PREVIEW: The Sulphurites up next on Tuesday

Midweek home game for the Blues

22 November 2021

Harrogate head to Brunton Park on Tuesday night as the busy run of home fixtures kicks in.

Match sponsor - NFU Mutual - Farmers Match

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Match ball sponsor - Letters Inn, Aspatria

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Last season's away meetings with Harrogate were troubled, to say the least, with the first fixture abandoned with just 10 minutes on the clock as temperatures dipped and the surface became unstable.

The teams tried again, but a digger half a mile up the road scuppered the best laid plans when it chopped through a power line, plunging the stadium into darkness.

We got there eventually, and Tuesday is only the third time these teams have met. The game brings former Blue Paul Thirlwell back to Brunton Park. Striker Mark Beck is currently out on-loan at York City.

opposition

A run of four league games without a win through October caused frustration for the Sulphurites, but an FA Cup home win over Wrexham was followed by an impressive 3-1 away win at Walsall to get things well and truly back on track.

They played host to Salford at the weekend and goals either side of the break from Matty Lund and Jason Lowe meant they suffered a disappointing 2-0 home defeat.

Having stepped up from the National League last season, they've settled to life in the Football League and have found a real knack of scoring goals this term, and are currently the division's joint top scorers - along with Forest Green and Port Vale.

Importantly those goals are coming from all over the pitch, which suggests a style of play that encourages players to get forward.

Indeed the team's top five scorers in the league have 16 assists between them, so there'll be plenty in the way of threat.

who watch

Luke Armstrong enjoyed a steady season with Hartlepool last season as he bagged 15 goals to keep his side in touch with their promotion dream.

And he helped that dream become reality in the National League play-off final when he scored the goal to help his side to a 1-1 draw, extra time and ultimately a penalty shoot-out victory.

Snapped up by Simon Weaver during the summer, he has nine league goals to his name already, and is proving to be a real handful.

He's our midweek one to watch.

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The game is being streamed under EFL 'midweek' streaming rights for League Two.

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

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highlights

	Carlisle wins	Draws	Harrogate wins
League	0	1	1
Total	0	1	1

It was a 1-1 draw at Brunton Park in April 2021. Josh Kayode scored in the second half for the Blues - Jack Muldoon had put the away side ahead early in the game.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

Harrogate currently hold the bragging rights courtesy of a Josh March penalty in the first half of the game in February 2020 which was enough to earn the Sulphurites their win.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

officials

Referee - Sebastian Stockbridge
Assistant Referee 1 - Darren Williams
Assistant Referee 2 - Gary Hilton
Fourth Official - Adam Herczeg
Observer - Russell Tiffin

Our referee for this game is Mr Seb Stockbridge.

He has taken charge of 16 games this season showing 55 yellow cards and one red.

Brad Young notched a brace when United were victorious over an Everton U21 side in the Papa John's Trophy group stage at the end of September 2021. Gime Toure saw the only yellow card of the night.

April 2020 brought him to Holker Street for our 2-2 draw with Barrow. Jack Armer scored first - Scott Quigley and Patrick Brough gave the hosts the lead - but Ozzy Zanzala had the last say with the equalising goal. Jack Armer, Jon Mellish and George Tanner were booked for the Blues.

Mr Stockbridge was in Carlisle in November 2020 for the 3-2 win over Newport. Lewis Alessandra and Jon Mellish (2) scored the goals and Rod McDonald was the only Carlisle name noted.

And he was a late replacement in February 2021 for our 1-0 away defeat at Harrogate. The game just about survived a serious downpour, and George Tanner was the solitary booking on the night.

We had him for our 0-0 draw with Cambridge in November 2019 where Canice Carroll and Ryan Loft had their names entered into the bookings charts.

He was with us again in the 2019/20 season for our September 4-2 home loss at the hands of the Wolves under-21 side. Hallam Hope and Ryan Loft scored our goals and Canice Carroll received a yellow card.

The last time he was here prior to that was for our 2-0 home defeat against Morecambe in October 2018. There were no names taken on the afternoon but the game was lost by half time.

He was also with us in August 2018 for our 1-0 home victory over Crewe. Ashley Nadesan scored the winning goal, with 20 minutes left to play, and there were no United names taken on the day.

We saw him on three occasions during season 2017/18 – Danny Grainger [who also scored], Mike Jones, Mark Ellis and Jamie Devitt were all carded in our 1-1 draw with Luton in April.

Gary Liddle’s name was the only one written down as Kelvin Etuhu and John O’Sullivan scored the goals to secure a 2-0 victory over Chesterfield in February.

And Hallam Hope and Jason Kennedy were the goal scorers as United stayed trouble free in their 2-0 Checkatrade victory over Morecambe.

tickets

Don't forget that ticket prices increase by £3 on a match day.

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Alternatively, you can purchase your tickets in-person here at our main ticket office during office hours (Pioneer Stand), online by clicking HERE, or over the phone by ringing 0330 094 5930 (option 1).

Match Reports

MATCH REPORT: United 0 - 2 Harrogate

Report from the Tuesday night home game

23 November 2021

United were back at home on Tuesday night looking to turn improved performances into points, with Harrogate Town the opponents.

Captain Callum Guy was back from his one-game suspension, and Zach Clough returned from his concussion protocols, with Jack Armer ruled out through the leg injury sustained at Exeter at the weekend.

The first effort of the night came from distance from George Thomson when he put his left boot through the ball. He didn't quite catch it on the full and Howard was able to watch it fall into his hands.

A spin in midfield was followed by a run from Diamond as he angled his way from the left flank into the area for the lively visitors. An attempt at a cross was miscued and the keeper was comfortable once again.

