Cumbrians draw a line under run of recent losses
COLCHESTER 1 CARLISLE UNITED 1
HAVING brushed everybody aside through January, taking themselves to the brink of the automatic promotion places along the way, Carlisle United have found themselves dealing with a hefty dose of reality - having hit the buffers with a winless run of three games to start this month.
Their February fall from grace has almost been as dramatic as their newyear rise from the doldrums as they continue to play good football, albeit without getting the results. For yesterday’s opponents Colchester it has been almost the polar opposite as their charge up the table coincided with Carlisle’s much stickier run.
The scene was set then for more decent League Two fayre and a pulsating game did not disappoint.
Carlisle should have taken the lead with just five minutes gone when Stefan Scougall spread the play with a lovely 40-yard pass.
Hope rolled it back for Grainger to cross,and he found Slater in plenty space 12-yards out with an inch-perfect delivery. Slater’s header was parried by Gilmartin and O’hare was equally disappointed as he stabbed the rebound wide.
It took the home side a while to settle but Eisa created an opening of sorts when he twisted into space on the edge of the area.
He shot low but Collin dealt with it easily.
A deft touch from Cullen sent Hope on a charge and Gilmartin had to go full length to parry a stinging effort wide.
The game settled into an intriguing midfield tussle, with half-hearted penalty appeals from Senior and Cullen turned down at either end within seconds of each other, but Carlisle were a whisker away from taking the lead when O’hare latched onto a poor clearance from Gilmartin.
He sprinted into the box and a touch from Slater as the cross came in from wide gave Cullen time to guide it back across the face of goal.
That was charged down, but the striker set himself for a volley as it dropped invitingly in front of him.
A strong connection fizzed towards the bottom corner but Kent stretched out a leg, and he was relieved to see his intervention cause the ball to spin just past the gaping target. Colchester had the best of a lively start to the second period and were unlucky when a run from Kent from deep inside his own half took everybody by surprise. Nouble took over but his low cross evaded everybody as it bounced just beyond the back stick.
The Cumbrians deservedly took the lead when Etuhu held his position to recover a half clearance from a corner. He sent O’hare on the overlap and his rasping low cross came off Cullen as he made a near-post run.
The ball spun clear and Hallam Hope kept his cool before sweeping a powerful deflected shot into the net.
An increase in the pace of the game immediately followed the game, the U’s looking to get back on terms, but Collin was largely untroubled.
It was United who should have extended their lead when Scougall sparked another good attack. Cullen shielded a pass to bring Liddle into play and his cross appeared to be perfect for Hope. The forward went for power and his effort sailed over.
The home side packed the box through the closing stages and a Prosser header from a Mandron corner was not too far away.
The big defender was even closer when he spun to meet a downward header from Kent.
The volley was crisp but Collin planted his feet and gathered it in.