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The opening 20 minutes saw a lot of possession for the clarets without any clear-cut chances being created. Our passing football was, if anything, being hampered by the wet turf, with our through balls all too often skidding away from the forwards. Our best chance in this period was perhaps a long range Alex-Ray Harvey shot, deflected for a corner. We also got in down the flanks a couple of times but our crosses couldn't find targets.
We did take the lead just after the half hour mark as good play on the right between Adam Kay and Rob Turner saw the release of Alex McDonald down the wing. He jinked round the left-back and put in a near post cross which Craggs knocked goalwards. It may have been going in but Harvey made sure from close range, stabbing home.
As half time approached Kudiersky picked up a needless booking for kicking the ball away following a foul. It was silly caution and I'm sure Vince and Pash will explain that to him. If the Carlisle forwards had more guile about them he could have been in some serious trouble later in the game, walking a disciplinary tightrope. He almost managed to double our lead in the last action of the half when he met a McDonald corner, but his header was blocked.
A mere two minutes into the 2nd half though we did double our lead. With his back to goal Turner received the ball and laid it into the path of Craggs on the left wing. He beat his marker and swung in a cross to McDonald, who tucked the ball in off the post, capping an incisive flowing move.
It was game over five minutes later as Kay ran on to a fantastic cross field ball from the left to advance into the box unopposed. His first shot, with his right foot, was saved by the keeper, but he only parried and it bounced back to the captain. He quickly readjusted his body and lashed a left-footer into the roof of the net.
We could have run riot but instead, due to a succession of changes, some tactical and some medical, we never really turned the screw. Dean Stott went off on the hour mark, feeling his right leg, and was replaced by Chris Anderson, himself returning from injury. Anderson could have had two in about two minutes, but he was denied by dogged defending.
Matt Lomas came on for Thomas Bradley and Fletcher replaced Craggs in quick succession and our play became more fragmented. We had a couple more chances, such as a McDonald header which just went over and a Fletcher pull back after he had rounded the keeper which no-one could connect with. We were still playing some good football and the effort was without question but the flow that was evident before the changes had gone. However, it was very much job done with another 3 points in the bag.
Team:- Jon Sergeant, Ben Hoskin, Thomas Bradley (Matt Lomas), Nik Kudiersky, Chris Lynch, Alex-Ray Harvey, Dean Stott (Chris Anderson), Adam Kay, James Craggs (Wes Fletcher), Rob Turner, Alex McDonald.Sub not used:- Stef Ritchie.