Mansfield Town 1 Carlisle United 1: Carlisle United were denied victory at Mansfield after Offrande Zanzala's latest goal was cancelled out by Stephen McLaughlin's free-kick.

Frontman Zanzala got his fourth in three games when Jon Mellish's deflected shot fell his way, and he rifled it high past keeper Aidan Stone.

That was the 65th-minute breakthrough - but Mansfield equalised 15 minutes later.

It came after Magnus Norman could not hold onto a cross under pressure, and United then conceded a free-kick on the edge of their box when Callum Guy's challenge was penalised by ref Trevor Kettle.

McLaughlin stepped up and drove the 19-yard free-kick low into the net.

Neither side could find a winner as Carlisle struggled for clear-cut chances after an early flurry of opportunities in the first half.

The Blues are now, though, three games unbeaten and edged up a place to 11th in League Two.

The game got under way 30 minutes later than planned because some Blues players had been held up in traffic following a serious accident on the M62.

After the rearranged 7.30pm kick-off, Carlisle made the early running, Zanzala forcing a diving save from keeper Aidan Stone.

In the 10th minute Jack Armer found Rhys Bennett onside as United sent a cleared corner back into the box.

But the defender's control let him down from a great close-range position and the hosts survived.

At the other end, Jamie Reid tested United league debutant keeper Norman - in for Paul Farman who was out with a "slight knock" - after evading a Blues defender.

Mansfield's Mal Benning then opted to cross instead of shoot when a low corner picked him out in the box.

As the hosts edged on top, McLaughlin later sent a free-kick over the bar, with Brennan Dickenson also unsuccessful from a Blues set-piece.

Carlisle then got a vital block in to deny Jason Law after Reid got behind United on the left.

After the break United failed to take advantage of a flurry of corners, before Norman made an excellent save after Law broke through the Blues defence.

At the other end, Guy won a good challenge before driving forward to shoot, Mansfield blocking his attempt just before the hour mark.

After Zanzala then fired United in front, Harry Charsley put a good Mansfield chance over the bar.

And Norman then came to the Blues' rescue with a brilliant fingertip save as he turned James Perch's volley against the bar.

But McLaughlin's next set-piece then made it 1-1 with 10 minutes to go, the Blues aggrieved that Guy's challenge was penalised.

Ethan Walker came off the bench late on in United's only substitution, while Jordan Bowery shot just wide with the game's last effort.

Norman's start and Farman's injury saw youth keeper Gabriel Breeze promoted to the United bench.

Mansfield had initially suggested they were not happy about the delayed kick-off to a game which had been scheduled to start at 7pm.

In a pre-match tweet, which was swiftly deleted, they wrote: "The decision [on the delayed kick-off] comes following instruction from the EFL, which the club has reluctantly had to accept."

Also caught up in the long motorway tailbacks was referee Michael Salisbury, who could not make it to Mansfield as a result, Kettle stepping in instead.

Police said several people were reported injured in the crash on the M62 which involved four lorries and a car, with emergency services called to the incident at about 2.30pm.

Mansfield: Stone, Gordon, Rawson, Perch, Benning, McLaughlin, Quinn (Sarkic 76), Charsley, Law (Clarke 89), Reid, Bowery. Not used: Stech, Sweeney, Wright, Ward, Sinclair.

Goal: McLaughlin 80.

United: Norman, Tanner, Armer, Bennett, McDonald, Guy, Riley, Mellish, Alessandra (Walker 86), Dickenson, Zanzala. Not used: Breeze, Anderton, Hayden, Patrick, Charters, Toure.

Goal: Zanzala 65.

Booked: Zanzala, Dickenson.

Ref: Trevor Kettle.