SIMPSON HAILS HIS HEROIC GIBSON
JORDAN Gibson’s unwanted part in a ‘horror’ video helped him achieve a starring role in Carlisle’s Cumbrian derby delight.
Goals from the midfielder and Kristian Dennis fired in-form United into a 2-0 lead with 18 minutes left.
And while captain Ollie Banks then netted a 13th goal of the campaign, the Bluebirds couldn’t build on away trips to Rochdale and Scunthorpe that yielded four precious points.
Carlisle’s latest triumph in front of Barrow’s biggest home league crowd since Boxing Day 1969, sees them climb 12 points clear of the relegation places.
The Holker Street outfit, who would have moved ahead of United with a first league win over their rivals for 62 years, are six points above the bottom two.
Carlisle boss Paul Simpson, who has masterminded a run of 15 points out of a possible 18, said: “I am so pleased for Gibbo because he has some real ability.
“The other night (in the defeat to Newport) he didn’t have a good night. I showed him the clips of what he did and he actually said, ‘Wow, that’s a horrible watch’.
“But he responded in a good way.” On his side’s current run Simpson added: “I want us to finish as high up as we can. I don’t want us just to stay up. We are not in football just to stay up.”
Simpson’s only disappointment was an early first-half knee injury to Callum Guy that saw his skipper finish the day on crutches.
Dennis sent an early volley over, before Brennan Dickenson’s effort deflected wide.
Josh Gordon headed over for Barrow and then home stopper Paul Farman had to tip Jack Armer’s swirling cross over.
But just past the half-hour mark, Gibson fired the visitors ahead when he rifled a shot home from the edge of the box, with the ball going in off a post.
Mark Howard kept United in front when he saved well from Patrick Brough, before Matt Platt’s header struck the woodwork.
Dennis, though, pounced after 72 minutes, latching on to Dynel Simeu’s pass to poke the ball past Farman.
Skipper Ollie Banks rifled in to give the home side hope of a famous comeback after John Rooney’s corner found him in the box, but Carlisle held on.
Barrow boss Mark Cooper pulled no punches after another depressing home result.
“We wasted the first half,” he said. “We weren’t anywhere near where we needed to be. We should have come flying out of the traps.
“Instead, we played a lot of square passes and back passes. That wasn’t the game plan.
“It is a local derby; just run about for the fans. If we are going to get beat, let’s runs about and show some pride for the fans.”