Match report

Carlisle United  2 - 2  Swansea City

You know things are bad when you can't go to places like Carlisle hoping for anything more than a point. Well, I would have settled for a point before the game and quite frankly, that was about all there was on offer.

A 2 hour trip across the Pennines from Teeside saw us arrive in lovely sunshine but with the rain clouds on the horizon the game was eventually played in a mix of sun, showers and a biting wind.

The Swans lined up like this:-

Swans fans were still wandering up from the bar below when Magennis doing a bit of routine following up found Roger parrying a catchable ground shot into his path. To a man all the 150 Jacks thought that this was going to be another long and painful day.

But the shower that immediately preceded the kick-off and made the ball slippery (excuses!) for Rog had the same effect just minutes later as Cash's speculative cross had the United 'keeper, Glennon, flapping under a little pressure and Thomas happily hammered home from 6 yards out.

Eleven minutes gone and both defences looking very nervous. The rest of the half passed with Jenkins being exposed and thoroughly worked over by Magennis down our left and Cash doing the same to Carlisle. Thankfully our centre backs started working together as the half wore on and although the crosses kept coming most were cleared more through panic than planning.

The second half began with Roger being the first Swans player to touch the ball as he picked it out of the net from the penalty. It was only going to be a matter of time before a home player ran at our defence and kept going with yellow-shirted players backing off in front of him. Mumford, I think, clattered him to the ground and the lack of protest seemed to speak volumes.

The second half progressed with Cash and Magennis being double marked out of the game. Jones was replaced by Murphy and Watkin by Wood in short succession and shortly after Thomas was on the end of an excellent low teasing cross from Cash pushed between the centre backs and their keeper and slotted in at full stretch at the back post.

While Carlisle continued to chase the 3 points, the Swans with Mumford and Murphy started to look more convincing as the game wore on. Wood was causing more problems for their back 4 with some excellent running and we started to believe that we might snatch all 3 points. It wasn't to be though and apart from Mumfords superb free-kick that brought an excellent save from Glennon, neither keeper was made to work.

In summary, 70 minutes of this game was pretty damn drab! Close control and first touches were missing from both teams.

Neither keeper was truly extended during the game.
We got better as the game wore on.
Jenkins is not a left back.

Freestone - 6 - Blamed for the first but steady otherwise
Jenkins - 4 - For effort, looked slightly better with help in the second half.
O'Leary - 6 - Not bad but not quite a 7.
Theobold - 6 - First time I've seen him and looked OK.
Jones - 7 - Good solid performance - more to come.
Reid - 6 - Typical fire and thunder show.
Mumford - 7 - Put himself about and got better as the game wore on especially with Murphy alongside him.
Phillips - 6 - Like Reid
Cash - 6 - Looked good in the first half when he had space but lost possesion too often for me.
Watkin - 6 - Had a hand in the first and bustled and puffed.
Thomas - 8 - 2 goals and gave everything but looked pretty sore when subbed after a knock.

Murphy - 6 - May have got more if he'd been on longer.
Wood - 6 - As Murphy.
Lacey - 5 - Not on long enough for a higher score.

Carlisle United  2 - 2  Swansea City

Having not visited Carlisle before, the thought of an important six pointer outweighed the disappointment of the mid-week result, so it was yet again another M6 journey. Starting early we found ourselves ahead of time with no traffic hold-ups so did a short detour through the Lake District. Don't think for one minute you're interested in that so let's get to the football.

Changes to the team again saw a 4-3-3 line-up of Freestone,Jones,Theobald,O'Leary and Jenkins. Reid, Mumford and Phillips. Cash, Thomas & Watkin up front. A crowd of just under 4,000 included approx 80-100 Swans fans. Yet again we did not have a goalie on the subs bench, with Keaveny wearing keepers gloves in the warm up. Looking around Carlisle's' ground brought comparisons with our plight. Both clubs have seen better days, partial ground improvements and a history of problems with previous owners and both struggling to stay in the league.

Back to the game. We started off very slowly and Carlisle attacked at speed causing problems from the first whistle, we had already had a couple of worrying moments when a ball was played out to the Carlisle left for a central player to chase. Theobald followed but seemed to have no intention of tackling but just run alongside. On the wing the player easily turned inside and passed along the edge of the area for an incoming player whose shot was parried out by Freestone only for Magennis to react quicker than O'Leary putting the ball back into the net. 2 mins and already chasing the game. All the terrible thoughts disappeared as Jones overlapping down the right put over a cross towards the penalty spot where under a bit of pressure from Thomas the keeper Glennon fumbled allowing Thomas to turn and put the ball into an unguarded net. Things suddenly seemed a lot brighter.

It was short lived however as Carlisle dominated most of the half with some very neat midfield play and through balls cutting our static defence. Luckily their two wingers never got any telling crosses in, instead, on most occasions, cut across the edge of the penalty area. If it wasn't for 2 excellent tackles on the edge of the box by Reid another block by Phillips and a goal line clearance we could have been out of the game by half-time. The only plus points from the first half were the battling performance from Thomas and some direct play from Cash who in the end wanted one touch to many.

Half time came with our thoughts of the gulf in football skills between the two sides. If Carlisle had someone who could finish their approach play they could be play-off contenders.

Before most Swans fans had returned to their seats we were 2-1 down. Within 30secs of the restart Osman was allowed to run at goal unheeded until Mumford put in a clumsy tackle resulting in a penalty that Farrell sent Rog the wrong way. So it was a repeat of the first half and we were back to chasing the game. The next 20mins saw Carlisle dominant without creating any direct chances on goal as the defence battled to keep us in the game.

On the hour Wood replaced Watkin and his workhorse approach started to worry the Carlisle defence who had only Thomas to worry about until then. We were starting to claw ourselves back into the game and on 65mins interplay on the right allowed Mumford to cross along the six yard box for Thomas to get his second of the game.

Carlisle were now rattled, as we now became the dominant team, and apart from a couple of attacks from Carlisle, there seemed to be only be one team that could go on to win the game. Murphy replaced Jones on 70mins with Phillips going to right back. Reid was involved in a kicking scuffle with one of their players who aimed two kicks at Reid while he was on the floor, both players very lucky to only get yellow cards. In fact it was yellow card day as 8 players received them. A couple of half chances for both sided in the final minutes with the last 3 minutes of extra time being a very nervous period.

Freestone. Solid performance but can take some of the blame for the first goal
Jones. Read rave reviews from the Stevenage game, but today seemed off the pace in an uncertain defence. Maybe one for the future
Theobald. Very slow and cumbersome in the first half but did improve in the second.
O'Leary. Slow start but then did win most battles in the air. Must learn not to take a second thought. Row Z is safer.
Jenkins. Struggled at left back and was dragged infield on many occasions.
Reid. Good battling performance but not creative and must control temper.
Phillips. Just about did what was needed defensively. One dive for a penalty should have resulted in a booking.
Mumford. Still not fit, struggled in the first half but was more influential in the second.
Cash. Pacey with skill, but due to lack of support lost the ball while trying to beat one man too many.
Thomas. Battled throughout and took his goals well.
Watkin. Sorry, but yet another poor performance.

Wood. His battling style helped to change the game.
Murphy. One of his better performances although only on for 20mins.
Lacey. Was a liability and in his 10mins consistently gave the ball away. 1 in a very dangerous position.

What seemed to be a game that we were destined to lose, a battling gritty performance saw the team dig deep to salvage something from the game. It was plainly evident that the loss of Jason Smith will cost us dearly. There is spirit in the team but strengthening is still needed.