Brunton Park Diary - November 2010
23/11/10 19:33
Nov 1st (Mon)
Although “Not better than what we’ve got” was the general opinion from those at the Penrith game, Ransford Addo will stay on trial for an additional week.
Nov 2nd (Tue)
Tom Kennedy unfortunately but not surprisingly opts to join former-club Rochdale on loan.
CARLISLE UNITED 2 TRANMERE ROVERS 0
Madine’s penalty-kick voodoo continued with a woeful effort in the first-half although it was Tranmere’s turn to miss first. A controversial award following former loanee John Welsh’s stumble in the penalty box was cancelled out by Collin’s fine save. Zoko’s neat back-heel fed Berrett on 42 as he showed Madine how to strike the ball cleanly from area of the penalty spot. Berrett was also involved in the second on 49 as his corner was buried into the corner by Murphy.
* Player Ratings: Collin 7.33, Simek 6, Michalik 7.33, Murphy 7.67, Berrett 7.67, Taiwo 6.17, Zoko 7, Madine 5, Robson 6.67, Grella 6.67, Marshall 8.33 (star man).
Nov 3rd (Wed)
Working Knight and Day behind the scenes to secure a left back, Arsenal and England U-19 starlet Tom Cruise joins the Blues on an initial one-month loan. Cruise has made one appearance for the Gunners; that in a Champions’ League match last December in a game where they were blooding youngsters having gained qualification.
James Chester is declared fit for Saturday and should play in the centre with either Murphy or the returning Livesey.
Nov 5th (Fri)
The club tell Ransford that they have “Addo nuff” of the trialist.
Nov 6th (Sat)
CARLISLE UNITED 6 TIPTON TOWN 0 – F.A. CUP 1ST ROUND
It’s like men versus boys for the first 20 as Carlisle sweep to a 4-0 advantage. Madine has another four goals to his name by the end and young McKenna has his first 45 minutes of first team football under his belt.
* Player Ratings: Collin 6.5, Simek 7.5, Cruise 8, Chester 7.5, Murphy 7.5, Berrett 7, Taiwo 7, Zoko 8, Madine 8.5, Robson 6.5, Marshall 9 (star man). Subs: McKenna 6, Hurst 6.5, Curran 6.5.
Nov 7th (Sun)
The F.A. Cup 2nd round draw throws up a home tie against Blue Square Premier side Tamworth. One of several non-league giant killers in the first round in their despatching of Crewe 2-1, Tamworth currently sit 16th, three points above the relegation zone. The game will be played on November 27th and offers the chance of sweet revenge for Matt “The Whale” Redmile’s winner in the game played at The Lamb during our Conference season.
Nov 9th (Tue)
CARLISLE UNITED 3 CREWE ALEX 1 - JPT NORTHERN SECTION ROUND 3 (QTR-FINALS)
Carlisle remain on track for Wembley after winning the battle of the railwaymen as it used to be called. The scoreline slightly flattered the Cumbrians with their spirited opponents dominating for long periods of the game. Robson’s fine cross on 14 was turned into his own net by Donaldson under pressure from Cumbrian middleweight champion Gary ‘Mad’ Madine. It’s 2-1 in the space of three minutes as Murph heads in Berrett’s corner on 72 and Donaldson pulls one back to make amends. Playing in something like his old form, the nerves are settled five minutes from time with a repeat of the second goal as Murph heads in again.
* Player Ratings: Collin 6.5, Simek 6, Cruise 5, Michalik 6, Murphy 8 (star man), Berrett 7, Taiwo 6, Grella 6, Madine 7, Robson 6, Marshall 7.5.
Nov 10th (Wed)
MORECAMBE RESERVES 2 CARLISLE UNITED RESERVES 1
A youthful team are narrowly beaten by Morecambe. United had just four professionals in their starting eleven whereas Morecambe were able to field a full side of professionals in their line-up. Mark Beck scored what turned out to be a late consolation.
