PREVIEW: United face the Salop in the cup

Carabao Cup action on Tuesday night

8 August 2022

The Carabao Cup competition kicks off on Tuesday night with United heading to the Montgomery Waters Meadow for their first-round meeting with Shrewsbury Town.

opposition

These teams last met last season in the FA Cup (you can view the match highlights below) with Shrewsbury the victors on that occasion.

They started their campaign this time round with a goalless draw at Morecambe, with shots on target few and far between for both sides.

Saturday saw them host Accrington Stanley, and a tight game tipped in favour of the away team when defender Tom Flanagan was sent off just before the hour mark for a second bookable offence. Tommy Leigh made the one-man advantage count when he nicked the late winner.

United's very own Ryan Bowman reported in as fit and healthy for pre-season, having undergone surgery following a heart scare, and he played the full 90 minutes at the Mazuma to put to rest any doubts about his condition.

It was a busy summer with Coventry midfielder Jordan Shipley first to sign on the dotted line when he agreed a three-year deal.

Julian Dacosta also came in from the Sky Blues, this time on a loan deal, and Preston midfielder Tom Bayliss arrived the same day with a two-year contract.

Defender Chey Dunkley penned a two-year agreement when he left Sheffield Wednesday, and striker Aiden O'Brien joined for the same period as he said goodbye to Portsmouth.

Another season long loan was completed when defender Taylor Moore came in from Bistol City, and heading out of the door through June and July were Josh Vela, David Davis and Shaun Whalley.

who watch

We're going with Republic of Ireland international forward Aiden O'Brien for this game.

He netted five goals in 17 appearances during his time at Pompey. He's powerful and determined, and could be a real handful once settled in at his new home.

He began his career at Millwall and had loan spells at Hayes & Yeading, Aldershot, Torquay and Crawley before joining Sunderland in 2020.

Click HERE to purchase an audio match pass which will allow you to listen to this game via our streaming iFollow service.

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	Shrewsbury wins
League	14	16	14
League Cup	1	0	0
Cup	1	1	0
FA Cup	0	2	2
Total	16	19	16

A six-year gap of not facing each other was breached in December 2021 when the Salop headed north for a second-round FA Cup game with the Blues. Tom Bloxham and Ryan Bowman established a two-goal cushion but Jordan Gibson rattled nerves with a strike in time added on. The Shrews saw it through to secure their progression.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

The Shrews were at Brunton Park back in February 2015 prior to the FA Cup meeting above. It all appeared to be going to plan when Charlie Wyke put the home side ahead on 66 minutes, but football can be a cruel mistress sometimes. With game management completely chucked out of the window James Collins and Mickey Demetriou turned the game on its head as they both scored deep into time added on to win the game.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

officials

Referee - Chris Pollard
Assistant Referee 1 - Adam Ricketts
Assistant Referee 2 - Jack Clench
Fourth Official - Grant Taylor
Observer - Steve Bratt

Our referee for this game is Mr Christopher Pollard. He has refereed two games so far this season showing eight yellow cards and no reds.

We've had him just once before, when he took charge of our 1-1 away draw at Grimsby. Matt Pollock gave the Mariners a first-half lead, only for that to be wiped out by one of the most amazing own goals we've ever had in our favour. Keeper James McKeown was the culprit. Nick Anderton was the only Carlisle name taken.

tickets

Tickets are available on the match day from Shrewsbury’s DMOS People Stand, with no increase in price.

Please be aware that this is a cash only ticket office (there are no cash machines near the stadium).

Dates of sale:

Date	Time
Monday 8 August	10am to 4pm

Prices:

Concession	Price
Adult	£10
Senior 65+	£5
Student (NUS Card)	£5
Young Adult 19-23	£5
Junior 12-18	£5
Under 12	FOC
Ambulant disabled	£5

Ambulant disabled and wheelchair Info:

Ambulant disabled and wheelchair supporters pay £5 with the carer free of charge.

There are 8 disabled car park spaces. To pre-book this service please contact Carlisle United ticket office.

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Methods of purchase:

In person – come to the main ticket office at the designated time.
Phone – ring the ticket office 03300 945 930 option 1 at the designated times and pay with a credit / debit card.
Internet – buy online HERE.

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If you wish to purchase bus travel you can organise this by calling CUSAT on 07563 700 987.

Match Reports

MATCH REPORT: Shrews 3 - 2 United

Report from the Carabao Cup first-round game

9 August 2022

United were at the Montgomery Waters Meadow for their Carabao Cup first-round meeting with Shrewsbury Town on Tuesday night.

There were four changes to the team from the weekend trip to Colchester with Jayden Harris, Sonny Hilton, Omari Patrick and Corey Whelan in for Owen Moxon, Jordan Gibson, Kristian Dennis and Morgan Feeney.

Skipper Feeney was missing through injury, with Whelan handed the captain's armband in his absence.

United had half a shout for a penalty with just five minutes on the clock when Hayden slid in to win a challenge in midfield. Patrick asked for it, and he immediately returned the favour for the midfielder to chase. Moore barged him out of the way and the referee waved play on as the pair tumbled.

