Oxford United boss Ian Atkins was disappointed that his side did not take all three points after a late Neil MacKenzie goal for Mansfield ended their 100 per cent home record.
The Division Three leaders looked set to extend their lead at the top of the table when Paul Wanless scored his second goal in successive matches to put them ahead after 64 minutes.
MacKenzie fired home from the edge of the box after the Oxford defence failed to clear a Tony Vaughan free kick.
Both sides went close late on to grabbing a winner, but neither could find the all-important breakthrough.
The draw keeps Oxford ahead of the pack, but their lead has now been cut to just one point.
"It is disappointing to lose two points having taken the lead," Atkins said.
"We scored the goal but then we went backwards. I don't know why that was.
"Having said that it is not easy to keep winning and we were probably due to drop a point before long.
"We would have taken three wins and a draw from our first four matches and if I am brutally honest a draw was a fair result today." Mansfield boss Keith Curle agreed that a point apiece reflected the balance of the game.
He said: "Sometimes you have to come away and be happy with a point.
"Oxford are a very well organised side and by playing five at the back today showed they respect us.
"We have done well so far this season, it was a good point today and we can now push on." The first half was not a classic affair, with both sides seeing shots fly high and wide at goals.
Steve Basham thought he had put Oxford ahead seven minutes before half time when he volleyed home, only to see the linesman's flag raised for offside.
Rhys Day when closest for the visitors, forcing Oxford keeper Andy Woodman into a reflex save with his side's first effort on target.
After MacKenzie had cancelled out Wanless' goal, Oxford supporters were convinced they had a penalty when substitute Dean Whitehead was raced through on goal three minutes from time only to be bundled over by Vaughan.
But the referee only awarded a free kick inches outside the box and showed Vaughan a yellow card when a red would have been the correct decision.
Oxford wasted that free kick, and were nearly forced to pay when Day headed millimetres wide in added time with the final effort of the match.
HASH(0x8b53a04)