The Minstermen shrugged off bookies odds making them favourites for relegation by grabbing two early goals either side of a United strike from new skipper Paul Raven. Later in an incident-packed opening half, debut man Steve Livingstone was sent off after exchanging blows with York player-manager Chris Brass. The only consolation for home fans was that Brass was ordered off too. The incident which erupted into a mass brawl also claimed the scalps of Chris Billy and the visitors Darren Dunning who were booked. It was City who struck first just two minutes into the game. Lee Bullock forced the ball home after his initual header had been saved by Matty Glennon and Mitch Ward's follow-up effort was hacked off the line. But United weren't behind for long. Just three minutes later Paul Simpson's left wing free kick was met by an emphatic header from Raven who brought the scores level. In an exciting start, Carlisle were finding their feet and the right wing advances of Mark Birch were catching the eye. His cross found Farrell whose downward header went just wide. Another early delivery flew just too high for the onrushing Richie Foran. But 13 minutes in, the away team shocked United again. Bullock's header allowed Lee Nogan to turn Raven smartly and fired low into the left corner past the despairing dive of Glennon. With United behind again, it was imperative they got back on terms quickly. However the only headlines they made in the rest of the half was Livingstone's rush of blood to the head. With tempers close to boiling over in the 85 degree-plus heat, it was a relief to hear the half-time whistle. Roddy Collins would doubtless have had some sharp words in the cool of the dressing room. He also had a tactical rethink as off came Birch and on came Adam Rundle as he re-jigged to a 3-5-2 formation, with Foran now up front with Farrell. However, although York sat back and invited Carlisle on to them, the Cumbrians looked less impressive in the second half and less likely to find the crucial equaliser. Foran had a header which was cleared from a couple of yards out by a York defender. McGill fired over when well placed as United's shooting became increasingly erratic. Brian Wake was thrown into the action in place of Foran but United's passing and general play was becoming a bit misjointed. McGill was forced inside by Baldacchino's introduction and seemed less effective. Raven fired wide from a corner. The energetic Chris Billy showed his fitness by chasing back 60 yards to snuff out a York break late in the game but it was he who scopped wide with one of Carlisle's last attempts on goal. It was a hugely disappointed 7,261 crowd who streamed away at the end. Al's verdict: Very disappointing. Last season our big problems were poor defending and poor discipline. The first half showed this hasn't been properly addressed. Darren Edmondson was constantly open in the early stages and set up their first goal. Then Raven, who is very strong in the tackle and good in the air but a bit ponderous on the floor, was isolated one on one with Nogan, which we didn't want to happen and he scored the second. I was hoping to report a bigger threat from set-pieces after seeing Raven's excellent equaliser, but as the game wore on their impressive keeper Mark Ovendale was claiming everything. With no target man on the field, as Livingstone had got himself sent off, we had no-one to really aim at. Foran occasionly looked the likely lad to break them down but he ran out of steam and was substituted. McGill, a very effective outlet on the wing throughout, deservedly claimed man of the match but spent the closing stages stuck in the middle of the park. |
