Season 19/20 Stagsnet Match Report
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Mansfield Town
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Carlisle United
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Maynard 58, 72.
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Watt 81, Kayode 90+3
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Attendance: 4272 (368 from Carlisle)
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Date: 1 February 2020
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STAGS THROW AWAY TWO GOAL LEAD TO DRAW WITH CARLISLE
Martin Shaw and Simon Chamberlain at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town threw away a two goal lead to drew 2-2 with Carlisle United at the One Call Stadium this afternoon. A low quality match played in difficult windy conditions came to life when Stags top scorer Nicky Maynard scored two cracking goals from the edge of the area in 14 minutes midway through the second half which should have secured an important three points against a workman-like Carlisle side and moved Mansfield further away from the bottom of the table. But Carlisle pulled a goal back after 81 minutes when Elliot Watt sent a speculative shot from 25 yards out on the left which appeared to get caught in the wind and dipped under the bar over a stranded Bobby Olejnik. Three minutes into stoppage time, a needless foul was conceded on the Carlisle right by Ryan Sweeney who put his hand into Harry McKirdy’s chest when he didn’t need to. The free kick, from just inside the right touchline, level with the penalty spot, was whipped in by Elliot Watt and was missed by both Mal Benning and Carlisle’s Gethin Jones at the near post, then missed by Danny Rose, bounced up and Joshua Kayode headed in from close range having got away from his marker Kelland Watts on his home debut. A dreadful goal to concede with Sweeney, Benning, Rose and Watts who all could have done better to avoid the goal. Defending like this has been Mansfield’s Achilles heel all season. Two points thrown away as Mansfield drew 2-2 for the 8th (eighth) time this season in all competitions. Bottom club Stevenage lost 3-0 at home to Leyton Orient so the gap is extended to 9 points for Mansfield, but a huge opportunity to really further away was missed. The Stags remain 4th from bottom and play 2nd from bottom Morecambe next Saturday in a crucial game. Mansfield made one change to the side that lost with a terrible performance at Oldham on Tuesday night. Neal Bishop returned to the side after being rested, in place of CJ Hamilton. Hamilton was dropped to the bench and Coughlan explained that he thought Hamilton “would be hungry to come on (as substitute) and prove the manager wrong which would be very dangerous to the opponent”. Young Kelland Watts, on loan from Newcastle for the rest of the season, who made his debut in midfield on Tuesday, moved into central defence as the Stags switched from 4-4-2 to 3-5-2 here. Watts was on the left of the three, with Pearce in the middle and Sweeney on the right. The midfield three was MacDonald, Bishop and Charsley. MacDonald limped off in the first half with a hamstring strain, the extent of which is not yet known. Craig Davies and James Clarke returned to the 18 on the bench. On transfer deadline day yesterday, Jacob Mellis, Otis Khan, Alistair Smith and Andy Cook all left; Mellis released, while the others left on loan. Young Jack Evans was signed on loan from Swansea for the rest of the season. Evans is a central midfielder who has made just one appearance in senior football, as a substitute for Swansea City in the EFL Cup. He played against Mansfield in a pre-season friendly in Portugal in the summer. The departure of Cook was a major surprise which leaves Mansfield short on numbers up front, with Graham Coughlan explaining that he didn’t want to hold him against his will. Should Maynard and/or Rose get injured between now and the end of the season (one third of the season left), replacement options are: promising youngster Jimmy Knowles, Craig Davies who has been out injured for so long and not played a full game since returning, and the currently injured Jordan Graham, along with Omari Sterling-James who appears to be out of favour though still at the club. All of the replacement options have played minimal first team football for the Stags. Andy Cook, whilst perhaps not well-suited to Coughlan’s high press style of football, was however in good form, having scored three goals out of absolutely nothing in the nine games under the new manager. To let him go, without bringing in a suitable replacement, looks to be something of a gamble. To summarise the transfer window in full, Mansfield brought in young midfielders Harry Charsley and Jack Evans, central defender Kelland Watts, and experienced right back Joe Riley. Out went goalkeeper Conrad Logan, plus the four who left yesterday noted above. Alistair Smith, having gone to Kettering on loan, could be back in a month’s time if needed. Carlisle, who had won their previous two games, included former Stags Nathan Thomas and Gethin Jones. I had a chat with former Stags manager David Holdsworth before the game, when he came up to the press box. He is the Director of Football at Carlisle, and has had a busy month signing plenty of new players! Carlisle were unchanged from their impressive 4-1 win at Forest Green in midweek when Nathan Thomas scored a hat-trick. It was a windy day, but fine and mostly bright. The wind was gusting to 40mph according to the met office which made for tricky conditions. We’ve never seen a good game of football played in high winds, and this was no exception! The wind was mostly behind Carlisle in the first half. Carlisle created a chance inside the first minute. A long throw from Kayode came out to Mike Jones who blasted a shot goalwards and it was blocked by Pearce. An early corner from Nathan Thomas was hooked off the line by either Sweeney or Bishop, can’t tell which of them it was from the video. After 6 minutes, a shot from Thomas gave Olejnik an easy save. After 15 minutes, Riley played a clever ball forward but it just had too much on it for Maynard to run on to, and it went through to the keeper. A minute later at the other end, Alessandra fired well over the bar on the turn from 14 yards. Kelland Watts fouled Thomas 30 yards from the Stags goal after 19 minutes. Thomas took the free kick himself, with venom, and