Eastbourne Borough came home from Field Mill with more than just an unexpected point on Saturday.

Borough's performance also proved Garry Wilson’s men are not prepared to give up their Blue Square premier status without a fight.

That had seemed in doubt on a number of occasions during the last few months which had seen Borough win just once from 11 league games.

While fortune certainly has not favoured Borough this season they have also turned in some abject performances, most notably against Histon and Gateshead.

Those displays, along with the dismal FA Cup exit to Tooting and Mitcham, prompted some fans to question whether the team was both good enough and committed enough to stay in non-league’s top flight.

Unfortunately only 23 made the trip from Sussex to Mansfield but they will have returned to Eastbourne with a real message of hope.

It is too early to say a corner has been turned, especially as Borough are still without a win in eight league games, but the way they went toe to toe with a team boasting one of the best home records in the division suggests better times are ahead.

Wilson said: “It was a very encouraging display. I was pleased with the grit and determination the players showed but we also played some good football.

“Before the game I would have taken a point but in the end it was a game we could have won and that would have been a major turning point for us.

“Hopefully this is something to build on though. I think the players have shown that they want it badly enough.

“We may still be looking for that win but we are starting to be a bit more gritty and difficult to beat and if we keep playing like that it won't be too long before it comes.

“What is important now is that we back it up with another good performance on Tuesday (when they play Histon at home) otherwise we’ll be back to square one.

“I can’t put my finger on what has changed but we have been working with the players and talking to them and it seems to have had an effect.”

Mansfield went into the match having only lost twice at Field Mill in the whole of 2009 and few gave Borough much chance of causing an upset.

Their hopes were not helped when Marc Pullan failed a fitness test in the morning and with Neil Jenkins suspended it meant Wilson had to field a makeshift back four.

But with midfielder Danny Brown filling in at left-back and Darren Baker out of position at right-back they limited Mansfield to a handful of chances.

At the other end of the pitch Wilson discarded his usual tactic of playing just one up front away from home and it paid off as Borough carved out a number of openings.

They should have taken the lead in the 42nd minute when Joe Benjamin raced on to a flick from the impressive Liam Enver-Marum but he wastefully shot straight at Andy Marriott.

Fellow loan signing Kayne McLaggon showed him how it should be done just two minutes later. The Southampton forward cut in from the right wing and coolly curled a shot inside the far post with the outside of his right boot.

Mansfield were booed off at half-time and the home fans grew increasingly frustrated after the break as Borough continued to match them.

When the leveller did come in the 68th minute it was harsh on the visitors. Borough claimed Jon Challinor was both in an offside position and used his hand to deflect Paul Heckingbotham’s free kick past Danny Knowles.

Now the crowd were urging Mansfield on to find a winner but Borough stood firm and could have claimed all three points had Benjamin showed a bit more composure 16 minutes from time when his miscued shot was fumbled around a post by Marriott.

Wilson said: “We came out in the second half knowing they would put us under pressure but we took the game to them and if we had got the second goal we would definitely have won it.

“We were disappointed with their goal. Danny Knowles and Darren Baker were both adamant it was not only offside but that it was handball too.

“They aren’t normally moaners but they were making their point to the referee.

“A couple of weeks ago we might have crumbled after that and conceded another straight away but this time we came back at them again and again and could have won it.