A well worked home free kick saw Leahy send it wide for Shipley to cross as he set off on an unexpected ramble. It ripped across the face of goal and Pyke lurked at the back stick as it came his way. His volley was on target but Holy was there to make the catch.

United took the lead on 13 minutes with a devastatingly slick move. Harris started it with a determined stance, and his through ball after he'd made it his was perfect for Hilton, who angled his run into the box. He kept his cool as he rolled it into the mix and Edmondson opened his account with a sublime finish.

Holy was needed at the other end when the Shrews responded with an almost identical move. Pyke pulled it back as he overlapped and Leahy met the bounce of the ball. It was going in off his volley until the keeper went full length to palm it to safety.

The Carlisle stopper was excellent again when Pyke intercepted a pass out from Hilton. The wide man stepped on and shot low, through legs, but an outstretched arm brought a tip round the upright.

United had a great chance to double their advantage when they sliced a path open down the left flank. Patrick found Hilton when he arrived in support, but he missed his connection and the ball ricocheted behind.

Guy was alert on the halfway line when a wayward clearance came right at him, with the away team still looking in control. A crisp touch allowed a neat pass and Patrick walked through a tackle to go into the area. He aimed for the far corner but Marosi dropped to make the block.

Holy was off his line and on his toes to prevent Udoh from bursting clean through as the compact United shape kept the hosts at bay, and his clearance found Harris, who took it out of the air. Hilton's drive from a clipped pass smashed into Dunkley as the home crowd started to get restless.

Mellish was brave when he sprinted out to smother a thunderbolt from Pennington just ahead of the break. It was heading for the top corner until he got in the way.

A foul on Udoh by Whelan, dead centre and 20 yards out, had hearts in mouths for the travelling fans behind the goal in time added on for the half, and Leahy made it count as he bent it round the wall and into the back of the net via the underside of the bar.

The Cumbrians won three corners as they came out of the blocks quickly at the start of the second half, with Armer causing havoc for the first. A deflected Dennis shot earned the second, and a dipper of a inswinging cross from Guy that was toe poked by Pennington was the end result of the third. All three deliveries from Hilton were neat and Barclay went closest when he headed the last of the trio wide.

A rising shot from distance from Shipley indicated that the Salop were still in the mood, and Whelan did well to get a boot in the way when Pyke checked before letting fly. It spooned into the air and onto the roof of the net.

Whelan blocked from the same man when the corner was taken short, and Holy was comfortable when a header from a spinning delivery arrowed at him at head height.

It was a decent spell from the home team and Bayliss was the next to blaze high when Pyke, Udoh and Dunkley fashioned an opening for him.

Carlisle were a whisker away from restoring their lead when Moxon put Dennis into a crossing position. Stretton ran in front of his marker and he was disappointed to see his touch hit a defender and bend wide.

Whelan was even closer when he leaped to meet the Hilton corner. His header left Marosi rooted to the spot, but it was an inch the wrong side of the upright.

Stretton put one wide from a Moxon clip as things started to tighten up, and the young forward was denied what looked a certain free kick when he was felled on the edge of the box, only for the officials to say no.

The Shrews took the lead from nowhere with 15 minutes left to play when a cross from the left somehow made its way to Udoh. He trapped it with his back to goal, and left Holy with no chance as he thrashed it into the net with a crunching shot on the turn.

Kristian Dennis made it three goals in three games, with three assists from Owen Moxon, when the midfielder flighted a superb pass into the area. Dennis had lost his marker and his initial trap meant he'd done all of the hard work. He steadied himself and thumped it low and hard into the net, via a touch from Mariso, to level the scores.

But United were stunned on 86 minutes when a free kick was lofted into the area. Pennington bullied his way onto it to put it into the six-yard area, and Chey Dunkley eventually bundled it over the line after he'd dug it out of his feet.

Shrewsbury saw the extended period of added time through to book their place in the Wednesday night second round draw.

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Goals

Shrewsbury Town - Leahy (45), Udoh (75), Dunkley (86)

Carlisle United - Edmondson (13), Dennis (81)

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Bookings

Shrewsbury Town - Leahy (90)

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Teams

Shrewsbury Town - Marosi, Leahy (c), Pennington, Moore (Nurse 46), Udoh (Bowman 85), Pyke (Caton 85), Bloxham (Dacosta 46), Bayliss, Dunkley, Shipley, Flanagan. Subs - Burgoyne (gk), Craig, Barlow, Bevan.

Carlisle United - Holy, Barclay, Whelan (c), Mellish, Back (Gibson 76), Hilton (Devitt 76), Guy, Harris (Moxon 60), Armer, Patrick (Stretton 60), Edmondson (Dennis 36). Subs - Kelly (gk), Ellis, Carr.

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Match officials

Referee - Chris Pollard
Assistant Referee 1 - Adam Ricketts
Assistant Referee 2 - Jack Clench
Fourth Official - Grant Taylor
Observer - Steve Bratt

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Attendance - 2,269 (216)