{ match reports }
 
An independent supporters' website dedicated to Mansfield Town FC
Season 16/17 Stagsnet Match Report
English Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Mansfield Town  
2 - 0
 Carlisle United
Green 63, Coulthirst 76
 
 
Attendance: 4463 (561 from Carlisle)
 
Date: 18 March 2017

STAGS BACK TO WINNING WAYS AGAINST CARLISLE

Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill

Mansfield Town ended their 4 match goal drought and got back to winning ways with a thoroughly convincing 2-0 win over 4th placed Carlisle United. The Stags had played well for 45 minutes in the defeat against Plymouth and then played well for 45 minutes in the defeat against Colchester, but here played well for 90 minutes and finally got their just rewards. The Stags were the better side in the first half as Danny Rose and Shaq Coulthirst both drew good saves from Carlisle keeper Mark Gillespie, and Danny Rose had a goal disallowed for offside as he headed home from close range after Matt Green headed into his path. Our pitchside video suggests he was indeed offside. The Stags should have been in front on 57 minutes when Danny Rose pulled back to Coulthirst, whose shot was parried by the keeper, into the path of Rose, who should have scored but fired wide with only the keeper to beat. The long awaited goal came on 63 minutes. Coulthirst did superbly on the left to find room for a cross, shuffling the ball from his right foot to his left foot and back, and his high cross was met by Matt Green, who sent an excellent looping header into the top left corner. The goal brought the house down, with huge relief all round. CJ Hamilton should have doubled the lead on 74 minutes but fired straight at the keeper. Mansfield did make it 2-0 on 76 minutes to seal the game. Hayden White lobbed a ball forward to the corner of the area on the left. Coulthirst got there first, cut back inside makeshift right back Gary Liddle on to his right foot, and fired a fabulous low shot into the bottom right corner of the net, across the keeper, who never moved. A wonderful goal from Coulthirst. Coulthirst had an opportunity to set Danny Rose away a minute later for a chance of a 1-on-1 with the keeper but his pass was poor and intercepted. Carlisle forced several corners late on but didn’t look like pulling a goal back. A very important win for Mansfield, who are back to three points behind 7th place, and four points behind 5th and 6th place. All to play for 8 games to go. Plenty of really good performances in the Stags side with the pick of the bunch being Danny Rose who was excellent up front as was Shaq Coulthirst, who made one and scored the other.

Mansfield made three changes from the side that lost at Colchester. Jake Kean returned from injury in place of Scott Shearer. Danny Rose and Shaq Coulthirst returned as the front pair, in place of Lee Collins and Ashley Hemmings. Collins has a hamstring injury. Hemmings was dropped from the 18. Alfie Potter was going to start but felt his knee in training on Friday so wasn’t risked in the starting XI. Matt Green had done well on Tuesday when moved to wide midfield, so Evans elected to play him wide again, this time on the left, to attempt to get at right back Tom Miller. It was a 4-4-2 formation with Byrom and Whiteman in central midfield, and MacDonald in right midfield. It was therefore a very attacking line-up. It was announced just before kick off that Steve Evans was serving a one game touchline ban following his sending off at Grimsby. He was allowed in the dressing room and allowed to do media interviews, but took his place next to John and Carolyn Radford in the directors’ box to watch the game. Late in the game, he could be heard shouting instructions to Matt Green and CJ Hamilton, very loudly.

Before the game Steve Evans commented that he thought Mansfield need 18 points from 9 games to reach the play-offs.

While Mansfield had not scored in 4 games before this game, Carlisle had not scored in their previous 5 games. Carlisle welcomed back former Stags centre half Michael Raynes from injury, in the only change from their team which drew with Luton on Tuesday. Reggie Lambe started in an attacking central midfield role.

It was a slightly damp day in Mansfield with occasional light rain though none heavy. There was a slight breeze.

On 4 minutes, Byrom’s corner from the right, Bennett headed over the bar, unable to get over his header.

