My first ever visit to Field Mill (I've done about 80 grounds now), a rather dreary, ram shackled pit... but the pitch was in fabulous condition and it was a beautiful sunny day...it'll soon be bloody freezing and wet! There was about 300 Carlisle fans - not bad considering the last 2 results.. Overall verdict - I think Mansfield deserved the victory on the day.. however it was pleasing to see the way the lads battled.... especially when going down to 10 men...very pleased with a point First half was a poor performance and Mansfield deserved to go in on top, but Paul Baker was our saviour... The stags had taken the lead with a well taken free kick just outside the box, it wasnt very clear to see from where the Carlisle fans were but Weaver seemed to miss judge his placing of the wall and the Mansfield front man placed the ball easily into the corner - Weaver hardly moved.... Mansfield's first league goal this season... of course it has to be against Carlisle - thats the way it always happens.... The Stags should have another goal when another free kick taken by the fat looking Peacock, similar to the last one was palmed on to the bar by Weaver, and earlier before Mansfield had hit the post, when it looked like a certain goal. Carlisle's passing looked poor and we had little penetration up front... but then a neat set of interchanges between Black and Tracey up front and Tracey was put clear with an empty goal in front of him... this one he couldnt miss... we all celebrated thinking an equaliser, but the ref disallowed it for offside.. difficult to see for the Carlisle fans as it was right down the other end.. Then that goal from Paul Baker.... he hasnt changed much, perhaps a little wiser and he has a little more skill than when he was playing for carlisle some 13 years ago....(I think?).... I cant really remember much about the build up, suffice to say he broke clear on the right of the box and shot from about 15 yards into the roof of the net.. a shock! But a great goal... 1-1 on 35 mins and the Blues were back in it.. Second half was a lot brighter for Carlisle in the opening 20 mins... new signing Black came much more into the game and he showed his quality with the neat touches.. We produced much better football and actually managed to force their keeper into a couple of saves and forced two or three corners!!..... nothing came of these but it was pleasing to see the way Carlisle battled... Then the booking of Thomas Black - he clashed with one of their Black players! - who then proceded to provoke him along with the home crowd...His second bookable offence was unlucky - a challlenge which the Mansfield player made a meal of, and with the home crowd bating like crazy - the ref had no option to send him off as he would have been lynched by incessed Mansfield fans.....talk about the crowd getting a player sent off... saying that - dont we all do it? After that it was backs to the wall stuff and every man back in defence for the last 15 or 20 mins - Mansfield had us on the rack - we cleared off the line and they hit the post - which seemed to happen in slow motion, with the home crowd celebrating as if it was a certain goal .. then it came back of the post!!.. oh how we laughed..... Thorpey and Prokas came on - Baker and Searle going off.. Baker was knackered!! After '5' mins of injury time, at about 5 to 5 the ref finally confirmed our first point away from home.... Overall - Mansfield are a poor side, but could have still won handsomely on the day.. My first view of Carlisle this season and I wasnt particularly impressed, the team seems very nervous and lacking in ideas... I do think that with one or two more games and players coming back from injury, Wilko will get it right.... and we should be mid table ish....I think that is the best we could hope for.... On the day - Brightwell played well in defence, and Black looked a quality acquisition in midfield.. but now he'll be out for next Sat (?) - should play on Bank Holiday Monday though... I think at Brunton Park tomorrow we'll play with more ease and confidence... although against Plymouth and Paul Mcrgregor - it will be difficult... Nick. Staines, Middx.
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