For this crucial clash, United were unchanged from the side that drew 2-2 at Cambridge in midweek. New signing Paul Warhurst starting on the bench. United had been followed down by another 1,000+ away following, their third over the thousand mark this season. United started a little nervously but created a bit of pressure for Macc keeper Steve Wilson when he had to hurriedly slice clear of Andy Preece on 7 minutes. Tall John Parkin got in a turn and shot in the 10th minute but Glennon was solidly behind it. From Carlisle's first corner Kevin Gray lifted over the bar as the Cumbrians tried to settle down. Town's Matthew Tipton attempted a lob in the 18th minute but Glennon at full stretch made a good save. McGill made the breakthrough when he ran into space from an offside position to finish from 18 yards out and give the Cumbrians the lead. The new laws on offside allowed the goal to stand. Fryatt and Billy had led a rapid break up the pitch after a home corner. The goal came slightly against the run of play. A mistake by Simpson and then another by Cowan allowed the home team back into it six minutes later. Tipton kept the ball in after the left back tried to let it run out and the man who claimed the only goal back in October at Brunton Park was able to cross for Potter to score an easy equaliser. Fryatt did well to make a good run and ambitious shot that was saved by Wilson. Glennon did well to push away a 25-yard Tipton effort in the 38th minute. Potter's left wing crossing was causing a lot of problems as his delivery found Whitaker who failed to find the target and Parkin's follow up was wide. Another tricky bit of play by Fryatt ended in disappointment for the teenage striker after he was adjudged to have dived on the edge of the area. Town's Widdrington was booked after a lunge as the game began to boil over. Carragher had to go off for Macc just before the interval and was replaced by Welch. Simpson would have been looking for a bit more from his midfield as the second half began. Potter was at it again when he delivered a cross that found Parkin and Harsley was denied by a good touch away from Glennon. A foul by Gray 27 yards out brought a free kick but Whitaker's effort was easy for Glennon to gather. Welch denied Fryatt after a nice pass through from Simpson to concede a corner. From the kick, Simpson's right footed effort was blocked. Harsley took Parkin's pass and shot inches wide of the left post on 59 minutes. Billy fired a 20-yarder narrowly over the top as United tried to fight their way back into the game after a period of home pressure. Then sub Welch acrobatically tried a bicycle kick over the top. With 25 minutes remaining, Warhust entered the fray for right back Paul Arnison. Tipton immediately had a chance after Warhust was outstripped by Parkin but he fired over the cross-bar. Warhust was pulled up by referee Cowburn and shown a yellow for shirt-tugging. Warhurst made a better impression when he found McGill who shot at Wilson. Parkin was in the action again when he lined up a left foot effort but Glennon again was solid. Murphy's corner got a flick off the head of Billy but George Abbey cleared from off his own line. Warhurst's ball in found Fryatt but again Welch made a saving tackle. From the corner Cowan's header came off the bar and keeper Wilson claimed the loose ball as United's luck ran dry. Fryatt from six yards out brought a great save out of Wilson only for McGill to shoot at the keeper from the rebound. Al's verdict: A fourth game without defeat, but in a game where we badly needed a win, a draw isn't enough. Missed chances again cost us dear. The second half saw a big improvement but with one off the line, one off the bar and a close range save from Fryatt, United must have felt they should have had the points. We have now gone in front in the last three games without winning and with other results tending to go against us, this must be seen as two points dropped rather than one gained. We gave them a bit too much space in the opening half with Potter and Parkin in particular looking dangerous but in the second 45 minutes we seemed to up the pace a bit and Warhurst's introduction as a right back (?) despite his shock early booking seemed to help change the game a bit in our favour. 14 games to go and we need to start winning again asap. |
