Carlisle United 1 Aldershot Town 1

Last updated : 28 December 2004 By Footymad Previewer
Super-sub Glenn Murray spared Carlisle's blushes with his first goal for the club.

The former Workington and Barrow striker, signed a fortnight ago, came off the bench at half-time to spark listless Carlisle and crash in an 89th minute equaliser.

It was cruel on hard-working Aldershot - hammered 5-0 at home by Carlisle back in September.

A super strike by skipper Steve Watson had fired them in front two minutes before the break. He took Hugh McAuley's inch-perfect through ball in his stride to lash a fizzing 22-yard drive across diving keeper Matt Glennon.

With five men across the middle, Aldershot stifled Carlisle in midfield without threatening much up front.

And in the second half Carlisle boss Paul Simpson gambled on all three of his substitute strikers as the home team hammered at Aldershot's stubborn defence, and inspirational keeper Nikki Bull pulled off a string of fine saves to keep them at bay.

After Tim Sills was inches off doubling Aldershot's lead in the 52nd minute with a fierce 12-yarder that whizzed just wide, it was one-way traffic in the other direction.

Bull twiced turned Murray headers round the woodwork before teenager Tyrone Smith stabbed a Simon Grand header off Aldershot's line.

And Aldershot looked on course for three points as the keeper defied Karl Hawley and Murray three times in quick sucession.

But Bull had no chance when the livewire substitute was first to a low Brendan McGill cross to steer in the equaliser at the near post.

Afterwards Carlisle boss Simpson admitted: 'It was a poor performance, the work-rate wasn't there and we had to do something about it at half-time.

"Glenn came on and gave us something different and on another day coud have had two or three goals."

Aldershot boss Terry Brown said: "I am delighted we pinched a point. The players gave 100 per cent and that's all you can ask for as a manager, but I couldn't dispute that Carlisle were worth a point."