Carlisle battle back for merited road trip win CARLISLE RATINGS
CRAWLEY TOWN 2 CARLISLE UTD 3
JUST one win in their last 10 games suggested that Crawley were potentially there for the taking, particularly with the Cumbrians having made the long trip south buoyed by their best home performance of the season last weekend.
Carlisle boast the third best away record in their division, but that was put to the test as they had to come from behind and then recover from being pegged back before they could eventually claim their points.
The game started slowly as both sides battled for the upper hand, but Crawley bagged the lead on eight minutes when a huge clearance from defence dropped behind Gerrard. The high bounce allowed Poleon to get there and he strode forward to pick his spot.
United thought they’d equalised as they responded well to the setback when Devitt used a short-corner routine to create a better angle for a cross. Morris got a punch when it curled at him, but it fell nicely for Parkes to volley. He caught it well, but the keeper got a hand to it to divert it behind.
The Cumbrians deservedly equalised when a great ball into the box from Sowerby broke free as Morris flapped at it. Nadesan smashed a fierce volley through bodies as he got there first and Jerry Yates was there to make it two goals in two games as he nodded the rebound into the gaping net.
Crawley caused problems for themselves ahead of the break when a cross from Liddle invited Hope to challenge. Defender George Francomb put his hands all over the United forward and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot as the pair tumbled to the floor. Captain Danny Grainger did the rest with an unstoppable penalty kick which rasped past the keeper.
The lead lasted just three minutes as the Red Devils threw men forward in response. A low cross somehow got to Poleon, inside the six-yard area, and his first touch created room to manoeuvre. Collin was left with no chance as a thunderbolt from close range flew into the top corner.
Carlisle almost committed defensive suicide with just 46 ADAM COLLIN .............. 6 Stayed on his line a lot which caused some confusion GARY LIDDLE ................ 7 Made some good tackles at important stages ANTHONY GERRARD ... 7 Will be unhappy to have missed the header for the first goal TOM PARKES ................. 6 Hesitated to clear before the break and paid the price DANNY GRAINGER ....... 7 Reliable and kept asking for
seconds on the second half clock as Gerrard completely misjudged a back pass. Poleon was on to it and in acres of space but hesitated for just long enough to give the defender time to make up the space and complete a muchneeded tackle.
Thankfully, that woke the Cumbrians up and a cross on the spin from Devitt was met by a run across the near post from Yates, but his touch took the ball behind.
Crawley were too casual as they tried to play their way out more JERRY YATES ................. 8 A real livewire in the central striking role JACK SOWERBY ............ 7 Another superb goal JAMIE DEVITT ............... 7 Steady in possession KELVIN ETUHU .............. 7 Worked hard to keep the midfield area tight HALLAM HOPE ............. 6 Drifted in and out of the action ASHLEY NADESAN ....... 6
from the goal kick and that proved to be their downfall as Devitt took over. His pass was taken well by Jack Sowerby and he set himself for a shot from distance as it opened up in front of him. Morris dived but he could do nothing as it struck the inside of the post and flew into the net.
It was suddenly all about the visitors and Morris was excellent as he jumped high to touch a fierce free-kick from Devitt over the bar.
Having shown little in the second half Crawley almost Pulled wide and didn’t see much of the ball Subs: Gray, Miller, Jones, Glendon, Bennett, Slater Devitt 87, Campbell. Crawley Town: Morris, Payne, Mcnerney, Poleon, Gambin, Francomb, Nathanielgeorge, Maguire, Bulman, Camara Grego Cox 77, N’gala. Subs - Mersin, Doherty, Connolly, Sesay, Allarakhia. Goals: Crawley Town – Poleon (8, 40); Carlisle United – Yates (14), Grainger (37 pen), Sowerby (56). Bookings: Crawley Town – Francomb (37), Payne (58), Mcnerny (62); Carlisle United – Yates (12).
equalised late in the day when Liddle gave the ball away in a bad area. The box was flooded but a shot from the cross was blocked and put behind. Carlisle broke from the corner and a rasping shot from Devitt was parried by Morris. Hope swept the loose ball into the net but the flag was up for offside.
United survived two late scares, including a goal-line clearance from a Mcnerny header, but they deserved their victory having worked hard to come back from behind to twice edge in front.