WEDNESDAY 19th AUGUST 2009

CARLISLE CITY 4-3 STOCKSFIELD

City’s James Yallop was given his second game in 24 hours after scoring the previous
evening in the County League, against Silloth. Steven Bell was recalled up front in
place of James Burton, and youngster Calvin Rowell made his full Alliance debut.
New signing Tom Short was on the bench along with the returning Scott Priest.

City made a bright start as Heath’s shot deflected off Wilkinson, to go for a corner.
Heath took the kick himself and the delivery was poor. In the 6th minute, Holliday and
Rowell combined to win another corner, off Wilkinson, and Heath’s flag-kick led to
the first goal. Taken from the right flank, Heath’s front post cross was met powerfully
by Holliday, who headed in from 8 yards.

In the 10th minute, Stocksfield threatened for the first time as Waugh’s right wing
cross was scrambled clear by Barclay. Finnerty’s right wing corner was miskicked by
Kilgour as he tried to clear, but the ball went out for another flag-kick, and this one
was comfortably dealt with. The visitors’ keeper Berry had to be alert to beat Bell to a
through ball, before Stocksfield won another corner in the 15th minute. Finnerty’s kick
was punched clear by Bradley, before being returned into the penalty area, but the
danger was cleared.

In the 17th minute, Waugh turned well and fired his shot on target, forcing Bradley to
save. There was then a controversial moment as Bradley’s long goal-kick sent Heath
clear and the City man finished well, past Berry. However, linesman Stevenson had
his flag raised for what must have been a very tight decision. Waugh again hit the
target, with Bradley saving, before City won a corner after 20 minutes. Heath’s right
wing cross saw headers in quick succession from Hill and Bell before Hill was
penalised for a foul.

Rowell did well on the right to produce a decent cross but Berry managed to punch
clear, ahead of Heath. In the 25th minute, City shot themselves in the foot as a loose
midfield pass from Armstrong to Holliday was intercepted by Finnerty, and his cross
struck Barclay’s hand with referee Backhouse awarding a penalty. Stewart’s kick saw
Bradley dive the right way, but the power on the ball was enough to score.

After 32 minutes, Holliday was tripped by Vause, but Barclay’s free-kick was headed
clear. Two minutes later, Holliday fouled Stewart and Finnerty’s free-kick was
headed wide by Stewart. Holliday climbed well to head down to Heath, and his shot
was deflected wide for a corner. Heath’s flag-kick caused all sorts of problems on the
edge of the 6-yard area, before Rowell blasted his shot too high.

In the 36th minute, Finnerty and Murray played a neat 1-2, with Holliday forced to
concede a corner. Finnerty’s left wing kick was headed wide by Hudspith. In the 40th
minute, the visitors created a great chance as Stewart’s clever back-heel inside the
City box set up Murray 12 yards out, but the midfielder dragged his shot badly wide.
Within seconds, Murray was unlucky again as he raced clear, but Bradley did well to
stretch and block the shot with his trailing right leg. Stocksfield were having a lively
spell, and Stewart’s deflected shot missed by inches. Bradley was able to catch the
corner easily.
City responded in the 42nd minute as Yallop’s pass was headed on by Holliday, but
Heath shot too high. On the stroke of half-time, a neat City move involving Heath,
Kilgour and Rooke saw Kilgour’s cross blocked for a corner. Heath’s delivery
dropped to Yallop on the edge of the area and his shot was blocked for another corner.
On this occasion, Heath’s corner was too short and was easily cleared.

HALF-TIME- CITY 1-1 STOCKSFIELD

After being on the back foot in the latter stages of the first half, City came out flying
in the second period. Within seconds of the kick-off, Rowell shot wide from 25 yards
and then Heath’s shot was saved by Berry. In the 48th minute, City went 2-1 ahead as
Heath’s right-wing cross was neatly finished by Holliday, for his second goal of the
game.

In the 50th minute, Stocksfield looked to have equalised when Stewart raced clear of
Barclay, and beat Bradley with his shot, but the ball rolled just wide. In the 56th
minute, Bell found Heath who curled a left-footed shot that was saved by Berry. Two
minutes later, Barclay’s free-kick was badly fumbled by Berry, but his blushes were
saved as Wilkinson hacked the ball off the goal-line.

In the 62nd minute, it was 2-2 as Murray’s well struck shot forced Bradley to a diving
save, but the keeper could only palm the ball out to the curiously-named Cairns
Kettles, who scored easily. City were quickly back on the attack, as Holliday freed
Heath on the right wing. The City man cut inside and his vicious shot pole-axed
centre-half Hudspith, before going out for a corner. Heath’s flag-kick found Holliday,
but his header was wide.

In the 65th minute, a massive kick from Bradley travelled the length of the field, and
Heath’s challenge on Berry saw the keeper stay down for treatment. Barclay’s
careless crossfield pass in the 68th minute was picked up by Kettles, but Rooke
rescued his defensive colleague. Bell won a free-kick for City right beside the corner
flag, and Heath’s fine cross produced a bout of head-tennis, before the ball was
cleared. In the 72nd minute, Heath’s corner led to City re-taking the lead. The ball was
cleared by the Stocksfield defence, but Kilgour lofted the ball back into the danger
area, and Barclay cleverly lifted his shot over Berry.

In the 74th minute, City made their first change as Priest replaced the limping
Holliday. After 78 minutes, City made it 4-2 and the move started with a fine ball
down the right flank from Rooke. Priest collected the pass and transferred the ball to
Yallop, who delivered an excellent cross that was headed in powerfully by Bell from
8 yards out.

Stocksfield then replaced Finnerty with Tordoff, and Wilkinson’s free-kick was
deflected behind for a corner. The 80th minute flag-kick was met by the head of
Kettles, who brought his side back to 4-3. City then brought on Amato for Rowell.

In the 83rd minute, a great pass from Yallop found Priest on the right wing, and his
cross was missed by Heath, but fell nicely for Bell. The City striker blasted a great
chance wide of the post. Berry’s weak goal-kick went straight to Amato, but the
substitute’s shot did not have enough power to beat the visiting keeper. The first
booking of the game went to Armstrong, after a foul.

Wilkinson’s free-kick caused some problems in the City defence, before Stocksfield’s
Below was booked by referee Backhouse. Bradley had to dive to his left to save from
Stewart, and after 87 minutes, City replaced Bell with Burton. In the 89th minute,
Armstrong found Priest, who tried an ambitious 45-yard shot that flew over the bar.
Stocksfield pressed right to the end, and an injury-time shot from Stewart flew wide
from 25 yards.

The game was a fine advert for Alliance football and produced a fine spectacle on an
unpleasant evening. Stocksfield contributed much to the game and should do well in
the premier division. City will be pleased that the goals are flowing from different
areas of the side.

TEAMS- CITY- Bradley, Rooke, Yallop, Hill, Barclay, Heath, Holliday, Armstrong,
Rowell, Bell, Kilgour. SUBS- Burton, Amato, Priest, Short.
STOCKSFIELD- Berry, Wanless, Wilkinson, Vause, Hudspith, MacDonald, Murray,
Stewart, Waugh, Kettles, Finnerty. SUBS- Tordoff, Below, Barrett, Barnard,
Teasdale.

REFEREE- Mark Backhouse

BOOKINGS- Armstrong (City), Below (Stocksfield)

MAN OF THE MATCH- Kilgour (City), Stewart (Stocksfield)