With McGill, Soley and Whitehead all still out through injury, United once again had to field a makeshift side with Peter Murphy pushed up into midfield and Dave Rogers out of position at left back. Ian Stevens was dropped to make way for Steven Halliday who started up front with Richie Foran. Scunthorpe, lying fifth at kick-off were missing two influential forwards in Peter Beagrie and top scorer Martin Carruthers. They gave a debut to striker Mike Jeffrey, on loan from Grimsby. United settled the better and they forced two early corners. Foran met a long Michael Jack pass with a shot that screwed wide as he was tackled. Scunthorpe began to get their act together though and broke through to take the lead in the 18th minute. A far post cross was nodded down at the far post and Jeffrey managed to force the ball over the line, the linesman signalling a goal after it was grabbed by Peter Keen. Torpey set up Jeffrey who shot on the turn just over the bar in the 27th minute. Foran created a chance five minutes later as he met Stuart Green's free kick, beat the offside trap and slipped the ball past Tom Evans in the Scunny goal only to see the ball roll wide. A Murphy shot moments later gave the home custodian less trouble. Lee Hodges scored a superb goal on 38 minutes to put the home team in the comfort zone. He twisted and turned his way into a shooting position, bamboozling Lee Andrews, and from 25 yards found the bottom right corner leaving Keen with little chance. The Iron were now well on top and Torpey forced a corner off Winstanley. Hodges tried a repeat from the resulting kick but managed to fire the ball out of the stadium. There was still fight left in the Cumbrians as a strong Birch run helped set up Jack who shot firmly over the bar from 20 yards out. United needed to get back into the game early in the second half but Hodges it was who went closest when he fired over the top after a mis-timed clearance. Roddy Collins made the reverse change to Tuesday night as he brought off Halliday and replaced him with Ian Stevens. It was still the home side doing the pressing as Andrews was forced into conceding another corner. This led to two more corners as Scunny attempted to turn the screw. A Keen double save kept the Cumbrians in it and was the signal for a concerted fight back. On 63 minutes a controversial decision for handball inside the area gave United a lifeline. Foran stepped up to take the spot kick but Evans made a great save. Will McDonagh's follow up was wide and it seemed Carlisle's big chance had gone. But on 76 minutes they did get a goal back as McDonagh claimed his first ever goal in United's colours. A cross aimed at Foran was half-cleared and the youngster drilled home into the right corner of the net with a powerful finish. Evans was forced into a good save from a Stevens flick on 80 minutes as the visitors grew in confidence. Stevens had another chance that flew wide before a slice of history was made eight minutes from the end as John Slaven came on as substitute in place of Foran to become the youngest ever player to wear the blue shirt of Carlisle United. What a start he almost made as he took part in a sweeping move involving Jonny Allan and defender Andrews that ended with Andrews curling a shot agonisingly close to the top corner with the ball just looping wide. Al's verdict: A good sign for the future, if we have a future. Young players like Andrews, Allan, Jack and 16-year-old starlet John Slaven all played a part in a fighting second half effort after it seemed the home side would record a very comfortable victory. There was some good football played and the penalty miss turned out to be crucial. The home side almost seemed happy enough to cling on to their half-time advantage which says something for a United side shorn of three regulars. |
