Carlisle will need further heroics

Apr 27 2009 The Journal

Cheltenham 1, Carlisle United 1

CARLISLE United have already announced that former goalkeeper Jimmy Glass will be given VIP treatment at Brunton Park next weekend, in honour of his 94th-minute heroics on the final day of the season 10 years ago.

The Cumbrians will be hoping for something similar from their current crop as, yet again, they take their season right down to the wire.

Those who follow the Cumbrians will know that final-day drama is par for the course, and the share of the spoils from this trip to Whaddon Road has left them with a clear, if difficult, task when they play host to promotion-chasing Millwall next Saturday.

Midfielder Chris Lumsdon said: “We know what we have to do now. We have to win and hope that others slip up, but the important thing is that we do our part of the job to give ourselves a chance.”

Former Sunderland defender Ian Harte gave United the perfect boost on Saturday with a clinical and precise 19th-minute free-kick as Carlisle came through an early rocky patch to grab the lead.

But two red cards and a late Drissa Diallo penalty robbed them of what would have been a vital three points.

Manager Greg Abbott said: “We’ve dropped six points because of late goals recently, and that has really hurt us.

“We were down to nine men today and we still pushed forward trying to get the win, and we’ll need to see that kind of grit and determination again next week if we are going to get out of this.”

Cleveland Taylor and Scott Dobie missed good chances to extend the lead shortly after the Harte thunderbolt, but the Robins were always dangerous on the break with Spurs and Reading loanees David Hutton and Michail Antonio an impressive attacking duo.

But the balance of power shifted markedly midway through the second half when left back Evan Horwood felled substitute Marley Watkins on the edge of the area and received his second yellow card.

Disaster struck for 10-man Carlisle with 10 minutes left to play when Michael Bridges was judged to have stopped a Shane Duff header on the goalline with his hand, and he also received his marching orders.

Abbott said: “The Bridges decision was probably the only one the referee got right all afternoon. Horwood’s sending off was really harsh, but that’s the way these things go.”

Cheltenham 1

Carlisle United 1

CARLISLE United have already announced that former goalkeeper Jimmy Glass will be given VIP treatment at Brunton Park next weekend, in honour of his 94th-minute heroics on the final day of the season exactly 10 years ago.

They’ll be hoping for something similar from their current crop as, yet again, they take their season right down to the wire.

Those who follow the Cumbrians will know that final-day drama is par for the course, and the share of the spoils from this trip to Whaddon Road has left them with a clear if difficult task when they play host to promotion chasing Millwall next Saturday.

Midfielder Chris Lumsdon said: “We know what we have to do now. We have to win and hope that others slip up, but the important thing is that we do our part of the job to give ourselves a chance.”

Former Sunderland defender Ian Harte gave United the perfect boost on Saturday with a clinical and precise 19th-minute free-kick as Carlisle came through an early rocky patch to grab the lead.

But two red cards and a late Drissa Diallo penalty robbed them of what would have been a vital three points.

Manager Greg Abbott said: “We’ve dropped six points because of late goals recently, and that has really hurt us. We were down to nine men today and we still pushed forward trying to get the win, and we’ll need to see that kind of grit and determination again next week if we are going to get out of this.”

Cleveland Taylor and Scott Dobie missed good chances to extend the lead shortly after the Harte thunderbolt, but the Robins were always dangerous on the break with Spurs and Reading loanees David Hutton and Michail Antonio an impressive attacking duo.

But the balance of power shifted markedly midway through the second half when left back Evan Horwood felled substitute Marley Watkins on the edge of the area and received his second yellow card of the day.

Ten-man Carlisle dug deep and drew breath as Gallinagh and Connor dragged close-range shots wide of the mark, but disaster struck with 10 minutes left to play when Michael Bridges was judged to have stopped a Duff header on the goalline with his hand, and he also received his marching orders.

Abbott said: “The Bridges decision was probably the only one the referee got right all afternoon.

“Horwood’s sending off was really harsh, but that’s the way these things go. We still could have won the game even when we went to nine men, and that tells me that we have the performance in these players that can do the job next week.”

Subs Ian Morris and Danny Graham were the players who wasted those last minute one-on-one opportunities when United exploited the suddenly errant Cheltenham back four.

And there is still hope in the Cumbrian camp that the season long discussion over why so many gilt-edged openings have been spurned won’t ultimately lead to their downfall.

Abbott said: “We have to keep going, because it isn’t over yet. We have to believe that we can win our last game, and then it will be up to others to do the same.”