There is still no end in sight to the United slump after another defensive lapse cost them three points at home to fellow strugglers Shrewsbury. The Cumbrians had controlled large sections of the game with some good possession football but the end product was sadly lacking. Having failed to get into the lead, the home team paid the ultimate penalty as the visitors delivered the sucker punch with 12 minutes left to put Roddy Collins under more pressure at the bottom end of the table. The Shrews were off to a flyer with a goal inside two minutes by tall midfielder Karl Murray. He arrived unmarked to volley low shot past Keen from an Ian Woan cross and repeat the agony of last weekend's game against Torquay. The home team were hit hard by the blow but gradually got their game together with long spells of possession and some good linking play but goalkeeper Ian Dunbavin was rarely stretched. Leon Osman, who had another industrious game in the middle of the park, fired in two efforts from outside the box but Dunbavin got down well to save. Ryan Baldacchino, back in the side after injury, then produced a shot that Jason Van Blerk cleared off the line and his follow-up effort only found the side netting. John Sutton later got away down the right channel and fired on goal but again his shot lacked power and Dunbavin saved easily. A good cross in by Ryan Baldacchino brought a header from Craig Farrell but Dunbavin was in a good position and caught the ball well. The interval brought a halt to the momentum and the home team came out rather flat at the start of the second half as the visitors again had opportunities to extend their lead. Veteran Nigel Jemson, a target for boos from the home crowd after a first half incident, saw his effort chalked off for offside. United appeared to be struggling again to get a grip but they got a big break on 56 minutes when Matthew Redmile deflected the ball into his own net following a cross in from a prone Osman. It was the signal for United to pour forward and impressive full back Brian Shelley led the charge with a couple of deep forays that could have brought further reward. Osman fired in a shot on target and Darren Kelly got up to head a corner wide of the far post. But just as the home side looked as though they might be getting on top and capable of snatching the points, they let their guard down. Woan floated in a free kick and defender David Artell rose unchallenged at the far post to head back across Keen and claim the winner. Only minutes earlier Ian Stevens had come on as a substitute to loud applause from the home fans. He was involved twice close to the end but the home fans were at least spared any further agony. Al's verdict: Quite clearly something has to be done at the back after this loss. Having played some bright football with Osman, Baldacchino and Shelley impressive and Summerbell again showing his teeth, we defended diabolically and paid the price. The "goodbye Whitehead, hello Taylor" policy doesn't seem to have worked out although having Baldacchino back gave us more options and we should have scored more than one rather fortunate goal. Our last two displays have contained plenty of good football, but the two goals we have scored have both been gifts. So although the defence is still conceding soft goals, our attack is lacking a cutting edge. Problems at both ends of the pitch - not good. |
