After a fortnight to forget, the return of our ex-player Keith Curle and his high flying Cumbrians was fraught with danger. Loosing Ellis Harrison and the ever dependable Tom Lockyer was a mighty blow. But with Montano given a rare starting chance and Lee Brown (ably supported by Tom Parkes in one of his best showings this season) marauding down the left we started on the front foot.
Despite owning the vast majority of the game, our lack of goals in the first half looked ominous. A few good blocks and saves, some profligate shooting and bad luck, we could n’t hit the proverbial barn door. Montano and Brown were getting the crosses in, but either Taylor was the wrong side of the keeper or there was no-one in the area to get on the end of the cross. I would have taken off both Taylor and Easter off at half time and replace them with Blissett and Lucas (but what do I know?)
The second half started with the Cumbrians getting more of a grip on the game,and for much of the match it seemed that our dismal home form was to continue. However goals change games. A quick counter attack started by MacChrysal saw Linesy (who else!) thread a quick ball through to Taylor who wellied it into the back of the net. Cue wild celebrations. A second goal from Taylor near the end secured the points and on his second half performance he may have been unlucky not the get the Man of the Match award.
The Chesham result was hugely embarrassing. Despite the loss, they contributed little to the game, other than one moment of quality, but were able to get 10 men behind the ball and thwart
our attacking intentions. Despite losing in the JPT to Southend again it seemed like the side put in a good shift.
So after another dry spell, our goal drought has ended and we are just off the play-off places on goal difference with one game in hand. Is this an odd season or what? A miraculous return to the Football League. Most of our losses have ben against top of the table opposition and few teams are ever likely to find us as generous as we were to Newport. Let’s hope that we can build on this promising start. DC has stressed that he is looking to strengthen in certain key positions, but is hampered by quality and price.
Tension at Home games often means the Match officials come in for criticism. Ollie Clarke’s sending off gifted the game to Oxford and we have also had a second red card against Jermaine Easter overturned. So even the Football League are aware of the poor standards at this level of the game. Mark Brown on Saturday gave some curious decisions. How is it possible when Carlisle commit 3 fouls to our 2, for us to have four bookings and them none? Parkes and Brown were nailed on -so called professional fouls, but in the wet conditions bookings for MacChrystal and Sinclair for dangerous play were very harsh.
With 4 games in the next fortnight including the return of arch-enemies Wycombe, let’s hope we can continue our attacking vein and move further up the table. Come on your Blues, Come on you Gas!
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