Matt Chatfield's side were forced to share the spoils as Handsworth came from two goals behind to snatch a draw at Sandy Lane.
Ross Duggan and Bulls debutant Jack Warner both got on the score sheet to but the visitors in a strong position, but the Amber's fought back brilliantly to deny AFC all three points and earn one for themselves.
After a quiet first 10 minutes, top scorer Ross Duggan converted the first real chance of the game, turning his man inside the penalty area and firing emphatically past Ambers 'keeper Ben Townsend.
Not long after, it should have been all square as Joe Larkin's header from a Handsworth corner bounced over the crossbar from the back post.
The hosts continued to cause the Bulls a fair level of discomfort, and Hugo Warhurst had to stand firm to palm Darius Smith's stinging effort over his crossbar.
Only a few minutes later AFC could have been two ahead, but Ross Duggan's curling effort from the edge of the penalty area struck the post just as the whole ground thought he had secured his brace.
Debutant Jack Warner made the perfect start to his AFC career by doubling his new side's lead early in the second half, firing low under Townsend from 15 yards out after Duggan set the new arrival up perfectly, and the visitors were coasting towards a solid three points.
But the Ambers refused to give in and responded almost immediately, as Luke Francis volleyed emphatically past Warhurst from close range only four minutes later.
The goal shifted momentum towards the hosts, and the inevitable equaliser arrived with 10 minutes of normal time to spare as a deflection fell kindly for Francis - and cruelly for AFC - who made no mistake from inside the penalty area and brought Handsworth deservedly level.
The tie could have been won for the visitors in injury time when substitute Ellis Wright set up Jamie McGuire, but the midfielder's drilled effort flew only inches above the crossbar.
Though it weren't three points in the bag for Chatfield's men, the result does see the Bulls rise up to eighth in the NCEL Premier Division table ahead of Saturday's FA Vase clash with local rivals Rainworth.
MATCH DETAILS
Final score | Handsworth 2-2 AFC Mansfield
Scorers | Francis (63', 80') - Duggan (11'), Warner (59')
Handsworth XI | Townsend (GK), Smith, Shaw, Parkin (Hobson 65'), Dacre, Kay, Mitchell, Mackie (Varley 80'), Francis, Grant (Howarth 75'), Thornton (C)
Unused substitutes | Walton, Sheppard
Yellow cards | N/A
Bulls XI | Warhurst (GK), Hough, Webster, McGuire, Lucas, Hague, Darker (Williams 71'), Buxton (C), Duggan, Warner (McMillan 71'), Warwick (Wright 87')
Unused substitutes | Slone, Stancliffe (GK)
Yellow cards | N/A
Man of the Match | Jack Warner
Attendance | TBC