Colchester 2, Carlisle United 1

Feb 3 2010 The Journal

CARLISLE United were undone by a last-minute goal that completed a second half turnaround for Colchester, who barely deserved the three points from a game played on a boggy pitch and in terrible conditions.

Carlisle boss Greg Abbott said: “I thought it was harsh that we got nothing because we played well and we battled all the way.

“There may have been a hint of offside about the winner, but we don’t know. There is just a huge amount of frustration that we are coming away with nothing having worked so hard.”

Graham Kavanagh took control of a 25-yard free-kick with just two minutes on the clock, but he couldn’t keep it down and former Carlisle keeper Ben Williams was able to watch it as it flew wide. The U’s almost opened the scoring at the other end when a floated pass from Prutton evaded Keogh at the far post.

Anthony Wordsworth trapped it but his first-time shot was always spinning away.

Colchester were in attacking mood and a well-worked free-kick on 16 minutes found Izzet in space. He fed it through to Wordsworth inside the area, but his effort was weak and easy for Carlisle keeper Adam Collin to deal with.

But it was Carlisle who took the lead on 24 minutes when Ian Harte made it a personal tally of 11 for the season when he muscled his way onto a Kavanagh corner. His header was firm and it squirmed under Williams as he tried to stop it.

Collin saved low by his near post on 32 minutes when Steven Gillespie burst through from deep.

New arrival Darryl Duffy had a shot from distance as half-time approached, and he was involved again moments later when he went one-on-one with Williams. He poked it past the onrushing keeper and tumbled to the floor, and the Carlisle players were incensed when a corner was given in favour of a penalty. Paul Thirlwell was the recipient of pats on the back as the clock went into time added on when he slid back to block a Wordsworth cross inside his own six-yard area, with Clive Platt ready to finish.