Brunton Park Diary - February 2010
08/02/10 20:15
Feb 1st (Mon)
Former Hull City forward Darryl Duffy moves on a 3-month loan to Carlisle in a slightly surprising deal given that was in the first team plans of his present team, Bristol Rovers. The Scotland B international who fairly recently commanded a transfer fee of £200,000, is the second capture of the day following 18 year-old winger Ben Marshall joining for 1-month from Stoke City. Having started his career at Crewe and even playing against the Blues in their winning side in last season’s FA Youth Cup tie, Stoke secured his services over the summer before loaning him out to Northampton and Cheltenham to gain additional league experience. In the words of Steve Holland the academy manager at Stoke when he signed for them in the summer "he can score and make goals and is comparable to a Liam Lawrence type in the current squad."
It’s understood that an undisclosed third player was possibly close to joining but the deal didn’t go through before the deadline. Jason Price, who joined Oldham from Millwall, was amongst those rumoured to be in that category.
Having fallen out of favour at high-flying Rochdale, former winger Adam Rundle joins Chesterfield.
“IT COULDN’T HAPPEN TO A NICER GUY” (PART ONE)
Part pantomime villain, part pantomime defender, Paul Huntington has his contract cancelled by Leeds and joins Stockport County.
Feb 2nd (Tue)
COLCHESTER 2 CARLISLE UTD 1
On a pitch more suited to growing turnips, it’s a rare defeat under the lights after another lead is squandered with the curse of Odejayi striking in injury time. Things had started well with former keeper Williams taking the blame for dithering on his line on a cross from Kavanagh and allowing Harte’s soft header to beat his weak attempt to palm it wide. Collin showed how to do it at the other end with a good save from Gillespie and debutant Duffy appeared to be assaulted by Williams on 42 during a 1-in-1 that looked a great shout for a penalty. That was to prove costly when Platt powered in O’Toole’s fine cross on 61 and then the man who ended our original league status striking once again.
** Player Ratings: Collin 7, Keogh 7, Livesey 7, Harte 8 (star man), Horwood 7, Hurst 6, Kavanagh 6, Thirlwell 6, Clayton 7, Robson 6, Duffy 7. Subs: Offiong and Marshall.
Feb 5th (Fri)
Things remain uncertain regarding Anyinsah’s suspected lower stomach / groin problem after having an injection on the Thursday to try and see him through until the end of the season campaign. He’s now been cleared to return to training and may take some part in the Leeds JPT match with Duffy and Marshall both unavailable. If the injury doesn’t settle down, Joe will need an operation that will probably keep him out for the rest of the season.
Gary Madine returns to training following a stomach bug that kept him out of the Colchester game.
Feb 6th (Sat)
HUDDERSFIELD 1 CARLISLE UTD 1
The Blues put in an impressive performance at the high flying Terriers. Livesey hit the angle of post and bar with a header after only 6 minutes. A close offside call denied Robson on 28 as Carlisle had a strong first half. They were to rue their missed chances when Pilkington scored early into the second half with a header as the home side pressed strongly. The double introduction of Dobie and Marshall on the hour was soon to pay dividends with first Dobie only being denied by a superb save and then Robson linking with Marshall to then finish confidently 7 minutes from time. Collin completed another good performance with some important saves at the end to preserve the deserved point.
* Player Ratings: Collin 6.31, Keogh 7.25, Livesey 6.50, Harte 7.38, Horwood 7.19, Hurst 5.13, Kavanagh 5.13, Thirlwell 5.88, Clayton 6.75, Robson 7.56, Duffy 7.63 (star man). Subs: Murphy 5.25, Dobie 7.00, Marshall 7.06.
7,261 turn up to Mansfield’s “pay what you want” game only to see their party spoiled by a brace from Brian Wake; making an immediate impact for Gateshead. Could he do a job for us?
Feb 8th (Mon)
Good news on the injury front as Anyinsah returns to full training and the twinge that kept Harte out of the 2nd half of Saturday’s game clears up to give him every chance of making the Leeds game.
Feb 9th (Tue)
CARLISLE UTD 2 LEEDS UTD 3 - JPT NORTHERN FINAL SECOND LEG
(4-4 on aggregate CARLISLE won 6-5 after penalties)
Joy, despair, elation, torment and grief, anger, anguish and desolation, utter jubilation. Those were the evening’s range of emotions for every Carlisle supporter as the team finally fulfilled their date with new Wembley with a heart-stopping game in front of the Sky TV cameras. Dobie’s strong drive set up Clayton to coolly finish to make it 3-1 on aggregate and despite an early equaliser at the start of the second half, Hurst’s sublime finish from his pick-pocketing of Michalik had left the Blues 4-2 up with about 10 minutes left on the clock. Leeds weren’t going to lie down however and as tired legs took their toll, two late goals left it all up to the lottery of the penalty spot. Despite Keogh’s effort now being somewhere in geo-stationary orbit, Collin produced two outstanding saves low to his right to send most of the 9,500 crowd into raptures of delirium.
