Woodhouse: Closest |
Lack of Concentration 1 Mariners 0
By: Jeremy Baily
Date: 09/04/2006
ON the road for 08.00 and booked into the hotel by 12.00, Carlisle was windy and damp, changing too blustery and sunny. Two pubs and Carlisle Rugby Club bar ensured my party of 4 were in fine fettle, would the Town be as upbeat?
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The open end was where they put us, we hoped it was the winners enclosure and that it would stay dry for a couple of hours, we got one of our wishes, we didn’t get wet!
Town warmed up in front of the travelling fans and looked like hungry, lean mean fighting machines. When they had departed for final instructions and a double whiskey each, we were entertained by a group of majorettes who to be honest, were not too good. We awaited the contest.
Carlisle kicked off towards us, the sun went in and clouds gathered, not storm clouds just heavy looking things. On the pitch we were doing OK, Parky seemed to be everywhere and everything was going as planned. We won the games first corner after about 10 minutes, but it came to nothing. Carlisle then became more dominant and good defensive headers from Rob Jones and Whittle helped clear the danger, Newey was also having a busy time, he was also to play the best game so far in a Grimsby shirt. Carlisle’s first corner came around the 20-minute mark and was dealt with in the calm manner, one would expect from our well-drilled defence.
The game was now being played at a faster pace with Carlisle the faster, but good blocks and covering tackles saw us cope and still no shots on goal by either side. Newey sent two free kicks from our half, high into their penalty area, with Rob Jones and Whittle adding to our attacking height, Carlisle’s defence met the challenges each time. Bolland was doing well in midfield and Parky was still buzzing about, helping out at the back and being available up front. Reddy and Gary Jones were not given any space and were well marshalled throughout the first and second half. Towards the end of the first half we took over and were looking the more likely to score. Parky sent a shot-cum-cross into the box, but it hit the bending ref on the back, and went out for a goal kick, certain goal ruined by the ref! Reddy launched himself in their box, but it looked a fantastic dive from our end and nothing was given. A free kick just outside their box was smashed against the wall by Goodfellow, the resulting corner came to nothing.
Half time came and Carlisle had only made Mildenhall stop one shot, we had not troubled their keeper much more, but we were equal to everything they threw at us and were more than holding our own. Zigor Arandale’s long illegal throw-ins apart, we had no real worries. He drags his foot over the line on every throw, would the linesman listen? No. The sun reappeared, so did the dance troupe and the lucky draw announcement. £507.00, was that a pound for every away fan? I bet when Boston and Barnet came, someone only won a tenner!
The sun went in and we started the second half more attack minded, using Woodhouse more; he hadn’t been seen much in the first half. We were passing on the ground and spaces were appearing in midfield and out wide. Parky jinked his way to the end of the box and sent his shot just wide, but we were on top and having contained them in the first half were obviously looking to take the game to them more this half. The goal kick from Parky’s miss somehow evaded our whole back line and we nearly conceded a goal, Hawey missing the target. Finger wagging and stern looks all round. Moments latter we then give away a free kick and Zigor Arandale lumps it to were Macca wasn’t, Bridges runs through to lob the ball over a stranded Mildenhall, it bounces once and into the roof of our net. Deflated fans just stared with glazed eye’s while the Carlisle fans couldn’t believe their luck. All the hard work now stood for nothing.
We took over for most of the remaining 40 minutes, although Mildenhall did save a good header somewhere in the second half. Woodhouse had a good shot saved, Parky was still playing well. Good movement throughout the team was causing problems for the Carlisle defence, hand ball in the box from one of our corners was missed by the officials, Parky miss-hit when well placed, we are doing well, but can’t finish anything.
Macca is booked for a miss-timed lunge and Carlisle have 5 minutes of the ball. Parky is replaced by Junior Mendes, Parky gets a well earned round of applause from the Town faithful. It is now mid-way in the second half and it is all Town, with no end product. We again, almost get caught, by the speed and quick thinking of Hawey, but he misses. Still we push forward looking for the equaliser. Toner and Futch are thrust on for the last 15 minutes, Futch to add more height up front. We waste good opportunities while trying to get in high crosses, which come to nothing, two corners in quick succession again produce a blank. Toner got yellowed for a high challenge and we still came at them. Mendes hit a fantastic volley from about 15 yards out, which smashed into the keeper’s chest and was scrambled away for another Town corner. Surely the goal will come. 3 minutes of extra time, which Carlisle used up like a European side protecting a lead ensured we didn’t get the elusive equaliser our play deserved.
The whistle went, the sun came out and we went and had some more beer and a curry!
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