Forest Green Rovers narrowed the gap on the automatic play-off places after a 1-1 draw with Mansfield Town at The New Lawn.

Jorge Grant opened the scoring inside the first quarter of an hour before Reuben Reid equalised after stepping off the bench.

Like the previous Tuesday night, Mark Cooper made just one change to his side as Paul Digby coming in for Lloyd James, who took his place on the bench.

Carl Winchester’s sixth-minute effort was the game’s first real chance of note as he fired over the bar from range after George Williams’ cross was half cleared.

The Stags then went close after 13 minutes as Grant latched onto Nicky Ajose’s cross before flicking a volley narrowly wide of James Montgomery’s front post.

Just one minute later the same Mansfield pairing were involved as their side opened the scoring as Grant latched onto his strike-partner’s volleyed through-ball before firing past Montgomery from the edge of the area, his effort bouncing off the inside of the left post.

A Joseph Mills sighter could have given Forest Green a way back into the encounter but the Rovers forwards rushing into the area to capitalise on Jordan Smith spill, were adjudged offside by the referee’s assistant.

The away side could have doubled their lead shortly after the half-hour mark as Ajose somehow found himself with a free header inside the Forest Green six-yard box, but he could only direct it onto the post and Carl Winchester was able to clear.

Gavin Gunning’s excellent ball to the back post handed George Williams with a good chance after 37, but he could only direct his side footed volley at Smith who was able to gather, with Christian Doidge arriving at the back post.

Shortly before the break Rovers had another lucky escape as Mansfield’s leading goal-scorer, Tyler Walker, let fly from the edge of the area but he could only watch as his strike crashed back off the crossbar.

An early opportunity for Doidge saw him pick the ball up from Williams before driving at goal but his effort from range dribbled wide of Smith’s goal.

Just before the hour mark Forest Green were dealt a blow as an injury to Montgomery forced him out of the game, but debutant Lewis Ward started in a composed manner.

A Carl Winchester cross could have troubled the Stag’s backline shortly before the 70th minute but nobody was at the back post to stab home.

Having entered the fray after 59 minutes, it was substitute Reid that levelled the scoring. After good interplay between Digby and Shephard down the right, the full-back’s cross found Reid on the edge of the six-yard box who nodded past Smith in the Mansfield goal.

Reid could have handed Forest Green Rovers all three points as he raced through but his effort dropped just over the bar.

A Reece Brown strike then flashed just inches wide of the far post a few minutes from time but from the resultiing corner, Forest Green couldn't quite squeeze the ball home.

Forest Green Rovers XI: Montgomery (Ward 61'), Shephard, Rawson, Winchester, Doidge, Brown, Williams (Reid 59’), Gunning, McGinley (James 46’), Digby, Mills

Unused subs: Collins, Campbell, McCoulsky, Mondal

Mansfield Town XI: Smith, Benning, Preston, Pearce, Bishop, Mellis, Sweeney, Walker, Ajose (Jones 56), Hamilton, Grant

Unused subs: Logan, Khan, Atkinson, Law, Smith, Rose

Attendance: 2128 (204 away)

Referee: Christopher Sarginson

Man of the Match: Carl Winchester

Match Sponsor: Coles Electrical

Matchball Sponsor: Simon Fortnam Personal Trainer