Season 20/21 Stagsnet Match Report
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Carlisle United
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Mansfield Town
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Patrick 39.
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Attendance: 2000 (home supporters only, capacity according to COVID-19 guidelines)
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Date: 15 December 2020
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STAGS LOSE AT CARLISLE
Martin Shaw at Brunton Park Mansfield Town were beaten 1-0 at high-flying Carlisle United this evening. It was only the Stags second defeat away from home this season, but with only two wins in 18 games, the Stags remain precariously placed, just three points above the relegation zone. An even first half saw Carlisle take the lead after 39 minutes when the dangerous Omari Patrick controlled a cross from the right by Jack Armer and with his second touch fired past Marek Stech on the volley from 9 yards. Kellan Gordon perhaps could have put in a challenge to make it more difficult for Patrick, but it was a tremendous finish. The Stags gave as good as they got in the first half going close to opening the scoring twice, as Ollie Clarke fired wide from 16 yards after a good run into the box, and George Lapslie volleyed a tremendous effort from wide on the right, just in from the touchline, that was heading for the roof of the net until keeper Paul Farman superbly tipped it over the bar. At the other end, Carlisle, who had won 7 of their 8 home league games this season, also went close on two or three occasions, as Gordon put in a great block on a shot from Josh Kayode from 14 yards, then Ryan Sweeney put in an even better block on a shot from Joe Riley that seemed destined to go in. Superb from Sweeney. Patrick also had three shots at goal before he finally broke the deadlock. Despite being behind at the break, it wasn’t a bad performance from the Stags in the first half. But the second half was a massive disappointment as the Stags failed to produce any quality at all and did nowhere near enough to look like troubling the home side who cruised to a very comfortable 1-0 victory. It was very frustrating to watch as the Stags were outplayed, and on the few occasions that they had a chance to put a ball into the Carlisle box, the quality of crossing was woeful, from a number of different players. Carlisle had chances to win by a bigger margin as Joe Riley was again denied by a great block, this time from Lapslie, Riley had another shot deflected for a corner, and he also drew a save at his near post from Stech, while Stech saved at point bank range from former Stags defender Rhys Bennett. The Stags generally defended well, with several good blocks, while Sweeney and Rawson were solid in central defence, but the Stags’ lack of quality in the final third was alarming in the second half, with so many terrible crosses and final balls letting the side down. Credit to Carlisle. They impressed and it’s easy to see why they have now won 8 out of 9 at home and are second in the league. They also seemed to have pulled off a masterstroke in signing out-of-contract Rhys Bennett. Up front and in midfield, they were pacey and incisive getting in lots of decent shots at goal. They look a good bet for promotion. With things tight at the bottom of the table, the Stags have a critical game at home to bottom club Southend United on Saturday. Southend, who picked up only six points from their first 15 games, have suddenly picked up six more points from their last two games, and are now just four points behind Mansfield with a game in hand. The Stags are still looking for that elusive first home win in the league this season, and will be hoping to achieve it on Saturday. The Stags were unchanged from the side that drew at Cambridge. Nicky Maynard was unavailable due to injury, a dead leg, picked up at Grimsby, and he remains a doubt for Saturday. Andy Cook was on the bench, against the club where he started as a youngster in the youth team, and incredibly he had never played against Carlisle until he came on in the second half this evening. Aaron O’Driscoll came into the 18 in place of Maynard. Carlisle, already on a run of three straight wins coming into the game, and with 7 wins from 8 at home, were full of confidence. Former Stag Rhys Bennett joined Carlisle only a few weeks after being without a club, and started in central defence. With Carlisle in tier 2 of Government restrictions, 2,000 fans were allowed in to support the home side. The Stags won a free kick after 3 minutes in a good area. But Mal Benning’s kick didn’t beat the first man. Really good play though by Ollie Clarke after 5 minutes as he made a good run into the box, but he fired just wide of the right post from 16 yards with his left foot. A minute later at the other end, Gordon put in a great block on a shot from Josh Kayode from 14 yards, putting it behind for a corner. Good play between Lapslie and Charsley after 9 minutes, and Charsley won a free kick 23 yards from goal. Maris went for goal and his kick deflected up off the wall for a corner. After 15 minutes, Ryan Sweeney put in a block on a shot from Joe Riley that seemed destined to go in. Superb from Sweeney getting back to keep it out of the net, a goal-saving clearance. Riley had been put in space by a great ball from Alessandra and his shot from 12 yards had beaten Stech. Bowery made a good run into the box on the left after 17 minutes but his cross-shot was deflected to the keeper. Patrick also had three shots at goal before he finally broke the deadlock. After 21 minutes, Lapslie volleyed a tremendous effort from wide on the right, just in from the touchline, that was heading for the roof of the net until keeper Farman superbly