A POINT gained or two dropped?

Two minutes into this Saturday night television thriller and it looked as if Newport County had got their X Factor back.

The Exiles raced into a 2-0 lead through Robbie Matthews and Charlie Griffin almost before the Premier Sport commentator had cleared his throat with Griffin making an extraordinary start on his return to the club.

But, after Danny Rose added a brilliant third, it all went wrong with captain Chris Todd sent off and Mansfield Town were on level terms by first-half injury time.

Tim Harris' side must take great credit for making light of their numerical disadvantage after the interval to hold on for a point and they almost won it when substitute Yemi Odubade missed a glorious chance late on.

But the sad fact is that County are still without a win in 2011 – eight games and counting – and after Fleetwood Town's hugely impressive 3-1 win at Luton Town on Saturday they are now seven points off the play-offs, albeit with two games in hand.

Todd will now be suspended when the Hatters come to Spytty Park on Friday night and the curse of the left-back position goes on as Eddie Odhiambo succeeded only in proving that he is not the solution to the problem.

On balance, however, there were probably more positives than negatives to come out of the performance at Field Mill with Matthews and Griffin linking up superbly, Rose looking back to his best and Glyn Garner impressing, despite conceding three.

Griffin took just 21 seconds to make a stunning impact, racing down the right flank and squaring for Matthews to side-foot home.

And just over a minute later it was 2-0 as Griffin bundled in a Rose corner after a clearance was lashed into his knee at the far post to spark pandemonium among the 183 travelling fans.

The hosts rallied with Garner, who kept his place ahead of Glyn Thompson, getting down well to save a Louis Moult volley and then punching away a free-kick under pressure after 10 minutes.

But the Exiles played some superb stuff on a pitch that looked like it had staged the Horse of the Year Show just hours before kick-off. Griffin was the provider again on 28 minutes with a cross from the right that was just behind Rose at the far post but the midfield man wrapped his right foot around the ball and volleyed superbly past Neil Collett to make it 3-0.

But there was barely time to celebrate as Louis Moult scored an absolute cracker at the other end just two minutes later, curling a beautiful effort into the top corner that gave Garner no chance.

Then came the moment that really brought the home fans to life as Todd was sent off for taking down Moult in the area and Louis Briscoe thumped the penalty right down the middle of the goal to make it 3-2.

Harris shuffled his pack with Jamie Collins dropping into the back four alongside Wayne Hatswell as County tried to regroup.

But the Stags had their tails up and after peppering Garner's goal relentlessly they finally got their leveller in time added on for injuries.

That man Moult beat the goalkeeper to a corner needlessly conceded by Odhiambo and headed into an unguarded net from two yards out.

Harris sent on Kerry Morgan in place of Matthews for the second-half as he switched to 4-4-1.

Darryl Knights threatened on the break from the right-hand side of midfield but Mansfield were, not surprisingly, well on top in the early stages. Paul Connor, who scored twice in the FA Trophy clash between the two sides last month, was just a yard off target with a a half-volley on 53 minutes.

But County refused to give up and star man Griffin forced Collett into a fine save on the hour, the goalkeeper tipping the ball round the post at full stretch.

With Mansfield dominating in midfield, Collins swapped places with Tom Miller and Hatswell had his third different defensive partner of the match.

Left-back Kevin Sandwith cut in from the flank and fired a yard wide of Garner's goal but as time ran out the home side seemed to lose a little bit of belief.

Garner wasn't required to make a save of any note and Odubade's late, late effort was the best chance of the half.

The Nigerian striker, on for the worn-out Griffin, showed great pace to outsprint the Mansfield defender but flicked the ball a foot over the top and both sides had to settle for a draw.

A point gained or two dropped? Tune in next week to find out.

Mansfield: Collett, Silk, Sandwith, Briscoe, Thompson, Moult, Naylor, Connor (Parker, 74), Cain, Murray, Day

Subs not used: Grof, Nix, Smith, Spence

County: Garner, Bignot, Collins, Todd, Rose, Odhiambo, Matthews (Morgan, 45), Knights (Foley, 74) Hatswell, Miller, Griffin (Odubade, 83).

Subs not used: Thompson, Burns.

Booked: Matthews, Knights, Hatswell

Sent-off: Todd

Referee: Dean Mohareb

Attendance: 1,986 (183 County)

Argus star man: Griffin