Mansfield Town 1
Leyton Orient 1

Winger Reggie Lambe’s third goal of the season – and second in successive matches – earned the Stags a point against promotion rivals in atrocious wet and windy conditions.

Lambe struck against the run of play five minutes before half-time after Jay Simpson’s 16th goal of the season had put Orient in control.

Lambe toe-poked in a Craig Westcarr cross after the unmarked Simpson, League Two’s player of the month for November, was left unmarked to head in a Jobi McAnuff cross.

In a match of few chances dominated by atrocious conditions, constant heavy rain and gusty winds, Krystian Pearce headed an Adam Chapman corner against the post, the best chance of a winner.

Manager Adam Murray said: ““ They had the better of the first half hour, and we probably edged the second half and had enough chances to win it.

“It was a scrappy game, not much football played, and we were killing ourselves first half trying to play across the back and the ball was getting stuck in the water and causing our own problems.

“Defensively we looked as if we were up against the top centre forward in the league and for the first 20 minutes we gave him way too much respect.

“We sat back and got dictated to which is not like us. After that I thought we were excellent in the second half. We came out, changed the shape and looked a lot better with 4-3-3. It let us get out and create chances and in the end we were unlucky not to get all three points.

“The equaliser was probably undeserved if I am totally honest, but we sometimesget these things go against us, so you earn these bits of luck. It was a good finish by Reg and we needed that to get us back in the game and settle our minds down a bit.

“Conditions played a massive part. They ruined the game and there wasn’t much football played. I think we dealt with that better second half than first.

“I think that was a massive point for us and when we look back in two or three months time, it will be a huge point as you take points off the sides around you, don’t get beaten by the teams around you, it keeps you in touch with that top seven.”