Spirits finally raised as Cumbrians end poor run
CARLISLE United got back to winning ways just in time to raise Christmas spirits.
Three league games without a victory had made it tough going for Carlisle United as they stumbled into their busy festive fixture period looking to keep their season alive.
But a few more performances like this could convince the growing band of doubters that there is still indeed more to look forward to as we enter the second half of the campaign.
The clinical edge, so often criticised for being lacking by manager John Sheridan, was there in abundance as a very attack-minded formation anticipated and gambled in equal measure every time they went forward and put Colchester completely to the sword.
Carlisle started this encounter on the front foot and an early overlap from Grainger had him appealing for a penalty as he tumbled to the floor under pressure from Pell. The referee had a look but eventually waved play on.
He let fly with a stinging shot, but the keeper recovered to tip it over the bar before
quick thinking from Nadesan saw him latch onto an underhit back pass from Vincentyoung to tee up Yates but the ball crashed harmlessly into the side netting.
Colchester woke up and they caused a real scare when Nouble skipped past Liddle to go into the box. He looked up before picking out Mandron, who had ghosted into space just 10 yards from the target. His volley was crisp, but it whistled well wide of the upright.
The hosts thought they’d found a way through when Gillesphey jumped high to meet another wicked corner delivery from Grainger. Nadesan threw a boot at it to try to divert it past Barnes but his touch served only to take it over the bar.
For all their good work the hosts were almost undone when Colchester created a great chance just before the half hour mark. Senior twice dropped his shoulder to go through weak challenges and
his cut back for Szmodics was met with a first-time shot.
Stopper Adam Collin somehow got across to make excellent fingertip contact which sent the ball over the angle of post and bar.
Carlisle had enjoyed the better of the first half play and they got their reward for their endeavours when Yates cushioned a chest-height ball towards Nadesan. His volleyed cross was slammed home in emphatic style as Hallam Hope claimed his fourth goal of the campaign with a close-range finish.
United stayed patient with the ball before and after the break, and they gave themselves a two-goal cushion when captain Danny Grainger sparked an attack with a pass out of defence to Sowerby. He combined with Devitt who could easily have shot himself, but he chose to clip it back for Yates who made no mistake with a well-taken finish.
The lead was extended further when Carlisle ripped the Colchester defence to pieces courtesy of excellent movement from Yates. His low cross, as he made it to the edge of the box, was sent goalward by a toe-poke from Nadesan. Barnes got low to make an excellent save but he could do nothing about the finish from Devitt as the midfielder stayed calm to place the rebound into the empty net.
A deflected snapshot from the influential Devitt was a whisker away, and it was captain Grainger who turned it into a rout when he sent a deflected free kick into the back of the net deep into time added on.
CARLISLE 4 COLCHESTER 0