The Cumbrians, rocked by the 'sacking' of Stuart Green on Thursday, welcomed back Marck Birch to the right back spot and started with Brian Wake and Richie Foran up front as Roddy Collins backed up his pre-match claim that it was a game Carlisle had to win. United settled early on and Lee Andrews brought an early save out of Arjan Van Heusden. With Carlisle committed to attack, they were getting men forward and getting the ball into the opposition penalty area. Tony Bedeau headed over the bar with the help of a deflection to earn a corner on 26 minutes. Glennon met the corner with a strong punch. The vital goal arrived on half an hour, Craig Russell arriving on the penalty spot to turn in Foran's cross ball with a crisp left footed finish. As United began to grow in confidence, Gulls captain David Woozley was booked for hauling down Baldacchino. On 34 minutes Richie Foran headed down and Wake's left foot volley flew into the corner of the net to double Carlisle's lead. Coupled with news of a Hartlepool goal at home to Shrewsbury, this lifted the spirits of the travelling Blue Army. 38 minutes in it seemed Bedeau would pull one back but Russell, already a goalscorer, turned goalsaver by scampering back and clearing off the line after the Torquay striker had clipped the ball over Glennon. Kevin Hill was another man to crudely bring down the nippy Baldacchino and he too received a yellow with 3 minutes to half-time. United's followers were in rapture just seconds from the break when Foran again made a goal with a super piece of play down the left to set up the unlikely figure of Mark Summerbell who slid in to make it 3-0. Glennon made a great save to retain the lead and then Mark Birch blocked a David Graham effort from the rebound to concede a corner. Brian Shelley replaced Birch early in the second half, Birch failing to shake off a knock collected in the first half. Bedeau went down looking for a penalty but the ref waved play on. Summerbell had a shot from distance that forced a corner. Foran headed over from close range from Russell's corner. Torquay, having brought on Gritton for Clist, threw on Wills and Hockley for Fowler and Graham. A sign of the confidence running through the Carlisle team was shown when Lee Maddison tried to chip the keeper from nearly 50 yards. Immediately Torquay put in a deep cross and Hockley came close to pulling a goal back but Glennon made a good stop. Collins reacted to the extra man that Torquay had pushed forward by bringing on Farrell for Wake, in an attempt to win a bit more ball up front. Torquay had been threatening to get back in the game for a few minutes and they got on the score-sheet in the 68th minute when the unlucky Peter Murphy went up for a cross and got the final touch past Glennon. It was all Torquay pressure now and Glennon did well to get down to a low shot. Rundle entered the fray for McCarthy as the game moved into the final 15 minutes. The pressure paid off as a deep Bedeau cross that cleared Glennon was met by Kuffour with a volley into the back of the net. As the seconds ticked down Maddison rode to the rescue and cleared a Gritton flick. The home side were playing shameless long ball football with Gritton the target man. Carlisle were struggling to cope. Another cross came in but Gritton headed over as the game went into injury time. With three minutes added on, there were plenty of hearts in mouths before the final whistle went. Al's verdict: Well it wouldn't be Carlisle if it didn't end up in a nail-biting finish. The first half was like fantasy football, a mirror image of the catastrophe at Wrexham on Monday. We were obviously in the right frame of mind for this game and the three chances taken took the pressure off. Or at least it should have done. Torquay were a different side in the second half after bringing on Gritton. In truth, they just about deserved a point based on their comeback but frankly, who cares now? It's a case of going to Shrewsbury, winning and we're safe. Anything else means a final day nail-biter, which we can do without. |
