Mansfield Town 1 - 1 Leyton Orient: Play-off rivals Mansfield and Leyton Orient share spoils

Posted Sunday, December 13, 2015 by PA

Play-off rivals Mansfield and Leyton Orient shared the points in a 1-1 draw in dreadful conditions at One Call stadium.

A pitch inspection deemed the surface playable, but heavy rain fell throughout the game and a strong, swirling wind left it almost impossible to play attractive football.

It did not take the visitors long to take control. Jamie McAnuff got down the left and crossed in front of goal where Jay Simpson was able to make space and flick a header past Brian Jensen for his 16th goal of the season.

Mansfield laboured to get back into it with home fans getting frustrated until Reggie Lambe levelled matters five minutes from the break.

Craig Westcarr crossed long from the right and Bermudian international Lambe placed a cushioned volley just beyond the dive of Alex Cisak and inside the right post.

A home break early in the second half saw Matt Green's header deflect just wide for a corner from a Westcarr cross.

But soon after the hosts had two let-offs as a James free-kick deflected just wide for a corner, then Simpson was too high on the turn.

Pearce should have put Mansfield ahead on 66 minutes as he raced in to meet an Adam Chapman corner, but his header from six yards clipped the post and went wide.