Player Ratings: Collin 8, Keogh 6, Livesey 8, Harte 6, Horwood 7.5, Hurst 7.5, Kavanagh 8.5 (star man), Thirlwell 6, Clayton 8, Robson 8, Dobie 8 Subs: Madine and Taiwo.
* Taken as an average from the CUFC online messageboard.
** Taken from CUFC online main report as no messageboard ratings
Feb 11th (Thu)
Overtime pay for Carlisle’s Boys in Blue is cancelled for the next four weeks as one man crime wave Gary Madine goes on a month’s loan to Chesterfield “in order to get more pitch time”.
Feb 12th (Fri)
The strikers’ pegs at Brunton Park become another shirt lighter with Ryan Bowman’s one-month loan move to Workington. In the space of just two days, Offiong has moved up to become the 7th best striker at the club and narrowly trails 6th placed Doris the tea lady.
Feb 13th (Sat)
CARLISLE UTD 5 MK DONS 0
Although a 2-0 half time lead slightly flatters Carlisle after a hesitant start, it could have been a cricket score by the end of the match such were the number of chances created in a dominant second half. Hurst set up Harte to head in the first and Robson drilled in a second on 39. He then set up Duffy for his first goal for the Blues as well as Dobie on 63 and 71 and then in one of the best moves of the match, Anyinsah started and finished a sweeping raid up the pitch for the fifth.
* Player Ratings: Collin 7.00, Keogh 7.00, Livesey 7.20, Harte 7.20, Murphy 7.20, Hurst 7.60, Clayton 8.20 (star man), Thirlwell 7.10 (Taiwo 6.25), Robson 7.90 (Marshall 6.25), Dobie 7.60 (Anyinsah 7.75), Duffy 7.60.
Feb 16th (Tue)
CARLISLE UTD 1 HUDDERSFIELD 2
It’s a case of ‘After the Lord Mayor’s Show’ as the Terriers dominate the first hour to deservedly take a 2-0. The game changes with the triple introduction of Taiwo, Anyinsah and Marshall. Anyinsah controversially has a goal disallowed on 74 after Taiwo appears to win a challenge cleanly. His late strike 3 minutes into 5 minutes of stoppage time ends up being too little too late.
* Player Ratings: Collin 5.60, Keogh 5.20, Livesey 5.20, Harte 4.80, Murphy 3.40, Hurst 4.20 (Marshall 6.13), Clayton 5.90, Thirlwell 4.00 (Taiwo 4.88), Robson 5.10, Duffy 5.00, Dobie 4.40 (Anyinsah 6.50 star man).
Feb 17th (Wed)
29 year-old Canadian international centre half Adrian Cann concludes his extended trial with the Blues without the offer of a contract.
Gregg Abbott signs a 12-month extension to his current agreement that will potentially keep him in his role until June 2011.
Feb 20th (Sat)
It’s revealed that reserve keeper Lenny Pidgeley will be out for 4-6 weeks after breaking a bone in his hand (the 4th metacarpal) during a training ground incident involving Richard Keogh. Rumours that it occurred in the team canteen when he tried to steal one of the marauding right back’s fish fingers during the lunch break appear to be unfounded. Mark Gillespie will now take over the position of understudy to Collin.
SWINDON TOWN 2 CARLISLE UTD 0
The Austin and Paynter double act does the trick again for Swindon in a lack-lustre display following a bright start where Harte tested the keeper and Livesey missed the target with a free header from a Kavanagh corner. Once the defence had been breached on 31, it was more man the barricades than look for the equaliser and the result leaves Carlisle without a single win at Swindon in 18 attempts made up of a record of 10 draws and 8 defeats.
** Player Ratings: Collin 7, Keogh 6, Livesey 7, Harte 6, Murphy 6, Marshall 6 (Hurst 7), Thirlwell 6, Kavanagh 6 (Duffy 6), Clayton 6, (Bridge-Wilkinson 6), Robson 6, Anyinsah 7.
Feb 22nd (Mon)
Ticket sales for the JPT final at Wembley reach 14,000 following the first day of their general sale. The Cumbrians total allocation is 24,506.
