Preview: Exeter City vs Stags

30 August 2019

Up next for Mansfield Town is a trip to face Sky Bet League Two leaders Exeter City on Saturday 31 August at St. James Park (3pm kick-off). Here’s all you need to know ahead of the match…

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Manager John Dempster confirmed in Thursday morning’s news conference that striker Nicky Maynard is in contention for the weekend’s match, while defenders Krystian Pearce and Kellan Gordon will train on Friday and could feature in Devon.

The Stags will be without midfielder Neal Bishop, who has an Achilles injury, and wing-back Hayden White, who has a knock.

The amber and blue will also be missing strikers Craig Davies and Jordan Graham, along with goalkeeper Bobby Olejnik.

Forward Andy Cook, who has a knee injury, will also miss out.

The Grecians will be without midfielder Nigel Atangana for the match.

Stags’ last league outing ended with a 0-0 draw at home to Stevenage. Despite creating a number of chances, the amber and blue were made to settle for a point at One Call Stadium

Exeter have made a flying start to the 2019-20 season, earning 11 points from their opening five matches. They currently sit top of the league standings, one point ahead of Plymouth Argyle and Forest Green Rovers.

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We last faced the Grecians at St. James Park, as we produced a 4-1 victory away from home courtesy of two goals apiece from CJ Hamilton and Tyler Walker.

The referee for Saturday’s game will be Nicholas Kinseley, assisted by Justin Amey and Mike Desborough. The fourth official will be Robert Dabbs.

Mr. Kinseley last took charge of a Stags’ fixture when the amber and blue travelled to face Cambridge United last September, a game that ended 1-1.

The Stags have received an allocation of 382 tickets for the clash.

Full ticket information can be found here.

There is no on-site parking at St James Park, whilst residential streets around the ground are reserved for permit holders only. There are a few car parks near the ground, though.

There is the King William Street car park (NCP) or the car parks just off Western Way on Parr Street, Belmont, Belgrave Road, Bampfylde Street car park or the Triangle car park (accessed from Clifton Road). These are all about five to ten minutes' walk from the ground.

There is a Social Club at the ground itself, which allows away supporters. Outside the Ivor Doble Stand, the club have set up a small FanZone which away fans can use.

It has a mixture of eating and drinking outlets, plus alcohol can be purchased. The nearest pubs to the ground are St. Anne's Well on Well Street and, about a ten minute walk away on Stoke Hill, is the Stoke Arms. Food kiosks serve the usual food and drink within the ground.

Can't make it to the game? You can follow the action live via our Twitter match updates, which can be found here.

The match centre on mansfieldtown.net will also contain Opta-populated updates, and can be accessed here.

A report of the match will be published on the club website following the full-time whistle, and post-match reaction will be available to view on mansfieldtown.net and iFollow Stags.

Follow us across our social media accounts to keep fully updated on all areas of a Stags’ matchday. Click the below links to redirect to the corresponding social media account.

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Match Reports

Report: Exeter City 1-0 Stags

31 August 2019

Ryan Bowman’s early finish proved to be the difference as Mansfield Town suffered a 1-0 defeat against Exeter City at St James Park.

The Stags had looked to have made a fruitful start down south but were undone by Bowman’s smart finish inside five minutes.

Mansfield pressed for, at the very least, an equaliser in the second period but with Ryan Sweeney being dismissed four minutes from time, they were unable to do so in Devon.

John Dempster made three alterations from his side’s previous Sky Bet League Two outing as a regular trio returned from respective injuries.

Skipper Krystian Pearce, Kellan Gordon and Nicky Maynard had been given the all-clear on their fitness to replace James Clarke, Otis Khan and CJ Hamilton in the starting lineup.

It was Mansfield who threatened first through Jacob Mellis – an effort dragged wide from the edge of the area after a neat interchange of play.

However, it was the hosts who found the back of the net with five minutes on the clock.

Bowman was allowed to drift behind the Stags’ defence unattended from a quick throw and he was handed the task of firing home on the half-turn.

The amber and blue sought an instant response on their travels, and were only inches away from doing so when Nicky Maynard saw his effort whistle past the post.

Conrad Logan was then forced into action to thwart Lee Martin as he drove the ball towards goal with purpose.

The Exeter man had another presentable chance minutes later but was unable to beat Logan with a deft flick.

Martin continued to pop up in the final third and, this time, his teasing cross was close to being turned home by Randell Williams.

And the latter came even closer to doubling his side’s advantage just eight minutes from half time.

Williams rose highest from a far-side corner and powered a header against the foot of the post, before Danny Rose was able to hook the loose ball clear on the goal line.

It meant Dempster’s side were tasked with overturning a one-goal deficit in the second period.

Pierce Sweeney’s touch early in the half gifted possession to Maynard, yet the effort was ultimately blocked as he struck it on the bounce.

The second half simmered with action – but few chances – as the hosts weighed up whether to stick or twist, while Mansfield searched for an equaliser.

Mellis traversed forward but could not find the required space to pull the trigger at the edge of the Grecians’ box.

There was soon a change in the works for the visitors with Will Tomlinson making way for Omari Sterling-James.

The substitute had given his side a much-needed boost before almost doing exactly what he was brought on to do in the 78^th minute.

He received the ball in a pocket of space, turning away from his marker and firing a rising strike past Lewis Ward’s upright.

An attempted clearance from the hosts’ centre-half, Sweeney, collided against Aaron Martin and fortunately back into the arms of their ‘keeper.

Despite the Stags’ new-found momentum they were almost left stunned by a moment of individual brilliance.

Jake Taylor latched onto a loose ball 20 yards from goal and his audacious volley crashed against the bar

And with the clock ticking towards full time, their task was made significantly more difficult.

Sweeney was shown a straight red card due to an off-the-ball incident with Bowman on 86 minutes, reducing the Stags to ten men.

A handful of corners and deliveries from open play fell the way of the hosts but none were subsequently capitalised upon to mark only a second defeat in Sky Bet League Two.

Mansfield will be hopeful of putting this defeat behind them when they take on Scunthorpe United next Saturday.

STAGS' XI: Logan (GK), Benning, Preston (Hamilton 78’), Pearce ©, MacDonald, Mellis, Maynard, Tomlinson (Sterling-James 70’), Sweeney, Gordon, Rose.

UNUSED SUBS: Stone (GK), White, Khan, Afolayan, Smith

EXETER XI: Ward (GK), Sweeney, A. Martin, L. Martin Williams, Bowman, Jay (Woodman 88’), Moxey, Sparkes, Taylor ©, Collins.

UNUSED SUBS: Maxted (GK), Tillson, Ajose, Parkes, Fisher, Richardson.

REFEREE: Nicholas Kinseley

ASSISTANTS: Justin Amey & Mike Desborough

FOURTH OFFICIAL: Robert Dabbs

ATTENDANCE: 4,316 (262 away)

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