Tightly fought contest ends in a stalemate on a damp day at Gillford Park--- by Will Stuart

Carlisle City 0

Bacup Borough 0

Saturday 20th August 2016

After three changes to the starting eleven that came back to win at Blackpool AFC in midweek, Carlisle City faced a challenge at home in the form of last season’s play-off finalists-Bacup Borough.

Unfortunately today for The Sky Blues, the sky was grey and the pitch felt the full effects of the “somewhat damp” British weather. Nevertheless that did not affect the match-apart from a few slippages throughout the game.

The opposition kicked off the game and the first 15 minutes lacked chances. From the start it was obvious that this would be a well contested game from both sides.

The first discernible “chance” came in the 17th minute when Dean Crozier for City picked up the ball on the right wing. He moved with it and then chipped a through ball over to Michael Reed who just inside the box attempted to take a shot but miss-timed the kick. The Borough defence tried to clear but Crozier picked up the ball, crossed it in still it led to nothing.

Bacup Borough’s first chance came four minutes later where after some short passesMichael Gervinpicked up the ball 30 yards out. Hetook a touch and hit a powerful shot which flew over keeper James Greenall, hit the bar but went behind for a goal kick.

In the 23rd minute the first substitution was made and by Carlisle City when a disappointed Daniel Balmercame off for Jamie Heath.

Ten minutes later Borough came close to finding the back of the City net when a long pass from their half created a race between keeper Greenall and attacker Thompson. Greenall reached the ball first, tried to clear, however his clearance hit a chasingThompson in the leg which rebounded back goal-bound but deflected off Greenalland rolled past the post for a corner-which didn’t result in anything.

A minute later Mark Worrall came close to scoring when Jordan Atkinson sent a pass down the left wing into the box where Worrall picked up the ball and took a shot which was straight at the keeper.

5 minutes before half time, the visitors had another good chance when Gervin, after picking up the ball on the right, looped a cross in which at first was headed away by the Carlisle City defender. It then fell to Thompson on the edge of the box who took a touch then struck a low shot, but it just went wide of the post.

The last half-chance came in stoppage time when a free-kick on the left was taken by Crozier who swung in a shot with his left. It was driven in the direction of the keeper but at first Aaron Ashley parried the ball, eventually gathering.

That concluded a back and forth half which included some physical battles and some…”strong” tackles causing what manager James Tose called “A bit of banter” between dugouts.

At half time Bacup Borough made a sub-Bradley Haworth came on for Gervin.

Two minutes into the half Borough made the first chance after they won a corner which was first headed away. Thompson picked up the ball, swung in a cross and captainAdrian Bellamy headed just wide.

Five minutes later the home side came inches away from taking the lead. Substitute Heath on the right wing drove in a cross which was met at the near post by Reed, he tried to turn the ball in but keeper Ashley came out and deflected the shot just past the post.

In the 64th minute Bacup Borough wasted a great opportunity when Matthew Bryan sent in a cross which evaded everyone until it reached Nathan Emery at the back post who completely scuffed the half-volley and sliced it over the bar-four yards out.

66th minute-Bacup Borough substitute: Davidson Banda on for Jordan Rutter

69th minute-Carlisle City substitute: 18 year-old Ben Davidson on for Michael Reed

76th minute-Carlisle City substitute: Peter Allison on for Tyran Taylor

Carlisle City came close again five minutes before the 90 after a good passage of the play, Worrall received the ball and ran into the box. He evaded a tackle and was one on one with the keeper where he took it around him to the side, but his shot was dragged along the face of the goal and eventually cleared away.

The last chance of the game came two minutes later when a free kick for City, taken by Crozier,was met by Allison whose header just went over the bar.

The game ended in a stalemate but could have went either way with very good chances for both sides. The conditions didn’t help the game but overall a clean sheet and point for Carlisle City gave some positives on a very wet day.

Our next home game is vs Daisy Hill next week at Gillford Park.

Saturday 27th August 3:00 pm kick off.

*We will try and bring the sun back.

Line-ups

Carlisle City: Greenall, Casey(capt), Blair, Graham, Cherry, Taylor, Balmer, Crozier, Reed, Atkinson, Worrall.

Subs: Heath, Allison, Davidson, Allan.

Bacup Borough: Ashley, Emery, Podmore, Bellamy(capt), Foster, Trippier, Hall, Rutter, Gervin, Thompson, Bryan.

Subs: O’Connor, Banda, Haworth, De Vries.

MOTM-Craig Cherry, solid defensive performance and helped keep the first clean sheet of the season.