Connell rejected the offer of a new deal from Hereford United to join Butcher's summer revolution, a decision that looked more than justified when the Bees took the lead after less than a quarter of an hour. But Mansfield hit back almost immediately, Boulding turning in a long-range screamer to give the visitors a share of the spoils.
After winning just four times on their travels last season, the result provided a welcome early-season boost for Billy Dearden's men, who were perhaps unlucky not to come away with more after hitting the woodwork and creating numerous other opportunities during an eventful second half.
As for Brentford, Butcher's extensive work in the summer transfer market has given the side not so much a shot in the arm, as a wholesale transfusion of new blood. Eleven new faces have arrived at Griffin Park during the close season, with eight handed their competitive debuts here.
It took all of 14 minutes for Butcher's summer labours to bear fruit. Left-back Grant Basey, signed on a month-long loan from Charlton, swung in a cross from the left, and fellow newcomer Connell was on hand to fire a sweetly-struck shot past Jason White from 12 yards.
Having given a good account of themselves up to that point, Mansfield might easily have felt hard done by. But far from showing any signs of despondency, the visitors hit back strongly, Boulding forcing a fine save from Bees stopper Ben Hamer before new signing John McAliskey had a header cleared from under the bar.
If that was a scare for Brentford, worse was to come. Seconds later Boulding found himself in space from 25 yards out, and the 31-year-old Mancunian required no second invitation, unleashing an unstoppable drive to leave Hamer clawing at fresh air.
The remainder of the half was an evenly-contested affair, but Mansfield came out strongly after the interval, the lively Dan Martin, recently signed from Notts County, firing narrowly wide before McAliskey sent a curling close-range effort crashing against the woodwork.
Butcher remained an animated figure on the touchline, but Brentford had Hamer to thank for keeping in the game after the debutant saved bravely at the feet of Boulding before athletically turning a close-range header from Martin round the post.
The Bees were denied a credible penalty shout at the death after Adrian Pettigrew appeared to be brought down in the six-yard box by the diving White, but neither side had real cause for complaint as a close-fought contest ended with honours even.