The 12-game nightmare was halted by a new-look United with two strikers making their debuts in Andy Preece and teenager Matt Fryatt. There was a new central defensive pairing too with veterans Paul Raven and Kevin Gray linking up. With a power overload in the main stand causing the game to kick off 15 minutes late, the conditions were deteriorating as the game started. Preece and Fryatt immediately linked up effectively and Preece showed his aerial ability by winning a couple of early headers. Then player-manager Paul Simpson flashed a free kick inches wide from just outside the box. The breakthrough arrived on 14 minutes when Will McDonagh lobbed a ball into space on the edge of the area and Preece collected and clipped home past keeper Van Heusden into the right corner. Preece was offering a valuable outlet for Carlisle and Simpson was the instigator of the better moves. His cross found the onrushing Brendan McGill but his header was well saved by Van Heusden low down at his near post. Gray rose well from a corner but couldn't quite keep his powerful header down. Torquay were looking sporadically dangerous though and they earned a free kick themselves in a threatening position after Arnison brought down David Graham. Chris Billy had a great chance to extend United's lead but his shot was too high after the ball was headed out to him just 12 yards out. There was controversy near the interval when Matty Glennon appeared to have the ball knocked out of his grasp by Martin Gritton and tapped into the unguarded net but the linesman's raised flag indicated a foul, much to the anger of the visitor's bench which was cleared as Gulls players surrounded the officials. The second half saw the wind get up as the weather turned noticeably colder. There was the odd warning sign for Carlisle and it was clear a second goal would be needed before they could relax. Sure enough it arrived eight minutes in when Simpson slipped the ball across the pitch and Arnison unleashed a ferocious 25 yarder into the top right corner beyond the despairing reach of Van Heusden. The visitors now had to throw caution to the winds but their chances were virtually scuppered when striker Tony Bedeau flung out an elbow into the face of left back Tom Cowan near the touchline and was ordered off by referee Jones. Billy went close again when he capitalised on a loose ball 10 yards out but saw his shot deflected wide for a corner. It wasn't the visitors day as they had another effort disallowed late on. Al's verdict: An excellent display that finally seems to reveal a bit of light at the end of the tunnel. With two mobile and effective strikers up front, we were able to really keep the ball well and look like scoring at every opportunity. Preece won balls in the air and controlled it well on the ground to earn a deserved man of the match award. Make no mistake Torquay are a good side who played well but we kept them out with some committed defending by the whole team, and kept the ball intelligently towards the end when our experience shone through. Even the ref for once gave us a bit of a helping hand but by 'eck we were due a bit of assistance in that area. Ok, so we've only got 8 points but the gap has closed at last and the next three games over the Christmas/New Year holiday are going to be crucial now. We need to go through them unbeaten to maintain our slim hopes of survival. On this showing, we still have a chance. |
