A LAPSE of concentration and a late scuffed volley were enough to dump Carlisle United out of this season’s FA Cup competition as they gave as good as they got only to fall short at the Valley.
“This is a very good side and we have competed in every area against them,” manager Greg Abbott said. “I am feeling a little bit sorry for myself, but I think that’s allowed. On another day we might be talking about a win or at the very least a replay, but the ball has fallen for them at key times in the game.”
The Cumbrians enjoyed the better of the play in a cautious first half with Lee Miller bringing a diving save out of Neil Sullivan and Liam Noble stabbing a tame effort at the veteran stopper when he was played clean through by James Berrett. The killer blow came just after the hour when tall defender Michael Morrison was allowed space, and he reacted quickly when his initial header was blocked on the line. With the momentum behind him, he swept the loose ball into the empty net to send the fans behind the goal wild.
“It was a decent delivery and the ball sat up for him after the block on the line,” Noble explained. “We were gutted but we still thought we were going to get something. Francois Zoko had one cleared off the line and James Berrett nearly scored as well, so it just wasn’t our day.”
Charlton exploited the gaps as Carlisle reshuffled and threw men forward and they delivered the knock-out blow on 90 minutes when they broke forward from deep. Substitute Jason Euell timed his run to perfection but was fortunate to see his toe-poke cross the line as he lost balance inside the six-yard box.
“We were on the attack and had committed men forward and they took advantage of that,” said Abbott. “As I say, the vital goal was the first one. If we’d got it, we would have had knocked them a little bit. But that didn’t happen and in the end perhaps their power has shown through.
“We needed a better performance after what happened down here last month and we got that but, at the moment, all we can think about is the fact that we’ve lost the game. We’re never going to be happy about that.”
CHARLTON: Sullivan, Solly, Wiggins, Cort, Morrison, Evina (Euell 88), Green (Kermorgant 74), Pritchard, Hollands, Wagstaff, Hayes (Wright-Phillips 79). Subs (not used): Pope, Doherty, Izquierdo, Smith.
Goals: Morrison 64,Euell 90.
CARLISLE: Collin, Ribeiro, Michalik (Chantler 88), Robson, Murphy, McGovern, Thirlwell (Madden 76), Noble, Berrett, Loy (Zoko 67), Miller. Subs (not used): Gillespie, Livesey, Taiwo, Mckenna.
Attendance: 7,461 Referee: Andy Madley (West Yorkshire).
