The nearest either side came to breaking the deadlock was in the eighth minute when Colin Larkin saw his close-range shot deflect off Sean Connelly and onto the foot of the left hand post.
There were very few chances in the opening 45 minutes but it was the visitors who enjoyed more of the attacking play.
On 28 minutes Larkin beat the offside trap after Richie Barker's flick-on but the striker's shot beat Scott Shearer and flashed across the face of the goal.
A minute ahead of the interval Drewe Broughton failed to control his shot following David Bell's teasing cross.
The second half was a very open affair with both sides creating plenty of good chances.
On 51 minutes, Alex Neil set up Adam Murray and his chip was brilliantly turned around the post by Shearer.
Five minutes later the same two Mansfield players combined again but Shearer was equal to another Murray strike.
On 63 minutes, Broughton got free of the Mansfield defence but Kevin Pilkington produced a superb point-blank save to deny the former Southend striker.
Midway through the half, Fraser McLachlan had a header which Shearer saved. From the resulting corner the Rushden keeper flapped at the ball giving McLachlan an excellent chance which he spurned.
Twelve minutes from time Diamonds produced their best move of the game when Bell latched onto Andy Burgess' raking pass. Bell produced a wonderful half-volley which stunned Pilkington, causing the former Manchester United keeper to drop the ball over his own goal line.