Team: Tony Caig, Lance McGlen, Kieran Cahill, Steven Swinglehurst, Brad Potts, Kevan Hurst, David Symington, Phil Towler, Andy Cook (Mark Beck 79), Craig Curran, Matt Osmond.
Young keeper Mark Gillespie’s successful loan at Blyth Spartans is extended for a further two months. Spartans have had three wins and a draw since his arrival including three clean sheets.
Nov 12th (Fri)
The world’s next big thing aka Tom Aldred joins Stockport on a month’s loan from Watford.
Nov 13th (Sat)
Somebody upstairs wants us to go all the way again with the Blues handed another home draw in the JPT. This time they’ll be playing the money-troubled Owls. The game will be played w/c November 29th but will not unfortunately be televised with Brentford v Charlton being the featured game.
CARLISLE UNITED YOUTH 5 MORECAMBE YOUTH 3
The Jonah hanging over the Youth team is finally broken in a great game with Dave Symington helping himself to four goals as they race to a Tipton-like 5-1 lead at half-time before the visitors fought back well in the second half.
CARLISLE UNITED 3 SOUTHAMPTON 2
A fourth win on the trot takes Carlisle back up to 4th after a pulsating match against the Saints. Chester is preferred to Cruise at left-back in a strong line-up. Berrett and Madine combine well to set up a fine finish for Marshall on 21 and the hapless Harding sends Grella’s cross looping over his own keeper a few minutes later to send Carlisle 2-0 up at the break. Although an early goal from Chamberlain puts them back in it, Berrett’s increasingly lucrative corners this time sets up Chester who plants a header past the opposition keeper. Even Hammond’s deflected shot near the end can’t deny them a deserved win.
* Player Ratings: Collin 7.0, Simek 7.0, Chester 7.5, Michalik 9.08 (star man), Murphy 7.17, Berrett 6.5, Taiwo 7.83, Grella 7.33, Zoko 6.83, Madine 6.83, Marshall 8.17. Subs: Robson 6.75, Curran 6.25.
Nov 15th (Mon)
Madine is one of five players nominated for the E.ON player of the round award for his four goals against Tipton.
Our loan USA! USA! star Mike Grella is enjoying his time sufficiently to agree to stay until early January while BMW will stay on loan at Darlo until early January after a successful first month with three goals from six appearances.
Nov 17th (Wed)
CARLISLE UNITED YOUTH 3 WREXHAM YOUTH 1 – FA YOUTH CUP 1ST ROUND
Despite having to play three preliminaries to get this far, Wrexham take a 1-0 lead just before half-time. Man-of-the-match midfielder Phil Towler plays a one-two with McKenna for the equaliser on 50. Further goals from Ben McKenna and Dan Jones in extra-time seal the win and a home tie against Walsall on December 2nd. Millwall away awaits the winners in round three.
Nov 18th (Thu)
It’s announced that Abbott has been offered a contract extension to the summer of 2013 at the club’s AGM.
Nov 19th (Fri)
After a loan spell disrupted by both illness and injury, it’s agreed that Corry Evans will remain at Man.Utd rather than return to Brunton Park for an extended spell. Back at Leeds, former Blue Adam Clayton goes on a month’s loan to Peterborough.
Nov 20th (Sat)
WALSALL 2 CARLISLE UNITED 1
Despite taking the lead, some sloppy play lets bottom placed Walsall back into the game with two goals from set pieces. The team’s plans had earlier been disrupted by a back spasm the night before ruling out Murphy; Cruise taking over again at left-back and Chester moving back into the centre. Josh Todd, a first year YTS trainee who has been impressing Kinder for some time, was the last minute replacement on the bench joining fellow youth player Steve Swinglehurst.
* Player Ratings: Collin 5.14, Simek 5.00, Cruise 3.86, Chester 5.43, Michalik 6.14, Berrett 4.57, Taiwo 5.0, Zoko 4.43, Grella 6.29 (star man), Madine 4.86, Marshall 5.57. Subs: Robson 4.5, Curran 3.5.
* Taken as an average from the CUFC online messageboard.