Olejnik tipped the ball from above his head over the bar. The resulting corner was beyond the far post where Anderton headed wide. Alex MacDonald limped off after 21 minutes with a hamstring strain. No news yet on how long he’ll be out. On came Tomlinson. Great play from Pearce at the back after 24 minutes to win the ball, and then play a good ball forward for Rose, Rose in turn tried to play Maynard in, but Maynard was offside. A good move nonetheless. It was a poor game in the wind with little goalmouth action. After 35 minutes, Anderton tried a shot from long range, which Olejnik got down to push wide for a corner. From our position in the West Stand it looked as though Olejnik should have pouched it, but from the opposite camera angle, it looks a reasonable decision to just to push it wide. Great play from Tomlinson a minute later on the left to win a throw-in. Bishop was fouled 30 yards out after 36 minutes. Benning dinked a free kick into the area and Sweeney headed straight at the keeper. More good defending from Pearce against Thomas after 38 minutes. Two minutes, a great tackle, by Pearce on Thomas again. Then on 43 minutes, good defending from Rose heading a cross over his own bar. Rose also headed away the resulting corner. The corner that followed from that was headed down and hit Pearce on the arm. Carlisle claimed for a penalty but the referee correctly adjudged that it just hit Pearce whose arm was in a natural position. Good defending from Riley after 45 minutes, and a minute later a shot from Elliot Watt nearly hit the corner flag as the referee blew for half time. 0-0 at the break and the scoreline reflected the game. Carlisle had marginally the better of it, having had the wind in their favour, and created more in front of goal. Half time 0-0 After 55 minutes, Benning’s throw-in found Tomlinson whose speculative shot from the left was deflected for a corner. Where’s Andy Cook when you need him? From the corner, Pearce headed over the bar. After 56 minutes, Charsley volleyed over the bar from 30 yards. The Stags took the lead after 58 minutes. A long goal kick from Olejnik was trapped very well by Rose, who turned and laid off to Maynard. Maynard took a couple of touches and fired a powerful low shot from the edge of the area into the bottom left corner of the net. A super finish. After 66 minutes, another brilliant tackle by Pearce on Thomas. It was 2-0 after 72 minutes. Benning’s throw down the line was headed up by Rose. Rose then crossed low to Charsley who teed up Maynard for another low shot from the edge of the area which the keeper got a hand on but couldn’t keep out of the net. Maynard’s shot took the smallest of deflections but I think would have beaten the keeper anyway. Another super finish. Hamilton replaced Charsley after 77 minutes. Carlisle pulled a goal back out of the blue after 81 minutes when Elliot Watt sent a speculative shot from 25 yards out on the left which appeared to get caught in the wind and dipped under the bar over a stranded Bobby Olejnik. Our initial reaction was that Olejnik should have done better, but having studied the video, the ball was too high for him as it past him and dipped under the bar. Whether the keeper should have done better or not, it certainly changed the game as Carlisle were back in it. After 85 minutes, great tracking back by Tomlinson to win the ball. Preston replaced Maynard after 88 minutes. Preston went into central defence. Kelland Watts moved into midfield. It gave the Stags another defender in the box for any balls put into the box and the logic was sound in our opinion. As it happened, it didn’t work. Carlisle equalised three minutes into stoppage time. A needless foul was conceded on the Carlisle right by Ryan Sweeney who put his hand into Harry McKirdy’s chest when he didn’t need to. The free kick, from just inside the right touchline, level with the penalty spot, was whipped in by Elliot Watt and was missed by both Mal Benning and Carlisle’s Gethin Jones at the near post, then missed by Danny Rose, bounced up and Joshua Kayode headed in from close range having got away from his marker Kelland Watts on his home debut. A dreadful goal to concede with Sweeney, Benning, Rose and Watts who all could have done better to avoid the goal. Defending like this has been Mansfield’s Achilles heel all season. After 90+5 minutes, with Mansfield desperate to try and regain the lead, Riley’s long throw was flicked on by Pearce and came out to Bishop, who shot well over the bar. Desperate disappointment at full time. It felt like a defeat. The opportunity to move away from the bottom of the table was thrown away by dreadful defending in stoppage time. Man of the match: Nicky Maynard |
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Report by: Martin Shaw and Simon Chamberlain at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill
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Line Up:
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(3-5-2)
Olejnik 6 Beaten by speculative shot that dipped in the wind. Sweeney 5 Needless foul led to the equaliser. Cost two points. Pearce 8 Several pieces of great defending, mostly against the tricky Thomas. Watts 6 Allowed Kayode to get away from him to head in the equaliser. Riley 7 Solid game at right wing-back. MacDonald - Limped off after 21 minutes. Bishop 7 Good game. Charsley 6.5 Teed up Maynard for the second goal. Benning 6 Could have done better for the equaliser. Didn’t get forward that much as wing-back. Maynard 8.5 Two very well taken goals from his only two chances. Rose 6 One of four players who could have done better for the equaliser. Some good defensive work in the first half. Good play to set up Maynard for the first goal. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Tomlinson (for MacDonald, 21 mins) 7 Much improved game.
Hamilton (for Charsley, 77 mins) - Preston (for Maynard, 88 mins) - Subs not used: Stone, Clarke, Davies, Knowles. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(4-4-1-1): Collin; Gethin Jones, Hayden, Webster, Anderton; Bridge (Guy 59), Mike Jones, Watt, Thomas (Scougall 86); Alessandra (McKirdy 59); Kayode. Subs not used: Gray, Iredale, Charters, Hunt.
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Referee:
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Jarred Gillett 7 Referee who is over from Australia. Handled the game well.
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