With Brendan McGill (hamstring), Stuart Whitehead (ankle), Steve Soley (toe) and Stuart Green (back to Newcastle) all missing, Carlisle probably had to field their weakest side for many weeks. In the first half at least, they looked more than capable of taking something out of the game. After the interval, they fell away badly. The visitors really had few chances in the first 45 minutes but one purple patch brought them a goal and they didn't look back after that. Carlisle pressed forward with gusto in the early stages and down the left with Dave Rogers's left peg unerringly picking out runners, they were getting into space and stretching the visitors. Young Will McDonagh tried an early shot that was a little too high to test visiting keeper Anthony Williams. Mark Birch got forward down the right channel and stung Williams's hands with a fierce shot. Ian Stevens showed all his old predatory instincts when he latched on to a ball outside the box and fired inches wide of the upright with Williams scrambling across his goal to cover. Stevens even had the ball in the net but the referee Mark Halsey blew up for offside. In the 22nd minute 'Pool moved in front with their first really dangerous moment. Darren Clark's cross found Gordon Watson who teed up Richie Humphreys but Peter Keen got a hand out to keep the ball out. The ball was pumped back in and United conceded a corner. From Paul Smith's kick, Graeme Lee rose unmarked to head into the gaping net. Carlisle continued to play some nice football but the final ball tended to be lacking. A Rogers header that hit the side netting was the closest they came to squaring things up. Roddy Collins needed to gee them up during the interval but it was the visitors who came out fired up to control the game and that is what they did, by and large. Chances for the home side dried up and Steve Halliday's introduction just past the hour mark did little to improve the picture. He made little impression against his old teammates. The writing was on the wall in the 68th minute when Pool got men inside the box again, the ball ran kindly for them and Gordon Watson thumped the ball into the roof of the net from eight yards out. It was effectively game, set and match. Mark Winstanley collected a late booking as the visitors comfortably held their lead and looked more than likely to extend it. A disgruntled home crowd vented their frustrations towards the end and Collins may be forced into changes for Saturday's game with Oxford. Al's verdict: Not much good to report on here. A good first half performance let down by poor final ball and finishing and then a dismal second half which saw the visitors strengthen their play-off hopes with a solid professional display that left us well out of it. Clearly fielding such an inexperienced side is having an adverse effect on results. Collins knows his squad isn't good enough to get us into the top half of the table and push on for the play offs next season. The only problem is he can't do anything about it with this embargo still in force. We all know what has to happen for that to be lifted but the frustration is getting to everyone as the long wait goes on. |
