Yeovil have played some cracking football this season and Carlisle have done much the same over recent months so this was always likely to be an entertaining encounter. We definitely weren't disappointed. Both sides used the ball well in a nip and tuck encounter that United ended up clinching.Tom Cowan and Matty Fryatt were both ruled out after early morning fitness tests as Paul Simpson stood by his word that he would not risk either player if there was any doubt at all over their fitness. Kevin Henderson came in to start up front whilst Lee Andrews made a return to the centre of defence along side the bruised Kevin Gray.
It was a carnival atmosphere down at Huish Park in August when Yeovil destroyed a Carlisle side who lacked direction but it was the Blue Army who made the noise and set the tone for this performance that paved the way to a vital victory and a crucial three points.
Our player manager has admitted that his own form has concerned him over recent weeks and he came out determined to put that right. As early as the 50th second he unleashed a 25 yard effort at the Yeovil goal but couldn't evade the well placed Weale.
Yeovil boss Gary Johnson loves to see the ball played on the ground and, combined with the pace of his strike force and midfield, has used this factor to good effect over the first half of the season. It was a passage of just such good movement that created the first opening of the afternoon for the impressive Kevin Gall in the 10th minute. Quick interplay released the tricky forward on the left of the box but he stroked his shot just past the post as a challenge from Arnison came in.
It was end to end as both sides clearly sensed a chance to take the game by the scruff of the neck and it needed both Andrews and Gray to be on their guard as a succession of crosses came in. At the other end Simpson and Henderson were peppering the Yeovil box and calling on an equally solid display from Pluck and Rodrigues.
It was Gall again who found himself in space 20 yards from the Carlisle goal in the 18th minute but, despite having runners either side, chose to shoot sending his skewed shot well over the bar. In almost the next attack of the game United took the lead. Andy Preece rose well to flick on a long defensive clearance, directing the ball in to the path of Kevin Henderson. The opposition box was empty so Hendo held the ball intelligently as both Preece and Simpson made their way forward. Simpson held his hand up and Hendo duly obliged, dropping the ball at his feet. He controlled well, side stepped his man and swept the ball past Weale to make it 1-0 to the Cumbrians.
Two minutes later it was almost another goal as Simpson presided over a 23 yard free kick. He hit it well enough but Weale looked to have it covered until, that is, he let it slip through his hands. Fortunately for him his legs were close enough together to prevent the ball from slipping through.
Terry Skiverton blazed over from just inside the area as Yeovil tried to get back in to it when he really should have done better and the visitors started to look more and more dangerous as the half progressed. They enjoyed plenty of possession without really troubling Glennon as the Carlisle defensive line up snuffed out any move of real danger.
Paul Simpson, playing his best game in a blue shirt since the start of the season, blasted a superb volley just over the bar in the 28th minute but the last 15 minutes of the half were all about the way that United, Gray and Andrews in particular, coped with what was thrown at them.
Terry, Elam and Johnson found themselves crossing the ball in to a well guarded penalty area as McDonagh and Billy dropped back to ensure that nothing was given away. Pete Murphy went in the book in the 41st minute for a soft challenge on Terry and Yeovil should have gone in to the break level when Gall was put through two minutes later. He broke in to the box and flashed his shot across Glennon but watched in agony as it curled just wide of the post.
The crowd reaction to the whistle was magnificent as they showed their appreciation. End to end attacking football from both teams and a huge dose of passion from the home side had roused the natives to what was another superb display of how to support your team.
El Kholti replaced Reed during the break but it was Carlisle who came out fired up and Henderson did well in the 46th minute to rob the ball off Elam. He fed Billy, who appeared to be blocked as he surged towards the box, but Pugh waved away the claims from a frustrated United side.
Will McDonagh went in the book for a late challenge on Way as United dominated the opening period of the second half and Andy Preece had the ball clipped off his toe in the 49th minute as he shaped to finish off a cracking move involving McGill, Simpson and Billy.
The crowd volume increased as the visitors began to take control for a ten minute period. Elam and Way were pushing forward in support of the front men and were pulling the Carlisle midfield ever deeper. An inswinging corner in the 63rd minute saw Glennon choose to stay on his line but Darren Way could only rifle his shot over the bar from 10 yards.
Craig Farrell came on for Henderson shortly after and it signalled a change in the balance of play. It was the home side who regained control of the midfield but Yeovil still threatened with their quick breaks. McDonagh lost the ball in the centre of the pitch in the 68th minute but Johnson put his shot wide of Glennon's goal. Farrell was giving substitute Kholti a torrid time and Yeovil reacted by subbing their substitute, sending on Stansfield to help steady the ship.
It was always felt that in such a pulsating match that Carlisle would need to
score another to make sure of the points and it was the home team's substitute who would score the vital goal. Andy Preece turned provider once again when he played Craig Farrell through in the 75th minute. Farrell drew Weale and looked to have taken the ball too wide but he sent the Brunton Park crowd wild when he managed to slot the ball home from a very tight angle six yards out to make it 2-0.Yeovil continued to threaten but the the wind had clearly been taken out of their sails by the second goal and it became more comfortable for the Blues. In the 82nd minute a Yeovil misunderstanding let Preece steal the ball off Weale but the keeper stood his ground well to prevent the Carlisle striker from hitting the empty net. He played the ball off to Farrell who, in turn, found Simmo, but the chance was gone as Yeovil mopped up the pieces.
On 85 minutes Will McDonagh lost concentration in midfield and the visitors pushed forward, eventually winning a corner. It was delivered superbly and Stansfield rose well to meet it, powering a header goalwards. Arnison stood tall on the line to clear the ball as it looked to everyone in the ground that it was going in.
It was the last chance of note in an exciting game that saw Yeovil enjoy plenty of possession but fail to overcome the dogged defending and high work rate of a confident Carlisle side. United themselves used their possession well and the Coaching staff will be very pleased with what they saw this afternoon.
Gray and Andrews looked solid in defence whilst Billy and Simspon ran themselves in to the ground in midfield. Preece, Henderson and, when he came on, Farrell had a superb game up front using the ball intelligently when it came their way. Every player in a blue shirt earned that victory today with the manner in which they applied themselves and there will now be plenty of Third Division sides in the bottom half of the table sitting up and taking note as the crucial run in approaches.
Goals
United - Simpson (21), Farrell (75)
Bookings
United - Murphy (41), McDonagh (48)
Yeovil - Skiverton (55), Gall (78)
Teams
United
Glennon, Arnison, Andrews, Gray, Murphy, McGill, Billy, McDonagh, Simpson, Preece, Henderson (Farrell 53). Not Used - Keen, Shelley, Rundle, Gardner.
Yeovil
Weale, Terry, Skiverton, Rodrigues, Pluck, Elam, Way, Johnson, Reed (El Kholti 45 - Stansfield 74), Gall, Edwards. Not Used - Jackson, Collis, Gosling.
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