A minute later there was a clash of heads between Danny Rose and Tom Miller. Rose appeared to come off worse, but he was eventually able to play on after a long delay, with a head bandage, while Tom Miller had to be substituted.

On 15 minutes, Coulthirst got to the edge of the area and fired in a shot that was going wide, but keeper Gillespie saved it anyway.

On 20 minutes, White was fouled as he pushed forward, the referee played advantage, and White dragged a shot well wide.

A minute later, Green played the ball back to Benning on the left, he put in a good cross which Rose headed over the bar. Rose then took his head bandage off (though another was put on at half time).

The Stags went close on 22 minutes. Danny Rose played a ball over the top for Coulthirst to run on to, and he fired a low shot that keeper Gillespie pushed wide for a corner.

A minute later a good tackle by MacDonald at the other end. On 24 minutes a poor free kick by Byrom over everyone was wasted.

Pearce was injured on 28 minutes, and had to limp. Afterwards Steve Evans said Pearce had sprained his ankle and we would know more in 48 hours how long he would be out for, but maybe a week.

Kyle Howkins replaced him on 31 minutes. Between Pearce going off and Howkins coming on, Rose was booked. It didn’t even look a foul to me let alone a yellow card.

A chance for Carlisle on 32 minutes. A free kick from the right was headed down and Shaun Miller lobbed onto the roof of the net. A minute later, a high ball in from the left by Grainger which looked to be over Kean but he did brilliantly to stretch and catch it.

The Stags had a goal disallowed on 35 minutes. Byrom’s free kick from the left, was headed by Green into the path of Danny Rose who headed in from close range. Our pitchside video suggests he was indeed offside.

The Stags were close to taking the lead on 37 minutes. White’s cross from the right was deflected up and Danny Rose met it with a great volley that hit the goalkeeper and went wide. Unlucky for Rose. A good save by the keeper as you have to be in the right place and lucky as a keeper.

On 39 minutes, Byrom’s corner from the right, Howkins flicked it on to the far post but it was almost out of play before Danny Rose attempted to head back across goal and could only head out for a goal kick.

On 41 minutes, a snapshot from Proctor from 26 yards was wide of the left post. On 45 minutes, a Carlisle corner from the right, the ball was played back across goal and Kean claimed well.

Danny Rose went down on the edge of the area by the byline on 45 minutes but it wasn’t a penalty.

On 45+1 minutes, Raynes and Grainger made a mess of a clearance, out to Coulthirst and miscued a shot over the bar from the edge of the area.

On 45+5 minutes a terrible shot from Shaun Miller that nearly hit the corner flag.

A good reception from Stags fans at the interval. The Stags had played well and created more chances, with Gillespie making a couple of good saves. Frustrating again that the Stags could not find the net.

Half time 0-0

On 49 minutes, MacDonald crossed from the right, it dropped to Benning in space but he dragged a shot wide. He just can’t buy a goal.

Then on 50 minutes, MacDonald did well to pull the ball back, Bennett hit it first time from the edge of the box but straight at the keeper. A minute later at the other end, Lambe fired well wide from 25 yards.

The Stags should have been in front on 57 minutes when Danny Rose pulled back to Coulthirst, whose shot was parried by the keeper, into the path of Rose, who should have scored but fired wide with only the keeper to beat. It was a golden chance.

On 60 minutes, Green shot from 30 yards and it was blocked.

The long awaited goal came on 63 minutes. Coulthirst did superbly on the left to find room for a cross, shuffling the ball from his right foot to his left foot and back, and his high cross was met by Green, who sent an excellent looping header into the top left corner from 7 yards. The goal brought the house down, with huge relief all round. Green’s 13th league and cup goal of the season and his 86th for Mansfield.

On 65 minutes, a Carlisle corner from the left, Kean came for it and didn’t get there but it was cleared. A rare error from Kean.

On 68 minutes, MacDonald’s corner came back to him, he cut inside via a good 1-2 with Coulthirst, and his shot was blocked by Raynes for a corner. At the other end on 70 minutes, Nicky Adams crossed high from the byline on the left to the far post where McQueen headed wide at the right post.

