Mansfield Town

1-1 

Carlisle United

Rob Wheldon at Field Mill

Stags were hit before the game with the news that Shayne Bradley had again injured his ankle and was ruled out of the match with bottom club Carlisle.  In came Danny Bacon and otherwise the Stags were unchanged from the side that beat second placed Brighton 6 days earlier.  Ex-Stags Mick Galloway, on loan from Chesterfield was in the Carlisle line-up, with top scorer and highly rated Scott Dobie leading the front line.

Stags began in confident fashion and Clarke fired over after good work from Greenacre on the left.  On 16 minutes the Stags took the lead their early play had deserved.  A left wing corner from Lee Williams neatly headed home by Adam Barrett, his first goal for the Stags since his recent move from Plymouth.  This was the first Stags goal direct from a corner this season.  However, rather than take advantage of their early dominance the Stags seemed to relax and allow Carlisle back into the game.  Maddison tested Mimms with a long range drive and the equaliser looked on the cards almost from the moment the Stags took the lead and it was a fine goal when it came.  Dobie clinically finishing off a move that cut the Stags defence in two, Connolly providing the inch perfect pass.  Then just before the break Mimms was again tested by Maddison and Dobie saw a low right foot shot go narrowly wide.   

Half Time 1-1

The second half was very poor, both sides really failing to exert any control on the game and both sides seemingly incapable of stringing together more than three or four accurate passes.  The Stags did have the best chance of the match when Greenacre was left on the far post with a completely free header after a great cross from Bobby Hassell, however the in form striker headed the ball that wide that it didn't even go out of play!!  This was symptomatic of the Stags play, seemingly lethargic in midfield and without the usual cutting edge in attack, it was Carlisle who tested the Stags keeper more often.  The introduction of Mick Boulding did pick things up a little towards the end and the young striker was denied by a fine save from Glennon when it looked as if his low shot had beaten him.  Carlisle seemed intent on wasting time at every opportunity towards the end of the game, and really an extremely weak referee allowed them to get away with it.  However, it is unlikely that the Stags would have scored had they kept playing until midnight!!  

A very poor performance from the Stags.  Most disappointing was the absence of the qualities so evident just 6 days earlier when the Stags created a hatful of chances.  Possession was squandered to easily and not one of the five midfield players could claim to have had a good game.  Though the Stags again looked solid at the back, at times they had to grateful to the excellent handling of the Stags keeper who continued his excellent form so far this season.  

Man of the Match:  Bobby Mimms 

Click here for Martin's report