Last updated at 15:05, Monday, 29 November 2010

Carlisle United 3 Tamworth 2: Cometh the hour, cometh the man. What a perfect inscription for Paul Thirlwell’s epitaph after the Carlisle United skipper single-handedly spared his side’s blushes on Saturday as they hurtled towards a spectacular fall.

Paul Thirlwell

Thirlwell didn’t quite drag himself off the physio’s table on Saturday afternoon but it was touch and go all week whether the midfielder would be fit enough to answer Greg Abbott’s SOS.

The United boss admitted in midweek that his side was woefully bereft of Thirlwell’s experience and influence in the middle of the park during his 15-match absence.

If the true test of a player is whether he can change the game simply by stepping on to the pitch then the former Sunderland and Derby County midfielder passed with flying colours on Saturday because, let’s make no bones about it, Carlisle were heading for an embarrassing FA Cup exit before their skipper inspired an exhilarating turnaround.

Abbott knew it, his team-mates knew it and so too did the match sponsors who deservedly named him man-of-the-match.

Thirlwell isn’t accustomed to such acclaim, but perhaps now fans might finally, finally start to appreciate this crucial cog in the United wheel, who gets no credit outside the dressing room for the thankless task he performs.

Thirlwell does the dirty work in midfield – breaking up attacks, scavenging for the ball and coaxing the best out of his rookie team-mates and it’s only in their absence that you realise how influential players of his calibre are.

After finally shaking off the knee injury he suffered in the 1-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday in September, the Wearsider was dispatched into action after half-time by Abbott with Carlisle trailing 1-0 and looking as if they were heading out of the FA Cup with a whimper rather than a bang.

Carlisle’s inspirational leader did more in the second half than the rest of his team-mates did collectively during an abject first-half display which earned them an almighty ear-bashing from Abbott in the dressing room at half-time – an entirely justifiable rant that apparently reverberated around the corridors of Brunton Park.

They trudged off at half-time with boos ringing in their ears after Tom Marshall’s 30th minute goal left them trailing 1-0 to Tamworth.

Right up until the final five minutes when goals from Francois Zoko and James Chester saw Carlisle claw their way to victory, it looked as though the Conference side were going to dump the Blues on their backsides, just as they did Crewe in the previous round.

Injuries, suspension and Leeds United’s refusal to allow loan players to become cup-tied robbed Carlisle of key players like Peter Murphy, Lubo Michalik and Mike Grella and Abbott was forced to draft in loan signings Miguel Comminges and Ashley Eastham, little over 24 hours after the pair shook hands with their new team-mates.

Certainly in the case of Comminges, it was an ignominious introduction and it wasn’t surprising that the Cardiff City left-back ended up being hooked at half-time.

But he wasn’t the only under-achiever on Saturday. No one in the Carlisle team earned the right to walk tall in a first half of frustration and drudgery in which they allowed their opponents to take a strong foothold in the game.

The harsh reality is that brave Tamworth were desperately unlucky to lose this extraordinary tie, which got the go-ahead at lunchtime only after a frantic clean-up operation to shovel snow off the pitch, terracing and surrounding areas after overnight flurries left the city like a winter wonderland.

Ah well, that’s snow business.

But snow wasn’t the only soft stuff Carlisle found themselves in on Saturday.While the ground-staff worked wonders, the same couldn’t be said of the performance of Carlisle’s players in the first half.

Abbott told his players not to under-estimate their non-league opponents – and they were given a warning shot over the bows virtually as soon as the whistle blew.

Alex Rodman’s drive from the edge of the box was palmed away for a corner by United keeper Adam Collin and then Kyle Perry went close from eight yards.

It wasn’t until the 13th minute that United threatened when Tom Taiwo found Zoko with a lovely pass and the Ivorian’s clever back-heel found Comminges racing down the wing.

The loan signing’s delivery to the far post was well controlled by Ben Marshall, but the youngster curling effort went wide.

The rest of the first half largely belonged to Tamworth and it took some frantic defending to prevent them taking a 14th-minute lead.

Collin stopped with his legs to again deny Rodman, before Frank Simek desperately blocked a shot from Danny Thomas on the line.

Then Chester flung himself in the way to keep out a shot from Jay Smith.

It was turning into the kind of grisly spectacle that would have the purists running for the hills and it got a whole lot worse for United on the half hour when Tamworth capped their domination with a goal.

James Berrett brought down Rodman to concede the free kick. It was swung in by Stefan Oakes and Tom Marshall rose to head his side into the lead.

Abbott made a double substitution at half-time, bringing on Thirlwell and Tom Cruise for Matty Robson and Comminges – two players who endured a wretched afternoon.

With Thirlwell seizing control of the midfield, it sparked an instant recovery as within five minutes United drew level.

The captain found Berrett, who hit the post with a 25-yard shot and Gary Madine was perfectly placed to side-foot home his 13th goal of the season – one of the easiest goals he’ll score all campaign.

United rediscovered their va va voom. Marshall sent a free-kick over the bar, Chester had a header cleared off the line and Zoko was just off target with a header.

But just as Carlisle’s star was in the ascendancy, Tamworth hit them with a sucker-punch.

Another free kick from Oakes, after Taiwo had fouled Thomas, struck the post and Thomas pounced on the loose ball and fired through a ruck of Carlisle players.

No one could say that Tamworth didn’t deserve it but there were still more twists and turns in this dramatic game.

With the clock seemingly ticking towards a disastrous afternoon for the Blues, Marshall did well to get to the byeline and his cross was smashed home by Zoko from close in.

Then in the dying embers of the game, Carlisle ensured there wasn’t going to be an upset when Chester rose to head home Berrett’s free-kick.

Not impressive at all. Indeed not even good. But a win, a place in the third round and further proof that Carlisle know how to respond to set-backs – with a bit of help from their Captain Marvel.

ADAM COLLIN - Not to blame for Tamworth’s goals and made some crucial blocks.

FRANK SIMEK - Not one of the dependable right-back better games and he will be glad to hand back the captain’s armband.

MATTY ROBSON - Must have been one of his worst games for Carlisle and was hooked at half-time.

ASHLEY EASTHAM - Tough baptism of fire but acquitted himself well in second half.

JAMES CHESTER - Good block to deny Tamworth, had shot cleared off line and scored winner – not bad afternoon’s work in the end.

TOM TAIWO - Improved under the influence and guidance of Thirlwell.

JAMES BERRETT - Like his team-mates, improved in second-half – and his free-kick led to winner.

BEN MARSHALL - Recovered from poor first half and set up Carlisle’s second goal.

FRANCOIS ZOKO - Worked hard to try to spark something and was alert to score goal.

MIGUEL COMMINGES - Nightmare debut and things can only get better for the loan player.

GARY MADINE - Scored goal number 13 of the season but didn’t do much else.

Subs: Thirlwell (for Robson, 46) Inspirational display from skipper who single-handedly turned the game round on return to action; Cruise (for Comminges, 46) Steep learning curve continues for the on-loan Arsenal teenager. Not used: Curran, Cook, Caig, Hurst and Todd.

Tamworth: Atkins, Tait (Lake-Gaskin, 89), Marshall, Oakes (Bojang, 89), Wylde, Smith, Perry, Rodman (Sheridan, 82), Thomas, Bradley, Barrow, Subs not used: MacKenzie, Wilkinson, Mitchell, Connor,

Referee: Stuart Mathieson (Cheshire)

Bookings: Bradley and Smith (both Tamworth)

Crowd: 3,588

First published at 11:38, Monday, 29 November 2010
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk