Brunton Park Diary - April 2010
18/04/10 19:30
April 2nd (Fri)
CARLISLE UNITED 3 BRISTOL ROVERS 1
Murph pays the price for his poor show at Wembley making way for Tom Aldred’s full debut. It is soon obvious that the players that did retain their places in the team are keen to put things right as they completely dominate a Rovers side who still retained slim hopes of making the play-offs. Despite being caught napping by allowing an equaliser with Rovers’ only shot on target within a minute of Harte’s penalty opener, Price, and Harte again with a second penalty, complete a comfortable victory and keep the match sponsors happy. Tom Aldred has a dream full debut and was still grinning like a Cheshire cat when he received the Man-of-the-Match award from birthday boy Ian Jardine in Foxys afterwards.
* Player Ratings: Collin 6.7, Keogh 7.6, Aldred 9.1(star man), Harte 7, Horwood 7.4, Taiwo 8.1, Marshall 7, Clayton 8.7, Thirlwell 6.4, Robson 5.6, Dobie 7.25, Price 7.9.
Pre-match, whilst most of the sponsors were taking turns to do their Offiong impressions (sitting on the bench during the ‘stadium’ tour), the 250th Hit the Bar was successfully launched in the Club shop.
MORECAMBE YOUTH 2 UNITED YOUTH 1
A very young Carlisle youth side fall to their seventh defeat in eight games.
April 5th (Mon)
CHARLTON 1 CARLISLE UNITED 0
A mainly rearguard action sees United go down to a powerful, back post header by Sam Sodje just before half time. Reminiscent of the second goal conceded in our last away match v Southend, Collin fails to come for it but Sodje was also unmarked. United threatened rarely, the closest being an offside Price goal and a reasonable penalty shout from the same player.
* Player Ratings: Collin 6, Kane 5.25, Keogh 6.5, Aldred 6.75, Horwood 6.25, Taiwo 6.75, Marshall 6, Clayton 7(star man), Thirlwell 6, Dobie 5.25, Price 5.5.
* Taken as an average from the CUFC online messageboard.
** Taken from CUFC online main report as no messageboard ratings
April 6th (Tues)
The News & Star reports on the 250th edition of Hit the Bar including recognition of Ian Jardine’s hard work and a few quotes from Simon Clarkson.
April 7th (Wed)
CARLISLE UTD RESERVES 0 MORECAMBE RESERVES 0
Another bore draw for the reserves, the main talking point being Kav playing ninety minutes at centre half alongside David Raven.
Team: Mark Gillespie, Simon Lakeland, Michael Burns, David Raven, Steven Swinglehurst, Graham Kavanagh, Gavin Rothery, Ben McKenna, Gary Madine, Ryan Bowman (Phil Towler 70), Manny Richardson.
Ryan Bowman limped out of the reserve clash with Morecambe suffering with a bruised achilles because of new boots he wore to celebrate his call up to first team duty.
April 10th (Sat)
BRIGHTON 1 CARLISLE UNITED 2
According to Manish Bhasin on the Football League Show, United scored from their only two shots on target (the BBC’s own stats. show that there were 3). Nevertheless, it was our first win in the League away from home on a Saturday for over a year thanks to a superb curled free kick from Ian Harte and an opportunistic header from Gary Madine. Kav took on the duties of touchline coaching as Abbott was confined to the stands due to illness. Do we really want Brighton to leave the Withdean after 3 wins in 4 visits? Of course we do.
* Player Ratings: Collin 7, Keogh 6, Aldred 7, Harte 8(star man), Horwood 6, Taiwo 7, Marshall 6, Clayton 6, Thirlwell 5, Dobie 5, Price 7, Madine 7. (acknowledgment to Lakewalker214 from the messageboard for the ratings)
WREXHAM YOUTH 0 UNITED YOUTH 2
Youngsters Dan Jones and Mark Beck get the goals as Carlisle pick up a good three points in North Wales. It leaves the youngsters 10th out of 17 in the Puma Youth Alliance
Richard Offhesgone grabs a brace as his new Swedish club Östersunds FK beat Umedalens IF 7 – 1 in the Svenska Cupen. It appears that Umedalens IF play at about the same level as Cleator Moor Celtic.
April 12th (Mon)
Gary Madine (Beer Machine) is charged with assault so he will now appear in court after an allegation of an attack in the Beehive. Andy Hall, media officer, is quoted as saying that there is also “an internal disciplinary process in place”.
April 13th (Tues)
UNITED YOUTH 0 ACCRINGTON YOUTH 1
Despite a lot of pressure a very young youth team fail to find the net and lose out to a single goal.
The News & Star report that 150 officers have been drafted in to stop trouble flaring at the match v Leeds. Mounted police, motorcycles and dogs will patrol because of claims that Leeds players were attacked after the pitch invasion following the penalty shoot-out win in the JPT.
Andrew Jenkins used his programme notes to have a go at Leeds’ “hierarchy” (Bates) for the “childish, uncalled-for and unjustified criticism” he levelled at the club.
Two Leeds fans were arrested and three were given on-the-spot fines.
CARLISLE UNITED 1 LEEDS UNITED 3
No complaints about laser pens this time as Leeds complete a comfortable victory against an injury-hit Carlisle United. It is clear that Leeds had a greater appetite for the points and, with the help of some one-eyed refereeing from the now recovered Mark Halsey, were able to cruise to victory with two strikes in the first 5 minutes of the second half in reply to Keogh’s headed equaliser shortly before half time. Once again Collin could be faulted for the first Leeds goal when he failed to hold a Snodgrass freekick.
** Player Ratings: Collin 5, Keogh 8(star man), Aldred 6, Harte 6, Horwood 6, Taiwo 6, Marshall 7, Clayton 6, Thirlwell 6, Dobie 6, Madine 7, Raven 6, Bridge-Wilkinson 6.
April 15th (Thurs)
John Nixon defends the decision to increase the price of season tickets for next season, insisting that the rising costs of running the club made it “unavoidable”.
* Taken as an average from the CUFC online messageboard.
** Taken from CUFC online main report as no messageboard ratings
April 17th (Sat)
CARLISLE UNITED 1 OLDHAM ATHLETIC 2
Another disappointing result and display, this time incurring the wrath of some supporters who booed as the players trooped off. Makes you wonder what they expect with an injury list as long as your arm, 57 games played this season (against Oldham’s 45) and nothing to play for ― 4-4-2 no doubt.
** Player Ratings: Collin 6, Keogh 6, Raven 6, Harte 6, Horwood 6, Taiwo 6, Marshall 6, Clayton 6, Thirlwell 5, Madine 6 (star man), Bridge-Wilkinson 5, Dobie 6.
April 19th (Mon)
Greg Abbott calls for respect from the fans during his press conference in which he spoke for fully 10 minutes without drawing breath in an attempt to explain his team selections in light of the discontent shown by some fans after the capitulation to Oldham.
PRESTON RESERVES 1 UNITED RESERVES 0
Carlisle's title hopes teeter on the brink after a narrow defeat against North End
United line-up: Pidgeley, Lakeland, Osmond, Richardson (Towler 75), Swinglehurst, Kane, Rothery, Burns, Cook, Bowman, McKenna.
April 21st (Wed)
Kieran Westwood is poised to sign a new deal with Coventry City despite having 1 year left on his contract. He says “I love it here. It feels like home so I don't see why I should have to move on”, thus dashing our hopes of a windfall for Greg to spend on team strengthening this summer.
STOCKPORT YOUTH 0 UNITED YOUTH 1
The young Blues pick up three points at County on the back of an excellent defensive performance
April 23rd (Fri)
Greg Abbott, having been told by the Board what his playing budget will be next season, indicates that he will have to use his resources to build a smaller but more competitive squad which he will then bolster with high calibre loan signings. Oh dear!
April 24th (Sat)
SOUTHAMPTON 3 CARLISLE UNITED 2
It looked as though we may be about to suffer as bad a defeat as at Wembley when the Saints took a 3-1 lead with about half an hour left. Madine scrambled a late consolation, to add to Harte’s fantastic strike on the stroke of half-time, to make the score respectable. Great support from the 400 Blues fans keeps spirits high.
* Player Ratings: Collin 6.5, Keogh 7, Livesey 7.5, Harte 7, Horwood 6.5, Taiwo 7.5, Marshall 8 (star man), , Thirlwell 7, Bridge-Wilkinson 7.5, Madine 7.5, Dobie 7.
April 26th (Mon)
Ian Harte capped his prolific season as a goal scorer by being named in League One’s team of the year by his fellow professionals.
April 29th (Thurs)
Danny Livesey’s season ends prematurely after the centre-half suffered a new injury in training.
April 30th (Fri)
Ex manager Paul Simpson finds himself out of work again following his dismissal by Shrewsbury, whose Board are obviously dissatisfied with the lack of progress despite the funds at his disposal.
