Mansfield 0-2 Exeter: Match Report

24 November 2015 22:31

Mansfield draw a blank as Joel Grant sets Exeter on road to victory

Below-par Mansfield went without a goal for the sixth time in seven games as they were sunk by first-half goals in a 2-0 home defeat by Exeter.

It was also a third home defeat in four League Two outings for Adam Murray's men as they tamely surrendered to the Grecians without really testing goalkeeper Bobby Olejnik.

Mansfield had beaten Hartlepool 3-1 on Saturday, but produced a pale shadow of that performance.

Although they had more of the ball in a poor first half, Mansfield went in at the break two goals in arrears.

The first goal saw Mansfield-born Lee Holmes get down the left on a counter-attack and cross low for Joel Grant to turn home his third goal of the season from six yards.

Mitch Rose and Jamie McGuire both headed chances wide for the Stags, before four minutes from the break Grant burst through attempted challenges from three opponents before setting up an unmarked Holmes to his right for a low finish from 10 yards.

Mansfield made two changes at the break and a third soon after the interval.

But they failed to pierce Exeter's superb defence and were almost 3-0 down after 67 minutes when a poor Rose backpass resulted in Brian Jensen having to get down to save from Ryan Harley. In the last minute Jensen also saved well from a low David Wheeler shot.


Source: PA