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Season 17/18 Stagsnet Match Report
English Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Carlisle United  
1 - 1
 Mansfield Town
Hope 15.
 
 Butcher 58. Hemmings missed pen 52
Attendance: 4677 (280 from Mansfield)
 
Date: 2 September 2017

BUTCHER DEBUT GOAL EARNS DRAW AFTER STAGS MISS ANOTHER PENALTY

Martin Shaw at Brunton Park

A goal just two minutes after coming on for his debut as substitute by Calum Butcher earned Mansfield a point in an eventful draw at Carlisle this afternoon. This was just six minutes after Mansfield missed yet another penalty, their third miss this season, as Carlisle keeper Jack Bonham saved from Kane Hemmings’ spot kick. It was a fair result in my opinion, and in the opinion of both managers, with Carlisle taking the lead in the first half, and hitting the woodwork twice. Carlisle took the lead on 15 minutes. A Jacob Mellis free kick was headed away by Mike Jones on the edge of his own area, and Luke Joyce knocked the ball forward for striker Hallam Hope to run on to. Just Mal Benning was back for Mansfield, he tried to tackle Hope, Hope knocked the ball passed him on the halfway line, and ran through for a 1-on-1 with Logan, sliding the ball past Logan from just outside the area. No blame attached to Logan, but Benning should have done better on the halfway line. Just a minute earlier, Hope was unlucky when he thundered a header against the bar from a Tom Miller long throw-in from the right. The Stags were very much second best at the point, but twice came close to equalising before the break. Firstly, Joel Byrom’s corner was punched away by the keeper as far as Mellis, who brilliantly took the ball past Joyce on the edge of the area to create a shooting chance and he thundered a piledriver that was heading for the left corner of the net before the keeper brilliantly blocked it up in the air. Then a free kick from Hemmings from 22 yards was well placed towards the right corner of the net before the keeper made another great save, tipping it wide. The Stags won their third penalty in the last 6 games on 52 minutes as Paul Anderson was clumsily bundled over by Tom Miller after Rhys Bennett’s cross. It was a clear penalty. Kane Hemmings stepped up and sent his kick to the keeper’s right, but the keeper pulled off a fine save. This was a much better kick than the terrible efforts from Danny Rose and Jimmy Spencer, but again it didn’t find the net. Steve Evans said afterwards that Hemmings had been practising penalties all week and burying all of them. On 56 minutes, the Stags brought on new signing Calum Butcher, a terrific signing from Millwall on deadline day, and within two minutes he had scored a fabulous equaliser. Paul Anderson’s high ball into the area from the left was punched away by the keeper straight to Butcher, 27 yards from goal just to the left of centre, and Butcher sent a first-time side-footed volley back over the keeper and into the net. Absolute quality from the new signing. Butcher nearly repeated his heroics 10 minutes later when a corner was again punched by the keeper straight to him, and this time he shot just over the bar. David Mirfin had a great chance to give the Stags the lead on 77 minutes when a corner from the left found Mirfin in plenty of space three yards out, but the ball just hit and ran through to the keeper. You’d fancy a sharp striker to bury that but perhaps not a centre half. Mansfield looked the more likely winners at this stage, but it was Carlisle who went closest to winning it when sub Shaun Miller fired a magnificent effort from 27 yards through a crowd of players and against the left post with Logan motionless. A lucky escape for the Stags. So a fair result in the end. If this was following up a win over Luton last week, and a draw at Accrington the week before, as it should have been, I think we’d be quite happy with this result. But as it is, it was just a touch disappointing and especially bearing in mind another missed penalty. A hugely impressive appearance as substitute from Calum Butcher, who looks like he might be a star player for the Stags, and another sub Alfie Potter also looked very good when he came on. Both will surely start next week against Grimsby.

Stags boss Steve Evans named an unchanged side from the side that played so well against Luton last Saturday. Evans explained before the game that the team had played so well for 85 minutes that it was only right to name the same starting XI. Evans did ask me before the game which goalkeeper I would have picked and I said Olejnik. Evans told me it was very close between the two of them but in his opinion Logan had not been at fault for the goals against Luton, so he had kept him in. Also in my opinion, Alfie Potter was extremely unlucky not to have forced his way into the team after his outstanding performance on Tuesday in the Checkatrade Trophy. Calum Butcher, a stellar signing from Millwall on deadline day, had to bide his time on the bench.

Carlisle, of course managed by former Stags manager Keith Curle, included former Stag Reggie Lambe.

On 2 minutes, a log throw from Tom Miller was headed goalwards and Logan saved easily under his crossbar.

A corner for the Stags on 5 minutes from Byrom, but it was wasted as Pearce fouled a defender at the far post.

On 9 minutes, Atkinson on the edge of the area to Hemmings but he didn’t pull the trigger and lost the ball.

At the other end a minute later, a great ball in from Nicky Adams on the left, and Pearce did well to head away and over his own bar.

On 12 minutes, great play from Angol to win the ball on the left, and he played the ball in towards Hemmings but Hemmings couldn’t get hold of the ball. For a moment, it looked like a great chance. A minute later, a long ball forward from Benning, Hemmings flicked on, and Angol was nearly through on goal, but fouled his man.

