Clarets keep on the winning track

Last updated : 12 October 2014 By Andy Ashworth
Ntumba Massanka scored the winner

It’s hard to tell whether it’s a rotation policy or though unreported injuries, but we very rarely run with the same team week to week at this level. The defensive change this week was with Shaun Hobson dropping from the squad altogether and schoolboy Alexander Richardson moving into the centre of defence from the bench. I can only assume that Lewis Norvock has picked up an injury that sees his continued absence. Andreas Bianga returned to the starting XI and partnered Hamam El-Fitouri in the middle. Up top Ntumba Massanka was moved to the bench after another goalscoring appearance for the development squad in midweek. His place was taken by Josh Dolling. 

Now it’s fair to say that the 1st half was not much of a spectacle. The Burnley performance was not at all fluid and Carlisle were marginally better. Chances were at a premium pretty much throughout. In the early stages of the game Vashiko Dixon picked up a stupid booking for failing to retreat at a free kick. We commented on the sidelines that it could prove to be key, with the youngster putting unnecessary pressure on himself for the rest of the game. Aside from that the first 15 minutes were quite flat. 

Our first attempt came just after the quarter hour mark as Waqas Azam headed a left wing Andy Nugent free kick over the bar from a central position. The complexion of the game could have taken a real turn for the worst for us just after the half hour mark. Dixon made a bad challenge in a central area and the ref blew for a foul. Carlisle appeals were for a 2nd yellow and the ref looked likely to oblige. He even put his hand in his pocket. However, he seemed to change his mind and just gave Dixon a warning, but also seemed to have comments with the Burnley bench. Perhaps fuelled by injustice the Carlisle lads rallied and cut us open down the right side, allowing their first meaningful attempt at goal, and finding the back of the net. Minutes later Brandon Wilson had replaced Dixon and this saw a re-shuffle, with Bianga dropping into the full back position and Wilson taking up a midfield berth. 

We started the 2nd half with a slightly better tempo. Brad Jackson fed Dolling through the middle but his shot was too close to the keeper and he gathered easily. It was around 10 minutes into the half when we did get level though and it was a lovely move. Intricate interplay saw Dolling advance and play in Jackson. He fed Khius Metz, who moved it to the right corner of the box and back heeled it back into the path of Jackson. The winger took a touch and slotted home past the advancing keeper. 

It wasn’t one way though and the visitors had a good chance to retake the lead as a ball into the striker cut through our defence, but he just couldn’t connect with a shot on the spin. We had a couple more good chances, both when Metz surged down the left and cut inside, but chose to shoot when Dolling was well placed, and then when Dolling himself attempted a tricky volley from a left wing cross when Jackson was better placed behind him. 

With around 25 to go we seemed to be stepping it up and brought on Massanka to try and drive it home. Metz had a wild swing at a Christian Hill cross and sliced over and then Hill too was replaced by schoolboy winger Nashé Chakwana, giving the youngster 15 on his YT debut. 

He was a little livewire to say the least, and with around 5 to go he picked up the ball in a deep position on the left and broke up the wing with some pace. 20 yards into the Carlisle half he was dispossessed, but the ball broke to a Carlisle player who felt a back pass was the right option. It was only the right option for Massanka though, as he latched on and went clean through, giving the keeper no chance. 

The final few minutes became something of a rear-guard action for us as we found ourselves down to 10 with a stricken Andy Nugent forced off the pitch following treatment on an ankle injury. We held on though and claim another important 3 points. 

Team:- Tony Aghayere, Vashiko Dixon (Brandon Wilson), Andy Nugent, Alex Richardson, Waqas Azam, Andreas Bianga, Hamam El-Fitouri, Brad Jackson, Christina Hill (Nashé Chakwana), Josh Dolling (Ntumba Massanka), Khius Metz.
Subs not used:- Connor King, Oliver Younger.