The Cumbrians made one significant change with Paul Arnison in on the right side for Brendan McGill. With Paul Simpson, Andy Preece and Carlos Roca still out injured, the rest of the team was unchanged. The rain was pouring down as the game kicked off. Aldershot made the first serious raid in the sixth minute as Aaron McLean outpaced Simon Grand and fired a shot across goal but wide of the far post. Within a minute Kevin Gray was adjudged rather harshly to have fouled McLean a yard outside the box. Darren Barnard's shot was spooned away by Matty Glennon only for Giles to fire over. United made a chance when Hawley flicked on to Vieira only for a defender to block. Lumsdon then fired a shot narrowly wide. Nikki Bull made an errant punch in the 12th minute and the ball fell for Hawley who hooked a yard wide. Adam Miller did well to outfox Tom Cowan and his cross found the head of Aaron McLean who floated his effort wide of Glennon's right post. In the 26th minute a Lumsdon free kick caught Bull cold as he slipped and the ball beat him and sailed into the net. It was a bit of a gift, but a valuable one nonetheless for United. Shelley conceded a corner a minute later after a good defensive tackle. The Shots came very close on the half hour when Tim Sills header clipped the top of the cross-bar. Shelley was forced off the field with what looked like concussion following a clash of heads earlier. Lee Andrews came on and slotted into the right-back position. McLean burst through straight away and shot wide of the right hand post when he had only Glennon to beat. Vieira then did well to keep the ball in play, Arnison's cross was hooked out and Carlisle earned a corner. Lumsdon's delivery was too strong and the ball went out for a goal kick. The Cumbrians won another corner when the ball was cleared away from the lurking Arnison. The same man then went quite close as he won a header and the ball floated narrowly wide, as half-time approached. Nick Crittenden's cross in the last minute of the half forced Andrews into conceding a corner, with Grand on the floor injured. The tall central defender received treatment from Neil Dalton and was unable to come back on for the set-piece. The corner kick brought trouble as the ball was hooked off the line and a scramble ensued. The half-time whistle immediately followed. The second half had hardly started when Hawley and Murphy combined to put through Vieira who cracked home a superb shot into the bottom corner to double United's lead. Vieira then did well to set up Murphy who shot over. The drying conditions with the sun poking through seemed to be inspiring the visitors. Gray made a great saving tackle to deny the Shots a chance to pull a goal back. A corner flew off Gray's head and over as Carlisle looked to put the game safe. On 59 minutes Murphy took the ball on his chest and volleyed one that was deflected over the bar. A Cowan volley brought a top save out of Bull who palmed the ball to safety. Vieira made a deft run and pass to Billy who saw his shot from 18 yards blocked. The lead was stretched to three goals in the 64th minute when Murphy's clever ball in was met by Billy on the volley who smashed it past Bull. The goal brought delight to an estimated 500 travelling Cumbrians in a crowd of 3,482. Within another two minutes it was four-nil as Lumsdon won a tackle and broke away to deliver a far post cross that bounced first and was met by Vieira with an accurate header into the net. It was turning into a rout as Vieira nearly got his hat-trick from an Arnison pass. Murphy fired in a right footed effort that was inches off finding the target. Shell shocked Aldershot got back into it as a Giles header brought a tip over from Glennon. Vieira then produced a goal of great quality as he beat Barnard all ends up and drilled home his hat-trick goal. Vieira got a standing ovation as he came off soon after to be replaced by Kevin Henderson. The teenage Brazilian was all smiles after recording the first hat-trick of his young career. Paul Simpson had the luxury of taking off top scorer Karl Hawley with 10 minutes left and replacing him with Craig Farrell. McLean had a chance to score a consolation but Glennon stood tall and saved, as the minutes ticked down. The Shots luck was out again with two minutes of stoppage time elapsed when Glennon saved at point blank range. Al's verdict: Brazil, it's just like watching Brazil.... What more can you add to a performance like that? In truth we were a little fortunate to be one-up at half-time but the second half display has to rank as one of the most complete ever produced by a United side. Aldershot went into the game with a 100% home record and only one goal conceded. To say 5-0 was an unexpected scoreline would be an understatement. Vieira really turned it on in the second half and there must be moves made now to try and persuade him to stay until the end of the season. He has the pace and skill to unlock the best defences, even if Aldershot's today looked decidedly creaky. Murphy has been transformed in the last few games and had an excellent game, making yet more goals to confirm his position as top of the assists table. A club record equalled - now let's go on and create a new one! |
