Carlisle United made it back-to-back wins with a 1-0 victory over Morecambe at Brunton Park.
Luke Armstrong’s first-half strike was the difference as United went a point off the top of the Enterprise National League table.
Mark Hughes made one change from the Blues’ 3-0 win at Gateshead, with Cameron Harper dropping out due to illness and Armstrong coming in to lead the attack.
Jordan Jones had the first effort for the Blues when Regan Linney broke onto a loose ball in the Shrimps’ half and found the United right-winger, who stung Jamal Blackman’s palms from range.
Armstrong drew a sharp save from Blackman in the 22nd minute after he got a toe to Linney’s whipped cross, which was heading for the bottom right corner, only for the Shrimps stopper to divert it onto the post with an outstretched palm.
Ashvir Singh Johal’s side came close to taking the lead when Jack Nolan found the onrushing Emmerson Sutton, whose low, driven shot was saved by Gabe Breeze, with the follow-up smashed over the bar by Ben Tollitt.
Sutton was enjoying plenty of freedom on the right flank, and he beat Ellis with ease before causing chaos with his cutback, which Breeze had to be sharp to block a scramble in the box.
United took the lead two minutes into stoppage time at the end of the first half after Linney powered down the right and fired a delightful cross into the six-yard box for Armstrong to tap home.
HALF-TIME: Carlisle United 1-0 Morecambe
Armstrong nearly had a second in the 55th minute when he met Embleton’s near-post corner delivery, but Blackman was quickly down low to parry.
United remained a threat from set-pieces, with Morgan Feeney nodding another Embleton corner towards goal with Blackman again a match for the effort.
The Shrimps worked a neat move out to Sutton in the 65th minute, and he tested Breeze’s reflexes with a powerful effort at the near post, which had to be pushed wide.
Stephen Wearne looked to make an impact from the bench when he unleashed an effort from the edge of the box, which struck the crossbar.
A delicately floated pass from Callum Whelan found Harvey Macadam, but his side-footed effort was weak and straight at Blackman.
Linney had a chance to extend the lead late on, regaining possession in the right corner and charging in on goal, but could only fire at the Shrimps keeper.
FULL-TIME: Carlisle United 1-0 Morecambe
Teams:
Carlisle United: Breeze, Feeney, Hayden, Linney Mugabi (90+6), Embleton (Wearne 68), Ellis, Gilliead, Jones (Whelan 45), Williams, Armstrong, Macadam
Unused subs: Lewis, Ajiboye, Murray
Morecambe: Blackman, Kacurri, Francillette, Azeez, Aarons (Muskwe 66), Seesay (Conte 86), Tollitt, Sutton (Williams 86), Thomas (Dixon-Bonner 75), Raikhy (Lewis 75), Nolan
Unused subs: Mair, Payne
Goals:
Carlisle United: (Armstrong 45+2)
Morecambe: N/A
Yellow Cards:
Carlisle United: (Linney 35)
Morecambe: (Kacurri 35) (Francillette 82
Red Cards:
Carlisle United: N/A
Morecambe: N/A
Officials:
Referee - Aaron Bannister
Assistant Referee 1 - Michael Burrows
Assistant Referee 2 - Neil Evans
Fourth Official - Richard Holmes
Attendance:
8356 (639)
