The Blues had to do it the hard way after conceding a 12th-minute goal and they had to wait until the 69th minute to claim a stunning equaliser through substitute Kevin Henderson. The winner arrived four minutes from the end courtesy of Kevin Gray. Carlisle had early chances as a magno Vieira cross was headed wide by Karl Hawley after 5 minutes and Brendan McGill fired a shot wide from the right edge of the box in the 10th minute. Two minutes later though it was the visitors going ahead when Matty Glennon failed to hold a Keith Gilroy shot and veteran Neil Redfearn claimed his sixth goal of the season from the rebound. United wobbled a touch and Tony Hackworth's shot from eight yards was blocked by Glennon. Chris Lumsdon's inswinging corner found Hawley's head but Scarborough keeper Leigh Walker saved well. Cowan got his head to a Peter Murphy cross in the 21st minute, but the ball flew wide of the left post. Hawley put in two crosses for Brendan McGill, but his first effort was blocked and then he headed well wide. Murphy tried to curl a free kick into the top corner on 29 minutes but his effort was too high and flew harmlessly over Walker's cross-bar. Hackworth missed a golden chance to make it 2-0 with six minutes to the break when he rounded Glennon but managed to find the side netting with the goal gaping. He had reason to regret that miss later. Hawley responded with a fierce shot for United by Walker punched it away. Murphy fired wide soon after and the half-time whistle was met by isolated boos as the Cumbrians trooped off, still not quite finding their rythmn despite having plenty of the ball. A McGill cross was met by Hawley at the start of the second period but the ball went over the top. Then in the 54th minute the increasingly effective Lumsdon got away from the well-drilled Scarborough midfield and shot at Walker who blocked with his feet. Hawley was there to meet the rebound just six yards out but Walker did brilliantly to turn the ball over the bar for a corner. On the hour McGill was worked into the box on the right side but he screwed his shot well wide when a cross might have been a better option. Carlisle were beginning to crank the up pressure and on 63 minutes Henderson replaced McGill. It was to be an inspired change. Six minutes after coming on the striker repaid his manager's faith with a quick break up the middle and a thunderous shot from 25 yards that flew away from Walker's reach and into the right corner of the net. The game began to really burst into life and Tom Cowan was booked for a foul on Chris Senior as he took a throw-in. Three minutes later Simon Grand almost added to his goal on Saturday when his header at the far post cannoned back off the post. It was all United now and a string of corners put the visitors under more and more pressure. Murphy got in a good cross that was met by Henderson but the ball went wide of the near post. Ashley Lyth managed a rare effort for the Seadogs but Glennon collected well. More corners came at the other end as United piled men forward. Eventually they got their just reward. Murphy's deep corner evaded Walker and Gray, lurking at the far post, got the final touch to nudge the ball over the line. It wasn't pretty but it was effective and deservedly edged United ahead at last. There was just time for Redfearn to collect his now customary booking in the closing seconds as United's 5,111 attendance celebrated the three points and elevation into the play-off places. Al's verdict: Three more points to keep our promotion push going and this was probably the best game so far. Scarborough showed much more attacking intent than previous visitors but we got on top of them in the second half and finished much the stronger side. I thought our play was too narrow in the opening half but we found the width during the second with Lumsdon getting forward more to dictate the play. Henderson needed a goal and it was a great time to get it, a strike that gives him a chance of claiming back a starting spot on Saturday. In the end, our continuous pressure brought reward, but it was a hard battle. There will be a few more to come, too. |
