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Archived News from August 2015

NEW LOOK STAGS DRAW FIRST LEAGUE GAME
13th August 2015 10:43


Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Mansfield Town 1 - 1 Carlisle United
Benning 29. Ibehre 45+2.
Attendance: 4146 (722 from Carlisle)

Date: 8 August 2015

Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill

Adam Murray’s new look Mansfield Town side drew their first league game 1-1 with Carlisle United at Field Mill this afternoon. The Stags only included 3 players in the side who were here last season. Mansfield took the lead after 29 minutes as full back Mal Benning fired home a thunderous free-kick from 29 yards into the right corner of the net. Out of the blue Carlisle equalised in stoppage time at the end of the first team and the Stags’ defence failed to take opportunities to clear and Jabo Ibehre fired into the bottom right corner of the net from just inside in the box. The Stags had the better of the second half but couldn’t force victory with Chris Clements twice going close from the edge of the box, and Adi Yussuf just wide in the closing minutes. Overall this was better fayre than last season and clear signs that the Stags are heading in the right direction despite some frustration at not winning. Plenty of promising performances in the Stags side: Scott Shearer looked solid in goal, Nicky Hunt impressed at right back, Krystian Pearce had a fine game in central defence and was my man of the match, Mitch Rose showed flashes of his excellent form against Leicester, Matt Green continued to look strong and sharp up front though without enough service.

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Match report: Mansfield Town 1 Carlisle United 1, 8th August 2015
chad.co.uk report by Stephen Thirkill

Mansfield Town were denied an opening day win against Carlisle United after Jabo Ibehre’s goal in first half stoppage time.

http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/match-report-mansfield-town-1-carlisle-united-1-8th-august-2015-1-7400098

Stags started the first half well and went ahead through a thunderous 30 yard free-kick from Malvind Benning on 29 minutes.

But Ibehre calmly slotted past Scott Shearer in the second half of stoppage time to give the visitors a get out of jail card.

Stags had bossed large periods of the first half and will have felt hard done by to go in level at the break.

Mansfield came out fighting in the second half but failed to find the same dominance in possession and creativity, espeically in wide areas, as they had enjoyed in the first half.

Chris Clements twice went close with shots over the bar, before Matt Green fired a shot agonisignly wide in second half stoppage time as Mansfield were left settling for a point.

Boss Adam Murray named new signing James Caton on the bench.

The winger (21) joined Mansfield on loan from Shrewsbury and became Mansfield’s 14th summer.

Star signing Matt Green was named in the starting eleven following his summer return from Birmingham City.

There were also starts for new men Nathan Thomas, Nicky Hunt and Malvind Benning.

United had the first sniff at goal after nine minutes when Patrick Brough failed to keep his shot down as he fired over the bar.

Reggie Lambe continued to look lively as he scuffed a tame shot at Mark Gillespie on 11 minutes.

Nathan Thomas had a shot deflected over the bar by Michael Raynes on 16 minutes after Carlisle were caught napping in their own box.

Matt Green then had a snapshot smartly blocked from the resulting corner as Stags continued to push.

And Stags hit the front in spectacular fashion when Malvind Benning opened his account with a thunderous 30-yard free-kick into the top right corner.

It was a goal of the highest quality and gave Gillespie absolutely no chance.

Carlisle responded well with Scott Shearer palming away Jason Kennedy’s long range effort on 36 minutes.

And the visitors levelled through Jabo Ibehre in first half stoppage time after he cooly slotted low past Shearer following a one-two with Derek Asamoah.

The goal came out of the blue and was a real blow for Mansfield who had dominated large parts of the first half.

Lambe had the first half chance for Stags after the break when he neatly turned Danny Grainger before shooting well wide on 55 minutes.

Chris Clements fired a firmly hit shot a foot over from distance on 68 minutes after a patient build-up from the home side.

Three minutes later Clements again when Close as Murray’s men pushed for the winner.

Asamoah was inches away from connecting with Angelo Balanta’s cross on 76 minutes as the momentum began to swing.

Adi Yussuf was inches away from finding a late winner for Mansfield after Green got behind the Carlisle defence

Mansfield Town (4-3-3): Shearer, Hunt, Rose (J. Thomas), Tafazolli, Benning, Pearce, Chapman, Clements, Lambe (Westcarr 85), M. Green, N. Thomas (Yussuf 74)

Subs: Jensen, Beardsley, J. Thomas, McGuire, Caton.

Carlisle United (3-5-2): Gillespie, Miller, Atkinson, Raynes, Grainger, Brough (Balanta 71), Joyce, Kennedy, Hery (Dicker 87 n/a), Ibehre, Asamoah.

Subs: Hanford, Wyke, Osei, Archibald-Henville, McQueen.

