PREVIEW: The U's are our visitors this weekend

A look ahead to Saturday's opponents

16 February 2023

Carlisle United v Colchester United, Saturday 18 February, kick off 3pm

Match Sponsor - Top Notch

Click HERE to visit the official Top Notch website.

Associate Sponsor - Gordons Construction

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Click HERE to visit the Gordons Construction Equipment website.

Match Ball Sponsor - AP&J Brown

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Click HERE to visit the AP&J Brown official website.

Match Ball Delivery System - Ascott Transport Ltd

Click HERE to visit the ATL official website.

update

Just one defeat in the last nine league games has helped to turn things round dramatically for the U's - part of the improvement seen since Matt Bloomfield replaced Wayne Brown at the end of September.

They've also been very impressive on the road, having won their last five away games.

The January run earned Bloomfield the manager of the month award, which was part of a busy month as he was given the green light to add to the squad.

O's defender Connor Wood was first in on a loan deal, and Stevenage midfielder Arthur Read penned an 18-month contract the following day.

Fiacre Kelleher then came permanently from Bradford, and striker Matt Jay was purchased for an undisclosed fee from Exeter.

Another long-term deal was agreed with Lincoln forward Tom Hopper, and defender Will Greenidge left West Ham to head to Colchester, again for two-and-a-half years.

The business was completed when Arsenal keeper Tom Smith joined for the remainder of the season.

Tuesday night saw the U's held to a largely uneventful goalless draw by Walsall at home - but the stubborn streak continued.

who watch

Former Imp Tom Hopper got his first for his new club in the 1-0 away win at Grimsby last Saturday, and he's the kind of forward that's going to cause problems in League Two.

Strong, agile and experienced, he's one who will look to work with back to goal and get into the box as much as possible.

Click HERE to purchase a 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	Colchester wins
League	18	14	21
League Cup	0	0	1
Total	18	14	22

Noah Chilvers scored early for the hosts but Kris Dennis levelled things up just before the break, and that's how it ended when United went to Colchester in August 2022.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

It was a game that sprung to life in the second half down in Essex in February 2022 when Omari Patrick gave the away side the lead. That was quickly turned on its head with quickfire strikes from Tommy Smith and Tyreik Wright, but a point was claimed when Tobi Sho-Silva struck back with four minutes left to go.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

The opening day of the 2021/22 season brought Colchester to Brunton Park and the teams slugged out a 0-0 stalemate in the summer sunshine.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

Jon Mellish scored just before the half hour to put United in front in Essex in March 2021 but Callum Harriott turned things round with a brace to help his side to a much needed win.

Oh, and it was foggy!

You can try to watch the highlights from that game here:

The U's were at Brunton Park in October 2020 where goals from Lewis Alessandra and Jon Mellish put the hosts two goals to the good. Luke Norris netted a brace to level things up, but Aaron Hayden struck late to keep the points in Cumbria.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

Colchester's visit to Brunton Park in March 2020 saw them pick up a 3-0 victory as they maintained their push for a top seven spot.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

We were at their place just before Christmas in 2019 and it was a day where Colchester took their chances and claimed the victory.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

The February meeting during the 2018/19 season brought a hard-fought draw, with Hallam Hope giving the Blues the lead just after half time. The U's upped their game and they got their reward with an equaliser from Frankie Kent with just six minutes left to play.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

Colchester were at Brunton Park just before Christmas that season for a game that went the way of the home side thanks to a blistering second half display. Hallam Hope had set the tone with a goal just before the break, and Jerry Yates, Jamie Devitt and Danny Grainger wrapped things up as they hit the back of the net in a second period which was all about the Blues.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

The first meeting of these teams during the 17/18 season was for our October visit to Essex. It was a tight game, with both sides creating good chances, but a superb finish from Jamie Devitt proved to be the difference when he got on the end of a long ball forward before calmly slotting it beneath Walker's dive to find the bottom corner.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

Back up at Brunton Park in February 2018 and Courtney Senior gave the visitors the upper hand with a well taken goal just before the break. The Blues came out for the second half in determined mood and Jamie Devitt pounced once more to claim a point for his side with just 10 minutes left on the clock.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

officials

Referee - Neil Hair
Assistant Referee 1 - Andrew Dallison
Assistant Referee 2 - Robert Merchant
Fourth Official - Matt Corlett
Observer - Michael Pike

Our referee for this game is Mr Neil Hair.

Neil has taken charge of 19 games so far this season and has shown 70 yellow cards and six reds.

We first met him back in October 2018 when we drew 2-2 at Sincil Bank. Ashley Nadesan twice put the away side ahead but Michael O'Connor and Bruno Andrade bagged for the Imps, with all four goals coming in the first half. No names were taken on the night.

He was the man in the middle for our away game at Mansfield in December 2021. Stephen McLaughlin scored with just six minutes on the clock and that proved to be the only goal of the game. No Carlisle names were taken that day.

tickets

Tickets for this fixture are on sale now.

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

Please note - persons under the age of 14 MUST be accompanied by an adult. Minors under the age of 14 will not be permitted entrance and parents / guardians will be called to collect the child and escort them from the premises.

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E-tickets

Remember, you can purchase an e-ticket online all the way up to kick-off on a match day. Simply show your purchased ticket on your smartphone at the turnstile and you'll be scanned in as normal.

