Carlisle 1 Swansea City 2
Sporting Post
A FABULOUS Mark Wilson free-kick and Lee Trundle's 10th strike of the season sent Swansea City to an unlikely win at Carlisle this afternoon.
Brian Ftynn's side were far from their best, especially in a dismal first half.
But having gone in at the interval behind to Richie Foran's spot kick they battled back with two goals in five frantic second-half minutes.
First Trundle struck a penalty, then ex-Manchester United player Wilson bent it like old club-mate Beckham to hand Flynn's men their second away success of the season.
Despite the stuttering show, Swansea remained on top of Division Three going into Tuesday's testing trip to Hull City.
Flynn made two enforced changes to the side which saw off Huddersfield last weekend Lenny Johnrose for the suspended Izzy Iriekpen in central defence and Kieron Durkan for the injured Brad Maylett on the right flank.
Winger Maylett was just one of a string of fitness problems within the Swansea squad which meant spots for youngsters Antonio Corbisiero and Mark Pritchard on the bench.
Club skipper Jason Smith was also among the substitutes despite being well short of match fitness having not played since last season.
Carlisle's caretaker player boss Paul Simpson who is poised to take over on a permanent basis next week — was one of five men absent for the Cumbrians through injury.
Short on bodies and confidence they may have been, but the Nationwide League's bottom club were making a mockery of the Third Division table early on.
First Kevin Henderson hooked a volley over the bar, then Brendan McGill flashed a dangerous ball across the face of Roger Freestone's goal after robbing Michael Howard.
Swansea enjoyed their first sight of goal eight minutes in, but Kris O'Leary's drive posed more of a threat to the rusty roof on Brunton Park's Warwick Road stand than Matty Glennon's net, '
To compound the Port Talbot-born centre back's misery, he was cautioned moments later for blocking Henderson's run.
Simpson's side continued to dominate in a committed, if not exhilarating, open quarter where the highlight was referee Alan Kaye's comic slip as he blew up for a Kevin Nugent foul.
Carlisle fans should have been smiling again in the 23rd minute, but Richie Foran smashed a golden chance to put the home side ahead high over the crossbar.
Former Wimbledon player Den Byrne joined O'Leary in the book on the half-hour for a lunge on Durkan as the tackles flew in.
Trundle was the next to see yellow for a push on Paul Raven as a scrappy contest began to turn nasty.
Former West Brom man Raven, the Carlisle skipper, was replaced by David Malloy before the break after pulling out with an injury.
Just as half-time approached, the home side snatched a lead their workmanlike showing deserved.
Nugent, back defending a corner, bundled Will McDonagh to the ground in the box and FORAN made no
mistake from the spot.
Flynn is never one for flying teacups, but a stern talking to was on the cards for his players as they trudged back down the tunnel.
Flynn's talk must have had the desired effect as Swansea emerged the second half with renewed vigor and won a spot kick just four minutes in.
After Trundle had lifted a cross the back post, Durkan's hook back was blocked by McDonagh and ref Kaye whistled for hand ball.
Prolonged protests from the home side saw Henderson booked before TRUNDLE, Division Three top-scorer, stepped up to lash home from 12 yards.
Within a minute of the equaliser Malloy was the fourth man carded for
an elbow on Richard Duffy and the atmosphere on and off the pitch turned decidedly sour.
One home fan was ejected after lunging towards the assistant referee and amid the chaos rejuvenated Swansea grabbed the lead.
Lee Andrews was pulled up for tripping Trundle prompting yet more howls from the home ranks and on-loan Middlesbrough man Mark WILSON curled a sublime 25-yard free-kick into the top corner.
It was some turnaround, and things almost got better for the visitors on the hour when Andy Robinson's long range drive was tipped behind by Glennon.
From the resulting corner Flynn's men should have been two goals to the good but O'Leary could only crash over the bar from point-blank range.
Swansea, for the first time in the contest, were in control.
The battling home side would not give in and were cursing their luck with 15 minutes left.
The all-action McDonagh unleashed a 30-yard thunderbolt which cannoned off Johnrose's head on to the underside of the crossbar.
The ball bounced back pinball-style on to Freestone's shoulder before
Howard's acrobatics cleared it to safety.
With Swansea under the cosh near the end, the stout left-back was carded moments later and then exposed by McGill's surging run down the right.
His cross was headed agonisingly wide by substitute Brian Wake. Swansea held on through four minutes of injury time.
Carlisle 1 Swansea City 2
Soccernet
Division Three leaders Swansea came from behind to earn a 2-1 win and condemn rock-bottom Carlisle to their seventh defeat of the season.
Goals from Lee Trundle and Mark Wilson proved enough to claim the points after Richie Foran had given the hosts the lead.
Just as it looked as though Swansea were beginning to take control of the game, Foran fired the hosts in front with a well-taken penalty in the 42nd minute.
Kevin Nugent recklessly brought down William McDonagh and referee Alan Kaye had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
Swansea responded immediately, and just minutes after the start of the second half they were on level terms with another sweetly-struck penalty.
Carlisle defender Des Byrne handled in the area and Trundle slammed the ensuing spot-kick into the top right corner.
The visitors took the lead moments later when Lee Andrews brought down Trundle 25 yards out, and Wilson netted a delightful curling free-kick past the despairing dive of Matthew Glennon.
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