Exeter City battled to a 2-1 victory over Mansfield Town at the One Call Stadium in Sky Bet League Two.
by Ben Strange 

The Grecians went ahead just after the half hour mark when Dean Moxey curled an exquisite effort in with his right foot, before Nicky Law doubled City’s lead in the second half with a close-range finish.

Tyler Walker then pulled a goal back for the home side, but the Grecians fought well to defend their box and hold onto a big three points on the road.

Matt Taylor made just one change to the side that beat Notts County 5-1 last weekend, with the injured Craig Woodman dropping out for Luke Croll, who came into the centre of defence to partner Aaron Martin.

It was David Flitcroft’s side who started the brighter through the likes of Otis Khan, who had an early effort from the edge of the box well saved by Christy Pym. Walker was next to try his luck from distance, but again the City goalkeeper stood up to the test.

But the Grecians began to get a foothold in the game as they started to see more of the ball, which almost saw them go ahead through birthday boy Jayden Stockley.

A deep cross from Pierce Sweeney on the right found the striker at the far post, and he rose well, before heading against the far post.

City’s pressure then told on 30 minutes when they went ahead through Moxey who provided a sublime finish. After a cross was defended by the Town back line, the ball broke to the left back, who cut onto his right foot before swinging an effort inside the far corner, leaving former Grecian Bobby Olejnik with little chance of saving.

Mansfield tried to get back into the match before the break, but good aerial defending from the likes of Croll and Martin saw to it that City would take an advantage into half-time.

As expected, Flitcroft’s side began the second period with a great deal of intensity, but again crosses were well defended by the Grecians.

Stockley then almost made it 2-0 when he peeled away to stretch and header against the post once again following some good build-up play from the right.

But the Grecians got their second soon after when a wonderful pass from Pierce Sweeney somehow found Hiram Boateng in acres of space before he crossed for Law to nod in from close range to put City in a strong position.

Pym was then at it again as he saved from Walker, but just seconds after he was picking the ball out of his net when the forward managed to squeeze the ball over the line despite the City keeper’s initial save.

With a 2-1 lead, the Grecians were then forced to defend strongly for the rest of the match. And as time edged into six added minutes, substitute Danny Rose had two powerful overhead kicks kept out by Pym as City held onto an excellent win.

Mansfield Town: Olejnik, White (Benning, 83), Preston, Pearce, Bishop, MacDonald, Khan, Butcher (Rose, 55), Sweeney (Elsnik, 69), Walker, Hamilton

Subs not used: Logan, Atkinson, Gibbens, Graham

Booked: Neal Bishop

Exeter City: Pym, Sweeney, A. Martin, Tillson, Law, Holmes (L. Martin, 72), Stockley, Moxey, Croll, Taylor, Boateng (Ogbene, 83)

Subs not used: Hamon, O’Shea, Forte, Oates, Abrahams

Booked: Aaron Martin, Chiedozie Ogbene, Pierce Sweeney, Dean Moxey

Attendance: 4,443 (Inc, 228, away)