Nov 24th (Weds)
Carlisle sign 28 year-old Cardiff City defender Miguel Comminges on loan until the end of the year. He can play across the back four and is available for all competitions including the FA Cup. His bio reveals that he’s an International, a former club player of the year and coming back from serious injury ...... he's practically Guadeloupe's very own version of Frank Simek.
Nov 25th (Thu)
United make their 83rd loan signing of the season with the arrival of Blackpool defender Ashley Eastham. A product of the Tangerines' Youth system, Eastham (19) made two appearances for the first team last season before enjoying a twenty game loan spell with Cheltenham. He joins initially until 3rd January 2011.
Bermuda international striker Nahki Wells is also venturing to Brunton Park for an extended period in December following an impressive first session with the first team squad during the week. Front man Wells, 19, teamed up with the International Soccer Academy (IASA) earlier in the year and has already attracted interest from Hull City and Ipswich Town.
Nov 26th (Fri)
Danny Livesey is to see a specialist next week about his mystery groin injury while Offiong will be rejoining training. Some you lose, some you lose.
On a brighter front, it’s reported that Chester seems willing to stay at the club for the rest of the season and possibly beyond.
Nov 27th (Sat)
CARLISLE UNITED 3 TAMWORTH 2 – F.A. CUP 2ND ROUND
The FA Cup kitty is up to £45,000 as Eastham and Comminges made their Carlisle debuts in a game that only went ahead at noon after the night’s heavy snowfall had been cleared. The visitors could have been 3-0 up by half time but had to settle for a solitary goal on the half-hour. Cometh the hour, cometh the man; Thirlwell was brought on at half-time together with Cruise and they were instrumental in slowly gaining a grip on the game as the diamond also received a return. Just after the restart, Berrett’s fine shot was pushed onto a post and there was Madine ready to pounce on the rebound. Disaster struck with 15 left as on one of their rare forays, a Tamworth free kick struck a post and was swept in. With just minutes left on the clock and fingernails gnawed to the cuticle, Marshall’s fine pull back from the bye-line was finished by Zoko. To cap it all, Chester’s last-minute bullet header from Berrett’s cross sent them back down the M6 with not even a replay.
* Player Ratings: Collin 8, Simek 5.5, Chester 5.5, Eastham 4.5, Comminges 5, Berrett 6, Taiwo 5, Zoko 6, Madine 7.5, Marshall 6.5. Subs: Thirlwell 8.5 (star man), Curran 4.5, Cruise 6.5
The Youth game at Blackpool is called off due to the bad weather.
Nov 28th (Sun)
Following Tipton and Tamworth, we all had a feeling that either Tottenham or Torquay was coming out of the refurbished wash-dryer tub live on ITV and thanks to the twit Gallagher sticking his used gum under ball number 62, “balls” is about he best comment that can be made on the subject although there are sixty-two and a half thousand good reasons why we should take the game very seriously………
Nov 30th (Tue)
CARLISLE UNITED 3 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 1 - JPT NORTHERN SECTION SEMI-FINALS
All hail the GeoFleece (any excuse for a sheep picture eh?). An extremely impressive performance by all accounts with several positives to take from the evening including Thirlwell’s first full game since his injury sustained against the same opposition nearly three months earlier and after a shaky start to his Carlisle career, another fine performance at left-back from young loanee Tom Cruise. It was United who was soon cruising following goals from Zoko (30), Michalik (61) and Marshall (69). Most of the Owls fans had already started their snow-bound journey back in when their late consolation went in. The 22 goal total for the month might be the most CUFC has scored in a calendar month since the 24 netted in October 1963. Either Tranmere or Huddersfield await in next year’s Northern Section Final for a chance to go to Wembley.
* Player Ratings: Collin 6.75, Simek 7.75, Cruise 7.5, Chester 8.0, Michalik 8.75, Berrett 8.0, Thirlwell 8.0, Taiwo 8.25, Zoko 8.25, , Madine 7.75, Marshall 9.0 (star man).
