Exeter pull clear of drop zone with win over struggling Mansfield

Exeter moved 10 points clear of the League One relegation zone as they made it back-to-back home wins with a 2-0 victory over fellow strugglers Mansfield at St James Park.

It took Exeter just eight minutes to break the deadlock as Angus MacDonald played the ball across the face of goal and Mansfield goalkeeper Scott Flinders fumbled it straight to Demetri Mitchell, who was left with a simple tap-in from eight yards.

Former Grecian Hiram Boateng fired wide with one of the very few chances Mansfield had in the first half and three minutes into the second period, Exeter doubled their lead. Ed Francis delivered a corner to the back post and MacDonald powered in a header for his first goal for the club.

Tony Yogane forced a smart stop from Flinders, with Exeter well in control, and Caleb Watts struck the crossbar with a superb effort from the corner of the penalty box.

Mansfield failed to register a second-half effort until the 87th minute when Aden Flint pulled a shot wide from 18 yards and they did not register a shot on target all evening in slipping to a 14th match without a victory.