Attendance: 4,146 (722 away)

Chad man of the match: Reggie Lambe

Referee: Lee Swabey.

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MATCH REPORT: Mansfield 1 - 1 United
Author: Andy Hall
carlisleunited.co.uk

Match report from the first game of the season
Carlisle United have plenty to be pleased about following a very entertaining opening day display which saw them defend their lines and look to attack whenever they took possession of the ball.

Seven of Keith Curle's summer signings started the game in the sunshine at The One Call Stadium with Miller, Hery, Raynes and Ibehre taking their bow for their first team debuts.

Read more at http://www.carlisleunited.co.uk/news/article/match-report-from-the-first-game-of-the-season-2596513.aspx#YDFlzLiEGb03LMBv.99

Luke Joyce returned to the club where his career had kicked off some ten years ago, and Kennedy, Asamoah and Atkinson celebrated their new deals with a place in the starting eleven.

Mansfield started at pace but it was United who almost found a way through with just three minutes on the clock when Kennedy fed the ball through for Asamoah to chase. Shearer had to race off his line to clear before the nippy front man could sneak in.

The Stags had their fair share of possession as they peppered the box from deep but the United defence picked up the pieces as the challenge for the second ball became more and more important.

A run from Miller brought a cross for Ibehre to look at and his touch sat up nicely for the off-balance and late arriving Patrick Brough. He went for an early volley but he couldn't keep it down.

The Stags were quick to counter and a raking pass from Pearce brought a neat touch from Lambe. He cut back inside but he scuffed his shot and Gillespie was able to gather.

Mansfield were suddenly on top and an error from Atkinson allowed Lambe to make the bye line. His fierce cross had too much on it and Rose had to wheel away to prevent it from going out.

The hosts stayed forward and a misunderstanding between Brough and Grainger left Rose with unexpected space. His shot hit Raynes and spun over the bar.

A quickly taken short corner routine caught United on the hop and Lambe was disappointed to see his thunderbolt ricochet away to safety. It was all about Mansfield and Rose almost set the first half alight when he tried his luck from 35 yards. Gillespie was beaten but it curled just past his upright.

The Cumbrians settled and Brough used his pace to break clear on the left. His low cross was just in front of Ibehre and Tafazolli stepped in to hook it behind. The corner was half cleared by the same player and Miller couldn't get any purchase on his shot on the spin as Kennedy nodded the looping ball back into the box.

Asamoah was unlucky not to make more a 40-yard run, when he turned defence into attack, but it was Mansfield who drew first blood when Benning took control of a 35-yard free kick. He let fly and Gillespie could do nothing as it sped into his top corner.

Thomas almost doubled the lead moments later when he skipped past two and ghosted into the area. Gillespie had to dive but the shot lacked power and he was able to draw it into his chest.

Carlisle had to pick their moments to get forward but a good run from Hery suggested better was to come as he put it on a plate for Kennedy. Shearer had to readjust to beat the powerful effort away.

A half chance for Ibehre followed, as he tried a lob from 18 yards, and Kennedy went close as he arrived late in the box. He had to stretch to reach the cross and he nodded it over the bar.

United had to survive another Benning free kick in time added on for the half, but it was the springboard for a counter attack as Asmoah and Ibehre combined to make their way to the edge of the area. Hesitation from Asamoah made the decision for his strike partner and Shearer could do nothing about the volley which followed.

Both sides probed without making headway after the break but Carlisle had to concentrate just before the hour when Thomas recovered a loose pass and put it into the area. Chapman and Rose had punts at the half clearance but Kennedy and Joyce combined to get it away.

Carlisle thought they'd grabbed the lead moments later when Brough stayed strong to muscle his way through two challenges. He strode forward and crossed low but Asamoah and Miller were both inches away as they threw themselves at it in an attempt to finish it off.

Mansfield continued to play their part and Clements was a millimetre away when he unleashed a crunching shot from distance. A deflection took Gillespie out of the equation and he was relieved to see it edge past the angle of post and bar.

Miller had another great opportunity at the other end when he was left unmarked for a Hery corner. He was underneath the flight and could only send his attempt high.

Clements was close again with another long range shot, but the visitors were denied what appeared to be a certain penalty when Asamoah was barged off the ball as he challenged for a Balanta cross. The pressure levels rose as United started to enjoy their football and Joyce was next to test the target with a volley which took a touch as it headed wide.

United survived a late scare when a Rose cross brought touches from Green and Thomas, but Rose could have seen red when he raised a hand to push Grainger away as the pair disputed a free kick.

Yussuf rattled a fierce shot wide with just seconds left to play but it was a deserved share of the spoils from what had been a very good game to watch.

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