Mansfield Town 1 Exeter City 2: Match report

Exeter City staged another remarkable comeback as they scored two late goals to beat Mansfield Town at Field Mill.

Steve Evans' Stags had led from the 38th minute of the match as Mal Benning curled home, but a strong second-half performance saw City create numerous chances to get back into the match. And, off the bench, Matt Oakley and Reuben Reid played crucial roles in helping City turn the match around. Ryan Harley levelled in the 84th minute and then, with the final kick of the game, Reid converted a penalty he had won to give City all three points.

Grecians manager Paul Tisdale made three changes to the starting line-up. In came Luke Croll for the injured Craig Woodman, while Jack Stacey and David Wheeler – following their substitute appearances in the 3-3 draw with Yeovil – came back into the team at the expense of Jordan Tillson and Liam McAlinden.

Reuben Reid, who scored the equaliser in that match, was only fit enough for a place on the bench following illness in the week.

Mansfield started brightly and had the ball in the back of the net in the opening two minutes, but Shaq Coulthirst effort from inside the box was correctly ruled out for a handball in the buildup.

It took City until the 10th minute to register their first effort at goal as Wheeler headed a Lloyd James cross off target, but it was still the hosts who were looking the more threatening with Jordan Moore-Taylor putting in a good block to deny Coulthirst and Matt Green having a header saved by Christy Pym.

City then came into the game a bit more as Watkins picked up a long ball from Pym and broke forward but couldn’t find Wheeler in space on the edge of the box.

Jack Stacey’s final ball was also not up to standard as he got in down the left, but failed to pick out with Watkins or Wheeler in the centre.

Mansfield then up the pressure again as Watkins blocked a shot from Ben Whiteman and Danny Rose sent a header, from the resulting corner, crashing against the crossbar.

Watkins then volleyed another effort just wide but, on the balance of play, it was Mansfield who took a deserved lead when Benning took down a crossfield ball from Joel Byrom, stepped inside Pierce Sweeney and found the bottom corner.

Watkins then had another chance just before the break as he fired a shot from eight yards right across the face and wide with Jake Kean, in the Mansfield goal, helpless to stop it.

Read the full match report here.