CARLISLE UNITED 3 BRISTOL ROVERS 1
Murph pays the price for his poor show at Wembley making way for Tom Aldred’s full debut. It is soon obvious that the players that did retain their places in the team are keen to put things right as they completely dominate a Rovers side who still retained slim hopes of making the play-offs. Despite being caught napping by allowing an equaliser with Rovers’ only shot on target within a minute of Harte’s penalty opener, Price, and Harte again with a second penalty, complete a comfortable victory and keep the match sponsors happy. Tom Aldred has a dream full debut and was still grinning like a Cheshire cat when he received the Man-of-the-Match award from birthday boy Ian Jardine in Foxys afterwards.
* Player Ratings: Collin 6.7, Keogh 7.6, Aldred 9.1(star man), Harte 7, Horwood 7.4, Taiwo 8.1, Marshall 7, Clayton 8.7, Thirlwell 6.4, Robson 5.6, Dobie 7.25, Price 7.9.
Pre-match, whilst most of the sponsors were taking turns to do their Offiong impressions (sitting on the bench during the ‘stadium’ tour), the 250th Hit the Bar was successfully launched in the Club shop.
MORECAMBE YOUTH 2 UNITED YOUTH 1
A very young Carlisle youth side fall to their seventh defeat in eight games.
April 5th (Mon)
CHARLTON 1 CARLISLE UNITED 0
A mainly rearguard action sees United go down to a powerful, back post header by Sam Sodje just before half time. Reminiscent of the second goal conceded in our last away match v Southend, Collin fails to come for it but Sodje was also unmarked. United threatened rarely, the closest being an offside Price goal and a reasonable penalty shout from the same player.
* Player Ratings: Collin 6, Kane 5.25, Keogh 6.5, Aldred 6.75, Horwood 6.25, Taiwo 6.75, Marshall 6, Clayton 7(star man), Thirlwell 6, Dobie 5.25, Price 5.5.
* Taken as an average from the CUFC online messageboard.
** Taken from CUFC online main report as no messageboard ratings
April 6th (Tues)
The News & Star reports on the 250th edition of Hit the Bar including recognition of Ian Jardine’s hard work and a few quotes from Simon Clarkson.
April 7th (Wed)
CARLISLE UTD RESERVES 0 MORECAMBE RESERVES 0
Another bore draw for the reserves, the main talking point being Kav playing ninety minutes at centre half alongside David Raven.
Team: Mark Gillespie, Simon Lakeland, Michael Burns, David Raven, Steven Swinglehurst, Graham Kavanagh, Gavin Rothery, Ben McKenna, Gary Madine, Ryan Bowman (Phil Towler 70), Manny Richardson.
Ryan Bowman limped out of the reserve clash with Morecambe suffering with a bruised achilles because of new boots he wore to celebrate his call up to first team duty.
April 10th (Sat)
BRIGHTON 1 CARLISLE UNITED 2
According to Manish Bhasin on the Football League Show, United scored from their only two shots on target (the BBC’s own stats. show that there were 3). Nevertheless, it was our first win in the League away from home on a Saturday for over a year thanks to a superb curled free kick from Ian Harte and an opportunistic header from Gary Madine. Kav took on the duties of touchline coaching as Abbott was confined to the stands due to illness. Do we really want Brighton to leave the Withdean after 3 wins in 4 visits? Of course we do.
* Player Ratings: Collin 7, Keogh 6, Aldred 7, Harte 8(star man), Horwood 6, Taiwo 7, Marshall 6, Clayton 6, Thirlwell 5, Dobie 5, Price 7, Madine 7. (acknowledgment to Lakewalker214 from the messageboard for the ratings)
WREXHAM YOUTH 0 UNITED YOUTH 2
Youngsters Dan Jones and Mark Beck get the goals as Carlisle pick up a good three points in North Wales. It leaves the youngsters 10th out of 17 in the Puma Youth Alliance
Richard Offhesgone grabs a brace as his new Swedish club Östersunds FK beat Umedalens IF 7 – 1 in the Svenska Cupen. It appears that Umedalens IF play at about the same level as Cleator Moor Celtic.
April 12th (Mon)
Gary Madine (Beer Machine) is charged with assault so he will now appear in court after an allegation of an attack in the Beehive. Andy Hall, media officer, is quoted as saying that there is also “an internal disciplinary process in place”.
