Carlisle United 1 Newport County 2: There was, from a distant position, just a little hope – something which, let’s keep reminding ourselves, appeared long gone until late February.
Omari Patrick, first with some determined close control and then a needle-thread of a finish, made this a closer contest than it had often appeared. Could the Blues under Paul Simpson perform yet more miracles?
Not this time. After four wins, a little reality finally bit. There is no shame in going down fighting to one of League Two’s best teams but the main reminder here was that, in order to upend them, you need to be close to your best, and ruthless on your own shortcomings.
Carlisle, alas, took until midway into the second half – by which time they were two goals down – to get close to pushing those particular buttons. They ended this game on their toes and attacking Newport with angles and pace.
The issue was that it took them so long to shift into that position. For two thirds of the game, they had toiled to match James Rowberry’s promotion-chasers, who were a winning combination of the dangerous and the streetwise.
Four changes – two of them enforced – felt like too many in the context of United’s recent run, and Simpson admitted as much after the game. Yet nor did he feel that alone could explain away the defeat. “I thought as a full XI we weren’t quite at it first half and that’s why you get done,” he said.
Newport, in an opening 45 where Carlisle struggled to impose themselves, levered themselves into a lead and protected it well in the face of the Blues’ limited threat. When they countered for a second it felt like a decisive act.
It is to United’s credit that, after tactical switches by Simpson, they came on strongly in the closing stages, but this felt like a night when a few choice lessons were put across, after the exhilaration of recent wins.
All that matters now is that they are absorbed and United respond appropriately in their next game, which should require no motivational jump-start: Barrow away.
This mild March night was approached with the until-recently rare Carlisle United feelings of anticipation and hope, which have replaced the old favourites of anxiety and dread thanks to Simpson’s return.
The teamsheet, featuring those four changes, gave us new things to ponder after four wins with the same XI. Jamie Devitt was injured, and Jon Mellish left out because of an issue with his partner which saw him at risk of arriving late. Simpson also left out Jack Armer and Kristian Dennis, and in came Rod McDonald, Brennan Dickenson, Tobi Sho-Silva and Mitch Roberts.
It gave the sense of a freshening attempt for a fifth game in 18 days, but the result was a challenging first half against a strong and sturdy team. United found difficulty in retaining the ball high up the pitch, visiting centre-halves Micky Demetriou and James Clarke dominant against Sho-Silva and Patrick, and Newport’s midfielders more mobile and anticipating of opportunities between the lines.
Finn Azaz was a roaming danger, Ryan Haynes offered left-sided width and Matty Dolan some solid control, and Newport also burrowed into United’s left side, where the recalled Roberts took time to get a handle on things. Eventually they forced a corner, and from Dolan’s whipped delivery, Demetriou headed powerfully home.
Carlisle tried to work a few angles down the right in response, via Jordan Gibson and Joe Riley, but seldom did they get very far. Newport, by contrast, were often one killer pass from cutting through for another, even if United largely kept Dom Telford at arm's length, and they really ought to have doubled their lead seven minutes into the second half.
When Dolan’s whipped cross came off Howard’s fingertips, though, Clarke headed against the bar and Rob Street, from close range, somehow failed to convert the rebound.
A reprieve. Simpson sent on Tyrese Omotoye for Roberts in a rejig which saw Dickenson pushed back to the left, while Patrick started to hug the right touchline as Carlisle adopted a wide attacking three. It created a little impetus which might have brought Carlisle back into things, had McDonald been able to keep a shot down from a corner.
United were now functioning with better urgency and angles. Another Patrick dash on the right won a corner which saw a Callum Guy delivery, a Morgan Feeney climb and a headed Patrick finish which was, alas, too straight to worry Townsend.
At one down, though, the margin for error was slim, and United then helped Newport towards their second goal. Gibson’s cross-field ball was inaccurate and the amber shirts swept forward, sub Lewis Collins attacking vacant space on the right and Azaz arriving to smash his cross high past Howard.
Carlisle had not pursued the situation well or coherently enough once Newport had swept at them, and so Simpson sent on Dennis and Danny Devine in the hope of a late uplift. The Blues' football improved and, from increased pressure, Patrick produced a little gem of a goal – close control in a tight space, followed by superbly accurate finishing. Brunton Park’s volume increased.
Was it happening again? Were we about to see one more grandstand Simmo finale? Not quite. Carlisle threw more late gusto at the attempt, pushing, stretching, Omotoye showing good pace but inaccurate finishing from the left, and the second killer chance wouldn’t come.
They made it tenser than Newport would have liked – and closer than the pre-Simpson team would surely have done – but over 96 minutes didn’t unsettle their well-structured guests enough, and can’t grumble unduly at the outcome. After all the recent fun and games, a few lessons no doubt learned, as the Blues now size up Barrow.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel