Toothless United Slide To Home Defeat

Carlisle put in a dreadful performance at home to Swindon this afternoon, the visitors going back to Wiltshire with a win after holding on to a 1-0 advantage for 87 minutes. The home side pressed early on with a couple of corners but it was soon Town taking the lead when a ball in from the right by Billy Paynter was controlled well by Charlie Austin on the turn before he fired a 12-yarder through the legs of Danny Livesey and into the far corner of the United net.

Tom Taiwo then hit a shot from the edge of the box straight into the gloves of David Lucas for the home side before up at the other end Gordon Greer headed wide from a Jon-Paul McGovern corner. Greer though slipped as Carlisle attacked on 13 minutes but Joe Anyinsah was unable to profit as, one-on-one, with Lucas, he sliced his effort horribly wide from 15 yards out.

Lucas was though forced into action a couple of times in the half as he had to save shots from outside of the box struck in by Matty Robson and Graham Kavanagh. Kevin Amankwaah then failed to make the best of a break for Swindon down the right when his poor cross in was easily cleared by Livesey, then Adam Clayton lobbed a long distance effort over the top as the Blues struggled to find an equaliser.



Early in the second-half, with Carlisle making a double substitution during the interval, the visitors were again pressing when a McGovern corner found its way out to the impressive Jonathan Douglas on the edge of the box. Douglas, who pulled all the strings in midfield for Town, unable to get his shot on target though as it sailed over Pidgeley's crossbar.

The Cumbrians looked at their most dangerous from set-pieces and shortly afterwards Lucas was forced to tip a pacey angled Ian Harte free-kick over the top. A rare spell of heavy United pressure then seeing Lucas forced into making two further saves from a Robson shot and a Livesey header. Anthony McNamee then making a good run forward for Swindon only for Pidgeley to make a good save from his 25-yard drive.

Harte then showed his ability on free-kicks once more when his whipped ball in from the right pinged away off the base of the near-post. Paynter then smacking a long range drive over the top as Swindon broke forward, before, as the home side looked for a late leveller, Vincent Pericard headed an Evan Horwood cross straight at Lucas and Anyinsah sent another shot wide of the target.

The best late chance went to the visitors five minutes from time though as a weak back header from Livesey fell straight to Town substitute Alex Revell 18 yards out. But with Pidgeley stranded in the middle of his box Revell could only lob an awful effort miles over the bar and into an empty Waterworks end. The final whistle only signalling a chorus of boos from some sections of the home support.