Live from Brunton Park, Lee Rooney brings you blow by blow action from today's League One clash against Brentford. Keep preshing refersh on your browser to read the latest update.
CARLISLE UNITED 2 (Madine 22, Harte 45+1) BRENTFORD 0 FT
United - Collin, Simek, Chester, Harte, McDaid, Thirlwell, Berrett, Taiwo, Zoko (Bridge-Wilkinson 75), Curran, Madine. Subs - Caig, Murphy, Hurst, Price, Robson, Kane.
Brentford - Moore, O'Connor, Woodman, Bean, McCracken (Legge 46), Balkestein, Forster (MacDonald 68), Weston, Spillane (Simpson 46), Osborne, Alexander. Subs - Saunders, Hunt, Wood, Lee.
Referee: Mr Andy Haines (Tyne & Wear)
Attendance: 5,913
1652 - So no more goals in the second half for United but still some great football as the so-called "diamond" formation brings a gem of a performance out of The Blues. All the new boys slotted in nicely and captain Paul Thirlwell, after a superb performance as the holding midfielder, picks up the sponsors Man of the Match award. Only a few days before the next game, a Carling Cup clash against Huddersfield Town on Tuesday night where I'll be back for another min by min report.
FULL-TIME - Carlisle United 2 Brentford 0
90 min - Craig Curran, who has barely stopped running since the first whistle, chases down a lost cause on the right wing and gets the ball. He cuts it back to the edge of the area where Berrett hits a superb shot that cannons back off the crossbar, with Madine not quite able to get on the rebound. Fourth official has indicated there will be a minimum of three minutes added time.
88 min - Lovely bit of keep ball by Taiwo on the right-wing before cutting it back to MBW. He takes a touch before sending in a lovely inviting cross that somehow misses everyone and goes out for a goal-kick. Meanwhile, Myles Weston has had to come off with an injury so Brentford are down to ten men, having used all their subs.
85 min - Game's gone a bit quiet now, with United keeping possession well. Bit of a rough aerial challenge on McDaid by Simpson gives United a free-kick about 15 yards inside their own half.
79 min - Cross from the right by MacDonald finds Alexander at the far post, but he's stretching to get on the end of it and heads it well over Collin's bar.
76 min - The corner from Berrett saw a shot from Taiwo blocked on the edge of the area, allowing Brentford to break down the left. Taiwo did his best to keep up with Weston, who sent in a dangerous cross that Simek superbly headed away to safety.
75 min - United have a corner after Berrett's shot is deflected behind off Legge. Meanwhile, United make their first change as Francois Zoko comes off to a standing ovation and on in his place is Marc Bridge-Wilkinson.
72 min - Bit of a stray arm from Alexander there on Taiwo and it's a free-kick to Uni... no wait, it's a drop ball? Alexander, a bit unsportingly, puts it out for a throw-in deep into the United half, when the incident occured inside the Brentford half. He's not exactly made himself popular with the United fans this afternoon.
71 min - Good pressure by the left-wing corner flag from Madine wins United a corner. Berrett goes over and takes it short to Zoko, who then tries a quick one-two with Thirlwell but the United captain slightly over hits his pass and it's a goal kick.
68 min - Brentford make their final change, with Nicky Forster coming off for Charlie MacDonald.
64 min - Free-kick on the left-wing by O'Connor sees Thirlwell only just head the ball over his own bar. Woodman takes it long and Taiwo gets a head on it to flick the ball away, giving Brentford a throw-in on the opposite wing.
63 min - A long punt forward from Collin sees Balkestein miss his header and Curran sneaks in just ahead of Moore, but he can't quite head it towards goal.
61 min - He's not had much to do today but that's a magnificent save from Adam Collin. Simpson turns McDaid on the left and plays it to Alexander, who takes a touch before turning and firing it towards goal, only for Collin to palm it over the bar. The resulting corner from O'Connor is poor and United clear.
59 min - Corner to United as Legge clears just over his own bar after a good flick back across goal by Curran. Berrett takes the corner but it's easily cleared at the near post by Legge.
58 min - United really are playing some superb stuff this second half and the crowd are very appreciative of it. A crossfield ball from Harte is brought down brilliantly by Zoko and he cuts inside, but his left-foot shot is scuffed and cleared easily.
