Saturday 30th August 2008

SATURDAY 30th AUGUST 2008 CARLISLE CITY 1-1 HEDDON The pitch at kick-off time was in a disgraceful condition, having just been cut and the grass remnants scattered across the field. The changes to City’s team from Wednesday’s win at Wark saw Peter Cawson, Dan Barclay and Jamie Hubner coming in, with James Yallop, Graham Wilson and Stuart Jamieson dropping out, the latter to the substitutes’ bench. In the 2nd minute, a weak shot from Burton rolled into the arms of Heddon keeper Lawlor. Kelleher then passed to Lupton on the left but his shot was wide. After nine minutes, Heddon’s lively striker Dunn found space inside the City box but just failed to keep the ball in play. The ball moved back to the other end and a cross from Cawson found Lupton at the near post. The City player claimed a corner but referee Stephen Poole awarded a goal kick. After 12 minutes, a fine run from Cawson down the right was stopped by a good challenge from Kerry. Dunn was soon involved again in the City box as he forced Barclay to block his shot. Cawson was prominent in the early exchanges and he shot wide from 25 yards in the 20th minute. After 24 minutes, a City free-kick was cleared to Amato but his drive was well wide of the Heddon goal. Three minutes later, Hall robbed Burton midway in the City half and slipped a pass to Dunn, who was fouled. Gilmore’s free-kick was hit well over the bar. In the 29th minute, Dunn and Edwardson combined and Foster did well to block the shot. Both sides were struggling to find goal attempts and, in the 33rd minute, Cawson and Lupton found Bell inside the area but he lost the ball. Three minutes later, Dunn’s shot was blocked by Cawson. City moved upfield through Cumersky and Lupton to find Cawson, who curled a fine shot towards goal, bringing Lawlor into action for the first time. Lindsay was then involved in the City goal as McElroy turned and shot inside the area, but the City keeper saved comfortably. An injury to Heddon’s Heenan forced a change after 41 minutes, as he was replaced by Armstrong. This was soon followed by a big shout for handball in the City box as a cross came in from the right, but a corner was awarded. Horsfall’s flag-kick was cleared by Cumersky. Right on the stroke of half-time, City took the lead as Cawson won a fine tackle and then spread a lovely crossfield ball to Lupton, who strode forward and hit his shot past Lawlor, for his third goal in two games. HALF-TIME- CITY 1-0 HEDDON Heddon started the second half on the offensive, and Horsfall’s left-wing corner caused some panic in the City defence. In the 50th minute, Dunn set up McElroy but his shot was blocked. Barclay was then forced to head behind for another corner, but Horsfall put his cross behind the goal. In the 53rd minute, City’s Foster limped off to be replaced by Simpson, for his first Alliance football of the season. Only a couple of minutes later, Jamieson came on in

place of Hubner. A foul on Bell by Douglas gave Kelleher a free-kick opportunity but his shot drifted through to Lawlor. In the 57th minute, a strong right-wing run by Horsfall won his side a corner, but he spoiled his efforts by again putting the flag-kick out of play. Edwardson beat the City offside trap but could not put his shot on target. In the 61st minute, Kelleher won a corner for City, that was taken by Cumersky and then cleared back to him. The City skipper stepped inside, and shot just wide of the far post. Heddon were close to an equaliser on 63 minutes when a fine right-wing cross from Edwardson was just too high for Armstrong. Barclay then had to be sharp in the tackle to stop Dunn in his tracks. The Heddon striker was then taken off, to be replaced by Zubairu. In the 67th minute, a good turn and shot from Bell brought a fine save from Lawlor. Heddon were back on the attack as Armstrong’s flicked header sent McElroy running clear but Barclay again defended well. City’s goal was beginning to lead a charmed life as Hall beat Jamieson on the left and saw his cross palmed down by Lindsay, with McElroy just crowded out as he shot from 8 yards, and the ball squirmed for a corner. Heddon changed their corner-taker and full-back Gilmore’s delivery was better, as City needed several attempts to clear. After 75 minutes, Cumersky fired wide when well placed and Barclay then needed treatment inside the City area. In the 79th minute, Gilmore latched onto a defensive clearance before putting a good cross into the area. McElroy’s diving header was just over the bar. In the 80th minute, Heddon sub. Zubairu won a fine header on the halfway line and sent strike partner McElroy running clear of Jamieson. The striker took the ball around Lindsay inside the area, and fell under the keeper’s challenge. A penalty was awarded, with a yellow card shown to Lindsay, which could arguably have been red. Another yellow card was shown to Jamieson, for dissent. McElroy calmly converted the penalty, to bring his side level. City almost regained the lead immediately as Cumersky found Kelleher and his goalbound shot was well tipped over the bar by Lawlor. Cumersky’s flag-kick was too low, and easily cleared. In the 83rd minute, Jamieson looked to be in trouble as he tripped a Heddon man on the touchline, but the referee booked Heddon’s Edwardson for dissent. The free-kick was punched away by Lindsay. With five minutes to go, Amato cut in from the left wing but his right-footed shot was well off target. Horsfall’s well-hit shot forced Lindsay to save. In the 88th minute, a long ball from City was cleared for a corner. The cross was only cleared as far as Amato, but he shot over. In injury time, City won two corners in quick succession, but nothing came from them, and the two sides had to settle for one point each. TEAMS- CITY- Lindsay, Foster, Amato, Cawson, Barclay, Lupton, Kelleher, Cumersky, Hubner, Burton, Bell. SUBS- Jamieson, Simpson. HEDDON- Lawlor, Kerry, Gilmore, Hall, Minchin, Douglas, Horsfall, Edwardson, McElroy, Dunn, Heenan. SUBS- Armstrong, Walker, Redhead, Zubairu, McGuinness. REFEREE- Stephen Poole

BOOKINGS- CITY- Lindsay, Jamieson. HEDDON- Edwardson