The biggest league attendance since the opening day of last season packed Brunton Park and led to another fifteen minute delay in kick-off time. The Cumbrians were unchanged for the third successive match as they looked to close the gap on their relegation rivals to just six points. United made the more positive start and it was no surprise to see them in front as early as the 11th minute. Brendan McGill had been bombing down the right to trigger Carlisle's best openings but it was the diminutive right winger who get on the end of Andy Preece's right wing cross to head skilfully past Darlo keeper Michael Price and into the left corner of the net to put the Cumbrians one up. But although Carlisle were playing with great energy, they were unable to maintain their early momentum and slowly but surely the visitors from across the A66 began to assert their superiority. United did well to keep striker Barry Conlon relatively quiet mindful no doubt of his two-goal demolition job on them last September at the Reynolds Arena. But it was impressive Lee Matthews who waltzed through their rearguard six minutes before the interval to bag the equaliser that the Quakers had been threatening for some time. He produced a low right foot curler which left Matty Glennon rooted to the spot and buried itself in the right corner of the goal. United appeared to suffer from losing stopper Paul Raven who had to limp off following an early incident inside the box. Raven had looked commanding again at the back and the Cumbrians never quite looked as comfortable once he went off. Will McDonagh switched back to defence with Peter Murphy getting another chance to regain match fitness following his two month absence. It was Murphy who had United's best effort of a tense and closely contested second period. He turned sharply and fired a left foot effort from 25 yards on to the cross-bar. Darlington went closer when Wainwright appeared to be a yard offside but beat the linesman's flag to deliver a low centre that Matthews managed to sidefoot wide when the goal gaped. Then Conlon finally had sight of goal but his snapshot from 15 yards just crept past Glennon's far post as the home keeper threw himself to his left to try and turn it away. The Cumbrians were enjoying much more possession but their invention and craft were lacking. Too many times they attempted long range efforts when a pass would have been the better option. But player manager Paul Simpson did get a tasty effort on target which brought a sharp save from Price just before he went off to be replaced by Kevin Henderson. There was a lack of width to United's play as the game wore on but when they finally did get the ball into a dangerous position it was that man Preece this time on the left delivering a lovely ball that Henderson met well eight yards out but Price again did well to palm away. It was United's last real chance. Both sides forced corners into stoppage time but the final whistle signalled what was probably a fair result. Al's verdict: It was expecting too much to bank on a third straight victory but this was another improved display even if Darlington significantly rose to the occasion after their recent dismal run of results to claim a deserved draw. If they had taken their chances they would have won which would have been hard on us as I thought we competed well and managed to get back on top after a bad spell in the first half when their midfield ruled the roost. Billy got through a lot of work but Murphy looked to be struggling for match fitness. Preece after another good start rather lost his way but as soon as he found space to cross, he nearly won the game for us. Let's hope his 36-year-old legs can keep going because with him on the pitch, it's almost worth a goal start at the moment. With Southend losing, the gap to safety has closed to 12 points. So not a bad day all round and another chance to close it further next Saturday. |