Feb 23rd (Tue)
HARTLEPOOL UTD 4 CARLISLE UTD 1
After gaining a foothold in the match after Dobie equalised an early goal from the Monkey Hangers, it all started to unravel once the second went in. By all accounts, the worse performance of the season and then some.
Player Ratings: Collin 3.67, Keogh 3.67, Livesey 5.00 (=star man), Harte 4.00, Murphy 2.00, Hurst 4.67, Thirlwell 2.67, Clayton 4.67, Robson 5.00 (=star man), Duffy 2.67, Dobie 5.00 (=star man).
Feb 25th (Thu)
CARLISLE UTD RESERVES 6 ACCRINGTON STANLEY RESERVES 1
Two goals a piece for Kane and Marshall plus a strike from BMW and Tinnion sees a rampant victory for Carlisle’s second string.
Team: Gillespie, Kane, Aldred, Swinglehurst, Horwood, Marshall, Rothery, Blake, Taiwo, Bridge-Wilkinson, Tinnion.
Michael Burns agrees to extend his loan spell at Stafford Rangers for a further month.
Feb 26th (Fri)
Anyinsah faces a longer spell on the sidelines following further post-training discomfort in the stomach and groin area. He will see a specialist early next week with a view to surgery followed by up to six weeks of recovery.
Youth team striker Ben McKenna makes the Northern Ireland U-17 squad to face Norway in two friendly games the following week.
Feb 27th (Sat)
CARLISLE UTD 2 GILLINGHAM 0
A relatively comfortable win in the end against the hapless Gills still looking for their first away win in the league this season but then any team with a “Nutter” in their line-up was always on to a loser. True enough in one of the flashpoints of the game, Livesey appears to be on the end of a marauding elbow. Abbott’s protests’ see him sent to the stands as the officials fail to take any action – perhaps his reputation went before him and they thought Danny’s face attacked the Gills’ player’s elbow? Harte’s takes his remarkable goal tally to 14 with a Beckhamesque curler over the wall on 40 from a direct free-kick and then a penalty on 52 after Robson is hauled down from Clayton’s fine through ball. Steve Bruce appears to be the target for goals from defence in one season with 19 to his name.
Player Ratings: Collin 5.75, Keogh 7.00, Livesey 7.50 (=star man), Harte 7.50 (=star man), Horwood 6.75, Hurst 6.25, Clayton 7.00, Taiwo 7.38, Robson 7.00, Dobie 6.00, Duffy 5.38.
Former Hull City forward Darryl Duffy moves on a 3-month loan to Carlisle in a slightly surprising deal given that was in the first team plans of his present team, Bristol Rovers. The Scotland B international who fairly recently commanded a transfer fee of £200,000, is the second capture of the day following 18 year-old winger Ben Marshall joining for 1-month from Stoke City. Having started his career at Crewe and even playing against the Blues in their winning side in last season’s FA Youth Cup tie, Stoke secured his services over the summer before loaning him out to Northampton and Cheltenham to gain additional league experience. In the words of Steve Holland the academy manager at Stoke when he signed for them in the summer "he can score and make goals and is comparable to a Liam Lawrence type in the current squad."
It’s understood that an undisclosed third player was possibly close to joining but the deal didn’t go through before the deadline. Jason Price, who joined Oldham from Millwall, was amongst those rumoured to be in that category.
Having fallen out of favour at high-flying Rochdale, former winger Adam Rundle joins Chesterfield.
“IT COULDN’T HAPPEN TO A NICER GUY” (PART ONE)
Part pantomime villain, part pantomime defender, Paul Huntington has his contract cancelled by Leeds and joins Stockport County.
Feb 2nd (Tue)
COLCHESTER 2 CARLISLE UTD 1
On a pitch more suited to growing turnips, it’s a rare defeat under the lights after another lead is squandered with the curse of Odejayi striking in injury time. Things had started well with former keeper Williams taking the blame for dithering on his line on a cross from Kavanagh and allowing Harte’s soft header to beat his weak attempt to palm it wide. Collin showed how to do it at the other end with a good save from Gillespie and debutant Duffy appeared to be assaulted by Williams on 42 during a 1-in-1 that looked a great shout for a penalty. That was to prove costly when Platt powered in O’Toole’s fine cross on 61 and then the man who ended our original league status striking once again.
** Player Ratings: Collin 7, Keogh 7, Livesey 7, Harte 8 (star man), Horwood 7, Hurst 6, Kavanagh 6, Thirlwell 6, Clayton 7, Robson 6, Duffy 7. Subs: Offiong and Marshall.
