Carlisle United 4, Yeovil Town 1

Sep 1 2008 The Journal

CARLISLE United’s Boro-born striker Danny Graham made it five goals from four League One starts on Saturday with a stunning first career hat-trick that demolished the stubborn defence put up by a well-drilled Yeovil Town side, writes ANDY HALL.

The Glovers took an early and deserved lead when Gavin Tomlin pounced to thunder a Ben Williams parry in to the top of the net from close range.

United struggled to get going as the hooped shirts closed ranks in front of them.

With time and space at a premium, the home side were restricted to lofting hopeful balls in to the box in the hope that their frustrated strike force could make something happen. That all changed on the stroke of half time, though, when Danny Carlton fed the ball back across the face of goal, with a deftly-cushioned header.

Some strong shielding created space for the shot, and Graham made no mistake as he swivelled to smash it in to the bottom corner.

Graham gave his side the lead on 58 minutes when he reacted first to sweep a volley home as Asmir Begovic got his hands to a powerful Carlton header.

The Cumbrians finally settled in to their game as they edged their noses in front.

Excellent work from Cleveland Taylor drew a clumsy challenge from Lee Peltier 10 minutes later, and Graham confidently stepped up to fire in his third of the afternoon, sending the Yeovil keeper the wrong way with a crisply struck spot-kick.

Graham said: “There were all kinds of things going through my head when I stepped up to take the penalty.

“I have scored twice on a number of occasions for Carlisle, and I knew that if I missed this one then I’d be throwing away a really good chance for me to finally get a hat-trick. It was a huge relief when it went in.” Teenage forward Gary Madine, who celebrated his 18th birthday seven days ago, made it a good afternoon all round for Carlisle’s North East contingent.

He got on to the end of more skilful work from winger Cleveland Taylor to register his first career goal with an accurate finish beyond the stranded Begovic. Carlisle manager John Ward said: “Danny (Graham) will take all of the plaudits, and rightly so, but we should also bear in mind that Cleveland (Taylor) is just as responsible for the three points that we have won today.

“He had a hand in most of our good attacking play, and he has created two of our goals himself, so he can be pleased with his contribution.’’

CARLISLE UNITED: Williams, Raven, Murphy, Horwood, Livesey, Hackney (Bridges 79), Bridge-Wilkinson, Thirlwell, Taylor (Joyce 90), Graham (Madine 85), Carlton. Subs (not used): Howarth, Keogh.

Goals: Graham 45, 58, 69 pen, Madine 90.

YEOVIL: Begovic, Forbes, Skiverton, Jones, Bircham, Way, Roberts (McCollin 65), Warne, Murtagh (Dayton 77), Peltier, Tomlin (Owusu 46). Subs (not used): Smith, Alcock.

Booked: Peltier, Forbes.

Goal: Tomlin 16.

Attendance: 6,286.

Referee: Graham Laws (Tyne & Wear).