Carlisle Utd have to settle for draw against Mansfield after Hallam Hope strike

The striker raced through to score after just 15 minutes at Brunton Park.

United keeper Jack Bonham saved a Kane Hemmings penalty early in the second half.

But shortly after the Stags got level through sub Calum Butcher.

United hit the woodwork three times, including two efforts in the closing stages from Luke Joyce and sub Shaun Miller.

But they were left with their first draw of the League Two season after five games, in front of a 4,677 crowd.

Defender Mark Ellis went close in the 13th minute when he headed a Tom Miller long throw against the bar.

But two minutes later United were ahead.

As the Blues cleared a Stags free-kick, Joyce helped the ball on and striker Hope touched it past last man Rhys Bennett before keeping his cool to slot past keeper Conrad Logan.

Carlisle forced further half-chances as their deliveries from wide positions caused regular problems for Steve Evans' defence.

Ellis narrowly failed to meet a further cross, while later Joyce put an overhead kick over the visitors' bar.

Mansfield came more into the game as the half went on and forced a few chances of their own.

Their best was a free-kick from Hemmings which drew a superb save from Bonham.

Carlisle's recalled keeper also did well to block a Lee Angol attempt, while Ellis got in the way of a Paul Anderson finish.

Ref Darren Handley was also in the thick of things in the first 45 minutes.

One flashpoint saw Mansfield striker Lee Angol appear to kick out at Ellis after being awarded a free-kick, the two players then squaring up.

Carlisle fans called for the Mansfield frontman to be dismissed but Handley only produced a yellow card - Ellis also being booked.

The ref was involved in off-field controversy too as he was called over by the fourth official midway through the half to speak to Carlisle manager Keith Curle.

The result was that towels which United's players had been using to dry the ball before throw-ins had to be removed from the ball-boys.

Mansfield upped things after the break and after Mellis wasted a good opening, Tom Miller's climb on Paul Anderson was penalised by Handley.

Hemmings stepped up, but Bonham guessed right to save the spot-kick.

Seven minutes later, though, Evans' side found a way back.

Bonham came out to punch clear a cross, but debutant Butcher - on the pitch for just two minutes after replacing Mellis - sent it sailing over the stranded keeper and into the net.

Butcher had a chance to double his tally later but cleared the bar this time.

Mike Jones couldn't quite reach a through ball as Carlisle tried to come back into things.

Bonham saved from Hemmings as Mansfield remained on top in the second half, while David Mirfin blew a great opening when a corner landed at his feet.

But United could easily have won it in the closing 12 minutes.

First, Joyce sent a left-footed effort spinning against the post.

And then Shaun Miller, on for Bennett, cut in from the left and cracked the same upright.

The United manager made five changes from the side that started Tuesday night's Checkatrade Trophy win at Morecambe, with Nicky Adams, Reggie Lambe, Tom Miller, Bonham and Bennett coming back into the side.

Gary Liddle was alongside man-of-the-match Ellis at centre-half, with Tom Parkes serving a one-match suspension.

United: Bonham, T Miller, Grainger, Ellis, Liddle, Joyce, Jones, Adams, Lambe (Kennedy 71), Bennett (S Miller 80), Hope (Cosgrove 90). Not used: George, Devitt, Nabi, Brown.

Mansfield: Logan, Bennett, Benning, Pearce, Mirfin, Byrom, Mellis (Butcher 56), Atkinson (Potter 56), Anderson, Angol (Rose 68), Hemmings. Not used: Olejnik, White, MacDonald, Spencer.