Feb 5th (Fri)
Things remain uncertain regarding Anyinsah’s suspected lower stomach / groin problem after having an injection on the Thursday to try and see him through until the end of the season campaign. He’s now been cleared to return to training and may take some part in the Leeds JPT match with Duffy and Marshall both unavailable. If the injury doesn’t settle down, Joe will need an operation that will probably keep him out for the rest of the season.
Gary Madine returns to training following a stomach bug that kept him out of the Colchester game.
Feb 6th (Sat)
HUDDERSFIELD 1 CARLISLE UTD 1
The Blues put in an impressive performance at the high flying Terriers. Livesey hit the angle of post and bar with a header after only 6 minutes. A close offside call denied Robson on 28 as Carlisle had a strong first half. They were to rue their missed chances when Pilkington scored early into the second half with a header as the home side pressed strongly. The double introduction of Dobie and Marshall on the hour was soon to pay dividends with first Dobie only being denied by a superb save and then Robson linking with Marshall to then finish confidently 7 minutes from time. Collin completed another good performance with some important saves at the end to preserve the deserved point.
* Player Ratings: Collin 6.31, Keogh 7.25, Livesey 6.50, Harte 7.38, Horwood 7.19, Hurst 5.13, Kavanagh 5.13, Thirlwell 5.88, Clayton 6.75, Robson 7.56, Duffy 7.63 (star man). Subs: Murphy 5.25, Dobie 7.00, Marshall 7.06.
7,261 turn up to Mansfield’s “pay what you want” game only to see their party spoiled by a brace from Brian Wake; making an immediate impact for Gateshead. Could he do a job for us?
Feb 8th (Mon)
Good news on the injury front as Anyinsah returns to full training and the twinge that kept Harte out of the 2nd half of Saturday’s game clears up to give him every chance of making the Leeds game.
Feb 9th (Tue)
CARLISLE UTD 2 LEEDS UTD 3 - JPT NORTHERN FINAL SECOND LEG
(4-4 on aggregate CARLISLE won 6-5 after penalties)
Joy, despair, elation, torment and grief, anger, anguish and desolation, utter jubilation. Those were the evening’s range of emotions for every Carlisle supporter as the team finally fulfilled their date with new Wembley with a heart-stopping game in front of the Sky TV cameras. Dobie’s strong drive set up Clayton to coolly finish to make it 3-1 on aggregate and despite an early equaliser at the start of the second half, Hurst’s sublime finish from his pick-pocketing of Michalik had left the Blues 4-2 up with about 10 minutes left on the clock. Leeds weren’t going to lie down however and as tired legs took their toll, two late goals left it all up to the lottery of the penalty spot. Despite Keogh’s effort now being somewhere in geo-stationary orbit, Collin produced two outstanding saves low to his right to send most of the 9,500 crowd into raptures of delirium.
Player Ratings: Collin 8, Keogh 6, Livesey 8, Harte 6, Horwood 7.5, Hurst 7.5, Kavanagh 8.5 (star man), Thirlwell 6, Clayton 8, Robson 8, Dobie 8 Subs: Madine and Taiwo.
* Taken as an average from the CUFC online messageboard.
** Taken from CUFC online main report as no messageboard ratings
Feb 11th (Thu)
Overtime pay for Carlisle’s Boys in Blue is cancelled for the next four weeks as one man crime wave Gary Madine goes on a month’s loan to Chesterfield “in order to get more pitch time”.
Feb 12th (Fri)
The strikers’ pegs at Brunton Park become another shirt lighter with Ryan Bowman’s one-month loan move to Workington. In the space of just two days, Offiong has moved up to become the 7th best striker at the club and narrowly trails 6th placed Doris the tea lady.
Feb 13th (Sat)
CARLISLE UTD 5 MK DONS 0
Although a 2-0 half time lead slightly flatters Carlisle after a hesitant start, it could have been a cricket score by the end of the match such were the number of chances created in a dominant second half. Hurst set up Harte to head in the first and Robson drilled in a second on 39. He then set up Duffy for his first goal for the Blues as well as Dobie on 63 and 71 and then in one of the best moves of the match, Anyinsah started and finished a sweeping raid up the pitch for the fifth.
* Player Ratings: Collin 7.00, Keogh 7.00, Livesey 7.20, Harte 7.20, Murphy 7.20, Hurst 7.60, Clayton 8.20 (star man), Thirlwell 7.10 (Taiwo 6.25), Robson 7.90 (Marshall 6.25), Dobie 7.60 (Anyinsah 7.75), Duffy 7.60.
