TROUBLED TIMES FOR CUMBRIANS
Carlisle's dismal run continued with a sixth successive defeat at second in the table Cheltenham Town; their worst run for eleven seasons.
The Cumbrian's again created sufficient chances to win the game and a single lapse of concentration in defence allowed the Robins Mike Duff to head a 53rd minute winner.
Carlisle manager Ian Atkins was again disappointed to lose. He said:" We again created good chances, with Scott Dobie getting in good positions, but we are not strong enough mentally and some of the players are content to stroll through the game. We need to enjoy what we are doing but enjoying is about winning and grafting and some of the players may not be capable of taking us up a level. I have got to bring players in and be allowed to bring them in or we are going to struggle."
The Cumbrians almost opened the scoring on nine minutes when a penetrating run and cross from Scott Dobie was headed straight at Robins keeper Steve Book by Ian Stevens.
Four minutes later Martin Devaney broke through the middle forcing Luke Weaver to come out of the box to save with his feet.
On sixteen minutes another quality cross from Dobie was somehow scooped over the bar by Stevens with the goal at his mercy.
As play ebbed and flowed the home sides Hugh McAuley was unlucky so see his 19th minute snap shot, from the edge of the box, slip narrowly wide of the post.
Five minutes later an Antony Carss corner was volleyed over by John Inglis. With 26 minutes gone the home side scored through a Richard Walker header only to be ruled out for offside.
Six minutes later only a superb save from Book denied Carss' thunderous 30 yard free-kick.
On the stroke of half-time Richard Tracey should have scored for the away side but put he shot over the bar with only Book to beat. The home side took the lead after 53 minutes when a Martin Devaney cross caught the Cumbrian defence sleeping, allowing Mike Duff to head over Luke Weaver.
The Robins almost increased their lead 2 minutes later when Devanay's fierce 25 yard shot was turned over the bar by Weaver.
The second half was proving lacklustre in comparison to the quality of the first, but the home side sparked back into life when a 75th minute Mark Yates shot hit a post and the rebound was put over the bar by Mark Freeman. On 83 minutes Howell's crossed into the box for Devaney to scramble the ball goalward only to see Mark Birch clear off the line.
Cheltenham Town: Book; Duff (White 89), Banks, Freeman, Howells, Griffin, McAauley, Walker, Yates, Alsop (Brough 90), Devaney (Grayson 90). Subs unused: Bloomer, Higgs.
Scorers: Duff (53).
Bookings: None.
Carlisle United: Weaver; Birch, Whitehead, Ingles, Winstanley, Hemmings (Pitts 27); Darby (Heggs 67), Carss; Dobie, Stevens, Tracey. Subs unused: Lee, Prokas, McAughtrie.
Scorers: None
Bookings: Whitehead (46 - Retaliation), Tracey (81 - Foul)
Attendance: 4,264
Referee: S. G. Tomlin (Lewes)
Mike Corry
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