Mansfield left out of play-offs after last-day draw

Mansfield’s play-off ambitions were ended in the last game as a home 1-1 draw with Crawley coupled with points for rivals Lincoln and Coventry left them to another season of League Two football.

Pre-season favourites for the title, Stags’ recent stutters cost them dearly, though they ended the campaign with a five-game unbeaten run and turned in a fantastic last-day display.

Mansfield started on the front foot and within two minutes keeper Yussuf Mersin had denied Lee Angol in a one on one.

But, when Will Atkinson lost the ball on seven minutes, Crawley broke quickly and Panutche Camara’s near-post cross found Karlan Ahearne-Graant at the near post to flick a header past Conrad Logan.

Mansfield came out all guns blazing after the interval and Hemmings fired a finish across the face of goal and then somehow put the ball wide from 54 yards from Alfie Potter’s low cross.

Stags made chance after chance and were finally level on 64 minutes as Hemmings volleyed home Mal Benning’s left-wing cross from close range.

Then Josh Doherty headed Hayden White’s finish off the line as Crawley stood superbly firm to wave after wave of home attacks.