United caused problems with a deep free kick from Clough which dropped into the hole between the defence and the nets. Oxley had to dive late and he got both hands to it as it bobbled off the surface.

The corner was cleared as far as Gibson and a lovely, dinked delivery was glanced by Young, just inside the six-yard area. The stopper was beaten, but it hit the bar and bounced away from the upright.

McDonald recovered it quickly and his punt was met on the leap by the Villa loanee. He was under pressure from Hall and his touch looped over the target.

Direct play from Pattison won a corner at the Warwick Road End for the away team when his sprint was closed down by Dickenson, and Clough marshalled the set piece away as black shirts converged in hope more than expectation.

United started to ping some crisp passes around as they kept the ball in the middle of the park, but it was a tight spell as neither side gave any ground.

Jordan Gibson took matters into his own hands on 25 minutes when high pressing brought the ball his way. He pulled the trigged from 26-yards but it whipped just past the post after it had skipped awkwardly off the slick surface.

Gibson and Mellor then worked room for another dink into the box, this time from the right, but Oxley stepped forward to get there before Abrahams could apply a touch.

A shot through a ruck of bodies from Thomson took a deflection as the Sulphurites tried to find inspiration, but the corner was cleared and United were suddenly on the attack. It eventually came to Gibson, and Oxley had to get both hands there to palm it away on the dive.

The action ebbed and flowed and Armstrong called for it when he had his back to goal. He twisted then crossed, but McDonald had tracked the run and he made the clearance.

Harrogate had to recycle the corner but Diamond did well to float the ball to the back stick. Muldoon found room but his close-range downward header was stopped on the line by Howard. The keeper took the sting out of it first before scooping it up at the second attempt.

It nearly opened up for the Blues when they pushed forward with Gibson and Clough providing angles. Young pulled off his marker but the measured through ball was touched by Burrell, and that took it into Oxley's hands.

There was disappointment for the hosts in time added on for the half when a pass from Muldoon just about made it through to Thomson, who had pulled wide into space. His first touch took him into the box and the winger made no mistake with a stinging drive from the angle that whistled into the bottom corner.

Into the second half and a fierce Dickenson cross on the volley was cleared by Burrell as two blue shirts pushed in. Gibson then did the same, when he linked with Clough, but it was the same defender who made the timely intervention.

The Cumbrians should have been back on terms on 49 minutes when Guy did well to beat his man and then pull the defence out of shape as he jinked and swerved. Young was with him, and the forward had just the stopper to beat when the pass came his way inside the area. He connected cleanly, but he sent his shot into the side netting, with a large section of the crowd cheering as they thought it had gone in.

Harrogate had two half chances as they looked to calm things down, with Thomson wasteful with a header when he perhaps had more time than he realised.

Carlisle were a whisker away again with a piece of sustained pressure that saw a Dickenson pass blocked then hacked clear. Clough got the second ball and he twice feinted to shoot as he edged closer and closer to the nets. He kept the thunderbolt low, when it came, and Oxley was well beaten, but it flashed agonisingly past the post.

Howard had a save to make from Pattison when he surged onwards with the ball at his feet, but it was easily caught as it came low at his legs.

There were loud appeals for a home penalty when Mampala dropped the floor moments after coming on, but the officials waved play on. The hosts kept the pressure on and Dickenson overlapped after a delivery from Mellor had been nodded away. Clough was there, and he was ready to celebrate as he thrashed a 16-yard shot at the top corner. Oxley went full length to parry it to safety.

Another top quality delivery from Dickenson begged to be put away with just under 15 minutes left to play. The ball had been moved from right to left and he found the perfect channel for the cross, but outstretched legs and boots couldn't find the touch that was needed.

Harrogate were ruthless on 78 minutes when they found themselves four against two in the middle of the park as a home move broke down. Diamond was played into the box by Pattison, but Howard got down to save when he thumped it low. Pattison couldn't believe his luck when he was able to stroke the pieces into the bottom corner to double the advantage.

Armstrong had an effort deflected wide late in the day, when he was closed down by McDonald, and Fishburn tried to finish a Clough clip at the other end as the clock ticked into added time.

Another great chance to score was spurned when a Clough cross was sent back across the face of goal by McDonald. Whelan was there, eight yards out, and the net looked set to bulge when he guided it at the top corner, but Oxley somehow recovered to make the save.

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Match sponsor - NFU Mutual - Farmers Match

Click HERE to visit the NFU Mutual official website.

Match ball sponsor - Letters Inn, Aspatria

Click HERE for more on the Letters Inn, Aspatria.

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Goals

Harrogate Town - Thomson (45+1), Pattison (78)

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Bookings

Carlisle United - Guy (57)

Harrogate Town - Sheron (41), Burrell (90)

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Teams

Carlisle United - Howard, Mellor, McDonald, Whelan, Dickenson, Gibson, Guy (c), Devine (Charters 85), Abrahams (Fishburn 68), Clough, Young (Mampala 68). Subs - Simons (gk), Dinzeyi, Feeney, Bell.

Harrogate Town - Oxley, Page, Falkingham (c) (Power 82), Burrell, Thomson, Sheron, Pattison, Muldoon (Kerry 72), Hall, Diamond, Armstrong. Subs - Cracknell (gk), Orsi, Ilesanmi, Williams.

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Match officials

Referee - Sebastian Stockbridge
Assistant Referee 1 - Darren Williams
Assistant Referee 2 - Gary Hilton
Fourth Official - Simon Clayton
Observer - Russell Tiffin

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Attendance - 3,172 (84)