A LAST-GASP strike from Scott Taylor rescued a point for Pool and left opponents Mansfield facing almost certain relegation.

In an entertaining game, Steve McMahon's men looked much more interested than in recent weeks -- assisted by a few new faces to the starting eleven.

McMahon gambled on three youth players in an attempt to bring fresh ideas to a side rapidly falling down the table. The lively trio of Matthew Blinkhorn, Jamie Burns and Steve McMahon junior didn't let anyone down with enthusiastic displays that should bring shame onto the more senior players watching from the sidelines.

Pool started the game brightly and Martin Bullock forced three saves from Stags keeper Kevin Pilkington in the opening ten minutes.

But the visitors took a surprise lead thanks to some of the most woeful defending seen at Bloomfield Road this season.

Winger, Jamie Clarke, was allowed to run unchallenged through the heart of the Blackpool defence to slot easily home past Barnes for his first goal in league football.

It was as if all the Seasiders defenders expected others to make the challenge, but no-one did.

However, Pool fought back and, by half time, found themselves in the lead thanks to a brace from debutant Matt Blinkhorn.

The 18 year old local lad tapped in a rebound from a Richie Wellens free kick to level the scores on the half hour mark.

And the young striker was in dreamland when he grabbed another just before the break. The goal had a touch of fortune to it, going in via the bar after a header from the penalty spot before bouncing off the back of Pilkington.

But Blinkhorn was clearly delighted and Pool went into the break in the lead.

Mansfield badly needed to get into the game as soon as possible after the break and it didn't take them long to equalise.

After Jamie Burns had lost out at the centre of the park a hopeful ball sent Stags striker Colin Larkin and Pool defender, Mike Flynn, chasing down the left wing.

Flynn gambled on a challenge but Larkin easily skipped past, turned inside, and superbly curled

the ball into the top corner. Barnes was given no chance and the strong travelling support were given a glimmer of hope.

Pool continued to create chances at the other end and two such opportunities were screaming out to be finished by Blinkhorn to complete a dream hat-trick.

Unfortunately Blinkhorn failed to connect with the ball on both occasions and Pilkington was grateful to keep the scores level.

But, with Pool pressing forward, Mansfield broke quickly to grab a shock lead with just five minutes to spare. With the defence stretched Mansfield planted a ball into the box and giant substitute, Andy White, mishit a volley past Barnes.

The travelling support were ecstatic, a win would have given them a real chance of crawling their way out of trouble.

In many ways the Mansfield fans were in the same position as Blackpool fans a few years back when their team needed a win away at Oldham to stand a chance of surviving.

On that day an Oldham substitute scored a cruel equaliser to send the Seasiders down.

Unfortunately for Mansfield Scott Taylor did exactly the same thing to give the Stags a similar fate.

A corner in the very last minute followed a short spell of pressure from Blackpool was whipped to the back post where Taylor bundled the ball home to send the Mansfield players to their knees in despair. Pool's final two games are against more relegation strugglers. The trip to Cheltenham followed by Chesterfield at home on the final day. Pool could relegate both sides -- but only if their form improves.

Blackpool 3-3 Mansfield