We take a look at how the watching press viewed Saturday's 0-0 local derby draw between Notts County and Mansfield Town.

Both sides had to wait until the dying seconds for their best chances, but in the end both had to settle for a point at Meadow Lane.

Nottingham Evening Post Report by James Pallatt

It was a day of fierce rivalries - as Old Firm foes Rangers and Celtic met in the SPL and Oxford and Cambridge contested the Boat Race on the Thames.

Old and firm enemies, Notts County and Mansfield, also went head-to-head at Meadow Lane in the most significant derby between the two clubs in their history.

But, unlike the two universities, they were in the same boat, both fighting for their Football League lives.

And, after a goal-less draw, they still are. Nothing has changed.

It was certainly a better outcome for Notts, who are still seven points clear of Mansfield with six games of their season left. Victory would have put them out of sight but, crucially, they have kept one of their relegation rivals at a safe distance.

But it was not a disaster for the Stags - far from it. After defeats to Grimsby Town and Bury, a third successive loss would have been a disaster.

But a draw keeps them alive, especially because they can close the gap to four points if they beat bottom side Wrexham at Field Mill tomorrow night.

They need to slay the Dragons if they want to stay in the Football League. It's that simple.

There was plenty of hype before the game, with defender Stephen Hunt declaring the Magpies were intent on hammering the final nails into Mansfield's coffin.

But Hunt was named on the substitutes' bench, despite a great performance in the goalless draw at Shrewsbury, as Ian McParland reverted back to his preferred back-line following the return of Mike Edwards and Michael Johnson from injuries.

And there were no hammers or nails in the end, although many of the 10,000-strong crowd were biting their nails as the game reached a dramatic climax, with both sides going unbelievably close to snatching victory.

First, Stags' Matt Hamshaw could have made himself a hero and then Notts substitute Spencer Weir-Daley nearly, so nearly, struck in the final minute of injury-time.

The drama began even before a ball was kicked in anger, as Russell Hoult was injured in the warm-up. The veteran keeper had to be helped off the pitch, after trapping a nerve in his knee.

All thought rookie keeper Tim Sandercombe would have to be thrown in for his league debut; a baptism of fire. But Notts' physio John Haselden weaved his magic in the treatment room and Hoult took his place in goal.

His stride was a little uneasy as the two teams walked out, but he went on to claim a fourth successive clean sheet with characteristic command of his penalty area to help extend the Magpies' unbeaten league run.

His opposite number, Carl Muggleton, was not to be outdone as he kept the Stags' first clean sheet since January.

Of the two, Hoult was the busier throughout. He had to work harder for his unblemished afternoon.

Mansfield's build-up might have been dominated by talk of a takeover at Field Mill by former York City owner John Batchelor and all that might come with it, including a bizarre name-change to Harchester United, after a fictional team in a Sky TV series, but the visitors didn't look distracted by it at all. Quite the opposite.

The club's current owner, Keith Haslam, was in the Derek Pavis Stand to see the Stags seize the early initiative.

The visitors were quicker and slicker, and they attacked with greater poise and purpose.

Leading scorer Michael Boulding, who struck a double in a 2-0 win between the two sides at Field Mill in October, was a livewire threat and there was a powerful battle between his strike-partner Jefferson Louis and Johnson.

It was Nathan Arnold who went the closest to breaking the deadlock on 25 minutes, after Hamshaw threaded a pinpoint pass into his path inside the penalty area. He unleashed a powerful effort that beat Hoult for sheer speed and hit the crossbar. It was a let-off for Notts. More chances came and went, as Louis headed straight at Hoult from close-range and Boulding fired an effort on the turn which the on-loan keeper proved equal to.

Their superiority was unquestionable. But the Stags never capitalized fully on it. It has been the story of the Stags' season of struggle so far.

Notts have struggled to score goals all season and they were poor in attack once again in the first half. They simply created nothing.

Former Mansfield player Wayne Corden, who dazzled on his debut for Notts in the 1-0 win against Rochdale, was anonymous and Danny Crow and Ryan Jarvis never looked like ending their barren runs.

They improved in the second half. Corden got on the ball more and enjoyed a greater influence and Crow went close to scoring at the end of a swift counter-attack as the game became stretched. He played a clever one-two with Butcher before thundering in a venomous effort that Muggleton did well to save.

But a derby game wouldn't be a derby game without a moment of controversy and that came when Johnson raced back to defend a through ball under pressure from Boulding.

Hoult raced off his goal-line to claim it, but the experienced defender controlled the ball away from the keeper before completing a clearance. The Mansfield players fiercely protested to the referee that he controlled the ball with his hand, but Mark Haywood waved them away.

That wasn't the end of the drama. Hamshaw volleyed wide at the far post from substitute Simon Brown's measured cross in the first minute of injury-time, with Hoult scrambling across his goal, and in the last minute Weir-Daley had an effort from inside the penalty area deflected just wide.

It was stirring stuff, but defeat at the death would have been cruel on either side.

And all inside Meadow Lane on Saturday will hope the two sides meet again in the Football League next season.

Mansfield Chad Report By John Lomas

Despite an excellent performance, Mansfield Town failed to cut the gap to safety as the big relegation dogfight local derby at Notts County ended 0-0 this afternoon.

Mansfield completely dominated the first half on the dreadful Meadow Lane surface and Nathan Arnold was desperately unlucky when he fired against the near post in the best chance of the half.

Notts came out more determined after the break in a more even second half, though Stags still shaded it without managing to find a way past Russell Hoult.

With County's previous five games seeing them only score once and only concede once, plus the importance of this game to both local rivals' survival hopes, it always looked likely to be a tight one.

