The local derby encounter between Notts County and Mansfield Town on Saturday afternoon ended goalless meaning a second draw between the two this season, but the scoreline certainly doesn't do what was a fully committed clash between the two sides justice.

Both sides enjoyed spells of pressure in both halves, with Notts possibly just shading the pressure in the first half with Junior Mendes twice going close.

Stephen Hunt had a goal ruled out for Notts, as did the Stags with Matthew Hamshaw's effort ruled out for offside before the biggest crowd of the season at Meadow Lane with over 10,000 in attendance.

The second half provided much of the same with plenty of passion, desire and willingness to win from both sides.

Mendes came close with a header in the second half, with Brown forced a good save from Deeney in the Notts goal when clear on goal as both sides' pushed for the breakthrough.

Notts were again without the suspended Jason Lee, but were able to welcome back Alan White and Ian Ross to the starting line-up in place of Matt Somner and Gary Silk following the 2-0 loss at Peterborough.

Andy Parkinson started up front with Junior Mendes starting out wide on the left as Notts sought a fresh option in attack.

With a huge following from Mansfield in the Kop Stand and a good turn-out by Notts fans, the game got underway before a cracking atmosphere.

The first shot came on two minutes as Mendes found his way back Mullins down the left, but his left-foot drive was straight at Jason White in the Stags goal and the same frontman had a shot well blocked after good work by Parkinson in a minute later.

It was Notts forcing the early pressure and Hunt had another shot deflected away, this time for a corner as Notts looked to silence the large away following with an early goal.

Parkinson in attack was full of running and stretching the Stags defence early on - but it was the Stags who had the ball in the net on fourteen as Matt Hamshaw turned the ball into the net following a Gritton header towards goal. He was stood in front of Deeney and just offside, cutting short the joy of the Stags fans.

A corner for the visitors saw Jay Smith clear off the line after Mullins had nudged the ball towards goal at the far post, while Gritton should really have done better after meeting a cross from the left by Brown inside the six-yard box but he could only but the ball well over the bar.

Notts had the ball in the net on twenty-eight minutes through Stephen Hunt as he took advantage of White losing control of the ball in the Mansfield goal which allowed the defender to tap home - but the Referee adjudged that Hunt had fouled the Mansfield goalkeeper and the goal was ruled out.

Ruled Out: Stephen Hunt's Goal Was Ruled Out For A Foul

Hunt and Stags Captain Jake Buxton were involved in a confrontation after the incident, which saw both players booked as tempers flared.

Mansfield were more in the game by the half-hour mark and were beginning to mount some pressure, but Notts themselves were looking in confident mood and using the ball well when they could.

The Stags had two shouts for a penalty in a matter of seconds before the break, but Referee Mr Miller waved away the claims of Hamshaw and Dawson - while earlier in the half Notts had two shouts as Dudfield went down in the box.

At the end of the half a good move down the right led to Pipe crossing for Dudfield to head towards the far post, but he was just off target with Edwards sneaking in at the back post and inches away from the ball. It was a difficult chance for Dudfield with the ball behind him, and he did well to guide the ball across goal.

Half-Time: Notts County 0-0 Mansfield Town

The start of the second period began with McCann shooting over for Notts, while the bright Parkinson had a good shot blocked by Baptiste who was enjoying a fine game at the back for Mansfield.

Six minutes into the second period Notts made a change with Gary Silk replacing Ian Ross, which allowed Pipe to push forward to the right-wing, and Silk slot in at right-back.

Hodge almost gave the visitors the lead with a deflected shot a minute later, weaving his way through the midfield and then unleashing a shot which flew just wide with Deeney stranded and from the resulting spot-kick Brown directed a shot from Dawson just wide of the post from a few yards out.

The second-half had began as a real end-to-end game, with the sides taking it turns to launch an attack from one half to the other but again by the hour neither goalkeeper had really been called upon to pull off a stop.

Tempers Flare: Hunt & Buxton Clash

Smith almost did a repeat of his fine goal against Lincoln a month ago just after the hour, but his powerful drive from the edge of the box was deflected over by a Mansfield defender as Notts began to turn the screw and enjoy a good spell of pressure on the Stags goal.

Finally a goalkeeper had a save to make on sixty-five as Brown burst though for the visitors after a neat passage of play, but with only Deeney to beat he seemed to have too much time on his hands and the Irishman flew off his line to dive at the feet of the striker and make an important save which Edwards hacked clear before a Stags player could snap up the rebound.

Mendes did well to get in front of Baptiste on sixty-eight to meet McCann's cross from the left, but he could only head over the bar, and that was his last piece of action against his old club as with twenty to go he was replaced by Tcham N'Toya.

Hunt was called upon to make a fine block from Gritton as the game approached its final stages with no-one daring to take their eyes off the action as both sides pushed and pushed for the goal to settle matters.

Gritton went on a run with seven to go but shot weakly at Deeney as the atmosphere became more tense with both sides looking nervy, as were the crowd, in fear of losing.

Five extra minutes were added on at the end of the game, and Boulding's header from a Hamshaw shot almost sneaked in at the near post in the second-minute of stoppage time but Deeney was on hand to smother the effort on goal.

No goals, but plenty of entertainment on the whole and all fairness neither side deserved to lose what was a real battle.

After recent results which have not gone in Notts' favour, there were plenty of positives to draw. Edwards was excellent in midfield while Parkinson was full of running all afternoon and never gave the Stags a moments peace while a clean sheet is a massive plus for the defence.

Full Time: Notts County 0-0 Mansfield Town

Notts County: Deeney, Pipe, White (C), Hunt, McCann, Ross (Silk 52), Smith, Edwards, Mendes (N'Toya 70), Parkinson, Dudfield.
Subs Not Used: Pilkington, Somner, Martin.
Booked: Hunt, White.
Sent Off: None.
Goals: None.

Mansfield Town: White, Mullins, Jellyman, D'Laryea (Reet 87), John-Baptiste, Hamshaw, Dawson (Arnold 75), Brown (M Boulding 68), Buxton (C), Hodge, Gritton.
Subs Not Used: Muggleton, Hjelde.
Booked: Buxton, Brown.
Sent Off: None.
Goals: None.

Match Referee: Mr N Miller (Durham)

Attendance: 10,034 (4,047 Mansfield Town Fans)

nottscountyfc.co.uk Man of the Match: Mike Edwards