27/02/2008 - Mansfield 1 Bury 1
There is no exact science to success on the football field.
No theory of evolution, eureka nor E=mc2.
Yet the winning formula on home turf continues to elude Mansfield no matter what they try - even if last night they were mighty close to discovering it.
With the Stags still ahead going into the final ten minutes after skipper Jake Buxton's opener, it seemed as if they would hold on for their first win in eight attempts and climb out of the bottom two.
A series of fine saves from Carl Muggleton kept his side in front and meant that Bury, after a sustained spell of pressure, looked to be running out of ideas.
But then a shot that deflected wildly off Jonathan D'Laryea dropped for substitute Adam Rooney - on loan at Chesterfield earlier in the season - and he earned the Shakers a point with a close-range hook-shot.
In truth, it was a leveller Alan Knill's side deserved for a determined fightback that left all those willing a home victory biting their fingernails.
Even so, it did not make it any easier for the home fans to accept and several vented their frustration by booing the players off.
The result did at least end a run of seven consecutive defeats that made up the worst home run in Mansfield's long history and is a point gained on some of their rivals.
But as with many other matches this season, there was a feeling of what might have been and a realisation that this was a missed opportunity.
Boss Billy Dearden was unable to field the unchanged side he wanted because midfielder Stephen Dawson was ruled out with swollen glands on the eve of kick-off.
Keith Briggs moved forward to fill the vacancy in midfield while Chris Wood came in at right-back.
On a windy night it was clear from the outset this match was never going to be an advert for all that is good in League Two.
The Stags, in particular, struggled to comes to terms with the strong gusts that were in their favour and blew long balls out for goal kicks and through to Bury keeper Darren Randolph.
However, there was no denying the importance of the match considering the perilous position of the two sides, which was perhaps reflected in a reluctance to get the ball down.
The best first-half chances came from the few moments where finesse rather than force was in evidence as Michael Boulding's header from a corner was well-saved by Randolph while Jefferson Louis headed wide from point blank range following Matt Hamshaw's pinpoint cross.
At the other end, Bury's Andy Bishop volleyed over while Glynn Hurst miskicked 12 yards out.
The entertainment did improve after the interval. First Will Atkinson volleyed over and then Boulding was unlucky to see his curler beat Randolph in the 50th minute, only to come back off the post.
Both sides fashioned good opportunities within 30 seconds of each other as first Hurst headed into Muggleton's arms from Steve Haslam's diagonal ball and then Louis' header from Boulding's cross was clawed away by Randolph.
From the resulting corner the Stags took the lead and there could have been no more delighted scorer.
Randolph denied Briggs with a superb diving save and in the ensuing melee, Buxton forced the ball into the roof of the net at the second attempt for his first goal since scoring against Stockport in September.
That strike meant Bury's run without a clean sheet stretched to 20 games, but they immediately set about getting back to their strength - attacking.
They were helped by Mansfield's nervousness. Had the Stags been on the back of a sequence of wins, it would not have been a surprise to see them go on and win 2-0 or 3-0.
But as time went on they dropped deeper and deeper until the game was being played almost exclusively in their own half.
Muggleton did his best by thwarting Elliott Bennett three times and he also kept out a thumping drive from Efetobore Sodje.
However, he could do nothing to prevent Rooney spoiling Mansfield's night with his quick thinking late on.
The Christmas decorations were still up last time the Stags won on their own patch, defeating Peterborough 2-0 on Boxing Day.
Everyone connected with the club had hoped this match, or Saturday's against Chester, would have changed that, but those two fixtures have yielded just a solitary point.
Nevertheless, that does not mean the Stags should be fearful of playing at Field Mill in the future, As well as the team have played on their travels of late, their home form in the run-in is likely to have a huge bearing on the outcome of their season.
In a relegation battle, the equation is simple: home wins = survival. You don't need to be Darwin, Archimedes or Einstein to work that one out.