Kearney on the mark! 

MANSFIELD:
Hitchcock, Graham, Logan, Lowery, Faster, Pollard, Chamberlain, Whatmore, Cassells, Vinter, Kearney. Sub: Kent.

EXETER:
Shaw; Harrower, Viney, McNichol, Impey. Marker, Ling.Jackson, Webber, Gale, Crawford. Sub McCaffrey.

Referee :  Mr T. Mills (Barnsley).

Match Report by NICK LUCY at Field Mill

A feriocious 25-yard drive by Mark Kearney spared Mansfield Town's blushes here this after- noon after they had experienced plenty of problems and frustration against struggling Exeter City.

They fell behind to a Keith Viney free kick and then struggled to battle their way back as former Bristol City 'keeper John Shaw pulled off a string of excellent saves.But there was no stopping Kearney as he equalised for the Stags just a minute before half-time with his powerful long range strike. And after 56 minutes, Tony Lowery put the Stags in front. 

The Stags were at full strength, with Mark Kearney and Mick Vinter returning to the side. Exeter had a number of injury problems and had to give a debut to striker Alan Webber, photo. The visitors immediately came under siege and Shaw had to make a brave save at his near post as Cassells tried to capitalise on a good run and cross by Chamberlain. Hitchcock was also forced to react sharply when Logan left a back pass dangerously short, but the keeper beat Gale to the ball. However, Mansfield were firmly on top and Graham linked up well with Lowery before the defender forced another save from Shaw with a close-range header. Logan did much better with a looping ball up the left from which Cassells was able to earn the Stags their first corner of the game. Although the kick was cleared back, Vinter's cross was glanced on by Cassells, and Shaw had to tip the ball over his bar at full stretch. Chamberlain put Mansfield under unnecessary pressure with two clumsy challenges, but then quickly redeemed himself with a fine pass which sent Cassells racing away down the right. When he cut inside, he found Lowery whose long range shot was saved by Shaw. The Stags were dealt a huge blow when Graham was penalised for a foul on Gale. It looked a dubious deci sion and even more unfortunate on the defender when Crawford ran over the ball for VINEY to step forward and strike a sweet drive into the far corner of the net.

Shaw had to come off his line quickly to collect another bad back pass by McNichol, who failed to spot Whatmore on the edge of the area. Mansfield's worries escalated with the sight of Cas- sells struggling with the groin injury that has troubled him for the last two weeks. Chamberlain switched to the left and tried an ambitious drive from an acute angle which flew well past the upright. A fine crossfield pass by the Stags winger opened things up for Kearney, but despite the presence of Logan on the overlap, he tried a powerful drive which Shaw stopped. The 'keeper frustrated the Stags even more with another good diving save. Logan, running on to Cassells' flick, found the ball on his wrong foot but still placed his shot well. Mansfield finally found their way past Shaw a minute from the interval. Graham, Vinter and Lowery were all involved in a good move down the right, and when play was smartly switched in-field, KEARNEY hit a blistering drive which gave the 'keeper no chance.

The Stags, inspired by that late goal, started the second half well and quickly forced a corner. But Exeter were able to clear the danger at the second attempt when Cas sells was ruled off-side. Graham's long throw-in caused havoc for the visi tors when Cassells flicked it on at the near post, but the ball bounced across the face of the goal with two Stags players unable to get the all-important touch. Lowery picked out Cham- berlain wide on the right with a fine pass, but after the winger had beaten Viney, his cross was over-hit. Mansfield were looking to use Chamberlain's pace and skill as frequently as possible, but when he tried another run at the Exeter defence, he was pulled down by Viney who was booked by the referee. Kearney and Vinter both had shots at the Exeter goal as they pushed forward with growing confidence. And when Cassells gat away down the right, his cross into the centre was clinically volleyed into the back of the net by LOWERY. Mansfield stormed for ward looking for another goal, and a desperate clear. ance by Impey was impor tant when Chamberlain fired in a cross from the right. And when a Logan centre took a deflection, Shaw had to come out to meet Cham berlain in the air. There were appeals for a penalty when Mansfield maintained the pressure and Vinter weaved his way into the box only to go down under a challerge from Harrower. But the referee waved play on and Vinter himself was penalised when he recovered and tried to retrieve the ball from the Exeter player.