With the Cumbrians still decimated by injury and suspension, Paul Simpson had to shuffle his pack yet again. Steve Schumacher and Michael Jack formed a scratch central midfield pairing, with Craig Russell coming in on the left. Brian Wake and Craig Farrell continued as first-choice strikers. Shaun Smith came back from Hull City where he had been receiving treatment to claim the left back berth. The first real opportunity for either side came when John Sheridan's free kick was punched away by Glennon on 11 minutes. Carlisle had started brightly enough with McGill and Russell looking to punch holes down the flanks. Farrell fed Wake who shot straight at the keeper Les Pogliacomi. Darren Sheridan went close on 26 minutes when he fired over with a left foot volley after Jack failed to clear. Having gone close to making the breakthrough, the younger Sheridan brother was promptly booked for a foul on Farrell. Sheridan was the centre of attention again a few moments later but for all the wrong reasons. He fell awkwardly and was stretchered off with what looked like a knee injury. Dean Holden then made the key pass in the 35th minute to feed Calvin Zola who flicked the ball over Glennon and into the back of the net. The second goal was not long in coming. Carlos Roca putting in a far post cross for midfielder Ernie Cooksey to tap home, after Smith's cross at the other end had been easily cut out. Glennon rode to the rescue two minutes before the interval when he saved instinctively from Scott Vernon and from the follow up Cooksey struck a post. Farrell carved out an opening close to the interval when he beat Clegg but shot straight at the goalie. Henderson came on for Jack at half-time as Simpson switched to 4-3-3 in the second half. Almost straight from the restart United were close to getting back in it. Russell laid the ball on for Farrell who forced a corner as he shot on target. Scumacher's kick was only half-cleared as Carlisle tried to get another effort in but fired over. Glennon rushed out to stop Zola but went down badly. A stretcher was called for as the big keeper appeared to have collected a bad cut to the head. He was led off by physio Neil Dalton. Peter Keen donned the gloves. The Cumbrians were seeing more of the ball and the extra man up front was starting to have an effect. They forced two corners in quick succession. Smith's effort was put behind by Dave Beharrell. Schumacher put in another. Henderson flicked on and the ball came back out to Russell who shot narrowly wide. Oldham were struggling to find their first half form but Dan Boshell had a swerving shot that beat Keen but also went just wide of the upright. David Molloy came on for Wake with 20 minutes remaining. The Latics carved out a golden chance when Holden squared the ball and Zola looked set to score but blazed over the bar. Molloy hooked the ball over when a good chance presented itself to the young Irishman, after Pogliacomi punched straight to him. A corner on 80 minutes put the last nail in United's Cup coffin. Cooksey slid in at the far post to turn in a corner when Keen seemed transfixed to his line. Oldham were now comfortable and Chris Hall had the ball in the net only to be chalked off for offside. Al's verdict: Our cup dreams are over and we can have few complaints. Oldham's finishing was far better and they carved out easily the better chances. For all that, United played some decent football and showed a certain amount of spirit, never looking outclassed by their Second Division opponents. Whether this performance will be enough to lift us for next week remains to be seen, although we should at least have a couple of players back available and possibly a new signing or two. This side was very inexperienced and never likely to be good enough to worry the home team. |