* Taken as an average from the CUFC online messageboard.
Although “Not better than what we’ve got” was the general opinion from those at the Penrith game, Ransford Addo will stay on trial for an additional week.
Nov 2nd (Tue)
Tom Kennedy unfortunately but not surprisingly opts to join former-club Rochdale on loan.
CARLISLE UNITED 2 TRANMERE ROVERS 0
Madine’s penalty-kick voodoo continued with a woeful effort in the first-half although it was Tranmere’s turn to miss first. A controversial award following former loanee John Welsh’s stumble in the penalty box was cancelled out by Collin’s fine save. Zoko’s neat back-heel fed Berrett on 42 as he showed Madine how to strike the ball cleanly from area of the penalty spot. Berrett was also involved in the second on 49 as his corner was buried into the corner by Murphy.
* Player Ratings: Collin 7.33, Simek 6, Michalik 7.33, Murphy 7.67, Berrett 7.67, Taiwo 6.17, Zoko 7, Madine 5, Robson 6.67, Grella 6.67, Marshall 8.33 (star man).
Nov 3rd (Wed)
Working Knight and Day behind the scenes to secure a left back, Arsenal and England U-19 starlet Tom Cruise joins the Blues on an initial one-month loan. Cruise has made one appearance for the Gunners; that in a Champions’ League match last December in a game where they were blooding youngsters having gained qualification.
James Chester is declared fit for Saturday and should play in the centre with either Murphy or the returning Livesey.
Nov 5th (Fri)
The club tell Ransford that they have “Addo nuff” of the trialist.
Nov 6th (Sat)
CARLISLE UNITED 6 TIPTON TOWN 0 – F.A. CUP 1ST ROUND
It’s like men versus boys for the first 20 as Carlisle sweep to a 4-0 advantage. Madine has another four goals to his name by the end and young McKenna has his first 45 minutes of first team football under his belt.
* Player Ratings: Collin 6.5, Simek 7.5, Cruise 8, Chester 7.5, Murphy 7.5, Berrett 7, Taiwo 7, Zoko 8, Madine 8.5, Robson 6.5, Marshall 9 (star man). Subs: McKenna 6, Hurst 6.5, Curran 6.5.
Nov 7th (Sun)
The F.A. Cup 2nd round draw throws up a home tie against Blue Square Premier side Tamworth. One of several non-league giant killers in the first round in their despatching of Crewe 2-1, Tamworth currently sit 16th, three points above the relegation zone. The game will be played on November 27th and offers the chance of sweet revenge for Matt “The Whale” Redmile’s winner in the game played at The Lamb during our Conference season.
Nov 9th (Tue)
CARLISLE UNITED 3 CREWE ALEX 1 - JPT NORTHERN SECTION ROUND 3 (QTR-FINALS)
Carlisle remain on track for Wembley after winning the battle of the railwaymen as it used to be called. The scoreline slightly flattered the Cumbrians with their spirited opponents dominating for long periods of the game. Robson’s fine cross on 14 was turned into his own net by Donaldson under pressure from Cumbrian middleweight champion Gary ‘Mad’ Madine. It’s 2-1 in the space of three minutes as Murph heads in Berrett’s corner on 72 and Donaldson pulls one back to make amends. Playing in something like his old form, the nerves are settled five minutes from time with a repeat of the second goal as Murph heads in again.
* Player Ratings: Collin 6.5, Simek 6, Cruise 5, Michalik 6, Murphy 8 (star man), Berrett 7, Taiwo 6, Grella 6, Madine 7, Robson 6, Marshall 7.5.
Nov 10th (Wed)
MORECAMBE RESERVES 2 CARLISLE UNITED RESERVES 1
A youthful team are narrowly beaten by Morecambe. United had just four professionals in their starting eleven whereas Morecambe were able to field a full side of professionals in their line-up. Mark Beck scored what turned out to be a late consolation.
