PREVIEW: Tuesday hop to Salford

Midweek with the Ammies

1 February 2022

United's busy run of fixtures continues with the away trip to Salford on Tuesday night.

bits

Salford conducted two bits of post-summer transfer window business as they looked to bolster the squad and begin a charge up the table.

Forward Aramide Oteh, who had been a free agent since his release from QPR in May, was the first to come through the door in September when he signed a short-term deal to take him up to January.

Central defender Theo Vassell finally put pen-to-paper on a contract in November, having trained with the Ammies since July.

A problem with tendonitis delayed the agreement, but he's already notched up a run of appearances as he looks to secure a longer stay.

January has also seen transfer activity, with midfielder Stephen Kelly agreeing a half-season loan deal from Rangers midway through the month.

Fellow midfielder Ryan Watson was brought in from Tranmere for an undisclosed fee, and the forward line was bolstered when Matt Smith penned an 18-month contract, having parted company with Millwall.

opposition

The Ammies became very difficult to be beat in the league through November and December, with just an away defeat at Mansfield to blot the copy book.

January has very much been a mixed bag, with two wins and a draw to accompany the two defeats that took them into their Tuesday night meeeting with Barrow.

That saw them return to winning ways with a free kick from Ash Hunter complemented by a Romeao Hutton own goal in time added on.

They were away again at the weekend, at high-flying Northampton, and it was back to earth with a bump as they fell to an early goal from Paul Lewis. It was a game that could have gone either way, with chances created by both teams.

who watch

Experienced midfielder Matt Lund rediscovered the scoring bug towards the end of November, which coincided with a better run of results for his team.

Three goals in four league games helped the Ammies to victory in back-to-back outings against Mansfield and Oldham.

A strong, no-nonense approach to games makes him a formidable opponent and he's very vocal as he demands the best from those around him.

If selected (he was on the bench on Saturday) he's our midweek one to watch.

Click HERE to purchase a match pass which will allow you to WATCH to this fixture via our match streaming service.

This game is kive to watch as part of the EFL midweek streaming agreement.

With match commentary provided by BBC Radio Cumbria, this is a fantastic way to follow your team through the season.

Match audio passes are available for ALL EFL league games - click HERE to find out more about this season’s iFollow United service.

highlights

	Carlisle wins	Draws	Salford wins
League	2	2	0
Total	2	2	0

These teams have met on just four occasions, having lost one of the games at the Peninsular Stadium to the 2020 pandemic.

United took the honours at Brunton Park in September 2021 when Jon Mellish bagged the winner after Josh Morris had levelled the first-half scores just moments before the break. Brennan Dickenson had notched the early opener.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

It was 1-1 in Salford in February 2021 with George Tanner opening the scoring for the away side with just 11 minutes on the clock. James Wilson equalised on 79 minutes to make sure the spoils were shared.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

We hosted the Ammies in December 2020 with strikes from Lewis Alessandra and Rhys Bennett putting the Blues two goals to the good. D'Ishon Bernard hit back late in the day but it was too little too late the Cumbrians took the points.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

The first meeting of these clubs was in August 2019, when the newly-promoted outfit came north for our first ever meeting. An early lead for the Blues from an Olufela Olomola goal was turned on its head as Salford's Emmanuel Dieseruvwe and Danny Whitehead scored in quick succession to put the visitors ahead as half-time approached. Stefan Scougall completed the scoring moments before the break, and that was it for the day as it ended all-square at 2-2.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

officials

Referee - Simon Mather
Assistant Referee 1 - Paul Stonier
Assistant Referee 2 - Lewis Raper
Fourth Official - Christopher Ward
Observer - Mark Haywood

Our referee for this fixture is Mr Simon Mather. He has taken charge of 19 games so far this season and has shown seven red cards and 82 yellows.

He was in charge for our away visit to Sutton in September 2021. United lost by 4-0, Brennan Dickenson was booked and substitute Manny Mampala was sent off when he picked up two yellow cards within the space of just 18 minutes.

tickets

We have received the full away allocation for this fixture which includes 1,100 terracing tickets and 216 seated tickets.

Prices

Adult	£15
Senior 60+	£10
Young adult 16-21	£10
Under 16	£5
U5	FOC

Disabled info

Ambulant disabled and wheelchair users pay the relevant price with the carer free of charge.

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Methods of purchase:

In person – come to the main ticket office in the Pioneer Stand at the designated time. Ticket sales on home match days will be from the West Stand ticket office.

Phone – ring the ticket office on 0330 094 5930 at the designated times and pay with a credit / debit card.

Internet – click HERE and follow the online instructions.

Match Reports

MATCH REPORT: Salford 2 - 1 United

Report from the midweek away game

1 February 2022

United had fans in attendance at a Salford away game for the first time and close to one thousand of the Blue Army made the trip to roar on the Blues.

With the transfer window closed there was a place on the bench for Birmingham loanee Mitchell Roberts, with the other deadline day arrivals missing out through late registration.

Lewis Alessandra and Jordan Gibson were back into the starting line-up, with Tyrese Omotoye and Corey Whelan shifted to the bench. The side was otherwise unchanged from the Saturday home game against Sutton.

