Forest Green Rovers 1 Mansfield Town 1: The FA Cup's capacity for cruelty as well as magic was illustrated perfectly in this first-round tie.

Forest Green served up their best all-round display since the 1-0 league defeat at Mansfield on October 3, when they trudged off after 90 minutes with a burning sense of injustice.

It was a remarkably similar story this time around, as Rovers' dominance after Jared Hodgkiss' 28th-minute opener was rendered academic by Scott Garner's last-gasp leveller.

Few will give them much of a chance in the replay at Field Mill on Tuesday, November 17, though surely they are due a sprinkle of good fortune against the Stags.

The opening goal stemmed from a slick counter-attack that was started and finished by Hodgkiss.

The killer pass was played by David Brown to Sean Rigg, who crossed low from the left for the little full-back to score his first goal for the club.

A running battle between Mark Preece and Kyle Perry could easily have resulted in a penalty for Mansfield three minutes before half-time, but the officials failed to spot the defender's manhandling of the front man.

Visiting goalkeeper Alan Marriott was by far the busier of the two stoppers after the break, clutching another shot from Rigg before producing a fine save to deny Conal Platt.

It was a definite kick in the teeth when the equaliser came with three minutes remaining.

Terry Burton failed to get enough distance on a punch and the ball was lofted back into the mix for Garner to bundle home.