E-tickets really are a fantastic and smooth way of making your match day experience just that little bit easier.

Match Reports

MATCH REPORT: United 1 - 0 U's

Report from the Saturday afternoon home game

18 February 2023

United's second home fixture of the week brought Colchester United to Brunton Park on Saturday afternoon.

There were four changes from the midweek team that faced Mansfield, with a first start for Leeds loanee Alfie McCalmont. He was in for Jordan Gibson.

The other three changes were fit again Jack Ellis in for Joel Senior, Joe Garner in for Kris Dennis and Omari Patrick in for John-Kymani Gordon.

United kicked towards the Warwick in the first half, and they were gifted their first chance when Wood headed weakly as the ball bounced on the edge of the 18-yard box. It became a dream first appearance for the club for Alfie McCalmont as he settled himself before slotting the loose ball home.

The home team were up for it with every 50:50 going their way, and there was a huge cheer from the crowd as Mellish mesmerised two with a drop of the shoulder and a swing of the hips.

There was half a sight for Chilvers as he spotted Holy off his line on 13 minutes. He went for an ambitious lob but it was always heading wide.

Patrick showed pace and poise at the other end when he jinked his way to the byeline. His cut back was put behind, and Moxon floated the corner high. Huntington met it but his downward header lacked power.

A deep free kick from Wood was spooned into the air by McCalmont on the edge of his box, as Colchester looked for some purchase, and Holy used fists to punch it behind. The U's kept the delivery alive, but the brief spell of pressure was ended when the stopper was fouled.

The home lead should have been doubled on 24 minutes when the hosts carved their way through the back line. Garner sent Patrick through with a deft pass, and he played it inside as Mellish arrived late. It was on his wrong foot and he was frustrated as he miscued and screwed it wide, when he had the far corner at his mercy.

More good work from Patrick, this time on the halfway line, saw him touch the ball then spin away into space. Armer streaked past him, but his reverse pass on the sprint struck a defender and Greenidge helped it on its way.

Read headed over from a Hall corner as the visitors continued to struggle to create, and it was Carlisle who went close again after a prolonged period of treatment for Ashley.

Moxon burst into space, checked back and found McCalmont, who was on patrol just outside the area. A measured attempt curled a yard past the angle of post and bar.

The football came from the home side at the start of the second half, with a move from right to left, and from back to front, that invoved tenacity from Mellish and cuteness from McCalmont and Moxon. Armer showed to cross but O'Hara was up to grasp it.

A break from the Blues with Huntington as the spark saw Garner involved again. Patrick moved across his marker to take over but his shot from range was straight into the keeper's arms.

Substitute Matt Jay blazed over with a snapshot, with what was a rare chance for the away team, but it was Carlisle replacement John-Kymani Gordon who was next to open things open. He skipped past his man before feeding it to Dennis. He cushioned it for Moxon to volley, but he couldn't keep it down.

Holy was in the right place at the right time to pick up a flicked header from Read as the game stayed tight, but Gordon slid a neat pass to McCalmont as Carlisle tried to close things off. The midfielder almost dribbled it through but it popped up off his boot and bobbled to safety.

There was a warning shot across the bows for the Cumbrians late in the day when a hopeful ball into the box was diverted towards Jay. His delivery was anything but hopeful, as he flicked it at the back stick. Akinde threw himself at it, and just failed to make contact, and Appiah was extremely disappointed as he shovelled his touch into the side netting.

Colchester stayed forward, and Read headed over from a deep corner as he managed to step into space. Holy showed safe hands as crosses came his way, but O'Hara looked nervy when he had to deal with another ropey back pass. Dennis stole it, then picked out Gibson, but his shot from a tight angle was charged down.

Whelan and Gibson linked up to make their way down the right flank and Gordon spun to volley as a deflected cross fell at his boot. It was a difficult opening and he dragged it wide.

Kris Dennis had a real chance to wrap things up with a minute left to play as Moxon rolled it to Gibson, 23-yards out. His rasper was trapped by the forward, on the penalty spot, but he was left with his head in his hands as he spooned it over the bar.

Colchester ended the game on the front foot with Jay determined to make a mark. He carried it out of midfield but a low drive was deflected wide, and Holy was up to claim the inswinging corner.

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Match Sponsor - Top Notch
Associate Sponsor - Gordons Construction
Match Ball Sponsor - AP&J Brown

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Goals

Carlisle United - McCalmont (4)

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Teams

Carlisle United - Holy, Feeney (c), Huntington, Mellish, Ellis (Whelan 80), McCalmont (Gibson 84), Guy, Moxon, Armer, Patrick (Dennis 65), Garner (Gordon 65). Subs - Kelly (gk), Harris, Robinson.

Colchester United - O'Hara, Greenidge (Newby 54), Smith (c), Appiah, Chilvers, Kelleher, Read, Ashley (Jay 54), Wood (Akinde 76), Hall, Tovide (Hopper 54). Subs - Tom Smith (gk), Kazeem, Marshall-Miranda.

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Match officials

Referee - Neil Hair
Assistant Referee 1 - Andrew Dallison
Assistant Referee 2 - Robert Merchant
Fourth Official - Matt Corlett
Observer - Michael Pike

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Attendance - 5,550 (148)