Roddy Collins rang the changes partly due to necessity. Peter Keen made a surprise return in goal and Richie Foran missed out up front, with Craig Farrell returning alongside midweek hat-trick hero Brian Wake. Michael Jack came into midfield and 15-year-old Daniel Dillon started on the bench, a schoolboy set to make history later in the afternoon. The match had the expected air of an end of season affair. A Steve Fletcher header from a Marcus Browning centre in the sixth minute brought a good tip-over by Keen. Then Warren Cummings fired over the cross-bar. Keen later saved from Scott McDonald as the visitors created the greater chances although Carlisle were competing strongly. Wade Elliott shot over the top after a cross in from Fletcher. Wake mesmerised Bournemouth with a twisty run from his own half but in the end he was tackled just as he was shaping to shoot. Farrell forced the Cherries keeper Neil Moss into a save on 33 minutes, the first real effort on goal from the young United side. At half-time the injured Moss went off, to be replaced by Gareth Stewart while for the home team team captain Peter Murphy came on for Adam Rundle. The closest either team came to breaking the deadlock came when Danny Thomas flicked a header inches wide of Keen's far post from a Fletcher cross. Then McDonald forced Keen into a save, with a shot from the edge of the box. On 52 minutes Keen turned a Cummings free kick round the post. The impressive Wake then brought a save out of Stewart after an effort from 18 yards out. Inside the last 20 minutes Jack had a shot go wide when he should at least have hit the target. The game was becoming quite open with both teams looking to win it, although Bournemouth still looked slightly the more accomplished outfit. Dillon came on for Ryan Baldacchino with four minutes left to become the youngest ever player to wear the blue of Carlisle, beating John Slaven's record of last season. But within a couple of minutes the visitors snatched the lead. Elliott crossed and James Hayter met the ball well to head down into the corner despite a hand from Keen. And it was Hayter who sealed the victory when he ran virtually unopposed through the middle and fired a shot high into the net over the stranded Keen. A sad way for a tough old season to end. Al's verdict: Unlucky 13 for United. This result sealed our worst home record in living memory (i.e. my memory). No doubt if it hadn't been for our excellent run away from home since the New Year, we'd have been heading down to the Conference. Today's side was very young, almost ridiculously young, although Collins was keen to blood more of his young players. It was a very entertaining game with the players clearly released from the shackles of the relegation battle. Wake deservedly collected Man of the Match and must be heading for a big season next year if he keeps up his fantastic run of form to end this one. |