United were let off the hook with just 40 seconds on the clock when Thomas-Asante was picked out with a whipped through ball. His control set up a shot, but Howard was down smartly to parry. Matt Smith snapped up the rebound, but he somehow put his bounced volley over the bar from just 12-yards out when it looked easier to score.

Salford came again when Hunter found space, and he cut it back for the delivery to be made. The cross was whisked low. but Thomas-Asante pushed McDonald and the whistle blew.

There was a defensive blow for the Blues with just nine minutes on the clock when Rod McDonald indicated that he was struggling following an earlier collision. Morgan Feeney came on to replace the centre back at the heart of the back line.

United had a real chance on 14 minutes when Alessandra beat the offside trap. He carried the ball into the box, checked, then fed it back to Patrick, who was all alone on the penalty spot. Turnbull did well to throw his body in the way of the target-bound attempt.

Simeu showed great strength to hold off Thomas-Asante when a flick rolled their way at the other end, but the follow-up from Hunter hit Senior and swirled wide.

A poor clearance from king sparked a Carlisle attack when Gibson nodded it to Patrick, He let one go from 23-yards but it was blocked, and Gibson regained the ricochet. Senior overlapped and crossed low, but it was eventually cleared as the red shirts closed the gaps.

More good work from Gibson brought a corner as he beat his marker, but Eastham connected with the inswinger as Mellish challenged.

Another neat piece of visiting play saw Guy spread the ball to Armer. Gibson was in acres of space, and he clipped a floater at Mellish as he sprinted into the box.

There was concern for Joel Senior when he stayed on the floor after he'd stuck out a leg to stop Thomas-Asante, and a stretcher was needed to take him from the pitch. Corey Whelan was quickly changed and off the bench.

It was frantic in the United box on 35 minutes when a mix-up and a hint of hesitation meant that a loose ball was poked by Thomas-Asante towards the nets. Howard saved, but it bobbled free and the same player had what appeared to be an empty net to aim at. Feeney was alert, and his bravery prevented a certain goal as he got himself in the way.

The ball was still alive, and Smith thundered it through bodies from the edge of the area. Howard went full length to fist it away, but Hunter was next to have a bash. |He lost his bearings and the ball spun towards the corner flag.

Carlisle had to deal with a flurry of corners ahead of the break, but Feeney and Alessandra were in the right place at the right time to deal with them.

There was a third injury blow for the away team on the stroke of half-time when Callum Guy fell heavily to the floor. Joe Riley ran onto the pitch to replace him - accompanied by a huge roar from the travelling supporters.

Mellish had a volley charged down in the sixth minute of time added for the half, but it was honours even as the combatants headed down the tunnel.

It was a tentative start to the second period from both teams, but a clip over the top to Patrick had him on a run. He kept it in, and a pass across the face of goal was angling at Alessandra until Eastham intervened.

There was disaster on 51 minutes when a volley from Shephard skipped off the surface after Howard had punched a dipping clearance off Smith's head. Mellish was judged to have handled it, and the referee immediately pointed at the spot. Ryan Watson put power behind the kick to rifle it home.

Feeney was in the way again to stop a thunderbolt from Watson from 20-yards after Whelan had cleaared a Hunter delivery. The defender fell low to make the interception.

A Hunter free kick was deflected over by the wall after Feeney had been booked for tugging Thomas-Asante, but the centre back was there again to swipe a clearance after Smith had nodded a header down into the six-yard box.

Carlisle were back on level terms on 67 minutes when they broke with pace and power down the right flank. Alessandra was deft with a touch that found Gibson, and he showed a clean pair of heels as he bent his run. An inch perfect cross had Omari Patrick interested, and he made no mistake as he stabbed it over the line to send the fans behind the nets wild.

But the joy was short-lived when a low clearance from Dickenson went straight to a red shirt just four minutes later. It was moved swiftly to the right wing, and Matt Smith guided a header into the bottom from close range when he got on the end of the dipping delivery.

A rapier of a volley from Ndaba from the angle of the 18-yard area tickled the bar as it zipped just over for the hosts, but it was United who felt aggrieved when Feeney appeared to be pulled to the floor as he tried to get on the end of a Riley free kick. The referee ignored the very loud penalty appeals.

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Goals

Salford City - Watson (52 pen), Smith (71)

Carlisle United - Patrick (67)

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Bookings

Carlisle United - Feeney (62), Riley (82)

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Teams

Salford City - King, Lowe, Eastham (c), Ndaba, Watson, Hunter (Loughlan 90), Turnbull, Kelly (Lund 90), Smith, Shephard, Thomas-Asante (McAleny 86). Subs - Torrance (gk), Golden, Vassell.

Carlisle United - Howard, Senior (Whelan 30), McDonald (Feeney 10), Simeu, Armer, Gibson, Guy (c) (Riley 45), Mellish, Dickenson, Patrick, Alessandra. Subs - Norman (gk), Fishburn, Roberts, Omotoye.

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Match officials

Referee - Simon Mather
Assistant Referee 1 - Paul Stonier
Assistant Referee 2 - Lewis Raper
Fourth Official - Christopher Ward
Observer - Mark Haywood

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Attendance - 2,059 (958)