56 min - Berrett tries to curl one into the top corner but Legg throws his head at it and it goes behind for a corner on the right. Berrett comes over and takes a right-footed outswinger that Chester collects on the left wing. He plays it to Thirlwell who hits a powerful shot that Moore spills but gathers at the second attempt.
53 min - Corner to Brentford as Harte takes charge and puts it behind during a bit of a scramble in the area. It's taken by O'Connor and finds its way to Simpson on the right hand corner of the box and he hits a half volley that Collin does well to hold on to.
49 min - Corner to Brentford on their left after a good tackle by Simek. O'Connor takes it and it's Simek that again heads it behind for another corner. O'Connor takes it and this time Collin punches it well away from goal at the far post. Good decision making from the United keeper as he was under a lot of pressure.
48 min - Good low shot from 20 yards by Berrett after a lay-off from Madine is well held by Moore.
46 min - Today's attendance is 5,913.
1601 - Both teams are now back out ready to start the second half and hte visitors are making two changes, with Leon Legge and Robbie Simpson coming on with McCracken and Spillane coming off. United get us underway, attacking the Warwick Road End in the second half.
1547 - So it's a 2-0 lead to United and it's a fair indication of the balance of play at the break. Bar a couple ofcorners and free-kicks, it's been all United and the front three of Zoko, Madine and Curran have been a nuisance to the Brentford defence. The midfield three have done a good job protecting the defence as well. Will be interesting to see how Andy Scott's side react in the second half. More from me shortly!
HALF-TIME - Carlisle United 2 Brentford 0
45+1 min - GOAL! Carlisle United 2 Brentford 0 - Was there every any doubt? Ian Harte steps up and very calmly sends Moore the wrong way and fires it into the corner.
45 min - A couple of scrambles there for United go close and then McDaid sends in a great low cross that Moore has to palm away with Curran stretching to reach it. There will be a minimum of one minute added time at the end of the first half... oh wait a minute, Curran has been felled in the box and it's a penalty to United!
43 min - Good advantage again by the referee as he plays on after a foul on McDaid. Zoko picks it up and dribbles into the box before cutting it back to Taiwo on the edge of the box but his volley is sliced just wide.
42 min - Corner to Brentford, though Frank Simek is insisting his tackle saw the ball come back off the Brentford man. Woodman takes it and finds Alexander at the far post but his header is well claimed by Collin under pressure.
38 min - Blatant push on Madine by McCracken gives United a free-kick about 25 yards out. Harte takes it short to McDaid who lofts a cross to the far post that Moore juggles a bit, before Bean hooks it out for a corner. Berrett takes it but the ball goes out of play straight from the corner and it's a goal kick.
31 min - Francois Zoko gets a telling off from Mr Haines for a slightly rough challenge... though I wonder if he understood a single word that the referee said!
29 min - A handball by Alexander gives United a free-kick in their own half. Thirlwell takes it quickly and finds Taiwo, who tries to chip a ball over the top for Madine but a deflection sends it looping into the box, where Curran challenges with Moore for the ball and the Brentford keeper spills it, but eventually claims the ball. A free-kick was given anyway, though it looked a little harsh.
27 min - Alexander goes down again under a challenge, this time from Chester, and wins a free-kick. It's whipped in by Woodman and might have got a touch, forcing Collin to palm it behind for a corner. That's taken by Woodman as well, but the United defence marshall it well and it comes to nothing.
24 min - Corner to United as Osborne blocks Curran's cross on the left. Berrett takes it short to Zoko, who gives it back to him. He then advances into the area and hits a fierce cross shot that is somehow cleared by a Brentford defender.
23 min - Brentford look for a quick response and a cross from the left by Woodman finds Forster, but his header is straight at Adam Collin.
22 min - GOAL! Carlisle United 1 Brentford 0 - Good touch from Zoko sets it up nicely for Berrett. He plays it wide to McDaid, who sends in a low cross that evades every bar Madine, who takes a touch before poking it past a helpless Moore. Lots of shouts for handball from the Brentford players, will be very interesting to see a replay of it on The Football League Show this evening!
