United's two defeats have pretty much ended their title hopes barring a minor miracle, the Cumbrians losing 2-1 at Macclesfield on Saturday when Matt Duffy netted with a penalty for the young Blues, while on Wednesday lunchtime they went down 3-1 away to Preston, in a match played at Bamber Bridge FC, that despite United going 1-0 up through Sean Law.
North End are still in fourth spot but they have been catching up the top three in big strides in the last few months, the Deepdale outfit now having won 11 of their last 12 league games after tasting success again on Saturday, this time 3-2 at Stockport. The Lilywhites have left themselves too much to do as far as title honours are concerned but they certainly look like gatecrashing the medal places by the end of the season.
Port Vale on the other hand in fifth have been faltering recently and they lost 3-2 at home to second-bottom Morecambe, that win for the Shrimps increasing the gap between themselves and wooden spoon holders Accrington to five points, Stanley losing 3-1 away to last season's title-winners Walsall.
Blackpool are also having a torrid campaign and they got thumped again, this time 5-2 at Wigan. Bury down at the wrong end of the table though grabbing a rare win with a 3-0 victory on the road at Chester. Finally in the league Shrewsbury defeated Oldham 2-1 at home, that result dropping the Latics down to ninth place in the table.
Rochdale's game at Tranmere was postponed and rearranged for next Monday as Rovers were in League Cup area final action, their journey across the M62 was in vain though as they lost 4-3 on penalties at Grimsby, the tie having ended 1-1 after 90 minutes. In the Southern final Queens Park Rangers are still on for a league and cup double after they defeated Gillingham 3-0 at home, the R's also top of their South East conference division.
Next Saturday morning in our division first-placed Wrexham seem to have a relatively easy task on paper as they face a trip to the side with the worst defence in the division, that being Blackpool. Meanwhile two out of form sides will be meeting in Cumbria as Carlisle play Port Vale at home, the game kicking off at 11.30am at Creighton Rugby Club.
Result in the division on Wednesday 18th March
Preston North End 3-1 Carlisle United (1pm)
Results in the division on Saturday 21st March
Chester City 0-3 Bury
Macclesfield Town 2-1 Carlisle United (12.30pm)
Port Vale 2-3 Morecambe
Shrewsbury Town 2-1 Oldham Athletic
Stockport County 2-3 Preston North End
Tranmere Rovers P-P Rochdale, moved to Monday 30th March
Walsall 3-1 Accrington Stanley
Wigan Athletic 5-2 Blackpool
Wrexham 1-0 Burnley
Puma Youth Alliance Cup Regional Finals, Saturday 21st March
Grimsby Town 1-1 Tranmere Rovers, Grimsby Town win 4-3 on penalties
Queens Park Rangers 3-0 Gillingham
Fixtures in the division on Saturday 28th March
Accrington Stanley v Wigan Athletic
Blackpool v Wrexham
Burnley v Chester City
Bury v Macclesfield Town
Carlisle United v Port Vale (11.30am)
Morecambe v Shrewsbury Town
Oldham Athletic v Stockport County
Preston North End v Tranmere Rovers
Rochdale v Walsall
Fixture in the division on Monday 30th March
Tranmere Rovers v Rochdale
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