Simple goals make it hard for the Blues
NEWPORT 2 CARLISLE 0
CARLISLE’S inability to turn possession into wins has left them with the real danger of allowing their push for a place in the play-offs to fall away.
This result won’t help, as another worrying defeat was added to the recent catalogue of matches where Steven Pressley’s men have come up short, and of as much concern will be the simple manner in which goals were conceded at key stages of the game.
Newport make no secret of their approach to the game, with high balls and deliveries from deep the order of the day, and the opening exchanges were about the away side dealing with that bombardment as they were tested from left and right.
But it was Carlisle who should have taken the lead when Cullen rolled his man on the halfway line. O’hare latched on to it and he slid a beauty of pass through the back line for Hope to chase. Keeper Joe Day raced out to block the shot, but it rebounded nicely into the path of the late arriving Mark Cullen. His followup had goal written all over it until O’brien stretched out a leg to divert it just past the post.
The home response was another attacked from deep which saw a touch from Amond invite Azeez to shoot. Collin did well to get fingertips to it, sending it on to the inside of the post, and his defence recovered quickly to complete the clearance.
It was a short-lived reprieve as the hosts came again down the left flank. A simple delivery into the area found Padraig Amond in acres of space and his header was touched over the line by the equally unmarked Adebayo Azeez, who made his home debut a game to remember.
The hosts looked confident and Collin was tested again when Matt sent a superb reverse pass behind the back four. Azeez dropped a shoulder when it came his way but the United stopper spread himself to make an excellent one-handed save as a fierce shot angled at the top corner.
Carlisle were denied an equaliser when Day dropped smartly to save a shot on the swivel from Scougall when he was picked out by Hope. It had power and purpose, but it was a decent reaction from the wrong-footed keeper. The corner curled wickedly as it came into the box and Parkes got there to send a volley through bodies. Another deflection took it wide. The remainder of the first half brought not much to talk about, other than a snapshot from a tight angle from Matt which Collin booted away with an outstretched leg.
It was Jamille Matt who sparked the second half into life when he bustled his way through bodies to get on the end of a freekick from Butler. He got his toe to the ball but he couldn’t control and it spooned off into the distance.
The Cumbrians huffed and puffed but Newport seemed happy to sit deep and soak everything that came their way.
It was this patient approach which allowed Newport to bide their time before pouncing again. Substitute Josh Sheehan had time to pick a cross as he stayed deep, and a downward header from Azeez found the inform Amond on the move. He couldn’t miss as he stepped in to tap the loose ball home.
Carlisle had a late chance when Mark Cullen was dragged to the floor as he tried to challenge for a cross from Liddle. Captain Danny Grainger stepped up to take the spot-kick but Joe Day went the right way to make a superb two-handed save.