The goal was what Carlisle's early play deserved. A few minutes before Rundle's strike, Richie Foran had seen his penalty pushed away by Shrews keeper Ian Dunbavin. After the early exchanges, the game rather tightened up and neither side really threatened to add to the goalscoring. The Cumbrians got their big chance to go in front in the 19th minute. Stuart Green, making his first appearance in front of the Brunton Park faithful for 11 months, glided into the box and was upended just inside the line. Referee Graham Laws spotted the infringement and had no hesitation in awarding the penalty. Foran, who has never missed from the spot for United, placed his kick to Dunbavin's left but the keeper guessed right and dived to turn the shot away. It could have been a big blow to United, but heads didn't drop and within four minutes they had nosed in front. Craig Farrell broke away down the right hand side of the pitch and crossed low into the centre of the box, finding Rundle ghosting in behind the final defender and picking his spot to drill home the crucial goal. Rather than take charge of the game, United seemed to ease off a little and the visitors saw more of the ball. But visiting striker Nigel Jemson felt the full force of United's commitment when he was flattened and had to go off for treatment, much to the bemusement of the home supporters who were on his back for the rest of the evening. At the Warwick Road End, Matty Glennon had little to do and the interval found the Cumbrians still very much in charge. The second period remained tight with defences still in charge and sometimes rather scrappy. Green's cultured midfield play lit up the game and he had one opening when he made some space and shot from 25 yards but Dunbavin was down well to block. Foran surged forward to meet Rundle's breakaway on the left wing and saw his attempted chip headed away for a corner. The visitors were sporadically dangerous, the nearest they came to forcing an equaliser was when Stuart Talbot's shot from the edge of the box drifted narrowly wide of Glennon's right hand upright. Foran went in rather late on Leon Drysdale by the East Stand touchline and Laws wielded the yellow card, something he also got out to wave at the visitors' Sam Aiston, who clattered into the excellent Paul Raven. The Cumbrians would have been disappointed not to have added to their early lead, but manager Roddy Collins would have been satisfied with another important clean sheet with Raven rewarded with the Man of the March. Al's verdict: Another fine display by our defence, who were rarely troubled by Shrewsbury. This bodes well for the second leg where a goalless draw will be enough to see us through. It remains to be seen whether Collins will abandon his sometimes cavalier away tactics to play for a draw and get through by stealth rather than gamble on a riskier attacking line-up. We now look capable of holding firm over the whole game rather than make the odd damaging mistake that has cost us in the past. Raven had a very sound home debut, cutting out much of Shrewsbury's through balls and limiting the danger of wily old Jemson and the much quicker and livelier Rodgers. Green was sporadically very impressive in midfield but didn't quite command the game as much as he had threatened to early on. Overall, a satisfactory result which makes United marginal favourites to reach Cardiff. It should be an interesting and nail-biting affair at Shrewsbury next week. |
