On a wet afternoon with a tricky top surface another young Cumbrians line-up struggled badly for the first 45 minutes as the visitors took a firm grip with two goals and United unable to create anything of note. Craig McAughtrie and Stuart Bell were drafted into the team, Bell making his debut after being awarded a professional contract last week. However United failed to impress in a damp and dismal opening half. Their passing was abysmal and the visitors gained confidence as their own game came together. The first goal came when a free kick was cleared as far as Darren Tinson on the edge of the box who controlled his right footed shot well on the bounce to fire home into the corner past Peter Keen. Tony Hopper headed off the line to keep United within a goal and Keen was forced into some solid saves before Michael Jack gave the ball away on the edge of the box and Whittaker produced a curling left footer over Keen into the corner of the net. Whatever Roddy Collins said to his players at half-time, and it probably wasn't repeatable here, it certainly did the trick. United were awarded a penalty just four minutes in for what appeared to be holding on McAughtrie. Foran gleefully took the opportunity to thump home the kick and put the Cumbrians back in the game. Shortly after that, Macc went very close when a first time left footed effort from Matthew Tipton skidded just wide of Keen's far post. Macclesfield wasted a great opportunity to make the game safe 10 minutes later when Lee Andrews was adjudged to have committed a foul just inside the box although it looked slightly outside. Tipton's kick went the wrong side of the post to leave Carlisle still very much in the game. Although Carlisle were better than in the first half, it was still hard going and when Hopper smashed a great chance miles over the bar in the closing stages, that appeared to be that. However the new United fighting spirit was never more in evidence than in injury time. Several fans had already given it up as a lost cause when a long Lee Andrews throw-in was turned on to McAughtrie who grabbed his first Carlisle goal from close range to make it 2-2. Amazingly within two minutes yet another penalty was awarded as keeper Wilson came off his line and appeared to impede Foran. The 21-year-old Irishman picked himself up to convert the chance, get himself a brace, raise his tally to 16 for the season and remarkably record his third consecutive injury-time goal. Al's verdict: Astonishing stuff. The first half was comfortably the worst I've seen this season. The second ended in drama with two goals inside injury time. Poor Macclesfield didn't know what hit them. It was a great revival considering the lack of experience in the side and the fact there was nothing really to play for. The future looks bright with this sort of spirit evident. |