And so it proved with the seven-point gap remaining with seven games to go, though bottom club Wrexham fell a point behind Stags after defeat at Barnet and are Tuesday night's visitors at Field Mill in what should be another nerve-shredder.

Mansfield boss Holland made three bold changes for the derby.

Muggleton returned in goal in place of White, D'Laryea was back in midfield at the expense of Briggs and Louis, back from international duty, partnered Boulding up front with Wainwright dropping to the bench and Arnold moving back into midfield.

The Magpies looked to have suffered a major pre-match blow when keeper Hoult was hurt in the warm-up and had to helped of, but the physio staff seemed to work wonders as he trotted out gingerly for kick-off.

And former Stags keeper Kevin Pilkington, already out injured, was roundly booed by the away fans as he walked onto the pitch to wave his arms at County's three sides of the ground to rouse home support against his former club.

The Magpies welcomed back central defensive rocks Edwards and Johnson to their side after missing out on Monday and also included former Stags wing ace Corden with another ex-Stags on the bench in MacKenzie.

The game began in a highly-charged atmosphere with Stags roared on by a huge 3,317 following.

Mullins forced the visitors a second minute corner right in front of those away fans but Hoult managed to gather under pressure from Buxton. He also safely caught a curling Hamshaw cross.

Hoult had his first save4 to make on eight minutes as Louis got a head onto a D'Laryea cross but the header lacked any real power and the save was routine down to the keeper's left.

Johnson held onto Louis to concede a free kick but again it was easy for Hoult as Jelleyman floated the ball into his hands.

It took Notts 13 minutes to get away an attempt at goal as Butcher beat Dawson to the ball but pulled a dreadful finish well wide from 30 yards.

Butcher got away a better effort from 20 yards four minutes later but it was straight at Muggleton and safely held.

Boulding was looking hungry and back to his best and when he easily went past Edwards on 18 minutes, the defender's trip earned him a yellow card. But Arnold's tame free kick was straight at the home wall.

On 21 minutes Dawson exchanged passes with Boulding, made room and unleashed a powerful 25 yard shot which was always going over.

Stags kept the pressure on and Edwards had to hook clear as Boulding tried to get away onto a Hamshaw through ball.

Another Hamshaw forward ball was neatly trapped by Louis who then turned well to get in a shot that brought Hoult into a save to his left.

Mansfield desperately needed a goal to show for their dominance and it almost came on 25 minutes. Mullins put Boulding into space on the right and he spotted Arnold's perfectly timed run inside him and fed the youngster into the box. But his finish from eight yards crashed high against the near post.

Soon after Louis wrestled with Edwards in the box and managed to head the ball on target but straight into the arms of Hoult.

Boulding produced a great turn and shot on 27 minutes from a Mullins pass but again Hoult was perfectly placed.

Boulding then tried one from over 30 yards but it sailed over the crossbar.

As Louis was penalised for handling, Notts defender Johnson signalled for treatment, having gone down on the edge of the box. But the ex-Premiership star was able to continue.

Jelleyman's nutmeg won Stags another corner which Hoult clawed acrobatically away for another.

When that came over Louis had his shirt pulled which went unnoticed and Boulding finally hooked the ball back over his shoulder and Mullins leapt well but headed wide of the far stick.

Mayo was tamely wide from over 35 yards in a rare Notts attack.

In stoppage time Boulding needed treatment after a clash of heads, but the sides left the field scoreless, despite Stags' complete dominance.

Almost inevitably Notts began the second half much improved and Butcher soon had a shot charged down.

Then Hamshaw lost possession allowing Crow the chance to make some ground and pull a powerful shot wide.

A long Mayo throw caused shredded nerves in the visitors' box as it bounced dangerously around until John-Baptiste finally whacked it well clear.

There was confusion between Hoult and Johnson as the keeper cane for a D'Laryea through ball but his defender headed it wide of him towards goal but Johnson was still in control and hooked away before Boulding could punish the mix-up.

The Hamshaw almost got Boulding in but the striker was crowded out and had to settle for a corner. That was worked for Hamshaw to get in a strike on target but straight at Hoult.

Notts replied with a corner of their own which Louis headed away.

Muggleton had to run out his box to chest the ball away from the incoming Crow and then completed the clearance as Notts again threatened.

Then a Corden free kick flew through a crowded box to Muggleton.

Buxton's tackle from behind on Smith just inside the Mansfield half earned the Stags skipper a yellow card on 67 minutes.

With the home fans screaming for a foul by Louis on Tann which left the County captain on the floor, play was waved on and Boulding, with other options to his right, chose to shoot and it went tamely to Hoult.

On 70 minutes Notts produced their best move to the game with a string of passes culminating with Crow firing at Muggleton.

At this point Stags threw on Brown in place of Louis who had put in an excellent afternoon's work.

Corden had a pot from 30 yards which was well struck but again Muggleton did not really need to move to gather as it came straight down his throat.

Boulding tried to help the ball on for Brown, who looked offside. There was no flag but he was quickly crowded out and saw his shot blocked.

Stags won another corner which Hamshaw played short to Brown who sent a dreadful overhit cross into touch as the rain lashed down on the sodden surface with time running out.

Mullins' tame header was easy for Hoult from a Dawson cross, then Butcher crashed the ball well over from a John-Baptiste headed clearance as both sides continued to hunt for the winner.

Brown cut in from the left on a promising run but was wide of the near post with a venomous finish.

And in the three minutes of stoppage time Brown's long cross from the left went over everyone to find Hamshaw unmarked at the first post and he blasted a volley over the crossbar.

Then Weir-Daley saw a low shot deflect wide of the post with Muggleton wrong-footed in a heartstopping finale.