Richie Foran had been expected to return to the starting line-up but Roddy Collins decided to stick with the on-loan duo of John Sutton and Craig Farrell. After a rare clean-sheet last week the central defensive pairing of Michael Taylor and Peter Murphy were retained. Carlisle had the first chance on 3 minutes when Ryan Baldacchino, recalled to the starting line-up in place of departed Mark Magennis, shot from the edge of the box and forced a tip over from home keeper Stuart Brock. United settled quicker and it took the home side 10 minutes or so to look in any way dangerous. But Leon Osman made a major contribution on 14 minutes when he wriggled into the box after a fine pass from Summerbell and was hauled down to earn a penalty. Craig Farrell stepped up and scored comfortably to register his fifth goal of the season. United were gaining in confidence as Baldacchino beat two men and set up that man Osman who brought a fine save out of Brock. Brian Shelley tested Brock again with a long-range tilt on 25 minutes, forcing the keeper to push his shot aside for a corner. From the kick Sutton from eight yards out headed just wide of the post. United were calling the tune, playing some nice football as Farrell fired wide with his left foot and the lynchpin Osman beat three players before running out of space inside the box. Drewe Broughton mishit a shot at Glennon that the Cumbrians burly stopper grabbed at the second attempt. Scott Stamps was the first person to be booked after a foul on Farrell. Osman produced another rare bit of skill to bamboozle Kiddy and Stamps went in studs raised leaving referee Cowburn with little option but to flash the red card and send him from the field for an early bath. Des Byrne's curling corner produced a desperate tip away from Brock. Carlisle began the second half pinned in their own half but McGill and Baldacchino combined well to put Sutton in who shot across the face of the goal and narrowly wide. Byrne set up Osman who saw his shot saved and both Baldacchino and Farrell failed to convert from the resulting rebounds. Then Taylor almost made a mistake but ended up doing well to block an opening for the home side. Ian Britton made a change as Sean Parrish came on for Danny Williams. Richie Foran entered the fray to replace John Sutton after 62 minutes. Foran was hauled down by Lee Ayres bringing a booking for the Harriers man. It was against the run of play the home team shocked Carlisle with an equaliser from Sean Flynn who drove home a speculative 25-yard effort. It came as a hammer blow to a Cumbrians outfit that had been running the game with Osman outstanding. Inevitably the home side gained a spring in their step as Sam Shilton brought a save out of Glennon. At the other end Osman produced more outstanding play as he tried to chip Brock who did well to make the save. Harriers headed narrowly wide from a corner. As the game moved into the final 20 minutes the game was becoming much more end to end. Broughton got a header on target but Glennon saved for United. Lee Maddison came on for Des Byrne, making his first appearance since August. Within seconds Farrell had a shot deflected wide as the goal gaped. United dramatically regained the lead seven minutes from time as Foran found Osman who chipped it forward and sub Will McDonagh appeared to get the final touch. McDonagh was involved in a scuffle in injury time and referee Cowburn sent him off, followed by Sean Flynn who received a second yellow. Within seconds Kidderminster were awarded a penalty as Maddison was booked for arguing. Glennon pulled off a dramatic save from Ian Foster's spot kick. Then Foran chipped over the bar as he got on the end of an Osman break upfield. Al's verdict: A combination of clueless refereeing, dramatic incidents and heart-stopping action ended with the right result. It looks like last week's victory may have been the turning point of our season. Osman gave a superb individual performance, controlling midfield and causing mayhem in the home defence and we were in charge for almost the entire first half. After that, the second was a lot closer, the equaliser coming as a massive blow but our young players are starting to grow up and we came back to grab the second goal which was well deserved on the overall display. The last-gasp nonsense, the product of daft refereeing (again) notwithstanding, this was much more like it, our best away display so far. |
