|
The heaviness of the pitch didn't make for the greatest spectacle in the first-half though as the ball spent most of the time being challenged for in the midfield area. The visitors, playing into the wind, having the opening two chances of the game on seven and 12 minutes respectively, firstly a weak 20-yard shot straight at United goalkeeper Alex Mitchell, then secondly a cross in from the left being headed wide of the Carlisle near-post from ten yards out.
Seven minutes later and a Bury youngster hit a 15-yard drive in which was easily held by Mitchell, then with 20 minutes on the clock United, seemingly playing a narrow diamond formation with Tinnion sidelined, got their first goal attempt in when Liam Davison hammered a right-footed half-volley from 20 yards out narrowly wide of the visitors near-post.
The opening goal of the game looked all on for Carlisle four minutes later when Shaun Law's ball in from the left was met by the instep of Andy Cook's right boot six yards out, sadly for United though the Bury goalkeeper made a tremendous one-handed reaction save to keep matters level.
Cook again involved just after the half-hour mark after Davison had been fouled 28 yards out from the Bury goal, Cook though hammering the set-piece right-footed over the top of the visitors crossbar. The break in play seeing Carlisle's Northern Irish centre-half Jamie Cleary leave the field with what seemed like a calf strain to be replaced by Steven Swinglehurst.
On his 18th birthday Cook was keen to get himself on the scoresheet and after 34 minutes he had a 20-yard shot deflected wide for a corner which came to nothing, then two minutes later another effort from the same distance was held onto by the Bury goalkeeper. Cook again, in the 40th minute, hitting a shot in which was blocked, John Seaton then making an excellent tackle and slamming a right-footed cross-shot inches wide of the Shakers far-post from 20 yards out.
Seaton two minutes later then seeing a right-footed 18-yarder deflected out for a corner which United left-back Matt Duffy curled right under the crossbar as the Bury glovesman made an excellent catch on his line. Injury time in the first-half found a Shakers cross in from the right headed wide by their left-winger at the back-post, as well as Carlisle's Ryan Bowman being booked for what looked persistent infringement by the referee.
Six minutes after the interval saw United again pressing with Cook firing in a 20-yard right-footed half-volley which was saved by the Shakers stopper at his near-post. Jonny Blake then showed some neat skill in the corner after 54 minutes as he cut in and laid a ball across for Bowman to hit a deflected shot from ten yards out into the side-netting.
There were a few incidents of pinball in the visitors penalty area during the second-half and this was one of them with the resultant Duffy corner eventually being cleared. Carlisle right-back Simon Lakeland had picked up on the loose ball though and his cross in saw Cook head over the top from around the penalty spot area.
Bowman, who the referee seemed keen to send off, being replaced by Mark Sloan, a returning trialist - presumably due to lack of numbers in the United camp, before Bury took their goal-kick. Sloan, who had an excellent game and showed some good touches, immediately getting going as he hit an 18-yard left-footed half-volley inches over the target.
Carlisle finally took the lead in the 57th minute through slightly comedic circumstances after Bury had again failed to clear their lines. A back-pass clearance from the Shakers goalkeeper bringing an audible groan from a visitors defender as it him straight in his penalty box, the loose ball then dropping to Law whose shot hit the crossbar from 15 yards out, with Cook then in the right place at the right time as his diving header from close range on the rebound flicked off the inside of the near-post on it's way into the back of the Bury net.
Cook then making it 2-0 three minutes later with a cracker of a finish after Blues skipper Tom Aldred had hit a deep free-kick up to him on the edge of the Shakers box. The United striker taking the ball in on his chest, letting it drop onto his knee, then finally spinning and hammering a right-footed volley right into the far corner of the visitors goal.
With 62 minutes on the clock Blake had his ten-yard header from a Law ball in saved by the Bury goalkeeper at his near-post, then shortly afterwards some more poor visitors defending saw Sloan, stretching at the back-stick, have his shot held in similar fashion. At the opposite end though Mitchell spilled a long-range shot out for a corner sixty seconds later, but fortunately for Carlisle the flag-kick came to nothing.
Midway through the half a Law foul 30 yards out saw the free-kick touched off to a Bury teammate, who with the wind at his back, sent a right-footed shot sailing over the back wall and into the undergrowth. On 70 minutes the visitors made their first change of the game as they looked to get back in the match late on.
Two minutes later though and Cook, from a lobbed Blake ball over the top, seemed to have got his hat-trick with a side-footed finish at the back-post, but the late linesman somehow put his flag up for offside despite Cook having run into the free space past a visitors defender.
Cook did get his third goal of the game however after 76 minutes with a simple running-in side-footed finish from close range after Davison had curled a lovey cross in from the left with the outside of his right boot. Blake then being replaced by James Wood in the United engine room before Bury kicked the game back off.
The Shakers made a substitution on the right wing after 79 minutes, then two minutes later Mitchell was forced into action as he easily held a 20-yard drive that came in from a Bury midfielder. Mitchell though making an excellent save on 82 minutes when he tipped over a fierce left-footed drive from 15 yards out, the resultant two visitors corners coming to nothing as Carlisle cleared their lines well.
A 20-yard Shakers shot was pulled wide shortly afterwards but the last word rightly went to Cook with a remarkable goal in injury time. The United frontman scoring his 14th goal of the season as he took the ball down on his chest 45 yards out before turning and hammering a right-footed effort goalwards, the backpedalling visitors goalkeeper able to get his gloves on the ball but unable to stop it flying into the roof of his net. A great way to end a great performance from both Cook and the rest of the United youngsters.
United line-up :
Alex Mitchell, Simon Lakeland, Matt Duffy, Jamie Cleary (Steven Swinglehurst 31), Tom Aldred (c), Jonny Blake (James Wood 76), Shaun Law, Liam Davison, Andy Cook, Ryan Bowman (Mark Sloan 54), John Seaton.
Unused substitutes :
Mark Gillespie (GK).
Youth Team Results : Click here
Youth Team Table : Click here
Youth Team Reports : Click here
Youth Team Squad : Click here