Going’s good for Blues in Cheltenham victory
CARLISLE turned on the magic at Brunton Park as they added a first home win of the season to what had been an impressive week of away victories.
The Blues dominated from the off and, but for some brave defending, could have rattled up a cricket score as they created a string of excellent chances off the back of some extremely eye-catching football.
The Cumbrians looked confident and their first attack of the day put them in the lead when a Shaun Miller cross was diverted behind for a corner. Captain Danny Grainger swung that into the box and a huge leap from Tom Miller brought an awkwardly bouncing ball that had to be dealt with.
The unfortunate Harry Pell tried to hook it over the bar but succeeded only it smashing into the roof of his own net.
Home pressure levels built up and Flatt did well to parry a stinger from Lambe as the blue shirts queued up to shoot from a bobbling cross from Adams. The keeper had to scramble to recover as the ball spun free across the face of goal.
Cheltenham struggled to cope with the pace and movement from the hosts and they were unpicked again when Shaun Miller protected the ball with his back to goal. He rolled it back for Grainger to deliver and the lively Reggie Lambe did the rest as he guided a perfect header into the bottom corner.
The Robins showed briefly when Atangana tried his luck from distance but stopper Jack Bonham showed good hands to pluck it out of the air. It was Carlisle who showed much of the bright thinking with Curle’s men and they should There was plenty of power but Grainger right at the heart of it. have made it three when Benhe couldn’t guide it under the His quickly taken free-kick bar.leftnettpickedoutAdamswitha Lambe in acres of space but neat lay-off. His shot was Carlisle were denied what Storer did well to block his blocked on the line, as was the looked another certain goal goal-bound thunderbolt. follow-up from Shaun Miller, when Bennett and Adams
Wide man Nicky Adams and Bennett somehow scuffed worked space for a cross. Flatt took over for the set-piece and his effort wide from close range got a touch and Shaun Miller he put a lobbed pass on to Tom as he connected on the stretch. looked on in anguish as his Miller’s head as the right back The Robins were close to powerful drive hit a defender arrived late. Flatt was beaten getting themselves back into it and went wide. but the ball dropped on to the moments after the second-half United effectively wrapped roof of the net. restart when Grimes jumped the game up with just an hour
It was impressive stuff from to head a wind-assisted corner. played when an excellent ball JACK BONHAM ............... 7 TOM MILLER ................... 9 MARK ELLIS ................... 8 TOM PARKES .................. 8 DANNY GRAINGER........ 8 REGGIE LAMBE .............. 8 LUKE JOYCE ................... 8 MIKE JONES .................... 8 NICKY ADAMS ................ 8 SHAUN MILLER............... 8 RICHIE BENNETT ........... 7 into the box was eventually played to Tom Miller. He set himself before curling a wonderful shot into the top corner from just outside the area to register his second goal of the campaign.
Cheltenham threw men forward as they tried to salvage some pride but it was comfortable stuff for a Carlisle outfit who rarely looked troubled and very good for their confidence building victory.