Hamilton replaced MacDonald on 70 minutes. Green switched to the right. Green and MacDonald had occasionally switched sides earlier in the game as well.

Hamilton was straight into the action and should have doubled the lead on 74 minutes but fired straight at the keeper after a ball forward to Coulthirst who laid off to Hamilton.

Mansfield did make it 2-0 on 76 minutes to seal the game. White lobbed a ball forward to the corner of the area on the left. Coulthirst got there first, cut back inside makeshift right back Liddle on to his right foot, and fired a fabulous low shot into the bottom right corner of the net, across the keeper, who never moved. A wonderful goal from Coulthirst.

Coulthirst had an opportunity to set Danny Rose away a minute later for a chance of a 1-on-1 with the keeper but his pass was poor and intercepted. Coulthirst had initially done well to win the ball off Joyce.

On 78 minutes, Junior Joachim, a French striker recently signed for Carlisle after a trial, and on as sub, fired a soft shot that lobbed up off Bennett into Kean’s arms.

Arquin replaced Danny Rose on 80 minutes. Rose got a great ovation for an excellent performance.

Carlisle had 3 corners in succession on 87 minutes culminating in O’Sullivan firing straight at Kean after being well set up by Reggie Lambe.

On 89 minutes, Evans was off his feet in the directors’ box yelling at Green and then Hamilton to stay back.

On 90+4 minutes a free kick for the Stags 32 yards from goal. Green took it and fired over the bar. After the game Steve Evans joked that Green would be off free kicks from now!

So a great win for Mansfield and very much needed after the run of 4 games without a goal and just 2 points. On to Morecambe next Saturday, a tough game to be had as always but one which is winnable and the Stags will be looking for revenge for that dreadful game on Boxing Day.

Man of the match: Danny Rose/Shaq Coulthirst


Report by: Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill



Line Up:
(4-4-2)
Kean 7 A couple of really good claims from crosses. One rare error when he came for a corner and didn’t get it. Didn’t have any difficult saves from shots.
White 7 Got forward well. Defended solidly.
Bennett 7.5 Defended very well. Should have done better with a shot from the edge of the box when unmarked.
Pearce - Limped off after 28 minutes.
Benning 7 Got forward well and one good cross. Dragged a shot wide from a good position, he just can’t buy a goal. Defended well.
MacDonald 7 Two good pull backs from the byline. One good tackle at the back.
Whiteman 6 Relatively quiet game by his standards, though did ok.
Byrom 7 Several good set pieces.
Green 7.5 Great header to break the Stags goal drought. Good header down to set up Rose’s disallowed goal. Did well in an unaccustomed left sided role.
Coulthirst 9 Match winning performance, setting up one goal with a great cross, and scoring the other with a cracking shot. Forced Gillespie into two good saves. Set up Hamilton for a great chance. Had an opportunity to set Rose away for a 1-on-1 chance but his pass was poor.
D.Rose 9 Excellent performance. Great volley that hit Gillespie and went wide. One goal disallowed (correctly). Was a battering ram against the Carlisle defence. Should have scored from close range in the second half.
Sub Line Up:
Howkins (for Pearce, 31 mins) 7 Settled straight back in to the team after injury and looked very solid.
Hamilton (for MacDonald, 70 mins) - Should have scored with a good chance.
Arquin (for D.Rose, 80 mins) -
Subs not used: Shearer, Potter, Baxendale, McGuire.
Opposition Line Up:
(4-4-2): Gillespie; T Miller (McQueen 8 (O'Sullivan 72)), Raynes, Brisley, Grainger; Lambe, Joyce, Liddle, Adams; S Miller, Proctor (Joachim 60). Subs not used: Crocombe, Ward, Hooper, Waring.
Referee:
Brendan Malone 6 Generally did well though the booking of Danny Rose was harsh, didn’t even look a foul. A couple of bizarre decisions including getting mixed up over the direction of one throw-in.


Season 16/17 Reports