SATURDAY 7th MARCH 2009

CARLISLE CITY 2-2 ASHINGTON COLLIERS

City made two changes from the side that beat Cramlington 2-1 last weekend. Scott
Priest lined up in midfield in place of Tom Foster, and leading scorer Jamie Heath
was recalled in place of James Burton.

In just the 2nd minute, Ashington’s Butters found himself in a great position, with just
Bradley to beat. However, the City keeper, on just his second start for the club, was
out quickly to push the ball to safety. In the 5th minute, City created their first
shooting opportunity from a right-wing free-kick. The ball was cleared to the edge of
the box, where it was collected by Heath, but he shot over the bar. Ashington were
straight back up the field and centre-forward Butters missed his second great chance
when he fired wide from a good position.

Amato responded for City with a cross from the left, but Priest’s shot was blocked. In
the 11th minute, Heath’s right-wing cross saw a nasty clash between Amato and
keeper McCaffery, with both players needing lengthy treatment. In the 15th minute,
Colliers took the lead from the penalty spot. Cunningham ran into the City box and
rounded Bradley, with his cross finding Taylor. His goal-bound shot was blocked by
the hand of Hill, with the referee awarding the penalty and issuing a red card to the
City defender. Smith stepped forward to take the kick, and hit his shot high over
Bradley’s right shoulder.

After 19 minutes, Bradley’s goal-kick was held up in the strong wind, and Armstrong
was forced to concede a corner. The awkward flag-kick was palmed away hurriedly
by Bradley, at the expense of another corner. After 20 minutes,. Heath hit the target
from 25 yards but McCaffery saved easily. In the 24th minute, Bell fell just inside the
Colliers penalty area, but penalty shouts were waved away by referee Murphy. Bell
then held the ball up well in City’s next attack, but his cross was too high for Amato
at the back post. After 28 minutes, a good ball from Yallop sent Amato running up the
left wing, before crossing to Bell. The striker’s glancing header was wide of target.

In the 32nd minute, McCaffery and Amato collided for the second time, amidst some
City shouts for a penalty. Two minutes later, Armstrong conceded a free-kick in a
dangerous position just outside the City box. However, the set-piece was hit tamely
over the City bar. In the 36th minute, Colliers broke very quickly from their own half,
with Taylor running into oceans of space. The winger’s touch was far too heavy and
Bradley was able to shepherd the ball out of play.

Ashington then won a corner on their left, with Brown challenging to win a header,
but his effort was blocked. In the 43rd minute, Kelleher was fouled on City’s right
flank, but Priest’s free-kick was poor. Colliers broke quickly again, and Bradley saved
his side once more as he dived at the feet of the on-rushing Smith, with Holliday
booting the ball to safety. Right on the stroke of half-time, City conceded a sloppy
second goal. Green found himself hopelessly outnumbered as the Colliers attack
swarmed forward. Bradley seemed to have dispelled the danger as he saved from
Smith, but Butters followed up to calmly stroke home the rebound.
There was still time before the interval for City to launch an attack. Amato and Priest
sent Kelleher away on the right, and his cross was pulled back to Amato, with the ball
deflecting for a corner. Armstrong headed wide from the flag-kick.

HALF-TIME- CITY 0-2 COLLIERS

City knew they were up against it at the interval, two goals down and one man short.
However, the strong wind was now at their backs and promised to give them some
territorial advantage. Ashington pushed forward first in the second half, and
Cunningham found Butters, who blasted his shot wide. Bell then responded for City,
but he also shot wide.

After 51 minutes, Cunningham made a good left-wing run, and forced Bradley to save
his shot from the edge of the box. Careless defending from Ingram almost let in
Kelleher, but the visiting defender just recovered in time. In the 56th minute, a Priest
corner from the right wing was cleared out to Heath, who shot straight at McCaffery.
At this stage, City replaced Kelleher with Driver.

After 58 minutes, Green showed great awareness to cover across from his right-back
position, and stopped Taylor from breaking clear. On the hour mark, City were
awarded a free-kick ten yards inside their own half. Taken by Bradley, the ball picked
up great pace on the wind and unfortunate defender Rees powered an unstoppable
header past his own keeper, to give City a lifeline.

In the 65th minute, Priest and Yallop combined on City’s left to win a corner, off
Taylor. Driver’s kick was dropped by McCaffery, but Amato shot wide from the
rebound. Three minutes later, a foul on Armstrong gave City a free-kick half-way in
Ashington territory, but Driver’s ball was easily cleared. In the 72nd minute, a strong
run from Armstrong was followed by a pass out right to Driver, with McCaffery
diving to collect the cross.

It was all City pressure now, as Priest’s free-kick was headed out for a corner.
Driver’s kick from the left wing caused a furious scramble in the Ashington box,
before being put behind for another corner. Crossing to the other flank, Driver took
the corner again, with his kick finding Heath, but the shot was deflected wide. For the
third time in quick succession, just into the 75th minute, Driver took the corner kick
and, on this occasion, his well-struck cross deceived McCaffery and nestled in the far
corner of the net.

Within seconds, Heath found Driver again, but McCaffery saved the shot from 20
yards out. Driver was on-fire as he tried his luck from 30 yards, and McCaffery
produced an outstanding save to tip the ball around the post. In the 78th minute, City
were even closer to taking the lead when Amato’s clever curling shot bounced back
off the far post, with McCaffery beaten.

City’s second substitute Lupton had replaced Green, and he was soon involved, as he
fouled Dixon, with Ingram heading wide from the free-kick. In the 84th minute, there
were groans of despair as Heath’s square pass in the centre of midfield was
intercepted by Taylor, who sprinted clear. The Colliers winger seemed to have set up
Butters for the winning goal, but Bradley performed heroics to keep the ball out of his
net.

Another foul by Lupton, this time on Cunningham, saw Ingram step up for the free-
kick but his delivery bounced out of play, for a goal-kick. City were back on the
attack, and making another shout for a penalty, as Heath seemed to have his heels
clipped just inside the area. In the 88th minute, Butters was running clear towards the
City goal, before being rugby-tackled by the pursuing Priest. It was no great surprise
to see the second red card of the game shown to the City man, reducing them to nine
players for the rest of the game.

The resulting free-kick saw Butters’ shot blocked by the City wall. The Ashington
striker, who had earlier annoyed City officials by kicking the ball into the river, then
received a yellow card for a foul. The last action of the game saw Amato’s high cross
from the left being well held by McCaffery very close to his goal line.

City will be relieved to escape with a point, and the visitors will be frustrated that they
did not make their numerical advantage count.

TEAMS- CITY- Bradley, Green, Yallop, Armstrong, Hill, Holliday, Amato,

Kelleher, Heath, Bell, Priest. SUBS- Driver, Lupton, Upex
ASHINGTON- McCaffery, Dixon, Ryder, Smith, Ingram, Rees, Taylor, Bolton,
Butters, Brown, Cunningham. SUBS- Darling, Laverick, Brady.

REFEREE- P. Murphy
SENT-OFF- Hill, Priest (City)
BOOKING- Butters (Ashington)