Exeter City suffered a first home defeat of the season as Mansfield Town struck late at St James Park.
Josh Magennis had pulled the Grecians back level with 15 minutes of normal time remaining following Frazer Blake-Tracey’s first half opener, but Will Evans found the net in the 86th minute to decide the game.
Gary Caldwell named an unchanged starting XI from the last league outing – the 4-1 win over Blackpool at SJP last weekend – and just one change to the squad overall as Ryan Rydel came in for George Birch on the bench after making his debut in midweek.
First Half
Last weekend’s victory saw City start quickly, but it was the Stags who almost fired in an early opener with Joe Whitworth needed to tip a header over the bar from Jamie McDonnell.
City responded though and could have found an opener a little later when Reece Cole squared for Jayden Wareham on the edge of the six yard box, but his effort was blocked by Mansfield keeper Liam Roberts.
Shortly after, Ed Turns could have found the net from Cole’s corner as he took a touch at the back post and forced Roberts into another save.
The Grecians were made to pay for their missed chances when the visitors took the lead on the stroke of half-time. From a corner it was Blake-Tracey who was left unmarked to nod past a helpless Whitworth.
Second Half
Caldwell was forced into a substitution at half-time as Cole took ill in the changing room, with Rydel replacing him.
A structured Mansfield continued to make life difficult for City though as they maintained their lines and left little space on the pitch for the Grecians attacking flow.
Those in red and white felt aggrieved when Sonny Cox - who was brought on for Jayden Wareham just five minutes after Magennis entered the fray for Jake Doyle-Hayes – was then felled on the edge of the box but the referee remained unmoved, as Mansfield countered and Sil Swinkels picked up a harsh yellow card.
The Grecians continued to battle for a leveller though and were handed the opportunity when Cox’s strike struck the hand of Mansfield defender Jordan Bowery, with referee Ollie Yates duly pointing to the spot. Though Roberts went the right way, Magennis slotted the ball past the keeper for 1-1.
From there momentum was with the hosts but as well know, football doesn’t always go the way you’d think.
When the team next got forward, Cox was just inches away from turning in Jack Aitchison’s piercing ball into the penalty area.
Swinkels was then somehow denied by Roberts as the Dutchman’s bullet header was tipped over the bar from close range from Ethan Brierley’s corner.
The winner would come on the counter attack though, and City paid for their enthusiastic high-line as they battled for a winner. As the visitors burst up the pitch, it was Evans who slid in the winner from Aaron Lewis’ delivery.
Eight added minutes was not enough as City suffered home defeat for the first time since early April.
Exeter City XI: Whitworth, McMillan, Turns, Fitzwater, Swinkels (Dean), Niskanen, Doyle-Hayes (Magennis ©), Brierley, Cole © (Rydel), Aitchison, Wareham (Cox).
Subs: Bycroft (GK), Cummins, McDonald.
Mansfield Town XI: Roberts (GK), Knoyle, Bowery, Cargill, Blake-Tracy (Hewitt), Reed ©, McDonnell, Hendry (Dickov), Maris (Moriah-Welsh), Bolton (Lewis), Evans (McAdam).
Subs: Mason (GK), Flanagan,
Attendance: 6,166
Referee: Ollie Yates