Carlisle United picked up a vital three points in a 2-0 win over Aldershot Town at the EBB Stadium.
Morgan Feeney opened the scoring before Harvey Macadam added a second before the break, with a stellar defensive display seeing out the victory.
Mark Hughes made three changes from the 2-2 draw against Southend United on Saturday, with Bevis Mugabi, Luke Armstrong and Chris Conn-Clarke coming into the side in place of Terell Thomas, David Ajiboye and Georgie Kelly.
The Shots’ talisman, Josh Barrett, had the first opportunity of the game, linking up with a couple of teammates before caressing a shot over the crossbar from inside the penalty area.
John Coleman’s side continued their bright start with Keane Anderson seeing his effort from the edge of the box deflected wide.
Stephen Wearne found Regan Linney with a deft flighted through ball down the left flank, and he raced through on goal before hitting a low shot which Coniah Boyce-Clarke saved to his right.
A dipping whipped cross from Wearne was flicked on by Armstrong, seeing Boyce-Clarke at full stretch to tip the effort wide.
The Blues led in the 31st minute with Conn-Clarke interchanging with Linney after a quick free-kick and delivering a sumptuous cross which Feeney met to nod home.
Linney soon raced in on goal, but Boyce-Clarke was a match for his shot as United looked for a second.
Ryan Hill nearly drew the scores level, firing a low shot from outside of the penalty area which span away from Gabe Breeze’s far post.
Hughes’ Blues had their second shortly before the break again, Conn-Clarke was the provider, finding Macadam to power a header past Boyce-Clarke from close range.
HALF-TIME: Aldershot Town 0-2 Carlisle United
Armstrong nearly made the most of Boyce-Clarke’s hesitation to clear Mugabi’s pass forward, reaching
United counter-attacked with intent in the 61st, Macadam breaking forwards and finding Wearne, who sent a stunning volleyed pass out to Linney, driving forwards, striking a low shot, which Boyce-Clarke saved to his right.
Charlie Warren sent a curling effort from a short free-kick at Breeze’s goal, which was deflected wide before the United stopper had to be sharp to deny the Shots from a scramble after the resulting corner.
Ajiboye got onto some loose Shots defending to play in Kelly, who sent an effort just wide before Hugh Parker flew through on goal and also shot off target.
FULL-TIME: Aldershot Town 0-2 Carlisle United
Teams:
Aldershot Town: Boyce-Clarke, Hargreaves, Barrett (Stewart 62), Peart (Sheckleford 88), Anderson (Thomas 62), Meerholz (Frost 76), Grogan, Hill (C), Scott, Warren, Nightingale
Unused subs: Nash, Nelson, Penney
Carlisle United: Breeze, Feeney (C), Linney (Kelly 85), Galvin, Wearne, Gilliead, Mugabi, Armstrong (Parker 85), Atkinson (Ellis 72), Macadam, Conn-Clarke (Ajiboye 72)
Unused subs: Mair, Harper Thomas
Goals:
Aldershot Town – N/A
Carlisle United – (Feeney 31) (Macadam 43)
Yellow cards:
Aldershot Town – (Scott 42) (Nightingale 94)
Carlisle United – (Linney 46) (Armstrong 50) (Atkinson 58) (Breeze 78)
Red cards:
Aldershot Town - N/A
Carlisle United – N/A
Match officials:
Referee - James Durkin
Assistant Referee 1 - Damith Bandara
Assistant Referee 2 - Nick Blogg
Fourth Official - Ciaran Fidler
Attendance:
1,760 (236 away)