tipped it over the bar. Straight to the other end, and the lively Patrick cut in from the left and fired goalwards, and Clarke blocked his shot. After 29 minutes, Patrick’s push forward again and his shot from 22 yards was straight at Stech. Four minutes later, Callum Guy tried his luck from 22 yards and shot just wide of the right post. On 38 minutes, Patrick tried another shot that deflected and looped over and wide, when it could have gone anywhere. Carlisle took the lead after 39 minutes when Patrick controlled a cross from the right by Armer and with his second touch fired past Stech on the volley from 9 yards. Gordon perhaps could have put in a challenge to make it more difficult for Patrick, but it was a tremendous finish. One more chance in the half as Jon Mellish fired into the side netting from an impossible angle on the left. The Stags behind at the break then, but it had been an even first half with chances for both sides and the Stags had done ok, though Carlisle looked very dangerous going forward, with Patrick getting in several shots before his did score. Up front for the Stags, Jamie Reid was not getting a look in against Rhys Bennett. Half time 1-0 Inside the opening minute of the second half, Alessandra sliced a shot wide from the edge of the area. After 49 minutes, Benning found Reid with a fine diagonal ball, Reid teed up Lapslie for a shot from the edge of the area which was deflected wide of the right post. At the other end on 53 minutes, Riley’s shot from 22 yards was deflected for a corner. After 54 minutes, Bowery set Gordon away down the right, Gordon’s cross was headed up by a defender and as the ball dropped, Bowery shot on the turn from 9 yards but it was blocked by Hayden. Two minutes later, a good run by Gordon, but his pass to Reid found Reid caught on his heels. The game was passing Reid by. After 57 minutes, Riley with another shot, this time from 25 yars, and Stech saved at his near post. Ollie Clarke was booked for bringing down Kayode after 64 minutes. Rhys Bennett was also booked for pushing and shoving after the free kick was given. From the resulting free kick from the right, a good header away by Rawson under pressure. Patrick got past Gordon after 67 minutes, cut inside and his shot deflected off Rawson and just wide of the post. Andy Cook replaced Maris after 68 minutes. Riley took another shot from 25 yards after 71 minutes, it went wide via a couple of deflections. Two minutes later, Riley was again denied by a great block, this time from Lapslie. Tyrese Sinclair replaced Reid after 79 minutes. After 80 minutes, Riley tried another shot, his fifth of the second half, and his sixth of the game. This time it was deflected straight to Stech. Then substitute Gime Toure shot straight at Stech from 25 yards. Sinclair had been brought on to provide quality from set pieces. But after 88 minutes, he took a free kick from 35 yards and put it over everyone and out of play. Into stoppage time, Bowery pushed forward but he couldn’t get past his man, he went down, but there was no foul. Bowery had been good under the new manager, but hadn’t played well here, nor did he at Grimsby on Saturday. Mansfield’s terrible second half was summed up on 90+4 minutes when Clarke crossed from the right and it landed on the roof of the net. A dreadful second half from the Stags, and Carlisle were worthy winners. Plenty of shots from Carlisle, mostly from Riley and Patrick, 21 on total, with 7 on target. Just 6 shots from the Stags, with just 1 on target. Mansfield will need to play much better to beat Southend on Saturday in what will be a big game at the bottom of the table. Man of the match: Ryan Sweeney |
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Report by: Martin Shaw at Brunton Park
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Line Up:
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Stech 6 No chance with the goal. A couple of fairly routine saves.
Gordon 5 Perhaps could have put in a challenge to make it more difficult for Patrick for the goal. Great block on a shot from Kayode. Overall given a difficult night by Patrick. Rawson 7 Solid in central defence. Some good headers away and blocks. Sweeney 8 Goal-saving clearance on a shot from Riley that seemed destined to go in. Very good performance. Benning 6 Did ok. Charsley 5 One good piece of play but did nowhere near enough. O.Clarke 6 One good early run though shot wide. Good blocks. Terrible cross summed up the night in stoppage time. Lapslie 6.5 Tremendous volley tipped over the bar by the keeper. One or two other good pieces of play. Great block on a shot by Riley. Maris 5 Not involved enough. Bowery 5 Poor game. Reid 4.5 Did not get a look in against Rhys Bennett. The game passed him by. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Cook (for Maris, 68 mins) - Came on against the club where he started as a youngster in the youth team, and incredibly he had never played against Carlisle before. Didn’t affect the game much.
Sinclair (for Reid, 79 mins) - Didn't produce when he came on. But he has on the rare occasions he has had chances before, for example his last game at Scunthorpe in the EFL Trophy, so it was reasonable to bring him on and to hope he could do something similar again. Subs not used: Stone, O’Keeffe, Menayese, McLaughlin, O'Driscoll. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(4-3-3): Farman; Armer, Hayden, Bennett, Anderton; Guy, Riley (Furman 88), Mellish; Kayode, Alessandra (Reilly 90+4), Patrick (Toure 79). Subs not used: Dewhurst, Hunt, Dixon, Obiero.
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Referee:
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Peter Wright 6 Despite plenty of moaning from the home fans, he didn’t have a bad game.
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