York City 1, Mansfield 1

Aside from a brief spell at the start of the second half in which they cancelled out Onome Sodje’s first-half effort, McEwan’s Mansfield team, hastily assembled following his appointment over the summer, were out-manoeuvred by a slick City performance.

The home side’s quick passing game had Mansfield chasing shadows during an impressive first half spearheaded by Sodje.

Following Michael Blackwood’s 51st-minute equaliser and Sodje’s departure due to a hamstring injury, City then recovered their forward momentum and laid siege to former loan ’keeper Paddy Gamble’s goal during a barnstorming finish.

In the end, City had to settle for a fifth successive draw but, whereas the last four results were probably fair outcomes, Colin Walker’s men deserved more than a share of the spoils last night.

Earlier in the evening, McEwan was applauded on to the pitch by all four sides of the stadium and then returned a request for a wave from the David Longhurst Stand supporters who then, as a mark of respect for one or the other or both, asked his successor to follow suit.

Having taken 87 minutes to muster a shot on target in their previous outing, City signalled their intent to adopt a more adventurous approach to this fixture by forcing Stags stopper Gamble into his first of nine saves after just 13 seconds.

Sodje, who scored the Minstermen’s late equaliser at Plainmoor, tested Gamble from 25 yards having been employed as an out-and-out striking partner for Daniel McBreen on his recall to the starting line-up.

A flowing sixth-minute move involving Mark Robinson, Ben Wilkinson and McBreen then ended with a smart one-two between Sodje and Simon Russell that saw the 20-year-old striker denied by Gamble again.

Mansfield threatened for the first time on ten minutes when Michael Ingham kept out Nathan Arnold’s angled drive at his near post following a short corner with Blackwood.

Seconds later Danny Parslow, who made an impressive start to the match, made a vital tackle on Blackwood as he bore down ominously on Ingham’s goal.

On 23 minutes, McBreen and Sodje worked another clever one-two with the Australian striker benefiting this time from the ex-Charlton striker’s back-heeled return pass.

But McBreen’s side-footed effort flashed narrowly wide of Gamble’s right-hand post.

Undeterred, City continued to drive forward with Russell feeding an overlapping Sodje down the right channel but the purposeful striker fired across the face of Gamble’s goal.

The home side’s enterprise received its eventual reward on 35 minutes following a mix-up between Mansfield captain Adie Moses and Gamble.

Moses, pursued by a sprightly Sodje, attempted to head a long clearance by Parslow back to Gamble not realising the on-loan Nottingham Forest ’keeper had advanced towards the penalty spot.

As a result, the ball bounced to the left of a despairing Gamble and Sodje pounced to roll the ball into an unguarded net.

McEwan made his old team wait on the pitch while he delivered the last words of his half-time team talk and Mansfield made a more determined start to the second period.

On 47 minutes, Ingham made an excellent low save to claw out a ten-yard Aaron O’Connor drive destined to creep inside his right-hand post.

The Stags then drew level four minutes later when O’Connor’s thumping 15-yard effort struck Ingham’s left-hand post and spun back into the six-yard box after an unfortunate ricochet off the City ’keeper’s back.

Blackwood lunged for the loose ball ahead of Ben Purkiss to prod the ball back over the line.

City lost an injured Sodje on 56 minutes but stayed positive with Brodie pushed forward and on-loan winger Peter Bore introduced for his debut.

Seconds later, Brodie curled a 25-yard free-kick over Mansfield’s defensive wall but narrowly wide and Parslow then had a header cleared off the line by Blackwood.

Brodie should have done better than scuff a shot off the bottom of his studs into the side-netting after being found on the far post by a Bore cross from the left wing.

Never one to shirk his responsibility, though, Brodie had Gamble at full stretch shortly afterwards to turn behind his 25-yard strike for a corner.

City survived a 79th-minute scare when Bore tried to dribble his way out of trouble in his own half and only succeeded in losing possession to Anthony Robinson who quickly found Blackwood only for the Mansfield winger to drive narrowly wide.

The last ten minutes, however, saw relentless pressure from the home team.

First, Brodie headed against a post and then Gamble palmed over McBreen’s follow-up effort.

Substitute Craig Farrell also went close twice from 15 yards and McBreen missed the target after Bore had left Alex Jeannin for dead on the right flank.

On 85 minutes, Mark Greaves headed in a Purkiss free-kick but was penalised for climbing on Moses and, deep into stoppage time, the speedy Bore was just inches from latching on to a Farrell through ball.

Match facts

York City 1 (Sodje 35), Mansfield 1 (Blackwood 52)

City: Michael Ingham 8, Ben Purkiss 7, Danny Parslow 9, David McGurk 8, Mark Robinson 7, Ben Wilkinson 7, Mark Greaves 7, Simon Russell 8, Richard Brodie 7, Onome Sodje 8, Daniel McBreen 7.

Substitutions: Peter Bore (for Sodje 56, 7)'

Craig Farrell (for Russell, 77).

Subs not used: Mimms, Shepherd, Kelly.

Key: 10 – Faultless; 9 – Outstanding; 8 – Excellent; 7 – Good; 6 – Average; 5 – Below par; 4 – Poor; 3 – Dud; 2 – Hopeless; 1 – Retire.

City’s star man: Parslow – used sparingly during Billy McEwan’s reign, he looked more determined than most to make an impression.

Mansfield: Paddy Gamble, Gary Silk, Alan O’Hare, Adie Moses, Alex Jeannin, Nathan Arnold, Jonathan D’Laryea, Matt Somner, Michael Blackwood, Mark Stallard, Aaron O’Connor (Anthony Robinson, 75).

Subs not used: Tom Shaw, Gavin Hurren, Lewis Trimmer, Luke Herriott.

Shots on target: York 9, Mansfield 5.

Shots off target: York 11, Mansfield 2.

Corners: York 9, Mansfield 5.

Fouls conceded: York 8, Mansfield 16.

Offsides: York 2, Mansfield 1.

Yellow cards: D’Laryea 42, Silk 71, O’Hare 85.

Referee: J Collin (Liverpool).

Rating: had few vital decisions to make but generally good.

Attendance: 2,520 (368 from Mansfield).

Move of the match: The five-man link up that ended in Gamble saving from Sodje.

Tackle of the match: Parslow’s perfectly-timed challenge on Blackwood as he prepared to pull the trigger.

Save of the match: Ingham’s low dive to keep out O’Connor’s second-half effort.

City player watch: Mark Robinson

Goal attempts on target: 0

Goal attempts off target: 0

Blocked goal attempts: 0

Passes to own player: 25

Passes to opposition: 7

Crosses to own player: 2

Crosses to opposition: 0

Pass completion rate: 79.4 per cent

Dribbles ball retained: 2

Dribbles ball lost: 2

Dribble completion rate: 50 per cent

Headers: 15

Tackles: 9

Clearances, blocks and interceptions: 13

Fouls won: 3

Fouls conceded: 1

Offsides: 0

Yellow cards: 0 Robinson gave another solid performance at left-back, showing his combative nature by making nine tackles and winning 15 headers. His challenges were also clean as he conceded just one free-kick. Robinson also managed to find a team-mate with his only two crosses of the game and was mostly reliable in possession.