Sub-zero overnight temperatures meant the pitch was tricky and this frustrating match looked like ending in a goalless draw until top scorer Karl 'Hitman' Hawley pounced with three minutes left to break the deadlock. The game settled into a pattern early on of mostly home possession, although the visitors once or twice broke United's offside trap and it was referee Harwood who quickly became the hate figure for a string of contentious decisions, two of which denied Carlisle plausible penalties in the opening half. Andy Preece was racing towards the byline when he was hauled down by Ashley Vickers but Harwood waved away appeals for a spot kick. Chris Moore and Craig Mackail-Smith both had efforts for the visitors, but Moore's effort was wide and Mackail-Smith's was well held by Matty Glennon. There was no doubting Dag & Red's lack of ambition as they sought to slow the game by taking as much time as possible with goal kicks, throw ins and free kicks. A Lumsdon trip brought the Londoners a set play. Lee Flynn's effort was wide of the right post. Then the Cumbrians got a free kick when Preece was brought down by Anwar Uddin. Lumsdon took it and keeper Tony Roberts had to tip round the upright to concede a corner. Flynn's cross was put narrowly wide by Uddin. Hawley tested Roberts from 25 yards out, but his shot lacked power. United were unable to produce flowing football on a testing surface and they only began to exert any meaningful pressure towards the end of the half. Hawley missed a good chance with six minutes until the break when he drilled into the side netting. Then the 10-goal forward brought another save out of Roberts with an effort from the edge of the box. A Brendan McGill cross brought another opening for the Hitman, but Lee Goodwin made a vital clearance. Hawley began the second half with a low shot that was a bit too ambitious and flew about a yard wide of the left hand post. The visitors delaying tactics continued with player after player receiving prolonged treatments for what looked like minor injuries. Hawley was still shooting from distance but his 59th minute effort was again wide of the mark. Paul Simpson sought to change things around on 65 minutes as he brought off Magno Vieira, who had worked hard and replaced him with Carlos Roca. Roca's industrious running brought renewed vigour to the home attack, but the final ball was consistently lacking. His 74th minute break brought a clear foul out of Goodwin. Jake Leberl entered the book for contesting the decision and this was to be the start of the visitors downfall as their discipline began to go. Preece let fly from the free kick but his left footed effort was about half a yard too high. 11 minutes from time Leberl knew he was in trouble when clattering Tom Cowan near the Paddock side touchline and the big defender walked off with a second yellow card to reduce his team to 10 men. It still didn't look as though United were going to get the crucial breakthrough until the 87th minute when McGill kept the ball in play down the right wing, slipped towards the byline and crossed low and firm into the box. Sub Kevin Henderson challenged for it, the ball broke to Hawley who gratefully snapped up the chance to win the game for the relieved Blues. Al's verdict: A typical home game for us, this. The visitors were here for a point and their gamesmanship almost did it for them, but thankfully justice was done as Hawley got the late goal. Not an impressive display by any means, but it's not how, it's how many. I felt the pitch made passing football a bit tricky and Dag & Red's long ball game almost caught out our defence on occasion. The ref missed a couple of offsides and denied us two decent penalty shouts. However he did send off their defender which probably played a part in turning the game our way in the end. We'll play better this season and get nothing. |
