BIG MATCH PREVIEW: Morecambe

Everything you need to know ahead of Saturday's big game

23 November 2017

It's back to Brunton Park following a double-header of away games as United take on 'local' rivals Morecambe in our latest Sky Bet League Two fixture.

Looking ahead to the weekend, manager Keith Curle said: "This is one of those games everybody looks forward to. It's a big one for our fans because there is a bit of local rivalry there.

"As ever we play the game, and not the occasion, and we're looking to build on the upsurge we've seen in home results recently.

"We want the fans to come and enjoy their football and, if we prepare properly and do our jobs the way we know we can, it's games like this which could help us to reinforce the belief we all have in what we're doing.

"Morecambe will be stung by their result on Tuesday night and that's something we'll have to be wary of. Likewise, we were enjoying our unbeaten run prior to the trip to Luton, and we want this to be the start of another one.

"It should be a good game, with two teams who like to get forward, and we're looking forward to being back in front of our own fans."

Keith Curle

Remember, you can purchase your tickets by telephone on 0844 371 1921* or buy online and print at home, or order for collection, by clicking HERE.

*Calls to this number are charged at 7p per minute from landlines. Charges from mobiles may vary. A booking fee of £1 applies to all online transactions.

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Supporters Car Park - limited spaces available

Due to the heavy rain over the last 24-hours we expect to be operating a severely limited on-site parking service this weekend.

Please plan your journey to Brunton Park accordingly, and be aware that there are local parking and traffic enforcement measures in place on the streets and roads in the immediate vicinity of the stadium.

We'll have more updates on parking availability on the official website in the lead-up to the game.

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Welcome to our Big Match Sponsors

Our match sponsors for Saturday are the University of Cumbria and Solway DAF.

The University and their guests are joining us on Saturday to celebrate their tenth anniversary. As part of the match day celebrations, there is a special ticket offer open to all University students. If you are a current student, click HERE for more information.

Solway DAF are a long-standing, loyal sponsor of the club and have sponsored matches for many, many years. Peter and his guests always bring a great atmosphere to our Sponsor’s Lounge, and this game this game will be their second sponsorship of the season, having already sponsored our cup game against Sunderland in August.

We hope that they all have a great day with us.

Other sponsors joining us on Saturday are Benchmarx Kitchens and Joinery, and Heineken. We hope they all enjoy the hospitality in Foxy’s Restaurant.

Carlisle Samaritans will also be doing a bucket collection pre-match, so look out for collectors outside the ground and at turnstiles, and give what you can.

REPORT: United 1 - 1 Morecambe

Match report from the Morecambe game at Brunton Park

25 November 2017

United were back at Brunton Park on Saturday afternoon to take on local rivals Morecambe in their latest League Two fixture.

And the sides had to settle for a share of the spoils as they battled their way through a very tight affair with unforced errors very much top of the agenda.

Morecambe made the first half chance of the day with just 30 seconds on the clock when a long ball forward fell nicely for Campbell. His cross found Ellison but there was no power on the header and Bonham gathered it in.

United responded with a foray down the left flank which saw Jones pull wide. He dropped a shoulder and beat his man but Old made the clearance before Bennett could pounce. Aaron Wildig then had a punt at the other end in an all-action opening to the encounter, but he couldn’t keep his volley down and it sailed over the bar.

Jones was effective again when he clipped another beauty of a cross into the area. It had to be put behind to safety and Ellison did well to block as Hill got a touch on the low delivery which was angled at the near post.

A long ball forward from Ellison found Wildig on the run when he cut between Liddle and Bonham to take control of the ball. His first touch appeared to set up the shot, but the United stopper recovered well to make a very good block.

The Cumbrians responded with an incisive attack which left Lambe with room to work in 25-yards out. His powerful shot was parried by Roche and the celebrations for a fantastic finish from Bennett were cut short when an offside flag was raised.

Shrimps striker Adam Campbell almost took everybody by surprise when he floated a 35-yard free kick at the top corner. It dipped late and Bonham had to scramble quickly to make sure his clean sheet was preserved.

A Bennett header from a Grainger cross provided an easy save for Roche, as the game stayed in midfield for long periods, and McGurk was disappointed when he sliced another effort from distance into the stands.

The Shrimps went close when a one-touch move left McGurk with time on his hands inside the box. He toe-poked his shot and it blazed into the side netting. The visitors came again when Lavelle curled a pass across the face of goal, but Hill got just enough on it before Ellison could make it count.

Carlisle rounded the half off on the front-foot and Brown bent a lovely cross for Bennett to attack. He couldn’t quite get there, but Jones moved quickly to send it back into the box. Lambe struck it cleanly on the volley but he couldn’t keep it down.

Bonham had to save a low shot from McGurk immediately after the restart and his kick brought a foray forward from the hosts as Hope suddenly had room to work in. He went for a thundering drive and Roche did well to palm it away.

United stayed forward and Kelvin Etuhu bagged his first goal for the club in style when he took a shot from out of absolutely nowhere which caught Roche on the hop. The keeper saw it late and he could do nothing as it smashed into the back of his net.

Morecambe thought they'd done enough to pull level when Campbell fizzed a low delivery straight at McGurk. The touch was a poor one and he was left with explaining to do. Campbell then had a go himself when he found room, 30-yards out, but his shot angled the wrong side of the post.

A catalogue of errors put Morecambe right back in it when United failed to clear their lines on three occasions. The ball was pumped back into the area and defender Steven Old stood his ground and guided it into the waiting net.

Carlisle looked to pick themselves up and O'Sullivan found Brown on the overlap as they picked their way down the right flank. The cross was a good one, but it was put behind as Old came under pressure from Miller.

But it was Morecambe who were given a real chance late in the day when Bonham raced off his line and was judged to have taken a player down inside the area. Campbell stepped up and fluffed his lines as he rattled the crossbar with a thumping spot kick.

Hope had a shot from distance as the clock ticked down but it was honours even as the final whistle went.

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Goals

Carlisle United - Etuhu (51)

Morecambe - Old (73)

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Bookings

Carlisle United - Lambe (76)

Morecambe - Old (7)

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Teams

Carlisle United - Bonham, Brown, Liddle, Hill, Grainger, Lambe (Devitt 78), Joyce, Etuhu, Jones (O'Sullivan 64), Hope, Bennett (S Miller 64). Subs - George, T Miller, Parkes, Cosgrove.

Morecambe - Roche, Brough, Kenyon, Old, Fleming, Campbell, Ellison (Oliver 90), Wildig (Lang 88), Lavelle, Lund McGurk (Thompson 70). Subs - Nizic, Conlan, Muller, Rose.

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Referee - Darren Handley

Attendance - 5,010 (356 away fans)

Carlisle United Football Club

Standings

BIG MATCH PREVIEW: Morecambe

REPORT: United 1 - 1 Morecambe