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It was United who had the first chance of the game too in the fifth minute when Cook was fouled by the otherwise impressive Mark Butler 25 yards out, Cook though slamming the free-kick straight into the Gillford defensive wall. Park then responding with a couple of shots from their number six from a similar distance on the edge of the Blues box that were easy for Jon Ball to get down to and hold.
With 13 minutes gone Gillford won a free-kick after some good approach play initiated by Steven Skinner, the set-piece award coming after a foul by Wood 22 yards out just to the left of the Carlisle 'D'. Skinner then stepping up to curl the free-kick right-footed across goal towards the far top corner of Ball's net.
From where we were standing we were looking right down the pipe of it and it looked in all the way for an outstanding finish only for it crash down off the underneath of the crossbar. Ball then able to claim possession after the shot had come down and seen a Gillford header loop up into the air off the rebound.
Nine minutes later and a long Ball goal-kick was headed on by Shaw into the path of Ben McKenna for a 15-yard shot that was well blocked by a Park defender. Gillford then responding in the 25th minute when a free-kick in from the right, following an Osmond foul, found Michael Reed having a mid-range effort blocked by Steven Swinglehurst.
Just after the half-hour mark and McKenna cut in from the left at pace only to have another shot charged down by the Gillford back line, as at the same time Bowman moved into more of a forward role as Shaw dropped back behind the front two. Cook then looking for his shooting boots in the 34th minute when he crashed one from distance over the top of the Park crossbar.
In a busier spell in the game Wood then fouled Reed 30 yards out, with Skinner playing the free-kick across for Butler to try a very ambitious shot on his weaker right foot which only sliced well away from the target. United then putting a nice move together through Josh Todd, Shaw and Bowman with Bowman eventually curling a 15-yard effort onto the top of the Gillford crossbar and over.
After 37 minutes McKenna played in Cook for a fierce right-footed shot on the turn from just outside the penalty area which whistled inches too high, then McKenna himself thumped a 25-yarder over the top two minutes later. And then the fun began as we had two contentious penalty awards in the space of sixty seconds just as we entered first-half injury time.
United getting the first spot-kick when Osmond pushed the ball into Bowman who, seemed to be in a six and two threes as he leant back into the Gillford Park right-back who at the same time also had his arms round Bowman. After the Blues striker went to ground the referee seemed to take an age to award the penalty, which Bowman eventually despatched with ease low and right-footed into the corner of the net.
Then almost straight from the kick-off we went up the other end and, after a cross in from the right, Swinglehurst seemed to be very harshly judged to have gone hand to ball in the opinion of the assistant referee on the far side. Reed's penalty going exactly the same way as Bowman's, right down to it flying out of the back of the net, more tent pegs please.
A trio of Carlisle changes came during the interval as long throw specialist James Bonner, trialist Wood and Osmond were replaced by David Symington, Brad Potts and Kieran Cahill respectively. Cook then looking for a goal again pretty soon in when he picked up on a loose ball only to send a 40-yard right-footed attempted lob across goal and wide of the Gillford far-post.
Cook then turning provider for McKenna in the 47th minute as McKenna slammed a right-footed half-volley over the top from distance as United struggled a little to break down a resolute and well marshalled Park defence. The McKenna and Cook show rolling on four minutes later when the former's corner was headed wide, in heavy traffic at the back-post, by the latter.
And it was the same pair in the same situation again in the 55th minute, this time though Cook's header in the middle from eight yards out going straight into the arms of the Gillford goalkeeper. The Blues then making another three changes in personnel as McKenna, Todd and Phil Towler all departed to be replaced by Adam Gill, Paddy O'Brien and Mark Sloan, Gill having to drop into an unaccustomed right-back spot as Symington moved up into the centre of the midfield.
O'Brien certainly got stuck into some meaty challenges during his time on the field but in the 63rd minute he was involved in a short corner with Symington, which resulted in Symington's 18-yard drive being spilled out in front of goal by the Park glovesman, fortunately for him though one of his defenders was on hand to hack the ball away from danger.
Just before the midway point in the half and Gillford had a big chance to go 2-1 up when a long ball up from the back was flicked into the path of their left-winger down the left-hand channel. The ball then sat up perfectly for him for a left-footed half-volley from 15 yards out but the opportunity was gone as he dragged his effort across goal and past Ball's left-hand post.
As the game started to drag a little, and in a match in which neither goalkeeper had even one more than regulation save to make, a Park substitute had a 20-yard shot deflect off Swinglehurst that dollied on straight to Ball in the 71st minute. Then five minutes later Cahill stuck a cross in from his left-back spot for the Blues which Cook headed over the top from ten yards out.
Bowman then became the last personnel change of the game for United on 78 minutes when he was replaced by Mark Beck upfront. It was Gillford who were getting the shots in up to the final whistle though when first in the 80th minute their left-winger hit a 22-yarder over the top, before five minutes later their combative right-back dragged an effort, on the stretch, wide of the near-post from just outside the Carlisle box.
The last chance of the game, as United found it a little hard to make headway on their superior possession, coming the way of the Park on 86 minutes when one of their substitute defenders made an excellent break forward only to see his right-footed shot from distance zip inches wide of Ball's right-hand post. The final whistle signalling a fair 1-1 draw for what will have been a useful fitness runout for both sides at this time of year.
United first-half line-up :
Jon Ball, James Bonner, Matt Osmond, Steven Swinglehurst, Nick Wood, Ben McKenna, Josh Todd, Phil Towler, Ryan Bowman, Gary Shaw, Andy Cook.
United second-half line-up :
Jon Ball, David Symington, Kieran Cahill, Brad Potts, Steven Swinglehurst, Ben McKenna (Adam Gill 56), Josh Todd (Paddy O'Brien 56), Phil Towler (Mark Sloan 56), Ryan Bowman (Mark Beck 78), Gary Shaw, Andy Cook.
Unused substitute :
Joe Clements (GK).
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