Carlisle extend lead with classy victory

Carlisle United 1-0 ECFC 
Attendance: 8461


Report By JEFF BROWN

Classy Carlisle United opened up a four-point gap at the top of the Fourth Division with an impressive victory over near rivals Exeter at Brunton Park last night. A rare Tony Shepherd goal, four minutes into the second half, was scant reward for a convincing display by the Cumbrians, who barely gave second-placed City a look in until the final, frantic moments. Two points ahead of Exeter and Southend at the start, they doubled that advantage with this win, coupled with the fact that third-placed Southend were held to a draw at Hartlepool, and on this evidence the stage is now set for a triumphant run-in back to Division Three. Two points ahead of Exeter and Southend at the start, they doubled that advantage with this win, coupled with the fact that third-placed Southend were held to a draw at Hartlepool, and on this evidence-the stage is now set for a triumphant run-in back to Division Three. Exeter's best moments came early on as they settled first on a surface made heavy by the day's constant downpours, and they almost took the lead in the eighth minute after some delightful work down the right by Brian McDermott. Making space for an awkward, dipping cross he forced United goal- keepr Dave McKellar to arch backwards and desperately claw the ball away, and although it fell for Steve Neville at the back post, the striker could do no more than deflect a header against the top of the crossbar from barely three yards out. Well shackled in midfield in those opening stages, Carlisle took time to find their rhythm and were limited to a long-range effort from Paul Fitzpatrick on one of his regular forays from the back.

But they gradually came to terms with the conditions and posed their first real threat in the 22nd minute when Keith Walwyn flicked a right-wing corner into the six-yard box, defender Scott Hiley somehow intervening when Fitzpatrick seemed certain to add the finishing touch. They should have gone ahead three minutes later, after David Miller's hopeful cross from the right was allowed to drift beyond a posse of play- ers to reach the incoming Steve McCall. Back in his home town, and playing his second game on loan from Sheffield Wednesday, the full-back was an odds-on favourite to beat Kevin Millar, but disappointingly shot straight at the keeper and City scrambled the ball to safety. McCall's coolness in defence and the trickery of Craig Goldsmith wide on the left helped the Cumbrians take a grip at both ends of the field, and it was fitting that the pair should combine to create what proved to be the winner in the 49th minute. Sent clear by McCall's inch-perfect pass, Goldsmith crossed low for Paul Proudlock to stab in a shot which Millar kept out with a one-handed save, but Shepherd reacted first to slash a shot high into the roof of the net for only his third goal of the season.

United should have doubled that lead seven minutes later, but after Alex Jones had rescued a centre which seemed to be drifting out beyond the far post, Millar wasted's his team-mate's good work by slicing his effort wide. Dominant in every department by now Carlisle were in total command, and came close again after 65 minutes when Fitzpatrick, once more adding weight to the attack-volleyed dangerously across the face of the Exeter goal. City manager Terry Cooper made a double substitution for the final 15 minutes, Neville and Clive Stafford making way for Lee Rogers and Paul Batty, with captain Shaun Taylor moving out of defence to partner the prolific Darren Rowbotham up front. Clive Whitehead was booked for a flare-up with Fitzpatrick as the visitors attempted to step up the pace with a second successive defeat in four days looming, and their best chance of the whole evening fell in iniury time. Taylor, under pressure from Mike Graham, knocked McDermott's teas- ing centre back across goal with McKellar out of position, only for 27-goal Rowbotham, of all people, to head over the top from the edge of the six-yard box.

CARLISLE UNTIED:
McKellar, Walsh, McCall, Graham,Jones,
Fitzpatrick, Shepherd, Miller, Walwyn, Proudlock, Goldsmith.
Subs: Norris, Sendall

EXETER CITY:
Miller, Hiley, Benjamin, McNicholl, Taylor, Whitehead, Rowbotham, Bailey, McDermott, Neville (Batty, 75), Stafford (Rogers 75)

Goal: Shepherd (49, 1-0).

Booking: Exeter: Whitehead (foul).

Attendance: 6.461.

Referee: LR Dilkes (Mossley).