The home club had done some work in the week to drum up support for this crucial six-pointer, with the Swans supporters trust vocal. The home team came into the game without having leaked a goal at the Vetch Field in five matches. They'd also failed to score in four games. Carlisle came in with indifferent league form, just one win from their previous six. Swansea's Brad Maylett, on loan from Burnley, chipped over the bar after 2 minutes after Peter Murphy was caught in possession on the half-way line. 30 seconds later Carlisle forced the opening corner after good work by Jon McCarthy. Stuart Green's kick came to nothing. Adam Rundle had a half-chance on 11 minutes but pulled his shot wide from the edge of the penalty box. United put together a good move with a far post cross from Birch played back by Rundle to Green who fired over the bar in the 16th minute. McCarthy rode to the rescue two minutes later when he cleared off the line from Steve Watkin. United went so close when Farrell had an opportunity to score but saw his shot deflected fractionally wide for a corner. Leon Brittan, another on-loan star, volleyed wide following a Swansea corner on 28 minutes. Darren Kelly, set to miss the next two games due to suspension, went into the book on 40 minutes for a foul on Kevin Nugent. The free kick was marched forward 10 yards for dissent but Glennon claimed Hylton's high ball into the area. Glennon had a much tougher to save to make a minute later when he recovered to grab a Roberto Martinez effort from 30 yards out. Brittan then had a shot blocked by Summerbell and followed up with a cross that beat everybody and bounced narrowly wide as the half-time whistle blew. Rundle was replaced by Brendan McGill at the start of the second period. Swansea could have snatched the lead four minutes in but Watkin misjudged the bounce after tha ball beat Glennon and the ball cleared his head with the goal at his mercy. Martinez then put a good ball through to substitution Thomas but the ball was hacked clear. Lee Maddison replaced Murphy who had picked up a knock. Lenny Johnrose and Paul Raven clashed on 65 minutes with Raven pushed to the floor. Johnrose received a yellow card. United got a huge break in the 71st minute when Lee Jenkins was sent off for handling on the line under challenge from Raven. Farrell lined up the penalty kick and put it into the back of the net. But Foran had encroached and the kick was ordered to be retaken. The second attempt beat keeper Neil Cutler to his right to make it 1-0. Amid scenes of crowd disturbance, Foran was booked for over-celebrating. Within a minute Maddison cleared off the line as Swansea almost levelled it. An offside flag brought relief and a free kick. Green's shot was deflected for a corner. Swansea fans threw an object on to the pitch as Green prepared to take the kick. Green then refused to take the kick and the referee and stewards started a discussion. Advertising hoardings had been broken and were cleared away. After some six minutes McCarthy proved brave enough to go over and take the kick. Wake came on to replace McCarthy. Then Green committed a foul and was added to the list of players booked. United sealed the victory with a minute left of normal time when Farrell won the ball following some slack home play and McGill broke away to collect Green's pass and shoot home. Due to the crowd problems, a massive six minutes was added on. As injury time started Wake drilled over the bar after being set up by McGill. Glennon had to tip over a free kick with five minutes of added time but within a few moments substitute John Williams bundled the ball over the line. Summerbell then made a desperate clearance with 8 minutes of injury time on the clock. Then Swansea earned a free kick on the edge of the box for a foul by Raven who was booked. The kick hit Glennon and was somehow cleared. The final tally was nine and a half minutes of injury time. Al's verdict: These heart-stopping finishes are not good for our collective health. This was an ugly match with the spectre of crowd violence rearing its ugly head but the decision the ref made went our way for once and we took the opportunity to score the penalty. Its great to report a run of four away games unbeaten but unless we buck up our ideas at Brunton Park it's still likely to be a nail-biting finale. This was a game that seemed to be heading for a goalless stalemate until the penalty incident. Green again had had a rather muted game but in the end he played his part in securing a vital victory. Also praise to our defence for clinging on in a frantic finale. |
