Carlisle United 4 Yeovil Town 1

Last updated : 30 August 2008 By Footymad Previewer
A clinical Danny Graham hat-trick saw Carlisle United romp home as the Cumbrians ended Yeovil Town's unbeaten start to the season. The ex-Middlesbrough hitman showed nerves of steel to claim his first senior hat-trick by slamming home a penalty.

But it was far from plain sailing for the home side, who came from behind after the visitors netted first on 15 minutes. A Yeovil corner eventually landed at the feet of Marc Bircham, but his shot was blocked by Ben Williams and Gavin Tomlin was on hand to steer the ball in for his third goal of the season.

Yeovil continued to dominate for the rest of the first-half with some neat passing combined with heavy challenges that stretched referee Graham Laws' goodwill. The home side finally found a way past the Glovers defence, but Graham somehow side-footed wide before making amends for that miss deep into first-half injury-time.

David Raven's lofted cross allowed Danny Livesey to nod down to Graham, who found a way past his marker to send the ball past the wrong-footed Asmir Begovic. Yeovil's half-time sub Lloyd Owusu almost scored with his first touch but a ten-minute period of Glovers dominance was ended when Graham struck again.

A clever interchange of passes allowed winger Cleveland Taylor to cross for Danny Carlton, the ex-Morecambe striker's header was stopped on the line by Begovic allowing Graham to smash in from a yard. Eight minutes later and Graham was in dreamland, tucking a penalty past Begovic after Taylor was felled by Lee Peltier.

The home side were now running riot and with the hat-trick hero given a standing ovation as he was subbed for teenage striker Gary Madine, a fourth goal seemed inevitable. And with added time on the clock it duly arrived as Taylor squared to Madine to finish with aplomb for his professional goal.