Pope salvages a point for Port Vale to dent Mansfield play-off hopes

Mansfield Town's play-off hopes were rocked by a late Tom Pope equaliser as visiting Port Vale stole a 1-1 draw.The Stags had dominated and looked set to take the points thanks to an own goal by Kyle Howkins after 72 minutes.But Pope was on hand to head home from six yards from Dan Turner's cross from the right in a late sting in the tail.Mansfield had kept Vale keeper Sam Hornby busy all afternoon.But he was finally beaten as former Stags loanee Howkins could do little about a misdirected clearance from team-mate Charlie Raglan striking him and rolling over the line.Vale began the game on the front foot and veteran Michael Tongue was not too far over with an effort from 20 yards.But the home side found their feet and Hornby denied Alex MacDonald, Danny Rose and Mal Benning as a tight half ended goalless.Alfie Potter and Rose both wasted great chances to break the deadlock after the break, Potter scuffing wide from seven yards and Rose heading over from six yards.Those chances came back to haunt them when Pope struck his late blow.