Mansfield Town 2-2 Carlisle United (EFL League Two) 01.02.20

Mansfield Town threw away a two goal lead as a late comeback earned Carlisle United a share of the spoils at Field Mill.

The visitors dressed in all jade started the better of the two sides and created the main first half chances with Thomas fizzing a thunderbolt free kick straight at Olejnik to punch over on 19.

On 35 Carlisle left back Nick Anderson again tested Olejnik in the Stags goal with a long range effort which scattered across the ground towards goal before the big Austrian dived to his left to punch away.

Scoreless at half time but the Stags took less than 15 minutes in the second half to take the lead when Maynard drove hard and low from outside of the area into the bottom right corner of Adam Collin’s net. The 33 year old then made it two grabbing his 14th league goal of the season after a Danny Rose cross found Harry Charsley who pulled it back to the striker to again unleash from long range this time to the goalkeepers bottom left.

That 72nd minute goal should have been enough to see the Stags through with three much needed points but when Elliott Watt sent a looping left wing cross over the head of Olejnik and into the net for a fortuitous goal back on 78 the remainder of the match became a nervy affair for the hosts as they looked but failed to hold on to their advantage as they eventually conceded a late leveller in the 93rd minute of the match.

Elliott Watt’s right wing free kick evading everyone but Joshua Kayode who headed in from close range to send a share of the spoils back up to Cumbria.

The point however importantly taking the Stags nine clear of Stevenage in the only relegation place although a win from the position they were in would have been so much sweeter.

Stags: Olejnik, Watts, Pearce, Sweeney, Riley, Bishop, MacDonald, Benning, Charsley (Hamilton 77), Rose, Maynard (Preston 88).

*Main image @mansfieldtownfc Nicky Maynard celebrates scoring against Carlisle United.