Carlisle were unlucky not to take the lead on 14 minutes. A long throw-in from Tom Miller from the right, Hallam Hope leapt above his marker Mirfin, and thundered a header against the bar. Logan had no chance of saving it.

Carlisle took the lead on 15 minutes. A Jacob Mellis free kick was headed away by Mike Jones on the edge of his own area, and Luke Joyce knocked the ball forward for striker Hallam Hope to run on to. Just Mal Benning was back for Mansfield, he tried to tackle Hope, Hope knocked the ball passed him on the halfway line, and ran through for a 1-on-1 with Logan, sliding the ball past Logan from just outside the area. No blame attached to Logan, but Benning should have done better on the halfway line.

On 17 minutes, Angol to Hemmings, back to Angol, and his low left footed shot was deflected and well saved by keeper Bonham.

At the other end, an Adams corner from the left floated over Logan, who was in no-man’s land, and Richie Bennett seemed to have an open net, but couldn’t make connection with the ball facing an unguarded net. Poor goalkeeping.

On 22 minutes, Paul Anderson controlled a long ball brilliantly, cut inside, and shot from 28 yards straight at the keeper. Good play and a shame it wasn’t either side of the keeper.

On 24 minutes, Byrom’s free kick from 40 yards came out to Mellis who fired well over the bar, and against the roof of the stand.

Mellis was harshly booked for a foul on 26 minutes.

On 28 minutes, a long ball forward from Pearce, Hemmings looked favourite to get to it first, but the keeper beat him to it.

On 31 minutes, Adams crossed from the left, Richie Bennett rose high but it was just over his head. Then a Grainger corner, Logan punched away and Richie Bennett hooked a shot well over.

On 34 minutes, a good break from the Stags, Atkinson played the ball square from the right to Anderson whose shot from 22 yards was blocked.

The Stags came close to equalising on 36 minutes. Joel Byrom’s corner was punched away by the keeper as far as Mellis, who brilliantly took the ball past Joyce on the edge of the area to create a shooting chance and he thundered a piledriver that was heading for the left corner of the net before Reggie Lambe headed it away (I initially thought the keeper saved, but our pitchside footage shows that he didn’t).

Poor play from Benning on 39 minutes as he lost the ball allowing Lambe to break forward.

On 42 minutes, Angol and Ellis tangled, and were both booked. Neil Mellor on Sky Sports News claimed that Angol may have been lucky to escape a red for kicking out at Ellis off the ball, but from studying our pitchside footage, a yellow for both players was about right.

On 43 minutes, Pearce was fouled 22 yards from goal just to the left of centre. Good play from Pearce with trickery committing the defender to foul him. Hemmings took the resulting free kick, well placed towards the right corner of the net before the keeper made another great save, tipping it wide.

On 45 minutes, another long throw-in from Tom Miller, the Stags defence allowed it to bounce and then allowed Joyce time for an overhead kick, which was over the bar.

Carlisle good value for their lead at the break after hitting the bar and taking the lead, but the Stags had come back into the game forcing two good saves from the keeper. Steve Evans said afterwards he was unhappy with the team at the break.

Half time 1-0

On 50 minutes, good play from Anderson on the left, to Benning who played the ball across, and Rhys Bennett set up Mellis for a shot, and he fired over the bar.

The Stags won their third penalty in the last 6 games on 52 minutes as Paul Anderson was clumsily bundled over by Tom Miller after Rhys Bennett’s cross. It was a clear penalty. Kane Hemmings stepped up and sent his kick to the keeper’s right, but the keeper pulled off a fine save. It almost rebounded to Hemmings, but a defender was quicker to it and cleared. This was a much better kick than the terrible efforts from Danny Rose and Jimmy Spencer, but again it didn’t find the net. Steve Evans said afterwards that Hemmings had been practising penalties all week and burying all of them.

On 56 minutes, the Stags brought on new signing Calum Butcher, a terrific signing from Millwall on deadline day. He replaced Mellis. At the same time, Potter replaced Atkinson.

Immediately following the substitutions, Byrom’s free kick from 40 yards was met by a Butcher header wide of the right post. Nearly a great way to introduce yourself, though the flag was actually up for offside

However on 58 minutes Butcher did score, within 2 minutes of coming on. Paul Anderson’s high ball into the area from the left was punched away by the keeper straight to Butcher, 27 yards from goal just to the left of centre, and Butcher sent a first-time side-footed volley back over the keeper and into the net. Absolute quality from the new signing.

On 67 minutes, great play on the left by the Stags, Angol played the ball in from the left, Hemmings and a defender went for the same ball, and it went just wide of the left post for a corner.

Butcher nearly repeated his heroics from the resulting corner on 68 minutes, which was again punched by the keeper straight to him, and this time he shot just over the bar.

Danny Rose replaced Angol on 68 minutes. Evans was concerned that Angol was just one mistimed challenge away from a second yellow.

