Danny Carlton - Kevin Gall
Stephen Hindmarch - Jonny Blake - Luke Joyce - Ged Dalton
Darren Campion - Matt Duffy - Dan Wordsworth - Paul Arnison
Chris Howarth
The match got off to a relatively quiet start with a weak 20-yarder from Kevin Gall straight at North End keeper Chris Neal, and a half-volley from long range sliced well wide by Lewis Neal for the visitors the only incidents of any note in the first ten minutes. After 12 minutes Paul Arnison made a good tackle on the right before cutting in and firing a left-footed effort from 20 yards out into the Preston side-netting at the near-post.
With 20 minutes gone Ged Dalton fed Gall in the North End box but his left-footed effort from 15 yards out was weak and straight at Chris Neal. Just sixty seconds later Gall was again in the action as he was sent clear down the right-hand channel by Danny Carlton. This time though his right-footed shot was easy for the keeper to save with Gall maybe shooting too early from just outside the penalty area.
Shortly afterwards a North End corner saw Marc Bloxham head wide of Chris Howarth's goal from eight yards out after a good delivery in by Lewis Neal. Jonny Blake challenged for the ball well on 25 minutes for the Blues as he won possession on the right-angle of the Preston box, his left-footed curler from there drifting just wide of the visitors far-post.
After 28 minutes Carlton was fouled by Dominic Collins 35 yards away from the North End goal, Arnison could only send the free-kick straight into the hands of Chris Neal though. Moments later Dylan Adams played the ball into the feet of Ashley Higgins inside the United penalty area, Higgins's pacey left-footed shot on the turn being expertly pushed wide by Howarth at his near-post.
In a busy spell in the game Carlisle went up the other end after the corner in was cleared, Dalton sending Gall away inside the Preston penalty box. Sadly for the Blues though Gall pulled his right-footed shot across goal and wide of Chris Neal's far-post. Lewis Neal then trying his luck from range five minutes later with a left-footed half-volley that flew high and wide into the empty Warwick Road End.
It was Gall again looking to open the scoring for the Cumbrians sixty seconds later when, following a pass by Arnison, he fired a powerful right-footed 18-yard drive in from the right-hand channel which Chris Neal collected at the second attempt. Shortly afterwards Carlton was scythed down by Bloxham in the centre-circle but referee David Webb bizarrely didn't issue a yellow card.
The United players then becoming incensed in the 39th minute when Luke Joyce was booked for an innocuous looking shirt pull on one-time Carlisle target Andrew Carroll. Sixty seconds later Stephen Hindmarch brought down Bloxham on the right-edge of the Carlisle penalty area. The free-kick came in from Lewis Neal and was sliced goalwards off Arnison's boot from no more than four yards out, Howarth making an outstanding low reaction save as he somehow clawed the ball away from danger with his left hand.
Play had never really calmed down since the booking and non-booking incidents and in the 42nd minute Carlisle's Darren Campion and Lewis Neal challenged for the ball on the break down the United left. Both players becoming entangled as a bout of handbags followed, the official issuing a red card to either man in what seemed a harsh double sending-off.
United's switch around at the back seeing Blake drop in to the right-back spot, Matt Duffy move from centre-half to left-back and Paul Arnison slot across into the centre of the defence. A minute into injury time, following a foul on Gall by Collins, Joyce sent a deep free-kick into the visitors box, with young Blue Dan Wordsworth being unlucky to see his close-range header well saved by the North End keeper at his near-post.
The last action of an eventful first-half coming shortly afterwards when Collins was again conceding a free-kick, this time for a foul on Carlton 22 yards out just to the right of the Preston 'D'. Carlton himself stepping up to fire the dead-ball with his right foot across goal and wide of Chris Neal's back-stick, the whistle for the interval then coming straight after the by-kick.
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In the 54th minute referee Webb limped from the field and was replaced by the fourth official, leaving United kitman Andy Horn in charge of the electronic board. Four minutes later Dalton turned well on his left foot 15 yards out after a pass to him by Joyce, his shot deflecting wide off Phil Appiah for a corner. Wordsworth's 12-yard header from the resultant ball in by Dalton landing on the roof of the North End net.
Just after the hour-mark Gall's right-footed shot on the turn from the right of the Preston 'D' flew over the top of the crossbar, visitors second-string boss Billy Barr using the break in play to make his first change of the night when he brought on Tom McMahon for Higgins.
