Exeter City fall short

Play-off hopes take a blow as Mansfield ruin City comeback

DESPITE A TREMENDOUS second-half fightback, Exeter City were beaten by Mansfield Town at St James Park, leaving their play-off push looking a very steep task with three games left.

Ryan Tafazolli gave the visitors the lead before Malvind Benning doubled it in style, leaving City looking down and out. But they looked to have salvaged a point after Ollie Watkins and Christian Ribeiro (another screamer) drew them level. They were on terms for just three minutes, however; Tafazolli volleyed the winner with eight minutes to go.

Lee Holmes came in for Alex Nicholls in the one Exeter City change from the weekend, while Mansfield made two alterations from the side which beat Notts County 5-0 on Saturday; Mitch Rose and Colin Daniel the players coming in.

With just two home games remaining and two winnable games on paper coming with them, City looked to fly out of the trap here. David Noble set Jake Taylor free to force a corner minutes after the start, only for Ryan Tafazolli to head clear from Lee Holmes' corner. Tafazolli would prove an even bigger nuisance to the Grecians' play-off aspirations after ten minutes, when out of nowhere, his side-footed strike went through the crowd and rolled past Bobby Olejnik on its way into the net for the opener.

While City did struggle to get their usual passing game going in the opening exchanges, they did have a few decent chances. Jayden Stockley curled a free-kick just over the bar, and a Lee Holmes cross hung in the air, inviting the City striker, only for the AFC Bournemouth loanee to head well off-target.

HALF-TIME: EXETER CITY 0–1 MANSFIELD TOWN