Team: Tony Caig, Lance McGlen, Kieran Cahill, Steven Swinglehurst, Brad Potts, Kevan Hurst, David Symington, Phil Towler, Andy Cook (Mark Beck 79), Craig Curran, Matt Osmond.
Young keeper Mark Gillespie’s successful loan at Blyth Spartans is extended for a further two months. Spartans have had three wins and a draw since his arrival including three clean sheets.
Nov 12th (Fri)
The world’s next big thing aka Tom Aldred joins Stockport on a month’s loan from Watford.
Nov 13th (Sat)
Somebody upstairs wants us to go all the way again with the Blues handed another home draw in the JPT. This time they’ll be playing the money-troubled Owls. The game will be played w/c November 29th but will not unfortunately be televised with Brentford v Charlton being the featured game.
CARLISLE UNITED YOUTH 5 MORECAMBE YOUTH 3
The Jonah hanging over the Youth team is finally broken in a great game with Dave Symington helping himself to four goals as they race to a Tipton-like 5-1 lead at half-time before the visitors fought back well in the second half.
CARLISLE UNITED 3 SOUTHAMPTON 2
A fourth win on the trot takes Carlisle back up to 4th after a pulsating match against the Saints. Chester is preferred to Cruise at left-back in a strong line-up. Berrett and Madine combine well to set up a fine finish for Marshall on 21 and the hapless Harding sends Grella’s cross looping over his own keeper a few minutes later to send Carlisle 2-0 up at the break. Although an early goal from Chamberlain puts them back in it, Berrett’s increasingly lucrative corners this time sets up Chester who plants a header past the opposition keeper. Even Hammond’s deflected shot near the end can’t deny them a deserved win.
* Player Ratings: Collin 7.0, Simek 7.0, Chester 7.5, Michalik 9.08 (star man), Murphy 7.17, Berrett 6.5, Taiwo 7.83, Grella 7.33, Zoko 6.83, Madine 6.83, Marshall 8.17. Subs: Robson 6.75, Curran 6.25.
Nov 15th (Mon)
Madine is one of five players nominated for the E.ON player of the round award for his four goals against Tipton.
Our loan USA! USA! star Mike Grella is enjoying his time sufficiently to agree to stay until early January while BMW will stay on loan at Darlo until early January after a successful first month with three goals from six appearances.
Nov 17th (Wed)
CARLISLE UNITED YOUTH 3 WREXHAM YOUTH 1 – FA YOUTH CUP 1ST ROUND
Despite having to play three preliminaries to get this far, Wrexham take a 1-0 lead just before half-time. Man-of-the-match midfielder Phil Towler plays a one-two with McKenna for the equaliser on 50. Further goals from Ben McKenna and Dan Jones in extra-time seal the win and a home tie against Walsall on December 2nd. Millwall away awaits the winners in round three.
Nov 18th (Thu)
It’s announced that Abbott has been offered a contract extension to the summer of 2013 at the club’s AGM.
Nov 19th (Fri)
After a loan spell disrupted by both illness and injury, it’s agreed that Corry Evans will remain at Man.Utd rather than return to Brunton Park for an extended spell. Back at Leeds, former Blue Adam Clayton goes on a month’s loan to Peterborough.
Nov 20th (Sat)
WALSALL 2 CARLISLE UNITED 1
Despite taking the lead, some sloppy play lets bottom placed Walsall back into the game with two goals from set pieces. The team’s plans had earlier been disrupted by a back spasm the night before ruling out Murphy; Cruise taking over again at left-back and Chester moving back into the centre. Josh Todd, a first year YTS trainee who has been impressing Kinder for some time, was the last minute replacement on the bench joining fellow youth player Steve Swinglehurst.
* Player Ratings: Collin 5.14, Simek 5.00, Cruise 3.86, Chester 5.43, Michalik 6.14, Berrett 4.57, Taiwo 5.0, Zoko 4.43, Grella 6.29 (star man), Madine 4.86, Marshall 5.57. Subs: Robson 4.5, Curran 3.5.
* Taken as an average from the CUFC online messageboard.
