I did go. They played well and should have got 3 points. In fact if the skill level of the players was a little better we would have stuffed em. It was obvious to where I was standing that the game was crying out for Maddison to work the left wing down to the corner, rather than hoofing it into the box. I believe the team is playing 100% for the club, but some of them are simply not good enough. Heggs played Ok and was totally committed. Dobie was the best player on the park. Winstanley and Darby were solid. If we play like that we should win more than we lose (hopefully) Funny that the Mansfield reporter said that Carlisle were a struggling side and looking like they were bottom! We did not play like a bottom side but the sad fact is that we are and I have never seen a worse team in a Carlisle shirt (what a horrible cheap shirt it is too!)
Graeme Dixon
ATKINS SETTLES FOR POINT
Carlisle followed on from the last half hour at Macclesfield as they produced some truly awful "football" in the first 20 minutes of this game. Although Mansfield didn't necessarily deserve the lead Carlisle did deserve to be behind and they were after 16 minutes. In keeping with the performance it was a very poor goal to give away - a corner free header bang one nil. With Carlisle now deciding to play properly they stepped up their play in search of an equaliser. They had various chances before half time - Maddison went close with a free kick, Dobie had a looping header tipped over by Bobby Mimms in the Mansfield goal, Maddison's long range effort looked certain to be a goal before a deflection caused the ball to loop up to Heggs whose header was saved by Mimms. In between all this Carlisle did manage an equaliser. Heggs, who had a good first half, fed Dobie who appeared to have let the ball drift too far but he finished brilliantly placing the ball back across Mimms' goal just inside the post. The Carlisle fans, whose early entertainment had involved shouting loud enough to try and get on the radio commentary (Derek Lacey was bang in the middle of the away end) at last had something to cheer about.
The second half was a dire affair. Carlisle had some half chances but eventually began to defend deeper and deeper. Heggs, quite clearly tired out was amazingly not substituted by fans favourite Stevie Halliday. Halliday must wonder when he will get a game - whether we are winning, losing or drawing away from home Atkins steadfastly refuses to use the potential matchwinner. Soley replaced Dobie(!) in injury time as Mansfield had some late pressure but never looked like scoring. It was Carlisle's first away point since the start of September but the feeling was it should have been much more if Atkins been more adventurous.
Team
Glennon, MADDISON (STAR MAN), Birch, Winstanley, Darby, Whitehead, Prokas, Connelly, Galloway, Dobie, Heggs
Subs
Soley (for Dobie, 90) Halliday, Hore, McCaughtrie, Inglis (Not used)
Chris Kearton
A battling performance earned Carlisle a deserved point last night at Mansfield's Field Mill; their first away draw of the season.
The Cumbrians were left to rue a man-of-the-match performance by home goalkeeper Bobby Mimms, who made four outstanding saves to deny Ian Atkins men a deserved victory.
Atkins was pleased with the point. "Going forward we were a pleasure to watch but we still have a soft spot down the middle defensively," he said. "With two homes games to come we have to build on this result." The first goal came on 16 minutes when central defender Adam Barrett headed home Lee Williams corner.
It was no more than the home side deserved after dominating the early exchanges.
The goal brought about a transformation as Carlisle remarkably gained in confidence to get on top.
On 31 minutes Scott Dobie had a header turned round the post by Mimms in spectacular fashion.
Four minutes later Dobie pulled the Cumbrians level, latching onto a perfect Gordon Connelly through ball to shoot across Mimms into the bottom corner. Lee Maddison then had a thunderous free kick turned away by Mimms after 37 minutes. Almost immediately Mimms made a double save, firstly from a Maddison shot followed by a Carl Heggs header.
A minute later Dobie turned in the box to flash a right foot shot passed the post.
Carlisle went in at half time wondering how they hadn't put the game out of reach of the Stags.
Four minutes into the second half Connelly's volley was again well saved by Mimms but Chris Greenacre then went close for the home side heading back across the Carlisle goal.
On 73 minutes Matt Glennon was called into action making a full length save to turn a Michael Bolding shot away after the Blues defence had been caught with a long ball down the middle.
The Cumbrians continued to dominate the play but could not find that elusive winner.
Mike Corry
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