Only a dramatic change of fortunes could see the Cumbrians go down now and a mid-table position is very much in sight. Roddy Collins must have been delighted with the commitment shown in atrocious conditions. He, along with a hardy crowd of just under 4,000 who braved the weather, had to be patient though as both goals arrived inside the last 10 minutes. The referee passed the pitch fit 90 minutes before kick-off and he was proved right in the end, even though it was tough going for the players with a strong wind not helping matters. Chances were at a premium in the opening 45 minutes when Carlisle were playing into the wind. Torquay carved out an opening when Richard Logan headed wide after he got into a completely unmarked position. For the Cumbrians, Steve Soley also had a great headed chance but he seemed to be surprised to meet a right-wing centre and miscued totally. The chance of the half fell to Steve Halliday who was put through by Richie Foran but utterly misjudged his side-footed finish which flew embarrassingly wide of the target. The second half brought marginally better weather but the pitch was still just as testing. United began to turn the screw with the wind blowing in their direction. Halliday again wasted a chance when he ballooned over the bar. Then Foran headed across goal and the ball was kicked off the line only for Steve Soley to turn and fire over the bar. Stuart Green then fired a free-kick around the defensive wall but keeper Kevin Dearden turned the ball aside well for a corner. Torquay's goal threat had virtually been extinguished but there was still the occasional flutter for the United defence. Roddy Collins, well known for eccentric substitutions, then made another when he hauled off Michael Jack, who had only come on just over 10 minutes earlier and threw on Tony Hopper in his place. But it seemed to do the trick. With eight minutes left, the breakthrough finally arrived as Green's free kick from the right side of the pitch was met by the unlikely figure of Mark Winstanley who headed firmly into the corner of the net to claim his first goal of the campaign. Torquay roused themselves and a fine effort from Jason Fowler brought a good save from Peter Keen who pushed the ball away for a corner. Brunton Park was on its feet two minutes from time as Carlisle moved two in front. Green drifted into space ghost-like to beat the offside trap. He sprinted around the keeper, kept his head and even had time to dummy a defender before clipping the ball home impudently from not much more than a yard. It was like the best of Peter Beardsley or even the halcyon days of Georgie Best. Al's verdict: A terrific end to a slog of a match that rightly got the go-ahead from the officials. Torquay were not a great side but they had been proving difficult to beat and United had to dig deep for the second game running to find a way through. Richly deserved in the end, although some wayward finishing from our strikeforce had suggested a night of frustration. The news of the takeover brought a big cheer but rightly it was the players who received the biggest plaudits. |
