Carlisle United

Brunton Park, home of Carlisle United based in Cumbria and play their trade in League 2. Nicknamed the “Cumbrians” as they are based in the English County of Cumbria. Yes! I am back with my beloved Mansfield Town and it is an Easter Monday special as we head up to Carlisle which is one of the longer journeys of the season! Bring it on!! Important games ahead for Mansfield now!

8am and it’s the train from Shirebrook to Mansfield sees me here in good time! 8:30am and I am here at Field Mill! The SSA bus is here! Tom is here! Now we wait for the Super Stag and Jack… Here they are finally! 9am and off we go!!

Onto the M1 towards the A1 and onto the A66 and… Time for a quick stop. Mainsgill Farm Shop in Richmond! An unusual stop for us all as we usually stop at a service stop but seeing as we’re on a big country road… Things have changed! “Don’t get a Chocolate Cheesecake!” The Super Stag’s advice to me… But Cheesecake is so good! Looking at those cakes… This is a difficult choice! Toffee Cheesecake is the final answer! Now to pet the Cows. I love animals!! Back onto the coach and now for the Toffee Cheesecake… OH MY WORD!!!! DEEEEEELICIOUS!!!

• Toffee Cheesecake: 10/10 – SO SO GOOD!!!

We’re finally here at Carlisle! Now for some pre-match beverages! Off we go to Carlisle Rugby Club just around the corner. Huddersfield have got a vital 3 points against Middlesbrough! Can Mansfield do the same here today? Let’s find out! £13 to watch this League 2 tie! Nicely done! The atmosphere is building nicely in the away end!!

Kick Off! “Yellow & Blue army!” 8 minutes in and Mansfield play forward down the left, the cross comes in, headed away by Carlisle but only to Ryan Stirk who gets onto it and shoots from 20 yards… Saved! 4 minutes later and Mansfield get it out left again, crossed in, Elliott Hewitt at the back post… Side netting!

15 minutes on the clock and Carlisle have a throw in on the right, it’s a long one, Nathan Bishop punches away but only to Lewis Alessandra who heads it goalwards… Dynel Simeu gets a head on it… OFF THE LINE!! Brilliant from Stephen McLaughlin there to keep the game level!

“Everywhere we go! We’re the Mansfield boys making all the noise! Everywhere we go!!” Mansfield fans still in good spirits here! A slow spell in the game as both teams enjoy spells of possession but Carlisle are growing more and more as the half goes on. 41 minutes now and Mansfield play down the right wing, it’s played across low and here’s Jamie Murphy… OFF THE BAR… And it’s over the line… It’s not been given!! That surely crossed the line!! We all saw it up here! Still 0-0 but that surely was a goal! Play goes on… The half time whistle goes… “BOOOOO!!” The Assistant Referee making no friends in the away end today…

The inquest continues on Twitter… It’s over the line… No question about it!! We have been robbed!! Nothing to stop the Assistant Referee from seeing it either… What a shame!! Will it prove to be costly for Mansfield?

Second half, 54 minutes gone and Mansfield have a corner, played in… It comes to the edge of the box to Jamie Murphy and he shoots… Good save! It’s another corner, in it comes… Keeper claims. 2 minutes later and Carlisle come forward, played out to the left… No flag here… We thought they should be from up here but play goes on, it’s played in to Omari Patrick in the box to the left, he goes for goal… He’s scored… A good finish! Was there an offside in the build up…? Nothing given and Carlisle lead! Good finish! 1-0!!

57 minutes now and Carlisle have a free kick on the left, it’s played in, it’s headed away, it comes to Daniel Devine on the volley from 25 yards out… It’s wide! 2 minutes later and Carlisle have a corner, in it comes… Morgan Feeney with the header… It’s tipped onto the bar by Bishop and here’s Dynel Simeu with the rebound! Over! Close for Carlisle there!

64th minute and Carlisle are looking really good here now! They play it out wide to the right, it’s crossed in and here’s Jordan Gibson with the header… Over! “Da da dadada dadadada Carlisle!” Carlisle fans are going for it now just like their team!

72 minutes on the clock and Carlisle have a corner again, in it comes towards Dynel Simeu… He’s hit the post with his header! In comes the rebound… Wide! 5 minutes later and Carlisle have another corner, in it comes again… Morgan Feeney with the header… They’ve hit the post again!! Nathan Bishop claims the loose ball! So close again from Carlisle!

Mansfield starting to chase the equaliser for the first time now since going behind in the last 10 minutes here! Into the 90th minute and Mansfield come forward now, it’s played to George Maris, he gets to the edge of the box and he goes for goal… Keeper saves!! Carlisle looking comfortable on the ball and are frustrating Mansfield here along with us all in the away end… The Referee blows for full time… A damaging defeat for Mansfield…

Back onto the bus we go and… Oh dear! Not a good day for the Assistant Referee… There was an Offside in the build up to the goal… Just like we had suspected at the time! Not a good day for him or for Mansfield…

FT: Carlisle United 1-0 Mansfield Town

Ratings

• Atmosphere: 6/10 – Mansfield fans did well today!! A bit of atmosphere from the Carlisle fans second half as well!
• The Ground: 10/10 – One of the best in the Football League for me!! Very old school with a lot of character! I love the stand behind the goal! One of my favourite ever stands! It certainly doesn’t look like a stand from the outside!
• Expense: 8/10 – Not bad for £13 in the end! Would’ve preferred more goals though!
• Overall Experience: 6/10 – A decent day out but overshadowed by the poor performance from the officials sadly…

30/40