Cumbrians make Hay to secure vital point

AARON Hayden sealed a point for Carlisle, much to the relief of boss Chris Beech, who saw his side fight back from an awful start to thwart fellow strugglers Morecambe.

Goals inside the first 24 minutes from ex-Carlisle striker Cole Stockton and Aaron Wildig put the Shrimps two goals up, but the hosts fought back to level through Omari Patrick and Hayden.

Beech admitted: “We gave ourselves a lot to do. If you start a race 20 yards behind you have got to go really fast to get the gold medal.”

Beech is still not convinced his side are safe from the threat of the drop, but he said: “After going two goals down I am very pleased with the response.

“I was disappointed with the goals, which were both avoidable.”

However, Beech added: “We have gained a little bit on the bottom clubs and not really got what we deserved, but the wins will come.”

Morecambe keeper Christoffer Mafoumbi was kept busy in the early exchanges, fielding a curling Nathan Thomas free-kick, then grabbing Hayden’s bundled effort under the bar. The visitors went ahead in the 18th minute when Jordan Cranston’s pass found Stockton just inside the area and he was able to take a touch before fizzing a low shot past Adam Collin.

The Carlisle keeper was beaten again five minutes later when his defence could only clear as far as Wildig who lashed a 20-yard volley into the top corner.

Carlisle replied in the final moments of the first half when Patrick seized on a ball and fired in a shot from the edge of the box.

Carlisle drew level in the 66th minute when Elliot Watt’s corner carried across to the far post where Hayden directed his header just inside the upright.

Shrimps manager

Derek Adams was disappointed that his side were unable to hold on to a two-goal lead

“The way we started, going 2-0 up, put us in a great position, but Carlisle scored at the right time,” said Adams.

“We would have taken a point before the game, but we should have been able to go on and win it.

“We would have like three points which would have cut the gap between us and Carlisle, but we’ve moved up a position.”