|
The East Stand where away fans are housed is big and spacious, even though it overuns the end of the pitch. There is not much space between us and the home fans which means all the 12-year-old scumbags who are up past their bedtime congregate and try and act all hard. Other stands look like they are likely to fall down at any moment. They have put in a scoreboard since last season though, it's on the little hut at the back of the Waterworks stand to our right.
How many Iron fans were there and what was the atmosphere like?
I'd estimate somewhere between 60-70, a decent turnout considering it is a midweek game on a cold October evening. We didn't make that much noise but were in good spirits, much more noise than the home fans though - some of whom started flitting out on the hour mark. I took a couple of mates who had never been to a Third Division match before - they were amazed that we could sit where we liked. Des Byrne also got some abuse, he owes my housemate some CDS. Why he feels the need to keep hold of a Mariah Carey CD I'll never know.
I was surprised that there wasn't a minutes silence before the match though for Hassan Martin, the ten month old baby who was stabbed in the city centre earlier in the morning by his own dad. I live in Carlisle, and some of my friends had been out reporting on it, it really has left the entire city with a sense of shock like I've never experienced before.
Recent performances have been a bit below par, how did the lads perform?
First up - Carlisle were an absolute bag of shite. Their confidence was shot and they didn't look to have the skills to dig themselves out of it. However, we put in the battling kind of performance we have lacked in the past. Terry Barwick was impressive in midfield and looks to have taken his chance in the first team well, while Andy Butler at centre-back also looked solid - even though the home side were not capable of truly testing him. Steve Torpey looked solid, the early goal did his confidence the world of good and Sam Russell had a good game between the sticks - flapped at a cross for their late consolation goal but hadn't put a foot wrong before that all game.
What were the goals like, we gather Kevin Sharp's was pretty special?
|
Paul Keegan came off the bench to make his debut after signing from Leeds, what did you think of him?
He was only on for the last quarter of an hour and the game was well over as a contest so he could go out and enjoy himself. He showed a couple of good touches, and looked to have an instant understanding with Steve MacLean. Looks a good prospect, but it will be fairer to judge him after he has had some training sessions with his new team-mates. Ridders also came on at the same time, didn't have that much to do and it was just a case of easing him back into competitive football. I don't think he would have played had Wednesday's reserve team game not been cancelled.
Carlisle are now ten points adrift from safety, and have the worst record in the Football League, can they stay up?
They've left it late before, with their goalie scoring in the 94th minute to keep them up. But something needs to change if they're going to have a chance, the culture of losing looks engrained in them and they looked resigned to defeat within minutes of being out on the pitch. Some CUFC fans have already given up and have stopped handing over their £14 to watch players who they claim aren't bothered about their club. I'd like to see them stay up, but they need a massive shake-up of their playing squad.
And United, is the win enough to inspire a rise up the table?
Hopefully, though we're still stuck in mid-table. Last night we we showed enough skill and character to convince me that we can be up there again this year. Credit to Brian Laws as well, not only for creating a battling side who care about the club but simply for being their last night despite the shock death of his ex-wife the day before. There had been some calls for him to be sacked after the derby defeat against Lincoln, but last night proved that he still has the confidence of the dressing room and he deserves our support - a couple of good wins and we'll be right up there again.