CREWE ALEXANDRA 0 CARLISLE UNITED 5 Crewe get a crushing from in-form Carlisle
CARLISLE have waited for more than a month for a league victory but they brought an end to their barren spell and a worrying dip in form with a majestic and powerful performance against a Crewe side who have now lost four games in five outings this month.
Veteran defender Clint Hill made his first appearance for the club just 48 hours after putting pen to paper on a short-term deal and he looked every bit the part as he immediately made important tackles and clearances.
Crewe enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges, though, and both Porter and Dagnall were close when Wintle drilled a low cross into the area. It was Hill once again who got the touch which prevented either of them from finishing it off.
The Cumbrians almost made life hard for themselves on 10 minutes when Parkes sent a heavy back pass straight at his keeper. George tried to readjust and he was relieved to see his woeful slice spin to safety beyond his far post.
United were rewarded for
their patient approach when captain Danny Grainger raced onto a ball in midfield with plenty of visiting shirts camped forward. He looked up, weighed up his options and left Garratt with no chance as he smashed a stunning long-range effort into the bottom corner.
Carlisle looked dangerous and a superb cross-field pass from Hill sent Grainger on a run into space. He found Adams and a first-time punt
from the midfielder was deflected over the bar. The experienced Clint Hill seemed to be everywhere and his nod down from the set piece found Grainger with his back to goal. The captain was an inch away from doubling tally as his shot on the turn whipped just past the upright.
It was all about the visitors and Miller glanced a cross from Etuhu just wide as they started to dominate the game. Adams was next to go close, when he had another snapshot deflected over, and a nod down from Hill from the corner looked perfect for Parkes to finish off. He sliced his volley horribly, as did Miller, and Crewe were able to breathe again.
The Cumbrians were gifted a second goal just after the break when Michael Raynes got himself in a tangle as the ball bounced awkwardly off his thigh. Lambe was onto it in a flash and the big defender was left with his head in his hands as his attempt at a recovery tackle was judged to have been a foul by the referee. Danny Grainger placed the ball on the spot and rattled his second of the afternoon into the back of the net.
Carlisle looked comfortable and the points were signed, sealed and delivered with just under 20 minutes left to play when the afternoon turned into a complete nightmare for Raynes. A fierce corner from Grainger skipped off the surface and onto his boot and the big defender could do nothing as it veered into the net past his dumbfounded keeper.
More salt was rubbed into the Crewe wounds when substitute Jamie Devitt slid the ball through for Lambe to chase.
He drew the keeper and calmly clipped the ball over his dive to send the away contingent wild as they savoured their four-goal lead.
What was by far Carlisle’s best performance of the season was rounded off by Hallam Hope, who managed to score a fifth goal deep into time added on.