After 63 minutes Arnison was harshly penalised for a foul on Carroll 25 yards out from the Carlisle goal in a central position. Carroll's left-footed shot from the dead-ball being well held by Howarth low down to his right. Sixty seconds later Hindmarch brought down Michael Aspin on the right as the visitors pressed for an equaliser. Nathan Fairhurst's ball in seeing Howarth make an excellent save at his near-post from a close-range Appiah header.
Carroll missed a great chance to find that leveller on 71 minutes when unmarked, after a cross in from the right by Aspin, he could only head back across goal and wide of the United near-post from only eight yards out. Preston then making their second substitution of the night sixty seconds later when Tom Smythe entered the fray to replace Danny Mayor.
With 78 minutes gone Carlisle failed to convert a good opportunity after Blake had set Dalton up with a good tackle and pass on the right. Dalton finding Gall unmarked out ten yards out, Gall perhaps dallying too long as Chris Neal was able to block his shot. Dalton then finding himself offside as he looked to knock home the rebound with the ball looping up at the North End back-post.
The visitors made their final change in personnel two minutes later when Ray Shearwood replaced Dylan Adams in the left-back spot as Preston looked to inject some fresh legs up against Blake who was starting to tire playing his second game in 30 hours. Straight from that stoppage though Carlton and Gall combined to set up Joyce for a 22-yard shot that flew straight into the gloves of Chris Neal.
Shortly afterwards Wordsworth fouled Smythe on the right-angle of the Carlisle penalty area. Shearwood's ball in seeing Bloxham send a poor header wide of Howarth's far-post from eight yards out. North End did find their equaliser though with six minutes to go when Collins fed Aspin to thump a low cross in from the right along the United six-yard line. Arnison unfortunately putting through his own net in a near-impossible situation as he and Carroll lunged in for the ball.
Shortly afterwards Hindmarch fired in a 22-yarder which flew over the Preston crossbar, then moments later Hindmarch played Gall into the North End box. Gall taking the ball around Chris Neal as his angled run took him away from goal only to blatantly look for a penalty as he dived to the turf. Carroll then forcing Howarth into a good save at his near-post with a fierce 25-yard left-footed drive as both sides hunted for a late winner.
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The Blues found the late winner their possession deserved just as the clock ticked onto the 90 minute mark. A lovely move forward involving Hindmarch, Duffy and Madine seeing Madine put in a perfect low cross in from the left for Gall to thump into the back of the North End net with the instep of his left boot from ten yards out. Preston's Appiah showing his frustration with proceedings when he was booked for a poor challenge on Joyce just sixty seconds later.
The Lilywhites's last chance to find their second equaliser of the night came in the dying moments of the four minutes of time added on after Hindmarch had brought down Smythe 35 yards out. Shearwood overhitting the free-kick in with his left foot as the ball flew out at Howarth's back-post. The final whistle signalling Carlisle's second win out of six games so far in their reserves season, their next opportunity to improve on that record coming in seven days time at Bury.
United line-up :
Chris Howarth, Paul Arnison, Darren Campion, Matt Duffy, Dan Wordsworth, Luke Joyce, Ged Dalton (Gary Madine 88), Jonny Blake, Danny Carlton, Kevin Gall, Stephen Hindmarch.
Unused substitutes :
Grant Carson (GK), Andrew Cook, John Seaton and Michael Dowson.
Preston line-up :
Chris Neal, Michael Aspin, Dylan Adams (Ray Shearwood 80), Dominic Collins, Mark Bloxham, Phil Appiah, Danny Mayor (Tom Smythe 72), Nathan Fairhurst, Andy Carroll, Ashley Higgins (Tom McMahon 61), Lewis Neal.
Unused substitutes :
Chris Thompson (GK) and Adam Barton.
Referee - David Webb (Stanley, County Durham)
Attendance - 120 approx.
Results in the division this week :
Wrexham 1-0 Tranmere (Mon, 7pm)
Manchester City 5-1 Chester (Tue, 7pm)
Blackpool 3-1 Accrington Stanley (Wed, 7pm)
Burnley 1-1 Bury (Wed, 7pm)
Carlisle 2-1 Preston (Wed, 7pm)
Morecambe 4-2 Rochdale (Wed, 7pm)
Reserve Team Results : Click here
Reserve Team Table : Click here