Canvey Island had two players sent off in an all-action first half which saw the Cumbrians dominant with Chris Lumsdon scoring twice and set up another for Derek Holmes. Tom Cowan returned after injury to play in defence. Adam Murray, signed on a two-year deal from Mansfield Town on Wednesday night, made his debut in midfield. Chris Billy missed out due to suspension after being sent off against Northwich. Matty Glennon was back in goal following Kieren Westwood's injury. United made the perfect start with a goal in the 10th minute. Derek Holmes laid the ball off to Lumsdon who curled a lovely shot into the top corner to put the Cumbrians one-up. The home side won a series of free kicks to give Carlisle some defending to do, but Glennon and his defence held firm. Then an Ollie Berquez cross in the 18th minute found the head of Canvey's top scorer Lee Boylan who was a bit too high with his effort. Canvey's keeper Danny Potter and Lumsdon went into the book in the space of a minute as the game became scrappier. Kevin Gray stuck in a header that Potter saved well. Lumsdon's corner on 34 minutes caused problems and Holmes flicked on to net the second. Berquez took Arnison out near the touchline and was shown a straight red. Minutes later things got worse for the home side when Hawley made a clever move to win the ball and Potter brought him down to concede a penalty and receive another red card. Ashley Harrison came on to face the spot kick. Lumsdon despatched it with aplomb to make it 3-0. With a three-goal cushion and the opposition two men short, things couldn't have been much rosier for Paul Simpson's troops at half-time. Canvey attempted to chip Glennon direct from the re-start. Hawley then had a shot a couple of minutes in but hit the side netting. Murray tried to open his account with a firm shot that Harrison fumbled but grabbed it before Hawley could reach it. Carlisle forced more corners as they looked to extend the lead. Holmes had a decent effort just before the hour that Harrison had to tip round the post. Kevin Henderson and Simon Hackney came on for Holmes and Lumsdon as United sought to rest players with the game well won. The hard-working Boylan had to go off and replaced by Junior McDougald. Murray hit the woodwork with an 18-yard effort on 67 minutes. The debut boy brought a save out of Harrison a minute later as Carlisle continued to keep the ball and dominate. Dave McGhee blocked a Hawley effort with 10 minutes remaining. Vieira replaced Hawley with seven minutes of normal time left. Al's verdict: A very comfortable victory, made more so by Canvey's self-destruction near the end of the opening half. We'll have tougher battles than this in the closing weeks of the season, but I thought we did everything right, with good possession in the second half when the game was safe and it was important not to do anything daft. Debutant Murray was in the game a lot, sometimes a bit too much with his combative streak, giving signs as to why he had nine yellows to his name this season. Lumsdon has returned to top form, claiming two more goals and worrying the home side with his well-worked corners. Give credit to Jeff King's nine men for keeping us out in the second half when the part-timers were being made to work very hard without much of the ball in warm conditions. |
