Cumbrians cruise as the going gets tough

CARLISLE had to “tough it out” to claim victory at home to struggling Chesterfield, but manager Keith Curle was still able to find plenty of positives.

Kelvin Etuhu and John O’Sullivan scored for the hosts, while Chesterfield were aggrieved to have Louis Reed’s goal disallowed before the second went in.

But Curle insists the officials got the decision right – and believes Carlisle could, and perhaps should, have won more comfortably.

“It wasn’t the entertaining and free-flowing spectacle we might have desired, but sometimes you have to tough it out,” he said.

“We can still do better but, on the balance of play, if we had taken our opportunities, it could have been a more comfortable afternoon.

“There might not have been the fluidity, but we kept a clean sheet which we will take and fortune with the officials who correctly gave an offside decision.

“The message was to do the simple things and it’s pleasing to score two goals and have a clean sheet.”

Opposite number Jack Lester had a very different view of the disallowed goal, after Alex Whitmore was penalised for offside when Reed volleyed in. Lester’s main gripe was the officials stating ‘number 23’ was offside – Whitmore wears 33 – but he admitted his side had lacked the experience needed.

Etuhu had already put Carlisle ahead on 19 minutes, when he was afforded the time and space to curl into the bottom corner from 25 yards.

Cole Stockton then squandered a great chance to double the lead on 56 minutes, after Ashley Nadesan’s pull-back, as he shot wide of an open goal.

Reed volleyed in on 71 minutes after a corner was only half-cleared, but following consultation with referee Sebastian Stockbridge, the linesman’s flag denied the visitors.

Substitute O’Sullivan then sealed victory on 81 minutes, prodding in from close range with his first touch after Tom Parkes’ header was blocked.

Lester said: “They told us ‘number 23’ was in the way of the keeper, offside, but we haven’t got that number in our squad.

“It was a massive moment in the game. We scored [what we believe was] a legitimate goal and they chalk it off. It’s pivotal. We were very capable of winning this game.

“It’s a young team, and we need to get the experienced lads back because they know how to win games. There wasn’t enough nous.”