve Elliott and took a deflection before flying past Shearer.
The Pirates had struggled to find any fluency but hit back three minutes later. Carruthers got down the left and crossed to the near post where Hunt scored his first goal of the campaign with a glancing header.
Rovers had the ball in the net just afterwards when keeper Kevin Pressman could only flap at a lofted ball which was dropping just under his crossbar. Craig Disley rose to get in a close-range overhead kick, but was denied a goal against his former club because of an earlier infringement.
Uhlenbeek continued to be a thorn in Rovers' side and fired in a tremendous 30-yard attempt which Shearer had to fingertip over the bar.
But the visitors were handed a lifeline four minutes before the break when they won a penalty out of the blue. As Ali Gibb swung over a corner, referee Bob Desmond spotted some shirt-pulling in the box and pointed to the spot.
It was not clear who the culprit was - and the crowd were as mystified as the players appeared to be with the decision. But that didn't bother Walker, who strode up to drill home his 12th goal of the season.
Mansfield should have regained the lead seven minutes into the second half when Russell got the wrong side of Elliott and broke clear on goal. But his side-footed attempt from 14 yards lacked conviction and Shearer got down well to his left to parry.
Then, on the hour, Rundle unleashed a snap volley from 25 yards which sent the Rovers' keeper scampering to his left to grasp the ball near his left-hand post.
The Stags went back in front after 73 minutes as Rovers again paid the price for failing to clear their lines properly when Uhlenbeek delivered another cross from the right. Rundle miscued his attempted shot but the loose ball fell kindly for Russell, who drilled home his first goal for Mansfield from 13 yards.
Rovers made a couple of changes, bringing on Jamie Forrester for Ali Gibb and Lewis Haldane in place of Junior Agogo.
Haldane had a chance after 85 minutes but chose not to shoot and when the ball ran to Walker, he curled a hurried left-footed attempt over the top.
Mansfield could have bagged a fortunate fourth in stoppage time when Russell's fierce cross-shot was deflected away by Shearer - but only against the head of Giles Coke before it flew just over the top.
But their was still time for another twist right at the death. Ryan Williams, on for Disley, crossed from the bye-line and Haldane's downward header was prodded home by Walker from close range at the far post.