United fans formed a large minority of the 6,617 attendance at the Recreation Ground. Carlisle were unchanged from the side who lost to Exeter last week. The Shots went very close two minutes in when Nick Crittenden delivered a dangerous cross from the right that Gary Holloway headed narrowly wide. Two minutes later Tim Sills got in a free header but his effort wasn't as close. Dwain Clarke got in another good cross shortly later but after it was blocked, Matty Glennon was out quickly to claim the follow up ball. United's first corner came on 8 minutes but Kevin Gray's header was well off target. The Cumbrians began to get at Aldershot and won two more corners in the 11th minute. Billy had a left foot shot on 16 minutes after collecting a ball that was spinning across the edge of the box but the ball flew harmlessly over. Then Adam Murray headed out for a corner after a dangerous ball into the Carlisle box. Sills won a header and Brett Johnson went close after he got on the end of it six yards out. Vieira charged down the Shots keeper Nikki Bull and with the ball falling to Murphy, the Irishman had a half chance to lob it home from long range, but the ball cleared the bar by two feet. Then Holloway fired a left-footed shot two yards wide after he ran onto a ball from midfield. The increasingly influential midfielder was brought down by Adam Murray on 27 minutes but the referee surprisingly failed to show the United man a yellow. Cowan made a good header but the ball fell to Clarke who drove left footed at Glennon who turned it away brilliantly. The home team were still looking the more dangerous. 31 minutes in and Holmes nodded back to Kevin Gray who fired straight at Bull with his weaker right foot. In the 38th minute Cowan appeared to raise his hands and was cautioned, after an incident involving Steve Watson of Town. Sills won another header from a Crittenden cross but his effort lacked power and Glennon held well. Vieira sliced well off target after he held the ball up and tried a speculative effort from distance. Arnison headed back defensively and was grateful to see Glennon there to grab the ball as it appeared it might go past him. Watson was booked in the closing seconds of an incident-packed opening half. There were no goals at half-time. The Shots earned a corner after Lumsdon deflected Darren Barnard's shot on 47 minutes. Glennon judged it well and grabbed the ball at the far post. Crittenden then made the breakthrough when he put in a high cross that missed everybody and landed in the goal at the far corner, over Glennon. United could have no complaints as the home team had started the second period strongly and were gradually taking control of the game. Glennon had to be alert on 56 minutes when he made a solid stop from a Watson shot. Murphy drilled a free kick wide then Paul Simpson made a change on the hour with Glenn Murray and Brendan McGill coming on for Holmes and Adam Murray. McGill was hoping to give the visitors much needed width that had been lacking in their play. Glennon tipped Barnard's shot around a post. Carlisle's defence again wobbled as Glennon and Cowan almost got in each other's way as a high ball landed in the box. The Shots so nearly doubled the lead when Sills forced a save out of Glennon following a mistake by Gray and Holloway put the follow-up wide in front of a practically open goal. United's defensive jitters continued as Gray and Glennon almost left a ball to each other that Glennon in the end scooped away to safety. Vieira departed the action with 9 minutes remaining with Karl Hawley coming on as Simpson's last throw of the dice. Murphy got a chance from 6 yards out with 5 minutes left but Bull blocked it well. Suddenly United were creating some belated pressure. Carlisle earned a free-kick outside the box as the game moved into injury time after Watson handled on the floor. Beharall's header was flicked on by Cowan but over the bar. Al's verdict: Generally a very poor display by United and the narrowness of the defeat flattered us. Having said that, we could have snatched a late equaliser which would have given us an undeserved draw. Our play was too predictable for too long and we still lack width with the new system we've adopted to accomodate the talents of Adam Murray. Our defence was all over the place at times and we showed too many nerves for a side with our ability. Simmo now has to decide whether to persist with Matty in goal on Friday or take a gamble and bring back Kieren Westwood. Simon Grand or Danny Livesey will probably contest the spot beside Kevin Gray. In midfield, Brendan McGill, a man I've always fancied for the big occasion, may get a shot at playing on the wing. A one-goal deficit is not a disaster but our home form has been extremely patchy, especially against the top sides and we'll need to totally transform ourselves to get a two-goal victory. |
