St James Park, home of Exeter City… Not to be confused with Newcastle United, that one can wait! But this St James Park is based in Exeter, Devon who compete in League 2. Nicknamed the “Grecians” due to people from the outside walls of the town referring themselves as such. Another Mansfield away day is upon us!! And it’s the longest journey of them all!! Bring it on! Me, the Super Stag, Tom and Jack would be joining me on this one on the SSA bus!
5am and it’s time to get up… I don’t even get up that early for work… Off to Shirebrook station for the 6am train to Mansfield. 10 minutes later and touch down in Mansfield! Off to the ground and here I am at 6:15am and I’m the first one here! Beat that! 7am and off we go!
How do clubs keep the fans entertained on a long bus journey…? Bingo is the answer! I can’t not play can I! Playing for the line to start with. BINGO! It wasn’t me sadly… Not even close! Hopefully better luck for the full house. 60 numbers called… Not looking good… 2 numbers needed in one box, 78 and 24. “Seven and Eight, 78!” Come on!! One more… “Number two and Four, 24!” YES!!! Drinks are on me!! I’ve won!!! A nice Mansfield Matters Podcast mug with £10 in it! I’ll take that!
We have finally made it to Devon! Time to check out the town! A nice little Exeter pub crawl to kill time just like Chelsea are killing Norwich and me potting the Black ball too early at Pool is a great way to kill time eh…? Time for the game! £8 to get in here! Bingo! “Allez Allez Allez!” Exeter fans starting brightly, what about us? “Since I was young! I followed them! MTFC! The team for me!”
Kick Off! “E! X! E! T! E! R! City! Clap clap clap City!” 11 minutes in and James Clarke has the ball on the right for Mansfield, he crosses, in towards Jordan Bowery… Cleared by Josh Key for Exeter. It’s a poor game here so far, Exeter looking good on the ball and moving it around really well!
29th minute and Exeter come forward, played out to the right of the box for Taylor, he crosses, Mansfield head away. 1 minute later and Mansfield play a ball out to the left, it’s played in for Rhys Oates who lays it off for Harry Charsley to shoot… Straight at the keeper. 1 minute after and Exeter play a ball out to the right… Where is the left back!? Matt Jay gets to it and drives into the box, he crosses… All the way out for a Mansfield throw in. Good spell in the game there!
34 minutes on the clock and Exeter win the ball in midfield, played forward to Matt Jay, he gets to the edge of the box and he goes for the far corner… Nathan Bishop saves. “Yellow and Blue army!” Mansfield fans going for it now! 1 minute later and Mansfield play down the right wing, in comes the cross, Jordan Bowery with the header… Oooooh! Just wide! “If you f***ing bounce you’re a green!” The Plymouth hating Exeter fans are going strong now! “We’re the Mansfield boys! Making all the noise! Everywhere we go!” But so are the Mansfield fans!
Right on half time now and Exeter play forward, played out wide to the right for Josh Key to cross, Bishop gets a hand to it, it comes for Owura Edwards… He’s slipped over and Mansfield get there to clear. That would be the last action of the half with the score deadlocked at 0-0.
Second half, 48 minutes played and Exeter come forward down the left, ball played to Matt Jay, he cuts inside on the edge of the box and he goes for goal… Good save by Bishop! Corner, played short, crossed in… headed away but Exeter retrieve it, they play it forward again… Nathan Bishop collects.
50th minute and Mansfield have a free kick in the Exeter half, it’s crossed in to the box, it’s Oliver Hawkins with the header… IT’S A GOAL!!!!! Mansfield lead here!!! 0-1!! Get in!! Now they’ve got the goal, can they hold on for the win?
“YELLOWS YELLOWS!” Mansfield fans in good spirits now! 60 minutes now and Mansfield break forward with Rhys Oates, he plays it to Jordan Bowery who gets into the box on the left side… He’s intercepted and Exeter clear… Why didn’t he shoot!?
62nd minute and Exeter play forward, chipped ball into the box for Padraig Amond, he plays it across to Timothee Dieng free header! 1-1! They’re level! Exeter have responded well to going a goal down and they’ve got it.
Exeter looking very good now… Going to be a long last 25 minutes for Mansfield here… 74th minute and Mansfield win the ball back in midfield, ball played forward to Rhys Oates on the left, he gets into the box and shoots… Wide! 82 minutes on the clock and Exeter come forward down the right, in comes the cross, Matt Jay with the header… It’s there!!! Exeter lead! 2-1!! They’ve deserved it you have to say!
“Allez Allez Allez!” Again from the Exeter fans. Into the 90th minute and Mansfield have a throw in on the left, it’s a long throw in to the box… Headed away, Mansfield get it back, they’ve got a free kick in a similar position to where the goal was scored from, in comes the free kick… Exeter clear.
Into stoppage time, Exeter come forward down the left, through ball to Sam Nombe, Nathan Bishop charges out… Nombe gets past him, he takes his time… Bishop recovers and it’s out for a corner, it’s played short to run down the clock… Mansfield clear. A few minutes later and Exeter have a throw in on the right, played in to Sam Nombe and he beats his man and gets into the box, he shoots… It’s off the post! Mansfield clear… Referee blows for full time… Oh Mansfield…
FT: Exeter City 2-1 Mansfield Town
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 4/10 – Both sets of fans had a good go today but it wasn’t particularly loud sadly… A good group of Exeter fans at the top of the terrace gave a good account of themselves today!
- The Ground: 8/10 – It’s a lovely ground! Quite tucked away but it’s fantastic in my opinion! A fantastic standing terrace behind the goal with a lovely away end! A great little ground for me!
- Expense: 9/10 – £8 for 3 goals and it was a decent second half with all due respect.
- Overall Experience: 8.5/10 – I enjoyed the day as a whole! First time in Exeter for me today, loved the bar crawl with Tom, Jack and the Super Stag! Great to speak to other Mansfield fans on the coach along with winning the bingo! I’m beginning to think that the worst part about away days is the 90 minutes…
29.5/40
Interesting comments and thanks for the mostly positive ones. One question, if you paid £8 for your ticket that’s the U18 price but you also say you went on a pub crawl. Perhaps you weren’t drinking alcohol? Cheers, Neil, ECST and FECRACE bar.