19 min - Bit of an appeal for a penalty from Brentford there as a shot strikes Harte but referee Andy Haines waves them away. A ball is then lofted to the far post by Bean where Alexander sees his header come off Simek and go behind for a corner. The corner from the left sees a bit of a scramble, but United eventually get it clear.
17 min - Bit of a late challenge on Gary Alexander by James Berrett gives Brentford a free-kick about 30-35 yards out. It's Spillane who takes it but it's a dreadful effort, low and straight into the wall.
15 min - A quick free-kick from Adam Collin sees Madine play a clever (or accidental!) touch through to Curran, who's one-on-one but Moore comes out to make a smart stop. Wouldn't have counted anyway though as the assistant's flag is up for offside.
10 min - Good refereeing by Mr Haines as he tries to play advantage after a foul on Madine but is happy to bring it back for the free-kick after United gain nothing from it. It's about 25 yards out on the left hand edge of the area, with Harte and Berrett standing over it. Harte takes it and lofts the ball towards Madine at the far post but it's McCracken heads it clear.
9 min - Berrett's cross from the left looks for Taiwo but a deflection sends it behind for another corner. Again it's a right-footed outswinger by Berrett that Madine tries to get on but his run is blocked and Brentford clear.
8 min - Berrett takes another right-footed outswinger that's high and long, finding Chester but his header down is cleared by the Brentford defence.
7 min - Free-kick on the left to United. Harte goes over and whips in a ball that Madine tries to get on but it's Bean who heads it behind for a corner.
6 min - Good run down the middle by Zoko and the United man then sends in a scuffed cross shot that Curran pokes a foot out to send towards goal, only for Moore to make a smart parry. From that rebound, Curran pokes it towards goal again and it comes back off the post.
5 min - Bit of loose play in midfield by Marcus Bean gifts possession to United and Berrett tries one from 25 yards but his shot dips just over the bar. Good start from United.
4 min - Good play down the left by Curran and Zoko sees the latter tackled, winning a corner. It's taken short by Berrett to Curran, who gives it back to Berrett. His cross looks like a poor one that's missed everyone but Chester has lost his marker and sends a looping header back across goal that comes back off the crossbar. Harte then tries to hook it back in but goalkeeper Moore has it covered.
2 min - Good ball by Taiwo for Simek and he plays it off the Brentford defender to give United the first corner of the afternoon. It's James Berrett who takes a right outswinger that finds Harte but his flick on is blocked by a Bees defender and cleared to safety.
1500 - So with all the pre-match pleasantries out of the way, it's Brentford who kick us off and United will be attacking the Petteril End in the first half.
1458 - Brentford will be playing in their change strip of black today while United are, of course, in their usual blue home kit. Interestingly, the referee is also wearing blue, albeit a lot lighter shade. United keeper Adam Collin is wearing the new goalkeeper kit, which I believe the official colour name is "crush coral". Looks bright orange to me!
1456 - The rain has returned, but only slightly now. The two teams are now out and taking park in the usual pre-game line-ups.
1447 - The downpour has stopped! But for how long, I have no idea!
1441 - On the topic of the pitch - it looks in fantastic condition. We all know how badly it was affected by the poor weather last season but David Mitchell and his team have done well to get it looking so great.
1439 - I woke up for this morning's game and the weather was great - glorious sunshine basking over Cumbria. Several hours later and we are in the middle of a monsoon here at Brunton Park. It's absolutely CHUCKING it down. Could be an interesting game on a very wet surface.
1437 - Visitors Brentford have been pretty busy in the transfer market this week and include recent signing Gary Alexander in their starting line-up. Also featuring is experienced striker Nicky Forster, starting his second spell at the club this summer. Myles Weston starts in midfield, looking to add to the four goals he scored against United last season.
1431 - So for United there's six players making their league debuts - those being Simek, McDaid, Chester, Berrett, Zoko and Curran. Looks like it might be the diamond formation that's been used in pre-season a lot, but we'll have to see come kick-off. On the bench for United as back up keeper is Tony Caig, his first involvement in a CUFC league game for over a decade.
1423 - Afternoon everyone and welcome to the first minute by minute report of the 2010-11 npower League One season. It's been 91 days since The Blues were last in action and today they get the new campaign underway the same way they did last season - with a home tie against Brentford. Hopefully the result will be a little bit better this time! Team news is in and can be found at the top of the page.
