After being out for nine weeks, player-manager Paul Simpson returned to the midfield. With Foran and Livingstone still suspended, and Raven and Murphy still injured, United were still short of numbers as Kevin Henderson started up front with Craig Russell. The early morning had seen a lot of rain and the Whaddon Road pitch was damp and skiddy. After a couple of early crosses claimed by Matty Glennon, Simpson had a chance just over a minute into the game, hitting a dipping volley that cleared the bar narrowly. Within seconds Craig Russell was equally close with a 25-yard effort. Cheltenham had a good try themselves in the fourth minute when John Finnigan had a go and Glennon made a good lunging save as the ball flew towards the top corner. Damian Spencer then got through on to a long ball but miskicked his shot straight at Glennon. Simpson was getting involved a lot in midfield and both sides were committed to attack. It was that man Simpson who made an even bigger impression after 20 minutes when he smashed a left foot shot from 25 yards off the underside of the bar and into the net. This marked the first time the Cumbrians had been ahead in a league game since September 27. It was no more than Carlisle deserved for targeting Cheltenham's suspect defence and getting plenty of men forward. United had a remarkable escape on 27 minutes when a free kick by Mark Yates was headed off the line by Steve Schumacher, a follow-up smacked the bar and then Schumacher cleared off the line again from Bob Taylor. All this after Lee Andrews had been pole-axed off the ball and had to leave the field to give the Robins a one-man advantage for the set-piece. 32 minutes in Yates fed Taylor who was in too much space and found a gap to beat Glennon. From a Schumacher corner, Simpson had another half-chance from distance but shot powerfully straight at Shane Higgs. Glennon immediately needed two attempts to save from Spencer. Richard Forsyth had to leave the field with four minutes to go until the interval to be replaced by Graham Fyfe. United went close in first half injury time when Simpson and Henderson worked another good position for Paul Arnison who drove wide coming in at the far post. Arnison made a good headed clearance to concede a corner two minutes into the second half. From the kick the ball was volleyed over. On 49 minutes Devaney worked his way to the by-line and crossed for veteran Taylor to notch his second goal from close range. Within a minute Billy conceded a free kick from which Grant McCann brought a top save out of Glennon which conceded another corner. McDonagh hacked off the line and Spencer headed over when he perhaps should have done better. Glennon came out and missed the ball totally on the hour but Cheltenham couldn't convert with the goal unguarded. United earned a free kick on 67 minutes when Simpson was upended. The manager took it himself but couldn't keep it down and it flew into the crowd. Spencer slipped Andrews and fired across Glennon and wide. The beanpole striker was having a good game and giving the visitors plenty of trouble. Teenager David Molloy entered the fray for Russell. The Cumbrians began to get more of the ball and they forced two quick corners, the second the result of a partially blocked Billy effort. Molloy and Henderson did well to get the ball over and there were appeals for handball from Henderson's cross. Simpson was then fouled to concede a free-kick. United earned another corner. Simpson worked an opening and saw his shot blocked. Devaney almost opened up Carlisle again in injury time but he settled for a corner kick as time ran down. Al's verdict: The nightmare goes on. This was from an attacking point of view a better display but when it mattered most our defending let us down yet again. With Simpson back in the side, we looked more likely to find a way through and Simmo's first half strike was richly deserved and demonstrated just how much we've missed him. Unfortunately he can't do much to influence our defending and Taylor's two goals either side of the interval were indicative of the home team's dominance. We came back a bit at the end but it was the same old story. Let's just hope we don't end up beating Darwen's 18-match losing run. It's beginning to look possible, sadly. |