Feb 16th (Tue)
CARLISLE UTD 1 HUDDERSFIELD 2
It’s a case of ‘After the Lord Mayor’s Show’ as the Terriers dominate the first hour to deservedly take a 2-0. The game changes with the triple introduction of Taiwo, Anyinsah and Marshall. Anyinsah controversially has a goal disallowed on 74 after Taiwo appears to win a challenge cleanly. His late strike 3 minutes into 5 minutes of stoppage time ends up being too little too late.
* Player Ratings: Collin 5.60, Keogh 5.20, Livesey 5.20, Harte 4.80, Murphy 3.40, Hurst 4.20 (Marshall 6.13), Clayton 5.90, Thirlwell 4.00 (Taiwo 4.88), Robson 5.10, Duffy 5.00, Dobie 4.40 (Anyinsah 6.50 star man).
Feb 17th (Wed)
29 year-old Canadian international centre half Adrian Cann concludes his extended trial with the Blues without the offer of a contract.
Gregg Abbott signs a 12-month extension to his current agreement that will potentially keep him in his role until June 2011.
Feb 20th (Sat)
It’s revealed that reserve keeper Lenny Pidgeley will be out for 4-6 weeks after breaking a bone in his hand (the 4th metacarpal) during a training ground incident involving Richard Keogh. Rumours that it occurred in the team canteen when he tried to steal one of the marauding right back’s fish fingers during the lunch break appear to be unfounded. Mark Gillespie will now take over the position of understudy to Collin.
SWINDON TOWN 2 CARLISLE UTD 0
The Austin and Paynter double act does the trick again for Swindon in a lack-lustre display following a bright start where Harte tested the keeper and Livesey missed the target with a free header from a Kavanagh corner. Once the defence had been breached on 31, it was more man the barricades than look for the equaliser and the result leaves Carlisle without a single win at Swindon in 18 attempts made up of a record of 10 draws and 8 defeats.
** Player Ratings: Collin 7, Keogh 6, Livesey 7, Harte 6, Murphy 6, Marshall 6 (Hurst 7), Thirlwell 6, Kavanagh 6 (Duffy 6), Clayton 6, (Bridge-Wilkinson 6), Robson 6, Anyinsah 7.
Feb 22nd (Mon)
Ticket sales for the JPT final at Wembley reach 14,000 following the first day of their general sale. The Cumbrians total allocation is 24,506.
Feb 23rd (Tue)
HARTLEPOOL UTD 4 CARLISLE UTD 1
After gaining a foothold in the match after Dobie equalised an early goal from the Monkey Hangers, it all started to unravel once the second went in. By all accounts, the worse performance of the season and then some.
Player Ratings: Collin 3.67, Keogh 3.67, Livesey 5.00 (=star man), Harte 4.00, Murphy 2.00, Hurst 4.67, Thirlwell 2.67, Clayton 4.67, Robson 5.00 (=star man), Duffy 2.67, Dobie 5.00 (=star man).
Feb 25th (Thu)
CARLISLE UTD RESERVES 6 ACCRINGTON STANLEY RESERVES 1
Two goals a piece for Kane and Marshall plus a strike from BMW and Tinnion sees a rampant victory for Carlisle’s second string.
Team: Gillespie, Kane, Aldred, Swinglehurst, Horwood, Marshall, Rothery, Blake, Taiwo, Bridge-Wilkinson, Tinnion.
Michael Burns agrees to extend his loan spell at Stafford Rangers for a further month.
Feb 26th (Fri)
Anyinsah faces a longer spell on the sidelines following further post-training discomfort in the stomach and groin area. He will see a specialist early next week with a view to surgery followed by up to six weeks of recovery.
Youth team striker Ben McKenna makes the Northern Ireland U-17 squad to face Norway in two friendly games the following week.
Feb 27th (Sat)
CARLISLE UTD 2 GILLINGHAM 0
A relatively comfortable win in the end against the hapless Gills still looking for their first away win in the league this season but then any team with a “Nutter” in their line-up was always on to a loser. True enough in one of the flashpoints of the game, Livesey appears to be on the end of a marauding elbow. Abbott’s protests’ see him sent to the stands as the officials fail to take any action – perhaps his reputation went before him and they thought Danny’s face attacked the Gills’ player’s elbow? Harte’s takes his remarkable goal tally to 14 with a Beckhamesque curler over the wall on 40 from a direct free-kick and then a penalty on 52 after Robson is hauled down from Clayton’s fine through ball. Steve Bruce appears to be the target for goals from defence in one season with 19 to his name.
Player Ratings: Collin 5.75, Keogh 7.00, Livesey 7.50 (=star man), Harte 7.50 (=star man), Horwood 6.75, Hurst 6.25, Clayton 7.00, Taiwo 7.38, Robson 7.00, Dobie 6.00, Duffy 5.38.