A drab second successive home 0-0 draw extended Mansfield's unbeaten run to nine games as they laboured to find a way through visiting Exeter.
The Grecians had the best of the early chances with Timur Tutierov involved in most of them.
His deflected shot forced debutant goalkeeper Harry Lewis into a good save to his left in the 15th minute.
Three minutes later Tutierov fired into the side netting from Ilmari Niskanen's pass, and he was inches wide of the far post in the 25th minute after Jayden Wareham had fed him into the left of the box.
Will Evans then had the chance of the half as he sidestepped Johnly Yfeko but, with only Joe Whitworth to beat from 16 yards, saw the keeper get down to save well.
Rhys Oates nodded just wide and Oliver Irow bundled a shot straight to Whitworth as the half ended goalless.
Mansfield had the better of the second half-chances.
Cargill headed a 63rd-minute Aaron Lewis free-kick back across goal where Pierce Sweeney turned the ball against his own post while Luke Bolton curled a low finish just wide.
And in added time Stephen McLaughlin headed over from Victor Adeboyejo's cross.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
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Gary Caldwell: 'It was a good point'
