Chris Billy and Paul Simpson were drafted back into midfield as Mark Summerbell started on the bench. Richie Foran and Steve Livingstone began up front. Manager Roddy Collins hoping to find the right blend after making a number of changes for the midweek Carling Cup defeat at Walsall. For home side Yeovil striker Kevin Gall was hoping to build on his two opening-day goals at Rochdale and a record of 16 strikes in his first 18 appearances for the Glovers. Barely a minute into the game and Town's Colin Pluck was booked for a very late challenge on Brendan McGill. Darren Kelly rapidly followed him into the referee's notebook for a tackle from behind. Yeovil's first serious attack brought the opening goal inside four minutes. Man of the moment Gall capitalised on Matty Glennon's fumble from a corner, turning astutely a yard or two out to turn the ball home after the follow-up shot struck him. Carlisle needed a quick recovery and a mistake by Lee Johnson almost allowed in Brendan McGill but Yeovil scrambled clear. Kirk Jackson almost doubled the lead on 17 minutes after he shot at Glennon following a nice crossfield ball from Gosling. But the respite didn't last long. On 18 minutes the livewire Gall turned on a sixpence on the edge of the box and volleyed past Glennon. 2-0. With a crisis rapidly developing, Adam Rundle was brought on to replace full back Birch, Collins switching systems to play three at the back. It was close to 3-0 within three minutes as Glennon was forced into a desperate save with his knees. In the 25th minute Paul Raven challenged Gall who collapsed to the ground but the officials decided to take no action. Rundle soon went into the book for another foul. From the resulting free kick Jackson got in a header and was just over the top. United's best moment to date came on the half-hour when the unfortunate Kelly hit the bar after Simpson set him up. Gall shredded the defence again but this time Glennon came out quickly to block. Almost every time the league's newcomers attacked it was looking like another goal would go in. The 400-odd travelling Cumbrians, many of whom had been delayed in horrendous holiday traffic jams on the M5, were suffering in virtual silence. Within a few minutes Yeovil were straight through again but Jamie Gosling was denied by the over-worked Glennon. Carlisle tried to calm things down and were more successful in regaining their composure as the game approached the interval. Steve Livingstone, sent off last week, was booked as the referee continued his attempt at creating a yellow card record for one half. United needed a rapid reply at the start of the second half. McGill and Foran combined well in the 53rd minute to set up Billy who skied over the cross-bar. The Cumbrians were looking a little more dangerous as Foran stole the ball and almost finished off the move as he headed over from McGill's cross. A minute later Kelly and Maddison clashed heads when going for the same ball. Both were Ok after treatment. Gall headed narrowly wide of the post as the Glovers looked to put the game out of reach. Substitute Summerbell tried his luck from over 30 yards. For Yeovil Johnson tried from a similar distance but Glennon was well behind it. Foran headed over. Crittenden fired across Glennon but just wide as the game ebbed and flowed from end to end. Billy set up another half-chance for Foran but he fired over the bar from 12 yards out. Maddison pulled back Gall and escaped with a booking. Livingstone from an angle six yards out could have pulled one back. A cross to the edge of the six-yard box allowed Jackson to side foot home past Glennon and wrap up the points, with 12 minutes left on the clock. Paul Simpson lined up a free kick from 20 yards out bit totally miskicked as the ball flew harmlessly into the crowd much to the amusement of the home supporters. Al's verdict: A nightmare which would have been worse but for Matty. Gall was in form before kick-off but we didn't seem to realise it. He ran us ragged and could easily have scored twice as many as he did. After the first half disasters, the team performed much more creditably in the second period, but what chances were eked out were all missed. After that it was always likely they would make us pay again and the third goal was the killer. It's good to report that Glennon is in top form because he'll always give you a chance but the defenders in front of him are totally out of shape at the moment, I'm afraid. Added to that, a miserly two goals scored in three games is not promotion form either. I wouldn't advocate wholesale changes yet, but bringing back the team that started against Walsall seems worth a try for next week. It's a game we simply have to win. |
