CARLISLE 1 PORT VALE 2 Skipper’s late show too late for toothless Blues
STRUGGLING Port Vale were able to ease their mounting relegation fears as they came up against a Carlisle side who were disjointed and toothless, and too often wide open to the counter-attack.
A team that had prided itself on being hard to beat crumbled alarmingly and had only themselves to blame for a very poor showing, despite a late but ultimately half-hearted fightback sparked by the arrival of captain Danny Grainger as an influential substitute.
Carlisle looked lively early on and a prolonged period of possession put winger John O’Sullivan into a good area as he was found by Joyce. He spun away from two challenges, but sent his shot from distance over the bar.
The Cumbrians were on top and thought they’d unpicked the lock when a clearing header from Hill bounced over the stranded Tom Anderson. Lambe was on to it in a flash and spotted Bennett in space on the edge of the box. His effort had power but it was always heading wide.
It was exclusively the home side with attacking intent in the first 40 minutes, and a move which saw Carlisle keep the ball and pass it quickly from deep in their own half would have been heralded as goal of the season, had it gone in, as almost every player got a touch before O’Sullivan was released on a run down the left wing. He beat his man and made the delivery but Hope was disappointed to see it squirm into the keeper’s hands as he slid in.
Tricky stuff from Whitfield gave the Valiants their first hope that they could have a say in the game just before the break when he somehow came out of three tackles in quick succession with the ball at his feet. He opted to shoot but Liddle was there to block.
It was better from the visitors and Whitfield surged forward again. He had Harness in support and unleashed a thumping drive as he burst into the box. Bonham was comfortable, and watched it clear the bar. Visiting tails were up as they finished the
half on top and another good run from Harness left him with room to cross. It went behind for the corner, and a back post delivery caught United on the hop. Pope nodded it down and Tonge was left disappointed as his shot on the spin took a deflection and hit the bar.
But Carlisle were rocked back on their heels when a mix-up at the back left them wide open. Hill played the ball to Jones, under pressure, and substitute Tyrone Barnett couldn’t believe his luck as he stole in to rob the ball. He was left with the simple tasking of poking the ball past Bonham with the United stopper stranded in no man’s land.
United boss Keith Curle made a double change with the additions of Shaun Miller and Jamie Devitt, but it was the home goal under threat.
If the first goal was bad from a Carlisle perspective, the second was a nightmare as they found themselves ripped apart when a cross from Reggie Lambe was cut out and sent forward. Two passes later, Tom Pope was through on goal and made no mistake as he lifted it over Bonham.
The Cumbrians got back into it following a better spell, sparked by the arrival of captain Danny Grainger.
His first delivery was met on the full by Bennett, but that was hooked away to safety as it came back off the woodwork. He then forced an excellent save out of Boot with a dipping free kick, but his delivery from the corner brought his side right back into it as Tom Miller nodded it down for Bennett to sweep into the roof of the net.