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It was an important game for the Cumbrians as they looked to consolidate their lead at the top of the table but unfortunately a momentary lapse of concentration cost them a point and gifted Tranmere all three.
The Blues started very brightly at Rivacre Park, the home of Conference North outfit Vauxhall Motors and had the Wirral outfit under the cosh for long periods of the first-half. The Cumbrians were unable to make the breakthrough though due to some excellent saves in the Tranmere goal by young Rovers glovesman Phil Palethorpe. Youngsters Paul Henry and Oliver James also had standout games at the back for Rovers as it was all hands to the pumps for the Tranmere backline.
That inability to find the net cost United dearly though as the home side came on strongly in the last twenty minutes of the game, going close through Steve Davies, Michael Jones and Paul Brown as the Blues worked hard to take a point home to Cumbria. The Wirral outfit eventually found the net seven minutes from time through substitute Craig Curran who finished crisply past Carlisle keeper Adam Bradley after he had been sent clear from a well-weighted pass by central midfielder Joe Fowler.
So, a disappointing result tonight for the second-string Blues and one which sees them drop to second in the table after Preston won 2-0 at Wrexham. Still, United have two games in hand on the Lilywhites and with four of their seven games left to be played at Brunton Park, reserve team boss Billy Barr will still be confident that the Cumbrians can win the ten-team league this season.
Tranmere line-up :
Phil Palethorpe, Oliver James, Paul Henry, Danny Holmes, Gary Lovell, Michael Jones, Joe Fowler, Jason McAteer, Paul Brown, Steve Davies, Adam Dickinson (Craig Curran 77).
Unused subs :
Jamie Garry, Luke Holden, Sean Ferguson, Kevin Connolly (GK).
United line-up :
Adam Bradley, Lee Andrews, Danny Livesey, Simon Grand, Dean Howell, Brendan McGill, Shaun Vipond, Paul Simpson, Simon Hackney, Mark Rivers, Glenn Murray.
Unused substitutes (from) :
Martin Graham, Rob Bainbridge, Matthew Blake, Gary Baker, Andy Hardman, Terry Stewart and Ashley Combe.
Other results in the division this week :
Shrewsbury 2-3 Chester (Monday afternoon)
Blackpool 3-0 Rochdale (Wednesday evening)
Burnley 0-1 Bury (Wednesday evening)
Wrexham 0-2 Preston (Wednesday evening)
Updated Reserve Team Table : Click here
Updated Reserve Team Results : Click here