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Rochdale didn't seem to be fully prepared for the start of the season though as they turned up late, with only three substitutes and also with an all-blue kit. So, while the teamsheet was numbered as per the line-up at the bottom of this report, the players didn't all have the corresponding shirts on after borrowing Carlisle's deckchair kit, although I was able to recognise the bulky figures of Lee Thorpe and Dave Flitcroft, along with hearing Joe Thompson being called Joe, funnily enough.
Playing 4-4-2 with, from left to right, Michael Bridges and Gary Madine upfront, Jeff Smith, Grant Smith, Luke Joyce and Cleveland Taylor across the middle, and Darren Campion, Josh Gowling, Dan Wordsworth and Jonny Blake in the back four United started brightly. Jeff Smith having the first shot after 25 minutes when his 25-yarder was fumbled then held by 'Dale stopper James Spencer.
Three minutes later and Jeff Smith this time played in Bridges just inside the left-hand side of the visitors box, but Bridges could only curl a right-footed effort from 15 yards out well wide of the far-post. On the ten minute mark Gowling had to be replaced by youth team skipper Tom Aldred after taking an elbow to the face from Thorpe, Gowling seemingly having broken his nose.
Taylor and Jeff Smith were occasionally swapping flanks in the game and after 17 minutes Taylor cut in from the right to fire a left-footed 22-yarder straight at Spencer. A quiet spell then followed before in the 26th minute Jeff Smith gave away possession and a shot from just outside the Carlisle box saw the ball bounce away off Howarth before Wordsworth hoofed clear.
Around the half-hour mark United had about five corners in a row with Spencer seemingly doing his best not to catch any of them. The best chance produced being Bridges sticking a leg out on an Aldred header and a 'Dale defender having to clear the ball off the line. Bridges again involved on 36 minutes when his header struck the hand of a visitor in the box but no penalty was forthcoming.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 39th minute when a 'Dale forward made a pacey run deep into the Carlisle box and laid the ball back for Joe Thompson to fire home left-footed past Howarth from 12 yards out. The lead lasting about 30 seconds as almost straight from the kick-off Taylor touched the ball off to Madine and the Blues striker curled a delightful right-footed effort into the top right-hand corner of the Rochdale net.
Just as the clock was ticking into injury time Howarth made a good double save as he first stopped a cross-shot then got up quickly to block and hold an effort from the rebound at his near-post. The last action of the half being a crazy booking for Campion as he was very harshly booked for what was no more than a regulation foul as Rochdale broke forward.
As is often the case in second-string games more action was forthcoming in the second-half as play started to open up. Jeff Smith slicing a left-footed half-volley horribly wide from 18 yards out straight into the Warwick Road End in the 49th minute, and then after 57 minutes Joyce, sliding in, was just unable to get on the end of a Madine cross in from the left.
Just before the hour-mark Grant Smith conceded a free-kick just to the left of the Carlisle 'D', but the Rochdale set-piece was only blasted into the United defensive wall twice. The Cumbrians seemed to be doing their best to give away fouls in this spell and both Campion and Aldred in quick succession could have seen penalties given against them on another day.
The 63rd minute then seeing a couple of half-chances for Carlisle as a good run forward and a 22-yard shot by Jeff Smith was parried away by Spencer, Taylor, who impressed throughout with some strong running, then firing over the top from a similar distance after the Blues had regained possession.
A second goal finally did come for United though seconds before the midway point in the half. Aldred's clearance to the half-way line seeing Madine take the ball down well on his chest, run on a few yards and then play a lovely curling pass over the top into the path of Bridges. The United striker then breaking into the box, before cutting in past the left-back and laying the ball on a plate for an onrushing Joyce to sidefoot home into the net from 12 yards out.
Shortly afterwards Bridges was again set free down the right-hand channel, this time by a neat slide-rule pass from Joyce. Spencer then making an excellent full-length tip round the post as Bridges fired a right-footed 15-yard drive across the visitors goalmouth. The break in play saw 'Dale assistant manager Dave Flitcroft come on as a substitute, with the resultant Jeff Smith corner being headed wide of the target by Madine six yards out.
After 72 minutes a Rochdale player, stationed on the penalty spot, sent a header over the top of the Carlisle goal from a right-wing cross. Then two minutes later Bridges was trying to do a bit too much as he sent a long-range chip flying over the top and into the Warwick Road End.
United did make it 3-1 with 15 minutes to go following a lovely triangle of passing down the left flank between Campion and the Smiths. Heaven knows Campion wasn't miserable now though as he was able to finish something he had started. The Blues left-back showing no signs of panic as he dummied a cross 12 yards out before chipping over a bamboozled Spencer and into the net, Campion then understandably delighted with only his second goal in Carlisle colours.
The visitors almost made it 3-2 shortly afterwards though when a cross in from the right saw Thorpe head the ball back and onto the far-post from 10 yards out. Wordsworth, Howarth and a Rochdale player then ending up in a heap of bodies as United managed to hack the ball away from danger. Wordsworth being involved at the other end with ten minutes to go when he headed a Taylor corner over from 10 yards out.
Carlisle did score again however just moments later with Taylor again involved. His inch-perfect ball over the top from the left being well taken down by Bridges on the edge of the visitors box. The United man then thumping a left-footed half-volley easily beyond the reach of Spencer for 4-1.
The last few minutes saw Rochdale have the most chances as the Blues started to lose their shape a little in a quest for more goals. Howarth being forced into two sharp saves low down from 22-yard drives in the closing stages. He was though able to stand and watch on the last two efforts in injury time as first Flitcroft then Thorpe fired well over the top from 25 yards and fully 35 yards respectively.
United line-up :
Chris Howarth, Jonny Blake, Darren Campion, Dan Wordsworth, Josh Gowling (Tom Aldred 10), Luke Joyce, Cleveland Taylor, Grant Smith, Gary Madine, Michael Bridges (c), Jeff Smith.
Unused substitutes :
Alex Mitchell (GK), Andy Cook, Matt Duffy and Connor Tinnion.
Rochdale line-up :
James Spencer, Scott Wiseman, Craig James, Kyle Lambert, Nathan D'Laryea, Marcus Holness, Mark Jones, Ciaran Toner, Lee Thorpe, Joe Thompson, Will Buckley.
Used substitute :
Dave Flitcroft 69.
Unused substitutes :
Dave Doherty and Andy Brown.
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