Killer goals conceded at key moments ...
Carlisle conceded at key moments to make life extremely hard against a Newport County side which showed confidence and poise in front of goal on a disappointing afternoon at Brunton Park.
United went toe-to-toe through the early exchanges and they almost grabbed the lead when Asamoah took control wide on the right. He exchanged passes with Sweeney and picked a lovely delivery for the far post which Rigg stretched to reach. Brough was also in attendance but Jones jumped high to prevent the left winger from finishing it off.
The Cumbrians were undone with a lightning quick break moments later when Zebroski streaked away on the left. He crossed early and former-Carlisle trialist Yan Klukowski finished it off with a wonderful header from the edge of the box.
Rigg glanced a header from a Brough delivery wide at the other end but it was Newport who should have added to the score sheet when a loose ball found Yakubu unmarked just 10 yards out. He volleyed it into the ground and Hanford did well to get across to touch it onto the post. O'Connor was quick to react and he was unlucky when his follow up shot deflected off Thirlwell and spun over the bar.
Another good set piece caused more unrest when Jones moved to the front stick and his failure to make contact left Zebroski with half a chance. He got his toe to the ball but he couldn't keep it down.
United started to see more of the ball in the Newport half and Rigg went close when he got to a flick from a Grainger long throw. Stephens moved across but was happy to let it run on.
Sweeney and Rigg saw most of the home half chances and O'Hanlon was disappointed when he rose highest for another long throw only to send his header loop high into the sky.
Carlisle had the possession but Newport continued to look dangerous and they almost found a way through when O'Connor put Jackson on the overlap. Another early cross was perfect for Zebroski but he lost his bearings and stabbed a weak effort right at Hanford.
A long ball over the top brought a rushed clearance from Jones as he came under pressure and he was relieved to see the ball rebound off Potts and bobble harmlessly wide.
Persistence from a County set piece just before the break ended with a crunching volley from Yakubu which flew over the bar as Grainger twice cleared with his head as the visitors flooded the box with bodies.
Carlisle gave themselves a mountain to climb just moments after the restart when Hanford lost the flight of a dipping corner. Ismail Yakubu was stunned to see the ball at his feet but he couldn't miss as he stabbed it in from less than a yard out.
The home side needed a response and it came from Brad Potts when he stayed calm as the ball came at him through a ruck of bodies. He took a touch and composed himself before passing it into the bottom corner.
It was better for Carlisle and they thought they'd leveled when Potts hooked the ball into the mix. Rigg got there but his guided header dropped just wide of the upright.
Substitute David Amoo wriggled through two challenges when he trapped a spinning ball in the box but Zebroski had recovered to cover ground and make a vital clearance off the line. Grainger was chopped to the floor as he tried to pounce on the clearance but Stephens went full length to tip the goal bound effort wide of the post.
A scuffed Newport corner almost caused damage with five minutes to go when Sweeney tried to sweep it away. It screwed off his shin and shaved the top of the bar. Jeffers was close to killing the game from the next delivery when it was nodded back across the face of goal. He slid in to meet it but somehow scooped it high into the stands.
But the game was ended as a contest in time added on, despite a late reply from Amoo, when a long ball from Mitchell found Jeffers in space. He did the rest with a lovely finish into the bottom corner.
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Goals
United - Potts (52), Amoo (90)
Newport - Klukowski (9), Yakubu (47), Jeffers (90)
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Bookings
Newport - Sandell (77), Chapman (83), Zebrwoksi (88)
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Teams
Carlisle United - Hanford, Brown (Robson 85), O'Hanlon, Thirlwell, Grainger, Potts, Sweeney, Dempsey, Brough (Beck 52), Rigg, Asamoah (Amoo 70). Subs - Eccles, Paynter, Meppen-Walter, Anderson.
Newport County - Stephens, Jackson, Porter (Chapman 80), Jones, Yakubu, Minshull, O'Connor (Jeffers 80), Zebroski, Sandell, Hughes, Klukowski (Byrne 61). Subs - Pidgeley, Obeng, Poole, Crow.
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Referee - Mr Peter Bankes
Attendance - 3,642 (186 away fans)
