Once again the absence of five first-choice players bit hard as the visitors took command in the first 20 minutes of the game and never really looked like buckling despite some improved play from the young United side in the second half. Brian Wake had a good chance early on to give the home team the lead but Dale keeper Neil Edwards saved. After that, the visitors took advantage of some sloppy defending to score two killer goals. First giraffe-like striker Clive Platt rose at the near post to loop a header from a Paul Simpson corner over Peter Keen with the marking lax. A few minutes later it was two-nil as player-manager Simpson collected a pass that bounced off Michael Jack and advanced on Keen to slip the ball under his body and into the bottom far corner. Simpson also curled a clever chip inches over the cross-bar as Rochdale took control. With veteran former Carlisle star Ian Bishop controlling the midfield with some deft touches it looked for a while as though a shell-shocked United might be totally swept away. However they regained their composure and young Marc Nixon rattled in a shot that Edwards did well to palm over at full stretch. By and large long balls from the back were not finding their target as the Cumbrians struggled to get back on terms. Half-time did not bring a chorus of boos, but there was precious little to get excited about either. With Brian Wake replaced by Lee Andrews for the second half, Roddy Collins tried a change of tack. The longer balls were cut out and United began to get a foothold in the opposition half. A spell of pressure brought a corner that found its way onto the head of Stuart Whitehead who just failed to react quickly enough as the ball flew wide. Brendan McGill was linking with Peter Murphy to get down the left wing and Andrews was doing well pushing up into an unfamiliar midfield role. Mick Galloway replaced an injured Michael Jack and his passing helped keep Carlisle on top although Dale always had the comfort of the two-goal cushion to fall back on. Although United had a bigger share of possession it was always possible that the visitors would break away and steal a third. Simpson tried a rapid break down the right but his final shot off-balance careered wide of Keen's post. In the closing seconds Darren Kelly advanced from his own half to collect the ball 40 yards out and hammer in a dipping shot that brought another fine tip over from Edwards. It wasn't to be United's night and the result means they have not won at home in four attempts and only scored once. Al's verdict: Carlisle 0-2 Experience. But it was a much better display than against Exeter. However there was still something rather inevitable about our defeat. Dale fielded wise old heads like Simpson and Bishop and it showed. Heads did drop a little as the early goals went in. However belief came back with an improved second half and our play had more width and shape to it. Players started to win 50-50 balls and the visitors were pinned back for long spells. Nixon seemed to grow in confidence and had a sound match, holding the ball up well, something he seems to have been working on in training. Galloway brought a touch of vision to midfield, which is what we needed and McGill as ever was a threat with his wing play. However he still looks like he needs Foran on the field with him to be at his most dangerous. Thankfully that's the last league game without our banned trio and I remain fairly confident that things will start to improve from here on. Here's hoping anyway... |
