Mansfield 0, Blues 0,

Wycombe had Matt Ingram to thank as they rode their luck to stay top of League Two and draw with Mansfield at the One Call Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The keeper came to Blues rescue on a number of occasions before half-time as he thwarted Vadaine Oliver and Michael Raynes twice with an array of saves which show just why the 21-year-old is so highly rated.

Gareth Ainsworth’s side also had the post to thank, twice, as Mansfield dominated the game for long spells but, incredibly, they could have nicked the points when substitute Matt McClure could only chip the ball straight at the keeper when through on goal.

Wanderers named the same starting XI that had drawn 1-1 with play-off challengers Bury a week previously, with skipper Paul Hayes not even travelling as he continues to recover from a calf injury, but they failed to get going against the lowly Stags.

Plenty of effort and endeavour was on display in the first 45 minutes but little quality with the crowd having to wait 20 minutes to see the first shot on goal.

Both sides seemed more interested in arguing with each other than grabbing a foothold in the game with Peter Murphy and Ricky Ravenhill involved in a running battle that caused the former to sport a bandage round his forehead after an aerial dual with the Mansfield captain.

Joe Jacobson drove a free-kick from long distance straight at Adam Smith in the home goal in what was Wycombe’s best chance of the first half.

The hosts were equally toothless until Junior Brown switched flanks and began causing Jacobson problems down the right-hand side.

Wycombe were saved by the woodwork after 34 minutes as the lively Brown cut inside and crossed to the back post where Oliver had peeled off Alfie Mawson, but the striker could only plant his diving header onto the far post with Ingram beaten.

Some last ditch defending was required four minutes later as Matty Blair raced onto Billy Kee’s through ball and struck toward goal only to find his shot cannon off Aaron Pierre and drift away for a corner.

The hosts were beginning to crank up the pressure and Matt Bloomfield came to Wanderers’ rescue as he got back on the line to flick Raynes’ drive wide after an almighty goalmouth scramble.

Wycombe were rocking and the Stags would have gone ahead but for a superb one-handed stop from Ingram to deny Oliver’s low right-foot drive as the frontman again linked up well with Kee.

From the ensuing corner the visiting fans watched with hearts in mouths as Ingram dived at full stretch to keep out Raynes’ bullet header before the stopper sprung to his feet to claw away Oliver’s effort on the follow-up.

The second half started in the same vain as the first had finished with the yellows taking the game to Ainsworth’s side and applying early pressure with two corners – one of which Ingram came out powerfully to punch.

But the keeper was a spectator five minutes after the restart as Ravenhill unleashed a thunderbolt following Pierre’s poor clearance from 30 yards which clipped the outside of his post.

Mansfield forged another opening minutes later this time from a Wanderers corner as a swift counter-attack from Oliver’s defensive clearance saw Blair left one-on-one with Sido Jombati.

The winger nutmegged the Portuguese before running into the area where Pierre had made up just enough ground and was able to partially block Blair’s effort as it popped up into Ingram’s grateful grasp.

Frustration was mounting for the team with the best away record in League Two and that was evident as Fred Onyedinma volleyed the ball goalwards long after the whistle had gone for offside, picking up a yellow card from the referee for his troubles.

Mawson then followed suit, becoming the fourth Wanderers player to be booked this time for a late lunge on Ravenhill after the midfielder had stolen the ball off Wood.

Stags fans had their heads in their hands as another chance went begging after 67 minutes with Oliver again the culprit as he failed to hit the target with a first time effort from Chris Clements’ corner.

Mansfield were nearly made to pay for their profligacy in front of goal when Onyedinma was just unable to get his foot to the ball after Murphy had flicked on a long ball with Smith in no man’s land.

Blues began to offer more of an attacking threat with Mawson heading over from a corner before Wood looked to flick the ball home from Onyedinma’s centre but was frustrated to see the ball ricochet off the defender and flicking off him as it rolled out for a goal kick.

The Mansfield natives were furious with 89 minutes on the clock as Murphy tumbled, setting up a free-kick just outside the home box.

But, in line with Blues’ attacking play all day, Jacobson buried his effort into the wall. Hogan Ephraim and McClure were then thrown on as the clocked ticked past 90 minutes.

Deep into stoppage time McClure had the chance to steal all three points for Wanderers but the striker tamely chipped the ball into Smith’s hands from inside the box as Blues clung on for a point. 

Mansfield: Smith, Sutton, Tafazolli, Raynes, Elder, Blair (Fisher), Ravenhill, Clements, Brown, Kee (Lambe), Oliver (Rhead)

Subs: Studer, McGuire, Heslop, Beevers

Wanderers: Ingram, Jombati, Mawson, Pierre, Jacobson, Bloomfield, Wood (McClure), Bean, Murphy (Ephraim),  Onyedinma,

Subs: Richardson, Craig, Rowe, Kretzschmar, Senior,