MORECAMBE 1 CARLISLE UNITED 1 Shrimps draw leaves Blues’ hopes all at sea
THERE were more away fans than home in attendance at the Globe Arena yesterday as the Blue Army did their bit in the fight for a play-off place.
And Carlisle gave their supporters a huge boost with just 14 minutes on the clock when James Brown was chopped to the floor on the edge of the box by Conlan as he tried to pick his way into the penalty area. Former Shrimp Jamie Devitt took charge of the free-kick and he left Roche with no chance as he drilled a beauty of an effort into the back of the net via the underside of the bar.
A foul on Stockton followed as United kept the pressure on, and it was Devitt once more who tried his luck. The ball whipped through the wall and Roche had to parry when he spotted it late.
Morecambe looked to get some kind of foothold and McGurk pounced on an error in midfield and strode forward into space. His shot was stopped by Bonham on the dive, but Thompson got his footwork wrong as he sent the loose ball behind to safety.
Carlisle continued to cause more of the problems and determined work from Jones allowed him to send Grainger into a crossing position. His delivery picked out Brown who, in turn, spotted Bennett in plenty of space on the penalty spot. A header from the striker looked to be going in until the stopper somehow got his hand to it.
The Shrimps sent more men forward and they were back on terms just before the halfhour when a cross from the right entered the box completely unchallenged. Callum Lang was left with the relatively simple task of guiding his header into the corner of the net.
It became a turgid affair as the sides cancelled each other out ahead of half-time, but a change of personnel gave the visitors renewed impetus as Joyce came on for Parkes. His first input was a pass to Stockton, which sent him wide, and Roche was well-placed to deal with the shot.
United were close from a Devitt corner as Stockton moved to meet it. He was being held, and that was just enough to put him off as he
sent his powerful header past the target. Brown was next to test the water when he was left with time as he received a reverse touch from Joyce. His toe poke needed a diving save from Roche.
Carlisle were denied what looked to be a clear penalty when Nadesan was pulled to the floor by Roche as the pair challenged for a high ball which bounced inside the box, but the officials waved play on despite the vociferous shouts from the visiting contingent.
Another good visiting chance went begging when Ellis put a half-clearance back into the mix. Joyce helped it on its way but the shot from Jones sailed high and very wide.
The forward play belonged almost exclusively to the Blues heading into the final 10 minutes, but it became increasingly frustrating, summed up when Jones screwed a good chance wide when he was teed up just 18 yards out.
Morecambe missed a late chance to clinch the game when Bonham saved from Lang, and Oliver was wasteful when he nodded a free header over the bar.
The whistle blew with both sides pushing for the spoils but the point all-but signalled an end to the Carlisle promotion hopes with just three games to play and the gap to seventh place now at five points.