Once again there was controversy about several of the goals but ultimately United failed to lock down a match that appeared theres for the taking mid-way through the second half. The result means they have still not beaten either of their 'local' rivals, Darlo or Hartlepool in the league since December 1998 - a run stretching to 18 matches. With Leon Osman again being kept on the bench in what was his farewell appearance for the Cumbrians, Mark Hudson was given the central midfield role alongside Mark Summerbell. After just nine minutes the home team had gone in front. Richie Foran had already come in for some rough treatment at the hands of ex-United skipper Stuart Whitehead and when the ball was played into the box and the two grappled again. Referee David Pugh decided that was enough of that and pointed to the spot. Craig Farrell stepped up and confidently despatched the kick to record his 8th goal of the campaign. Darlington were looking to play on the break and get past United's offside trap. They had gone close on a couple of occasions when in the 19th minute Richard Hodgson beat a rather square defence down the left channel. United sprinted to get back but three Darlo attackers were in the clear and merely had to stay behind the ball to be onside. On-loan Richard Offiong arrived first to clip home Hodgson's low cross and bring the scores level. The linesman on the Paddock side came in for terrible stick after two more borderline decisions went in favour of the visitors. Matty Glennon came off his line in a rush to deny Offiong a second and spared the linesman a fate worse than death. Close to half-time the Cumbrians regained the lead when Hudson shaped to shoot, switched on to his left foot and saw his effort deflect past stranded Quakers keeper Lonergan. 2-1 to United at the break but a chorus of boos for the under-fire officials. In the opening stages of the second half Carlisle assumed control of the midfield and looked more likely to add a third than Darlo were to equalise. However another debatable decision handed Mick Tait's men a lifeline. Mark Ford's cross from the left was aimed at Conlon who was adjudged to have been impeded by Darren Kelly and Offiong ran up to beat Glennon from the spot, the keeper failing to add to his impressive recent record of penalty saves. The surface was difficult and not ideal for United's passing game. Too often they tried to dribble or pass their way through when a shot or cross might have been a better option. Osman was brought into the game by Collins and twice almost prised open the visitors' defence as Carlisle began to force the issue again. Ford tried a clever chip for the visitors that cleared Glennon's bar by a foot or so but United had the best chance to grab the points when substitute Brian Wake drove inches wide of the far post after a neat build up involving Brian Shelley and Osman. Al's verdict: Another game that we should have won has slipped out of our grasp. A record of 2 wins in 12 home games should set the alarm bells ringing, if they weren't already. Darlington were a pretty modest side and surely a good team would have won a game like this by a couple of goals. The officials didn't really help and both penalties looked a little doubtful. The offside decisions were questionable but the one that led to the goal looked OK to me. We can have few real complaints and blaming referees is one of the oldest tricks in the book when things aren't going well. At home we are just not doing the business and it is to be hoped we can collect three points from one of the next two away games at Orient and Hartlepool or we are almost certain to be heading into the New Year in the relegation zone. |
