TUESDAY 18th AUGUST 2009

CARLISLE CITY 4-1 SILLOTH (COUNTY LEAGUE DIV. 1)

City were looking for their third win in succession, whereas the visitors were yet to
get off the mark in the league. City were without a recognised goalkeeper and
defender Matty Trickett donned the number 1 shirt. Josh Little made his debut after
just arriving in Cumbria, from Cornwall, and contacting the club via the website.

City thought they had taken the lead in the 5th minute, but Simpson’s header from
Ward’s pass was deemed to be offside. In the 7th minute, a fine 20-yard shot from
Griffiths had to be pushed aside by the Silloth keeper. Ward then found Little, and the
Silloth keeper was forced to save again.

In the 14th minute, Little’s header was saved. Two minutes later, Driver’s right-wing
cross carried to Simpson at the back-post and his header bounced behind via a
defender. After 17 minutes, Ward showed good strength to hold off a defender and
turn, but the Silloth keeper produced a fine save to block his shot.

In the 19th minute, Griffiths freed Driver on the right, and the resulting high cross had
to be tipped over by the keeper. Silloth had barely threatened as an attacking force,
but City had a scare in the 20th minute when the ball was headed over the advancing
Trickett, before bobbling just wide. City failed to heed their warning as Silloth went
ahead in the 22nd minute. A shot from 12 yards bounced down off the City bar, and a
Silloth attacker dived in to head home the rebound.

City responded after 24 minutes with a move involving Sturrock and Ward, who
found Driver but the volley was wide. After 29 minutes, Ward shot wide from a good
position, and the Silloth keeper then saved at point-blank range from Simpson. Silloth
could only preserve their lead for two more minutes, before Driver’s corner was
forced home by Yallop at close range. A Silloth player was injured as he tried to
prevent the goal, and had to be substituted.

In the 34th minute, Driver ran well down the right, and his cross found Little, but his
shot was blocked on the goal-line. There was a quiet spell in the ten minutes before
half-time, although Bell was close from a corner just before the interval.

HALF-TIME- CITY 1-1 SILLOTH

Silloth probably shaded the early exchanges in the second period, before Cherry
struck a fine 25-yard shot that needed tipping over by the Silloth keeper. In the 54th
minute, City took the lead when Bell’s great cross into the penalty box was headed in
by Simpson, just in front of the Silloth keeper.

In the 56th minute, Griffiths shot wide from 30 yards out At this stage, Silloth made
their second substitution, but it did not stop City going 3-1 ahead on the hour.
Sturrock did very well to beat his man and slip a pass through to Ward, who beat the
keeper for his first goal of the season.

City replaced Little with Hartley, and Trickett produced a super save in the 63rd
minute to tip over a goal-bound Silloth free kick. City threatened again when Yallop’s
header was pushed aside by the keeper, from Driver’s corner. In the 67th minute, it
was 4-1 when City scored a fine goal. Cherry passed inside to Simpson, who freed
Ward on the right wing and his accurate cross was flicked into the net by Sturrock.

City were looking for more goals as Griffiths’ free-kick was headed by Yallop, but
saved by the keeper. Ward’s right-wing cross then found Driver, but the keeper again
saved Silloth. In the 70th minute, Harding replaced Cherry for City. A fine run by
Rush up the left wing was followed by a cross to Ward, who could not quite convert
the chance.

In the 79th minute, Simpson’s free-kick was flicked by Driver’s head, but saved by the
keeper. Driver’s right wing cross was then deflected into the path of Simpson, and his
shot again tested the Silloth keeper. In the 80th minute, City’s third change saw Raine
replace Sturrock.

The only booking of the game went to a Silloth player in the 81st minute. Harding did
well down the right, to find Driver but the cross was defended capably by the Silloth
rearguard. After 85 minutes, Driver’s right-wing corner reached Yallop 35 yards from
goal, and his sweet strike whistled past the upright. In the closing moments, Yallop’s
free-kick was headed powerfully by Driver from 18 yards, and the keeper had to
stretch to save.

TEAM- Trickett, Cherry, Rush, Yallop, C. Bell, Driver, Sturrock, Griffiths, Little,
Ward, Simpson. SUBS- Hartley, Raine, Harding, Henderson.