Andrew Webb reports from Kenilworth Road

Mansfield Town extended their unbeaten run in the Blue Square Bet Premier to five games after earning a well-earned point against Luton Town.

The Stags battled hard all evening against a strong Hatters side and could have taken all three points from Kenilworth Road had it not been for two goal-line clearances from skipper George Pilkington.

Boss Paul Cox made two changes to the starting line-up as Martin Riley replaced Joe Kendrick at centre-half, whilst Saturday's goal scoring hero Ben Hutchinson was handed his first start for the Stags in favour of Lindon Meikle.

Amari Morgan-Smith, meanwhile, was the only player who retained his place in the Hatters starting eleven following their 3-0 victory over Hinckley United in the FA Trophy on Monday evening.

Luton began the brighter of the two sides and it was the talented Morgan-Smith that had the first shot at goal after just four minutes, though his speculative drive from the edge of the area was comfortably saved by Stags keeper Alan Marriott.

Despite the hosts enjoying plenty of possession in the opening exchanges, it was Mansfield who almost opened the scoring after ten minutes.

Luke O'Neill's low ball out of defence reached Matt Green, who was stationed deep inside the Luton half on the right flank. With goalkeeper Kevin Pilkington advancing well off his line, Green played a short backwards pass towards Adam Smith, who hit a goal bound shot that had to be cleared off the line by Hatters captain George Pilkington.

The troublesome Morgan-Smith then planted his head to a right-wing cross after beating Ritchie Sutton in an aerial challenge, but fortunately for the Stags his header lacked accuracy and sailed harmlessly wide of Marriott's right-hand post.

Luton continued to press forward and created the best chance of the first-half on 20 minutes.

Jake Howells' corner from the right caused havoc in the Mansfield defence and after Sutton was unable to fully avert the danger, Janos Kovacs rattled the crossbar with a well-struck shot from close range, before heading over the just moments later.

After a lull in proceedings, the Hatters created several chances in the minutes leading up to the half-time interval.

Howells scuffed an effort well wide of the post after a charging run through the middle on 35 minutes, before former Stag Aaron O'Connor dangerously cut inside from the left only to see his delivery from the by-line bundled out of play at the near post by a nervous looking Mansfield defence.

Adam Watkins' penalty appeal was turned down by referee Michael Bull on 38 minutes, despite the Luton striker going to ground under the challenge of O'Neill on the edge of the box.

Nevertheless, the Hatters pressure was relentless and Watkins' free-kick from midway inside the Stags half shortly afterwards found Kovac who was lurking dangerously inside the area, but the Hungarian centre-half was inaccurate with a header that was harmlessly off-target.

Marriott was then quick off his line to block a shot from Morgan-Smith after Alex Lawless' dangerous low ball through the middle had found the Luton player unmarked inside the area.

The final action of the half came in the second minute of additional time as the Stags goal continued to live a charmed life.

Kovacs headed powerfully over the bar under the challenge of Marriott, which resulted in the Stags shot-stopper receiving treatment as the sides went off for the half-time interval.

Luton continued to enjoy plenty of possession after the break, yet it was Mansfield once again that nearly grabbed the first goal of the half.

Adam Murray won a corner, which was taken short by O'Neill and eventually worked out to Smith on the edge of the area. After glancing goalwards, the midfielder looked up and delivered a stinging shot was deflected only inches the wrong side of Kevin Pilkington's right-hand post.

From the resulting corner, which was again played short, Gary Roberts received the ball in the inside-left of the area, but his shot at goal lacked power after it caught a deflection from Danny Crow and the Luton keeper was able to collect comfortably.

Roberts and Luton defender Greg Taylor then collected yellow cards within minutes of each other as the game threatened to boil over, before the Hatters made their first substitution as Morgan-Smith was replaced by Stuart Fleetwood.

With the game now past the hour mark, Luton forced Marriott into action once again as the Stags keeper was forced to claim a deep cross from right, before Lawless dragged a low shot wide of the post.

The Stags then made their first change as Meikle replaced Smith, and with 12 minutes remaining a period of Stags pressure ended when Hutchinson's tame low shot through a crowded penalty area found a path straight into the arms of the Luton keeper.

Within 60 seconds, however, the home team could have taken the lead as Kevin Pilkington's long downfield ball found its way towards Fleetwood, but despite beating Marriott with his shot the ball went wide of the post and game remained goalless.

Louis Briscoe replaced Hutchinson as the game approached its conclusion and with only six minutes remaining the Stags almost grabbed a vital goal.

Kevin Pilkington looked indecisive as Ross Dyer crossed from the right and the Luton keeper was easily beaten to the ball by the head of Green.

With the ball creeping goalwards, it was George Pilkington for the second time in the game that somehow managed to scramble back towards goal and hook the ball off the line to save his team from falling behind.

Almost instantaneously, Fleetwood could have put the ball in the back of the net at the other end. Some quick counter-attacking play resulted in the ball reaching the former Forest Green Rovers striker, but his snapshot from the edge of the box fell straight into the arms of Marriott.

Roberts then fired over with a speculative effort, before Briscoe called George Pilkington into action with another attempt from distance as the Stags entered three minutes of stoppage time as the team on top.

However, it was Luton who had the last attack of the affair as Watkins burst down the left flank deep into added time and delivered a wicked low cross into the area that forced Sutton into swooping low to avert the danger.

The hosts were booed off upon the referee sounding his final whistle, but for the Stags this was a vital point in their quest to move up the table towards the play-off places.

Attendance: 5,261 (111 away).