City

SATURDAY 13th SEPTEMBER 2008 CARLISLE CITY 2-6 SHANKHOUSE The game went ahead after a morning pitch inspection but it was a close call, and conditions were extremely heavy. City fielded a new central defensive pairing in Nigel Nichol and James Yallop, and Jamie Heath returned after missing the last few games. It was a quiet start to the match as most of the game was contested in midfield. In the 6th minute, Lupton’s blocked shot arrived at the feet of Burton who sidefooted powerfully towards goal but Dent saved well. Within seconds, Lupton broke clear of the Shankhouse defence but full-back Brown recovered well to clear the danger. Heath’s cross was fumbled by Dent and the visiting keeper was relieved to see the ball hacked clear. In the tenth minute, Shankhouse were awarded a corner by the referee, who over-ruled his assistant, not for the last time in the game. The corner kick was easily cleared. Shankhouse were struggling to make any early impression on the City goal but Johnson did hit the target from a free-kick, saved by Lindsay. In the 13th minute, Cumersky’s intelligent pass sent Burton running clear and his attempted lob beat Dent but sailed wide. Three minutes later, Amato did well to keep the ball in play close to the bye-line and Heath found Bell, who forced Dent to save his shot. Lupton then shot well wide from distance. In the 20th minute, Lupton’s cross from the left was headed back by Heath, but Blacklock cleared the danger. In the 21st minute, against the run of play, Shankhouse took the lead when a loose ball broke to Phillipson and he shot firmly into the net from 15 yards out. City looked stunned by this turn of events and took a while to get back into the game. In the 26th minute, Cumersky’s cross was punched away by Dent. Shankhouse were soon back on the attack and created a great chance for Phillipson but the linesman’s flag and a possible handball gave City the free-kick. In the 29th minute, Sherlaw turned and shot with Lindsay out of position, but the ball was just wide. A foul on Bell by Cole earned City a free-kick in a promising position but Cumersky’s floated ball was claimed by Dent. After 35 minutes, Shankhouse scored again when Blacklock turned well on the edge of the box before shooting powerfully past Lindsay. Four minutes later, a neat Shankhouse move sent Gustard running into the City area, with Nichol covering well before being fouled. A City free-kick dropped invitingly to Lupton, just inside the Shankhouse box, but his deflected shot looped into the arms of Dent. This was soon followed by as shuddering collision between Bell and Dent as the City striker chased a through ball. The Shankhouse keeper stayed down in obvious discomfort, and referee Lewer did well to move Bell away from looming confrontation with the Shankhouse defenders. Shankhouse were now creating chances at will, and Gustard’s right wing corner fell to Bell on the edge of the box, with his drive only just clearing the bar. Gustard was starting to threaten with his clever forward play and Yallop had to block his shot after 43 minutes.

HALF-TIME CITY 0-2 SHANKHOUSE Dent’s injury meant he was unable to continue in the second half, and he was replaced by Bruce. The change was almost superfluous as, in the next five minutes, all the action was at the opposite end. Within sixty seconds of the restart, Shankhouse scored their third goal, when a fine ball from Blacklock was converted in some style by Gustard. Within another minute, it was four as Johnson waltzed round Lindsay and scored with ease. It was almost a carbon-copy in the 49th minute, as Johnson again danced past Lindsay, but this time he squared the ball and Gustard lashed home his second goal. In the space of four minutes, a difficult task for City had become mission impossible. City’s first change saw the limping Bell replaced by Wood, making his first appearance of the season. After 51 minutes, Johnson sliced his shot well wide, before City made another change as Cawson came on for Kelleher. Within three minutes, Cawson won City a penalty as he was tripped very close to the edge of the box. Wood calmly converted the spot kick. City made their last change in the 56th minute, as Simpson replaced Burton. After 61 minutes, Sherlaw’s shot was deflected for a corner, taken by Gustard but headed over by Johnson. Four minutes later, more fine play between Gustard and Johnson ended with Gustard shooting just wide. Slack play at the back by Shankhouse saw the ball presented to Heath and his left-wing cross was returned by Simpson, before eventually falling to Cumersky who shot wide. Johnson shot powerfully for the visitors with his effort only just missing, before Gustard crossed well from the right, and the ball was just too strong for his colleagues. In the 71st minute, Heath’s shot was saved by Bruce. Gustard then embarked on a long run from midfield, with Yallop backing off in front of him. Gustard played a neat 1-2 with Johnson but then shot too high. Shankhouse brought on Watson for Keen after 77 minutes. Sherlaw shot left-footed just after this, and his effort was just wide. In the 80th minute, Sherlaw, Johnson and Watson combined, with Yallop having to rescue City. Cumersky’s corner saw Bruce jumping high to claim the ball, and a freekick was given. In the 82nd minute, City pulled another goal back, as Heath and Cumersky set up Lupton for a shot at goal. The Shnakhouse keeper spilled the ball and City skipper Cumersky nipped in to slot home the rebound. However, any lingering hopes of a comeback were dashed on 87 minutes as Phillipson found Johnson, and the Shankhouse striker fired past Lindsay for his second goal of the match. The first twenty minutes of the game gave no hint of the drama to follow but the nightmarish defending on either side of the interval will haunt City for some time. TEAMS CITY- Lindsay, Foster, Amato, Nichol, Yallop, Heath, Burton, Cumersky, Kelleher, Lupton, Bell. SUBS- Wood, Simpson, Cawson, Jamieson.

SHANKHOUSE- Dent, Brown, Moran, Bell, Cole, Blacklock, Phillipson, Sherlaw, Johnson, Gustard, Keen. SUBS- Watson, Wilson, Bruce. REFEREE- S. Lewer BOOKINGS- None