It was Rosenior's 62nd-minute introduction by Robins boss Danny Wilson that changed the game. For more than an hour it was Carlisle who looked just as likely to take the spoils, battling courageously to close down City in midfield and in the inventive and tricky Adam Rundle, had arguably the best man on the pitch. Unfortunately they couldn't produce the quality of final ball or finish necessary in such a cauldron of intensity. 50,913 made it the best attended LDV Vans final since the move to Cardiff and although Carlisle's 12,000-plus contingent were outnumbered by 3 to 1, they give as good as they got in the noise stakes, too. The first 45 minutes were very even. Neither side created really good chances but Carlisle were never flustered and hussled and harried Bristol out of their stride with great success, Peter Murphy in particular doing very well to hold City dangerman Scott Murray in check. But it was the skill, pace and confidence of Rundle that really caught the eye. He ran at City's Louis Carey, beating him several times and cut inside to great effect too. The 18-year-old winger was at the heart of Carlisle's better moves, eclipsing the more highly-fancied Murray. Neither keeper had much to do. Stuart Green half-hit a shot from the edge of the box that Bristol's Steve Phillips held comfortably. Late in the half Craig Farrell headed over the bar after Mark Summerbell put in a decent near-post cross. Glennon dealt comfortably enough with a Peacock header and then was out quickly to deny Christian Roberts. More in the thick of the action was Paul Raven who received a bloody nose after rushing in to block a chance for the Robins at the far post. Carlisle may have been tempted to rest on their laurels after such a good first half showing. Instead Roddy Collins urged them to put a bit more effort in and they were the better side at the start of the second half. A Jon McCarthy cross found Richie Foran but the Irishman who had shown his usual 100% determination in the cause, headed over when he should have done better. Then Rundle again did well to put in a deep penetrating cross. Foran pulled away and headed back across. Farrell couldn't get decent weight behind his shot and Phillips saved. But at this stage City looked really rattled and that's when Danny Wilson pulled his masterstroke, introducing the raw pace and talent of Rosenior in place of Roberts. Rosenior hadn't done a great deal to worry Carlisle until the vital moment arrived in the 77th minute. Carey, for once escaping from his duties of marking Rundle, put over a cross that found the teenage striker on his chest as he was running into space on the edge of the area. His low shot was beaten out by Glennon, but only as far Peacock who drilled home the loose ball into the far corner past the prone stopper. Suddenly the game changed dramatically and United were being pulled all over the place. Murray, for so long so ineffective, almost doubled the lead within moments as he tore through a gap in the defence and Glennon had to come out well to save. Peacock chipped wide when he had another good opening. But the damage was done and Carlisle's last real chance fell to Foran who hampered by substitute Brian Wake screwed wide of the right post. The final nail was hammered in in the 89th minute when Rundle and Murphy collided to allow Murray in to the byline. His cross went over keeper Glennon and with Brian Shelley stranded, Rosenior simply lunged at the ball with his chest and nudged the ball over the line. 2-0. Game over. Al's verdict: We came, we saw, and we came closer than many dared think to actually conquering. Bristol City are a very strong side who I reckon will win the Second Division play-offs, but their best players were held in check for more than an hour by the heroes in blue shirts who managed to raise their game on the big occasion. Rundle came of age with a great display of skill, nerve and raw courage. Any watching scouts, and their must have been plenty, would have been licking their lips. Foran and Farrell did well up front but chances were always going to be at a premium and neither took the ones that came their way. You could almost sense when Rosenior came on, things would change. Roberts had done little to worry Carlisle but their tiring legs were undone in the end by the youthful zest of the son of Torquay United's manager, Leroy Rosenior. Let's hope this brave display is replicated in the remaining 7 league games. With other results going our way over the weekend, survival is very much in our own hands now. We've had one good cup final, we have seven more to play. |
