Following their debuts last week Conor Mitchell and Cameron Dummigan were absent on international duty with a trip to Estonia. Fellow Norn Iron starlet Luke Conlon was returning from his international duty and slotted into the back line along with our other 2nd year national representative in Luke Gallagher. We also had the first potential viewing of new addition Kevin Ly, who was named on the bench following the receipt of his clearance.
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| Two more goals for Jason Gilchrist |
We hit the back of the net with just over a minute on the clock and Evan Galvin slotted home, but a linesman's flag put paid to any celebrations. Shortly after, Lewis Nuttall got in to draw a save from the keeper and Jason Gilchrist flashed a shot wide from the ensuing scramble. It was as bright start but we quickly faded as Carlisle started to take the upper hand.
They had a good opportunity as a free header was flashed over the bar from a central position. Our play was a little slack and the visitors were more than happy to capitalise. They drove at our centre and the direct run with some nice snappy touches allowed them to carve us open and the number 11 slotted past the helpless Callum Jakovlevs.
Within minutes it was two and an unfortunate individual error from Luke Daly presented the ball to a Carlisle forward who made no mistake with Jakovlevs completely exposed. We were punch drunk and didn’t have a clue what had hit us. Carlisle could have seized the opportunity to put us completely to the sword but they didn’t really step up a gear which they probably should have. For the remainder of the half we seemed to regain the solidity at the back but just couldn’t create, as Carlisle retained possession. In the last minutes of the half they did grab a third and it was from a deep corner to the back post, headed across into the pack and smashed home from around the penalty spot.
The half time talk wasn’t going to be the same as normal with Pash and Farrell standing on the other side of the pitch to the rest of the youth coaching staff. Craig Mawson and his deputies were left with trying to pull the lads back up from a seemingly hopeless position.
Whatever was said did just that though and we seemed to restart with renewed belief. Gilchrist had an early shot saved and Nuttall also called the keeper into action with an effort from the left. Carlisle were the ones who seemed to be rocking despite their dominant position and they seemed unable to hold the ball.
Howieson stabbed an effort just wide following a run and cross from the left by Conlan, and this proved the test run from the full back. We got ourselves back into the game minutes later as Conlan surged forward on another swashbuckling run, riding a couple of challenges, before slipping the ball through the flat defence into the path of Gilchrist, who continued his red hot streak and slotted home. We could have made it very interesting immediately after the restart as a free kick on the left from Nuttall broke to Daly but his shot was well saved by the Carlisle keeper.
The pace of the game dropped for a spell and it became a bit of a midfield battle. We decided to freshen it up with some changes and Ly came on for Galvin, instantly getting involved as he fed out to Nuttall who tried a delicious curling chip which the keeper acrobatically tipped wide. Frost then replaced Nathan Lowe and after only one touch of the ball was wheeling away to celebrate his goal. Nuttall drove forward down the left and fired in a low ball which Frost nipped in to stab past the keeper.
With the clock running down Maws made his last throw of the dice with Brad Jackson coming on for Charlie Holt and the team switching to a back three. It paid instant dividends once more as Gilchrist picked up the ball on the right and curled over a cross which deceived the keeper and drifted into the top corner. I’m sure Jay will say he meant it but I’m not convinced. Straight from the restart we won the ball back and Nuttall took the ball into the box on the left, cut back to his right foot and curled one deliciously into the far corner.
The comeback was complete and we reset to a back four with Daly dropping to right full back. Carlisle were understandably frustrated with the turnaround and it did start to get a bit tasty with Daly picking up a heavy knock and Nuttall being forced from the field unable to continue after another challenge. We held our nerve though and the 3 points were ours.
Team:- Callum Jakovlevs, Charlie Holt (Bradley Jackson), Luke Conlan, Luke Gallagher, Alex Whitmore, Nathan Lowe (Jamie Frost), Luke Daly, Evan Galvin (Kevin Ly), Lewis Nuttall, Jason Gilchrist.
Sub not used:- Danny Eccles.