Nov 24th (Weds)
Carlisle sign 28 year-old Cardiff City defender Miguel Comminges on loan until the end of the year. He can play across the back four and is available for all competitions including the FA Cup. His bio reveals that he’s an International, a former club player of the year and coming back from serious injury ...... he's practically Guadeloupe's very own version of Frank Simek.
Nov 25th (Thu)
United make their 83rd loan signing of the season with the arrival of Blackpool defender Ashley Eastham. A product of the Tangerines' Youth system, Eastham (19) made two appearances for the first team last season before enjoying a twenty game loan spell with Cheltenham. He joins initially until 3rd January 2011.
Bermuda international striker Nahki Wells is also venturing to Brunton Park for an extended period in December following an impressive first session with the first team squad during the week. Front man Wells, 19, teamed up with the International Soccer Academy (IASA) earlier in the year and has already attracted interest from Hull City and Ipswich Town.
Nov 26th (Fri)
Danny Livesey is to see a specialist next week about his mystery groin injury while Offiong will be rejoining training. Some you lose, some you lose.
On a brighter front, it’s reported that Chester seems willing to stay at the club for the rest of the season and possibly beyond.
Nov 27th (Sat)
CARLISLE UNITED 3 TAMWORTH 2 – F.A. CUP 2ND ROUND
The FA Cup kitty is up to £45,000 as Eastham and Comminges made their Carlisle debuts in a game that only went ahead at noon after the night’s heavy snowfall had been cleared. The visitors could have been 3-0 up by half time but had to settle for a solitary goal on the half-hour. Cometh the hour, cometh the man; Thirlwell was brought on at half-time together with Cruise and they were instrumental in slowly gaining a grip on the game as the diamond also received a return. Just after the restart, Berrett’s fine shot was pushed onto a post and there was Madine ready to pounce on the rebound. Disaster struck with 15 left as on one of their rare forays, a Tamworth free kick struck a post and was swept in. With just minutes left on the clock and fingernails gnawed to the cuticle, Marshall’s fine pull back from the bye-line was finished by Zoko. To cap it all, Chester’s last-minute bullet header from Berrett’s cross sent them back down the M6 with not even a replay.
* Player Ratings: Collin 8, Simek 5.5, Chester 5.5, Eastham 4.5, Comminges 5, Berrett 6, Taiwo 5, Zoko 6, Madine 7.5, Marshall 6.5. Subs: Thirlwell 8.5 (star man), Curran 4.5, Cruise 6.5
The Youth game at Blackpool is called off due to the bad weather.
Nov 28th (Sun)
Following Tipton and Tamworth, we all had a feeling that either Tottenham or Torquay was coming out of the refurbished wash-dryer tub live on ITV and thanks to the twit Gallagher sticking his used gum under ball number 62, “balls” is about he best comment that can be made on the subject although there are sixty-two and a half thousand good reasons why we should take the game very seriously………
Nov 30th (Tue)
CARLISLE UNITED 3 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 1 - JPT NORTHERN SECTION SEMI-FINALS
All hail the GeoFleece (any excuse for a sheep picture eh?). An extremely impressive performance by all accounts with several positives to take from the evening including Thirlwell’s first full game since his injury sustained against the same opposition nearly three months earlier and after a shaky start to his Carlisle career, another fine performance at left-back from young loanee Tom Cruise. It was United who was soon cruising following goals from Zoko (30), Michalik (61) and Marshall (69). Most of the Owls fans had already started their snow-bound journey back in when their late consolation went in. The 22 goal total for the month might be the most CUFC has scored in a calendar month since the 24 netted in October 1963. Either Tranmere or Huddersfield await in next year’s Northern Section Final for a chance to go to Wembley.
* Player Ratings: Collin 6.75, Simek 7.75, Cruise 7.5, Chester 8.0, Michalik 8.75, Berrett 8.0, Thirlwell 8.0, Taiwo 8.25, Zoko 8.25, , Madine 7.75, Marshall 9.0 (star man).
* Taken as an average from the CUFC online messageboard.