If Carlisle are to survive the drop to the Nationwide Conference this season it's going to be results that count rather than the quality of the performance. Whilst the Cumbrians just about deserved this narrow victory over mid table Mansfield, their apparent lack of quality at times was more than compensated by a new found resolve to grind out a result.
Carlisle have certainly played better this season and ended up losing games. Momentary lapses in concentration have cost them dearly but the quality of the defending in this match bodes well for the remainder of the campaign. The central defensive partnership of Stuart Whitehead, David Morley and Mark Winstanley was the cornerstone of this victory. This was even further emphasised with Morley and Whitehead also providing the match winning goals.
In the first meeting of the sides just before Christmas, Stags keeper Bobby Mimms' man of the match performance denied the Cumbrians a deserved three points. In stark contrast his inept performance this time round did much to ensure the home sides victory.
His indecision almost gifted Carlisle an opening goal on 6 minutes when he failed to collect Mick Galloway's in-swinging corner, which eluded everyone to canon of the far post and subsequent safety.
Five minutes later Scott Dobie swivelled to crack a right foot shot just wide of Mimm's left hand post.
A quality through ball from Winstanley after 16 minutes set Ian Stevens away but Mimms did well to save at the forwards feet.
The home sides early pressure eventually brought its reward on 18 minutes when another quality corner from Galloway was headed home by the on loan Morley.
Now well on top the Cumbrians looked capable of extending their lead, but were rocked back on their heels when a wonderful 25 yard chip from Shayne Bradley caught Matty Glennon of his line to draw the Stags level.
The equaliser seemed to disrupt the Cumbrians, as they put further pressure on themselves by giving the ball away allowing Mansfield more of the possession.
However Lee Maddison almost put the home side back in front when his 43rd minute free kick curled narrowly wide.
For all their neat passing game the Stags had failed to get a further shot on target and they were made to pay on the stroke of half time as Carlisle took the lead.
Another Galloway in-swinging corner again eluded Mimms and with the Mansfield defence in a flap captain Whitehead had the luxury of two attempts before finally forcing his header home.
Stevens had the ball in the net nine minutes into the second half, only to be ruled narrowly offside.
Mansfield were now getting into the game and Chris Greenacre's 74th minute shot was well saved by Glennon low to his right.
Carlisle bounced back seven minutes later when Steve Soley got on the end of another Galloway corner only to see his header cleared off the line by Martin Pemberton.
The final minutes of the match saw almost total dominance from Mansfield, as they pressed for an equaliser. Glennon had to make full length saves from Darrell Clarke and Lee Williams before the relief of the final whistle came and with it three very important points.
Manager Ian Atkins was pleased with the result. He said:" The performance wasn't brilliant. We could have done some things a lot better today. We didn't hold the ball up well enough up front which meant the ball kept coming back at us. Tension did creep in but you have got to understand that the players are desperate to win and the three points were very important."
Mike Corry
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