CURLE LEFT FUMING AT SPOT KICK
ACONTROVERSIAL penalty decision left Carlisle boss Keith Curle fuming as a defeat to promotion-hunting Southend saw the Cumbrians stay in the drop zone.
With the game delicately poised at 1-0 to the home side, Shrimpers keeper Ted Smith appeared to bring Steven Rigg down in the box only for referee Trevor Kettle to award a goal kick.
And the home side, leading through Michael Timlin’s 25-yard volley, added another through Barry Corr to secure the win late on.
“It’s disappointing.We needed the big decision today for the penalty and the wrong decision was made, I think it was a penalty and it could have had a big bearing on the game,” said Curle.
“If I say anything I’m going to land myself in hot water so I’d say that a lot of people in the ground would have thought it was a penalty, me included, but he didn’t give it.
“If you look at the teams we’ve played we’ve played some good teams in Luton, Shrewsbury, Wycombe and today Southend. They are good teams and they are up there for a reason.
“Southend competed well and had good energy levels about the team and a good strike force.We are at the other end but there are reasons why and we’re working on it.”
Carlisle had the better of the opening exchanges, with Smith saving a Rigg header before Kyle Dempsey shot narrowly over from the edge of the box.
Joe Piggott tested Raphael Spiegel in the Carlisle goal, while Will Atkinson volleyed over from 18 yards.
It only took five second half minutes for the Shrimpers to go ahead.
Spiegel looked to have cleared the danger, pushing away Luke Prosser’s effort.
However, the ball fell to Timlin 25 yards out who volleyed it through a crowded box into the top right corner of the goal.
Corr doubled the Shrimpers’ lead after Timlin’s cross was headed back across goal for Corr to drive home unopposed.
“It was a hard-fought victory, there are moments in the game and there were key moments in the game, I’ve got to say it,” admitted Shrimpers manager Phil Brown.
“In the end it could have been a lot more than two but the key moment was the penalty decision.
“I think Ted Smith got some purchase on it but then he gives a goal kick. Obviously the lad has got the ball and gone around the goalkeeper, so if Ted has touched him it’s a penalty.
“There’s pressure in those situations and I thought Trevor Kettle was maybe a little bit far away.
“It was a tough one for him because of the distance but if there’s doubt you can’t give it, and there was doubt in his mind, I know because I just asked him.
“Obviously Keith Curle was disappointed with that decision.”