HAVING suffered a bloody nose at the hands of one of League One’s big boys, Carlisle United looked set to be given another until a stirring 14-minute comeback saw them edge past Sheffield Wednesday last night.

Days after a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of another of the division’s ex-Premier League outfits, Charlton Athletic, Carlisle were unfortunate to go in at half-time trailing 1-0 to a side unbeaten in their last six matches, yet Wednesday were threatening to build a head of steam.

The Cumbrians, though, are far too inconsistent for that, and instead recorded their third win in four matches over the Owls since they dropped into English football’s third tier.

With 11 goals already this season, the scene seemed set for Gary Madine to bite the hand that fed him, but while his night ended early and bitterly, another former Carlisle player provided a rare moment of quality in a scrappy first half.

Wednesday had offered disappointingly little until Stoke City winger Ben Marshall, who enjoyed two successful loans at Brunton Park before moving to Hillsborough, produced a brilliant goal after good work from Chris O’Grady and James O’Connor.

Controlling O’Connor’s sweeping pass, he dribbled from the right to the centre and placed a precise shot in the corner. His skill a constant threat, Marshall nearly repeated it from the game’s final touch after going clean through the middle.

The Cumbrians had been over-anxious to get shots away considering Wednesday had Stephen Bywater between the posts.

Jon-Paul McGovern and Rory Loy both got over-excited after receiving the ball centrally, but a long way out.

James Berrett’s more considered 25-yarder forced the game’s first decent save after half-an-hour.

Despite Bywater’s inactivity, the hosts were the better side. When Lee Miller shot on seven minutes after strike partner Loy laid the ball back, the crowd were quick to take – and give – encouragement.

James Tavernier – another loanee, this time from Newcastle United – showed a willingness to take the game to Wednesday, and the second of three good efforts from outside the area forced a good tip-over.

Visiting skipper Rob Jones was fortunate not to receive a red card in the opening quarter of an hour.

Two minutes after diving in on Miller near halfway, earning the first of eight cautions, he committed another foul in an innocuous position. Had his name not already been there, Paul Tierney might well have been scribbling it into his little black book.

Carlisle’s centre-backs had a more comfortable night. Madine embraced Graham Kavanagh – player, assistant manager and one of League One’s oldest ball-boys – before kick-off, but Lubomir Michalik and Danny Livesey were in no mood to reciprocate the charity.

Marshall’s goal encouraged Wednesday, however, and Tavernier and Livesey both blocked goalbound shots in first-half added time. Carlisle, then, needed a good start to the second period and their centre-backs provided it. Livesey headed back Berrett’s deep cross and Michalik latched centre-forward-like on to Bywater’s save to equalise.

Although Adam Collin produced an excellent save from Madine’s volley inbetween time, Carlisle quickly took the lead. Miller held the ball up well and Loy produced a rocket of a shot deserving its extravagant celebration.

With Wednesday on the ropes, Carlisle moved in to finish them off. Sunderland loanee Noble chipped over in a move given impetus by Miller’s clever header. Seconds later he provided an excellent finish touch to a sweeping right-to-left move from an altogether higher grade of football.

With nine minutes left Madine received a second yellow card for a studs-up tackle on Tavernier. His first was for kicking the ball away.

Even with ten men, Wednesday refused to throw the towel in and Jones’ 89th minute header from Marshall’s deep cross ensured four nervous added minutes.

CARLISLE: Collin, Tavernier, Livesey, Michalik, Murphy, Berrett, Taiwo, Noble, McGovern, Miller, Loy. Subs (not used): Gillespie, Zoko, Curran, Helan, O’Halloran.

Booked: Berrett, Michalik, Noble.

Goals: Miller 50, Loy 56, Noble 64.

SHEFF WED: Bywater, Buxton, Batth, Rob Jones, Bennett, O’Connor (Jermaine Johnson 61), Semedo, Lines, Marshall, Madine, O’Grady (Lowe 61). Subs (not used): O’Donnell, Prutton, Palmer. Sent Off: Madine (81).

Booked: Rob Jones, Madine, O’Connor, Lines, Jermaine Johnson.

Goals: Marshall 35, Rob Jones 88.

Attendance: 6,058 Referee: Paul Tierney (Lancashire).