April 13th (Tues)
UNITED YOUTH 0 ACCRINGTON YOUTH 1
Despite a lot of pressure a very young youth team fail to find the net and lose out to a single goal.
The News & Star report that 150 officers have been drafted in to stop trouble flaring at the match v Leeds. Mounted police, motorcycles and dogs will patrol because of claims that Leeds players were attacked after the pitch invasion following the penalty shoot-out win in the JPT.
Andrew Jenkins used his programme notes to have a go at Leeds’ “hierarchy” (Bates) for the “childish, uncalled-for and unjustified criticism” he levelled at the club.
Two Leeds fans were arrested and three were given on-the-spot fines.
CARLISLE UNITED 1 LEEDS UNITED 3
No complaints about laser pens this time as Leeds complete a comfortable victory against an injury-hit Carlisle United. It is clear that Leeds had a greater appetite for the points and, with the help of some one-eyed refereeing from the now recovered Mark Halsey, were able to cruise to victory with two strikes in the first 5 minutes of the second half in reply to Keogh’s headed equaliser shortly before half time. Once again Collin could be faulted for the first Leeds goal when he failed to hold a Snodgrass freekick.
** Player Ratings: Collin 5, Keogh 8(star man), Aldred 6, Harte 6, Horwood 6, Taiwo 6, Marshall 7, Clayton 6, Thirlwell 6, Dobie 6, Madine 7, Raven 6, Bridge-Wilkinson 6.
April 15th (Thurs)
John Nixon defends the decision to increase the price of season tickets for next season, insisting that the rising costs of running the club made it “unavoidable”.
* Taken as an average from the CUFC online messageboard.
** Taken from CUFC online main report as no messageboard ratings
April 17th (Sat)
CARLISLE UNITED 1 OLDHAM ATHLETIC 2
Another disappointing result and display, this time incurring the wrath of some supporters who booed as the players trooped off. Makes you wonder what they expect with an injury list as long as your arm, 57 games played this season (against Oldham’s 45) and nothing to play for ― 4-4-2 no doubt.
** Player Ratings: Collin 6, Keogh 6, Raven 6, Harte 6, Horwood 6, Taiwo 6, Marshall 6, Clayton 6, Thirlwell 5, Madine 6 (star man), Bridge-Wilkinson 5, Dobie 6.
April 19th (Mon)
Greg Abbott calls for respect from the fans during his press conference in which he spoke for fully 10 minutes without drawing breath in an attempt to explain his team selections in light of the discontent shown by some fans after the capitulation to Oldham.
PRESTON RESERVES 1 UNITED RESERVES 0
Carlisle's title hopes teeter on the brink after a narrow defeat against North End
United line-up: Pidgeley, Lakeland, Osmond, Richardson (Towler 75), Swinglehurst, Kane, Rothery, Burns, Cook, Bowman, McKenna.
April 21st (Wed)
Kieran Westwood is poised to sign a new deal with Coventry City despite having 1 year left on his contract. He says “I love it here. It feels like home so I don't see why I should have to move on”, thus dashing our hopes of a windfall for Greg to spend on team strengthening this summer.
STOCKPORT YOUTH 0 UNITED YOUTH 1
The young Blues pick up three points at County on the back of an excellent defensive performance
April 23rd (Fri)
Greg Abbott, having been told by the Board what his playing budget will be next season, indicates that he will have to use his resources to build a smaller but more competitive squad which he will then bolster with high calibre loan signings. Oh dear!
April 24th (Sat)
SOUTHAMPTON 3 CARLISLE UNITED 2
It looked as though we may be about to suffer as bad a defeat as at Wembley when the Saints took a 3-1 lead with about half an hour left. Madine scrambled a late consolation, to add to Harte’s fantastic strike on the stroke of half-time, to make the score respectable. Great support from the 400 Blues fans keeps spirits high.
* Player Ratings: Collin 6.5, Keogh 7, Livesey 7.5, Harte 7, Horwood 6.5, Taiwo 7.5, Marshall 8 (star man), , Thirlwell 7, Bridge-Wilkinson 7.5, Madine 7.5, Dobie 7.
April 26th (Mon)
Ian Harte capped his prolific season as a goal scorer by being named in League One’s team of the year by his fellow professionals.
April 29th (Thurs)
Danny Livesey’s season ends prematurely after the centre-half suffered a new injury in training.
April 30th (Fri)
Ex manager Paul Simpson finds himself out of work again following his dismissal by Shrewsbury, whose Board are obviously dissatisfied with the lack of progress despite the funds at his disposal.