The first half was a triumph for recalled striker Andy Preece. The 37-year-old veteran grabbed one goal and made both the others as the Cumbrians played their best football in front of the home supporters for a couple of months. But the absence of experienced duo Kevin Gray and Tom Cowan was keenly felt in the second half as a gutsy Morecambe side pegged back the advantage and left with a deserved share of the spoils. The first ten minutes was all United and they established a quick-fire two-goal advantage. In the fifth minute Wayne Curtis fouled Magno Vieira and Preece lined up a left footed free kick which came back off keeper Adam Sollitt only to fall kindly for the onrushing Glenn Murray who darted in knock home the rebound. On nine minutes the lead was doubled. Swan fouled Murray. Peter Murphy swung in another free kick from the right flank and Preece got a tasty flick on to guide the ball into the back of the net. As good as Carlisle's attacking prowess was, with the new pairing of Murray and Preece striking up an instant understanding, their defending never looked as convincing. Morecambe edged back into it on 21 minutes when Matty Glennon could only parry a Gary Hunter shot, the ball was delivered back into the six-yard box by the same player and Wayne Curtis was on hand to drill home from close range. The warning signs were there. Preece saw his effort fly low across goal for United but Morecambe almost got in again when Michael Twiss's shot was blocked by Glennon's feet. Before half-time though United once again established a two-goal cushion. Preece turned to drill in a low cross from the left that didn't appear to offer any immediate threat to the visitors goal. However the indecision of Sollitt and his central defender allowed the ball to dribble through to the waiting Vieira who had a simple task to stroke home and make it 3-1. There was no doubting that United deserved their advantage and the warmth of the applause as the sides trooped off at the interval reflected that. However the visitors must have got a tongue-lashing from Jim Harvey at half-time as they came out with renewed vigour for the second half. United's defence came under pressure after giving the ball away a few too many times. The running down the right of Lee Elam helped to stretch them although it wasn't until just past the hour that they allowed Morecame to regain a toe-hold. A move that began on the left ended when David Perkins delivered the final ball to Hunter who had an easy chance to drive past Glennon and once again reduce the arrears. United brought on Craig Farrell to try and turn the game their way again but Carlisle's play was now looking less dangerous than it had in the first half, although the industrious Murray produced a blistering run down the left channel that ended in a good save from Sollitt as he tried to steer the ball home. Morecambe's substitute Gary Thompson was to have the decisive say, however. A good deep cross from the left by Curtis found him unmarked between defenders and his header into the corner left Glennon with no chance. Three minutes of added time was not enough for United to build a real chance to get the points and the gap to Barnet has widened again. Al's verdict: Another game of two halves with United on top during a really strong first half performance but lapsing into bad habits during the second to continue a festive season of ill-will and poor results. We may be unbeaten in four games now but Barnet remain well in charge at the top and we might just have blown our best chance to get back to them. The recall of Preece was long overdue and he dominated the opening half with his intelligent forward play, winning the high balls and making the two goals that he didn't score himself. But as the big man began to fade, so did Carlisle and our defence were guilty of going to sleep which allowed the visitors back into it. Morecambe are a sound, mid-table side but nothing more and to fail to collect three points is a bad blow. Simmo has to find a way of tightening up that back four as on that performance, our strong defensive displays during the first half of the season could become a thing of the past. man of the match: Andy Preece. stinker: Mark Tierney. visitors: Morecambe showed good spirit after falling two goals behind but we should never have given them a sniff. Jimmy Harvey deserves praise for lifting them for the second half, although he had plenty of reason to believe he could pull something out of it after some wobbly moments earlier in the game. |
