CARLISLE United picked up their first victory at Huish Park thanks to a devastating second-half performance to keep them well in touch with League One’s pace-setters.
“We wondered if the sending off would work against us,” manager Greg Abbott said. “It came right on half-time and we warned the players that it might make them more determined. Credit to the lads, they showed a ruthless streak and got their goals, and we looked like scoring almost every time we went forward.”
It could have been different had the Glovers capitalised on two Oli Johnson chances as he twice broke clear only to be thwarted by Adam Collin. A nip and tuck first half was set to draw to a close when referee Mr Berry took exception to a clumsy challenge from Yeovil midfielder Flavien Belson, and quickly waved a second yellow card in his direction.
“We wouldn’t have been happy if it had been one of our players,” Abbott admitted. “It was difficult for us to see what happened, and the important thing for us was to make sure we approached the second half properly.”
Sunderland loanee Liam Noble capped a man-of-the-match performance with the first goal of the game when he took the ball out of the air and calmly stroked it into the back of the net from just outside the area.
Jon-Paul McGovern then scored his first league goal for Carlisle with a chip over the advancing keeper which was followed by a tap-in from two yards. The Cumbrians wrapped up the win and a convincing three points with a headed goal from long-serving defender Danny Livesey; a player who might not have featured had returning international Lubomir Michalik been declared fit.
“I enjoyed the game, but I just want to be playing,” Livesey said. “You have to take your chance when it comes, and it’s great to be part of a win. Getting the goal is an added bonus.”
YEOVIL: Stech, Ayling, Ehmer, N’Gala, Jones (Haynes-Brown 78), Upson, Belson, Wotton, MacLean (Edgar 78), Johnson (Agard 63), Massey. Subs (not used): Stewart, Gibson.
Sent off: Belson (45).
Booked: Belson, Jones, Ayling.
CARLISLE: Collin, Tavernier, Murphy, Livesey, Robson, Taiwo, Noble, Berrett, Loy (Zoko 83), McGovern (Helan 87), Miller (Curran 90). Subs (not used): Gillespie, O’Halloran.
Booked: Berrett, Tavernier.
Goals: Noble 55, McGovern 65, Livesey 84.
Attendance: 3,673
Referee: Carl Berry (Surrey).