A great tackle from Mirfin on Jones on 70 minutes as Carlisle played a ball forward.

On 71 minutes, Potter broke forward, played to Hemmings, whose shot was saved by the keeper, it came out to Anderson, whose left footed shot was over the bar. A great chance for the Stags.

Benning summed up a poor game for himself on 75 minutes with another poor cross.

On 77 minutes, a great tackle by Butcher, then Anderson won a corner on the left. From that corner, Mirfin had a great chance to give the Stags the lead as the corner found him in plenty of space three yards out, but the ball just hit and ran through to the keeper. You’d fancy a sharp striker to bury that but perhaps not a centre half.

Within a minute, Carlisle had a corner at the other end. It came out to Joyce whose shot hit the post, but the offside flag was already up.

Mansfield certainly looked the more likely winners at this stage, but it was Carlisle who went closest to winning it on 81 minutes when sub Shaun Miller fired a magnificent effort from 27 yards through a crowd of players and against the left post with Logan motionless. A lucky escape for the Stags.

Butcher was booked for a sliding challenge on 82 minutes.

On 86 minutes, a free kick from Byrom from 45 yards, Pearce flicked it on, and a defender headed it over his own bar. From the resulting corner, Carlisle broke, Mirfin chased back and took one for the team, bringing down Hope and picking up a yellow card.

On 87 minutes, a shot from sub Jason Kennedy looped up via a deflection and Logan brilliantly arched back to tip it over the bar. The offside flag was up so it wouldn’t have counted but it was a great save.

On 90+1 minutes, Byrom broke forward but couldn’t quite find Hemmings who was in a good position.

So the final result 1-1 and a fair result. Carlisle hit the woodwork twice. The Stags brought three excellent saves from keeper Bonham including from the penalty spot. The Stags best two players were subs Butcher and Potter, and both will surely start against Grimsby next Saturday.

Man of the match: Calum Butcher

Report by: Martin Shaw at Brunton Park



Line Up:
(4-4-2):
Logan 6 Steve Evans asked me before the game which goalkeeper I would have picked and I said Olejnik. Evans told me it was very close between the two of them but in his opinion Logan had not been at fault for the goals against Luton, so he had kept him in. Not at fault for the goal here. Great save from Kennedy’s deflected effort, though it was offside anyway. A couple of decent punches away from crosses. Motionless as a couple of efforts crashed against the woodwork but he had no chance to save them anyway. One bad positional mistake from a corner, which he got away with. I haven’t changed my opinion that I would pick Olejnik for the next league game.
Bennett 6 Tough game against fine players in Nicky Adams and Danny Grainger. Didn’t do too badly. His cross led to the penalty.
Pearce 7 Some good defending. Good play to win free kick from which Hemmings nearly scored.
Mirfin 6.5 Lost his man Hallam Hope who headed against the bar early on. Some good tackles. Missed a decent chance to score late on.
Benning 5 Should have done better with the Carlisle goal. Some other poor pieces of defending too. Summed up a poor game for himself on 75 minutes with another poor cross. Two poor games on the trot after he was my man of the match at Accrington. I would be tempted to bring in Hunt in the next game.
Atkinson 6 Quiet game, though no particular mistakes, and replaced by Potter on 56 minutes. I would have started Potter ahead of him here, and would do so in the next game.
Byrom 6.5 Set pieces were of variable quality. Did ok.
Mellis 7 Brilliant piece of skill on the edge of the box and great shot that was somehow blocked by Lambe. Created some moments of danger. Replaced by Butcher on 56 minutes. I’d expect Butcher to start ahead of him in the next game because Butcher played so well, and I’m not sure you could squeeze both into the same team.
Anderson 7 Won the penalty. A couple of shots on target. Some good control, and good attacking down the left.
Hemmings 6 Penalty was saved. This was a much better kick than the terrible efforts from Rose and Spencer, but again it didn’t find the net. Steve Evans said afterwards that Hemmings had been practising penalties all week and burying all of them. Good free kick brought a great save. Miscontrolled a couple of times when he looked to be in for a chance on goal.
Angol 6.5 Decent game. Several good pieces of play. Subbed on 68 minutes as Evans was concerned he was just one mistimed challenge away from a second yellow.
Sub Line Up:
Butcher (for Mellis, 56 mins) 8 Hugely impressive debut appearance as substitute, and he looks like he might be a star player for the Stags. His goal was class and he nearly repeated the trick. Several other good pieces of play.
Potter (for Atkinson, 56 mins) 7 A couple of good runs. Continued his good form from Tuesday.
Rose (for Angol, 68 mins) - Unusually he didn’t win the majority of his headers.
Subs not used: Olejnik, White, MacDonald, Spencer.
Opposition Line Up:
(4-4-2) Bonham; T.Miller, Ellis, Liddle, Grainger; Lambe (Kennedy 70), Joyce, Jones, Adams; Hope (Cosgrove 90), Richie Bennett (S.Miller 80). Subs not used: George, Devitt, Nabi, Brown.
Referee:
Darren Handley 7 Got most decisions about right including the penalty.


Season 17/18 Reports