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22nd August 2007
Gillford Park 3 - 1 Carlisle City
Gillford Park entered this game off the back
of two fine wins, looking forward to their first home outing against a
side they met in last seasons Cumberland Cup 3rd Round. Lee Otway, as much
as anyone, would have been looking forward to the game having spent a
spell with the Sky Blues last season but other than that there were few
links between the visitors and their hosts.
Gillford, who have recently been working hard to promote the club, were
unsure how many to expect down but by kick off time a good crowd had
assemble that continued to be swelled even as late as half-time, and in
glorious sunshine they were treated to a grand match, contested by two
good teams, controlled by a well qualified ref and, most importantly, one
that merited another three points for the home side.
Gillford, lining up in their all white home strips, set out their stall as
early as the second minute as Skinner sent a diagonal ball to Moffat. The
ex-Harraby Catholic winger put in a good cross and it was Skinner who
brought the ball down to put Rayson in on goal, but the young strikers
shot was blocked and cleared.
Two minutes later and the Sky Blues were awarded their first chance after
a foul by Steve Skinner on Holliday, but the free kick was wasted when
Armstrong shot wide from 28 yards. In the 7th minute some good work by
Short, Lang and Addison picked out the strong run of Lee Otway, but his
shot from a tight angle flew over the bar and into the bushes at the far
end.
There were further chances in the following seconds for both sides, as
first a good ball from Palmer was flicked on by Otway into the path of
young Dan Rayson, who had earlier in the week turned out for Workington
Reds Reserves, but the keeper parried his shot with his legs. The ball was
cleared up to Prince whose chip found the head of tall striker Temple, but
he could not trouble Gavin Armstrong in the home goal.
In the tenth minute a move involving Short, Butler, Moffat and latterly
Rayson saw a cross hastily thumped out by the visitors back line, and as
it fell quickly to Skinner there was little time to measure up the shot
and he was unable to direct it past City custodian Wills. From the throw
out Priest sent the ball to Temple, but, as was the trend throughout the
match, Danny Palmer denied the forward room to move and the ball was run
out.
With just seventeen minutes on the clock City were handed a scoring
opportunity when a lobbed ball from Taylor caused a mix up, with three
Gillford defenders leaving the ball for each other, but again Armstrong
was on hand to stop Priest's shot, allowing Mark Butler to recover and
clear.
Shortly after a free kick was awarded and Osgood again found temple, but
his powerful header was kept out by Gillfords 'keeper.
With Moffat and Rayson combining well down the right a cross shot from the
latter was just a little too fast for Otway to gain control of, and his
scuffed shot was blocked. Nevertheless, this started a sustained attack
which eventually saw Otway twisting and turning and, despite being
illegally impeded as he tried to round the 'keeper, the ref played a
clever advantage and the forward confidently hit home to take the lead for
his side.
The Sky Blues, who last season finished a creditable fifth as well as
championing the League Cup, pressed for the equaliser right from kick-off
and enjoyed a seven minute spell of pressure, during which Temple, twice,
Priest and Mather each saw attempts taken care of by the home defence.
Having endured the pressure, Gilly came out the other side fighting and in
the thirty-fifth minute Short put a long through ball to the strong run of
Rayson. The young forward flicked play on skilfully with the outside of
his boot to Addison, who turned well and, with the goal in his sights,
played the ball accurately between two defenders and was unlucky to see
his effort cleared off the line.
Three minutes later a good midfield move gave Rayson the chance to get to
the by-line and send a cross in to Addison, but his drive was just to
high. Gillford's ex-pro Steve Skinner had to be replaced during this time
with what looked like a groin strain, and he was replace by the capable
Darren Lee. The midfielder was thrown straight into the action sending a
good through ball to Otway, who won every header contested, and his flick
was well picked up by Rayson who played a one two with Moffat to continue
his run into the box, but his attempt on goal was just denied as it grazed
the crossbar.
There were no further chances and referee Jim Halliday blew for half-time
with the home side one-nil up at the break.
Five minutes into the half City got the much
needed equaliser after Gillford conceded a foul twenty-five yards from
goal to the left of the Gilly box. Peter Osgoods free kick was powered in
and although just out of 'keeper Armstrongs grasp, the home side were
initially saved by the crossbar, before Mark Temple popped up to head
home.
Gillford were undeterred and pressed straight from kick-off - although the
restart was retaken as the ball was originally played forward, - and a
long ball found scorer Lee Otway running free toward goal on the left, but
he was flagged offside by the far side linesman.
While a few minutes later, on fifty-five minutes, another long ball for
Gillford was played out on the left by the Sky Blues defence, and the
resulting throw was taken by Darren Lee. He and Mark Butler exchanged the
ball a couple of times, looking to find that killer opening, before Butler
sent a ball across the box that was shepherded out under pressure by
Moffat.
It was the left winger who took the throw before promptly receiving
possession back, and, although his cross was initially headed out to
Gillford's Danny Palmer, it was played back in to Lee Otway six yards from
goal. With the ball bouncing close to his body it took some clever close
control to set up the lob from little more than six yards, which found its
way freely over the goalie and into the back of the net.
Although Gillford had now regained their lead, City continued to surge
forward and at times looked likely to get back in the game, and only two
minutes after Lee Otways second the sides found themselves in the same
situation as had cancelled out his first, but Osgoods kick, from the same
spot to the left of the box, sailed through the packed penalty area and
wide of the right hand post.
With Gilly in possession on the left of the field and going nowhere, City
conceded a needless foul. The kick was taken by Short and played into the
box in search of Rayson, but was headed behind by 17, while Moffat's
corner was well taken by City's custodian Wills, under pressure from Lee
Otway.
At this point the game became a midfield battle, and, although there were
further attacks for both sides through both neat wing play and long balls
through the centre, there were few shots, and the next real scoring chance
came for Gillford with 72 minutes on the clock.
A foul on Darren Lee earned the homesters a kick to the right of the goal,
which was taken by Gillys set-piece expert Moffat, but the ball was played
out by city and up field. Good play by Gillford to keep possession saw a
long ball from deep in defence find Lee Otway surging forward.
With the ball falling just in front of him, and under pressure from both
defender and 'keeper, he again goes for the chip that earned him the
second goal but, with the ball lacking the momentum to carry it through to
the net, young forward Dan Rayson was on hand jumping with a recovering
defender to head home - much to his delight.
With eight minutes left John Lee Allen brought a defensive flavour to the
game, replacing the impressive Craig Thompson, and the strong defender was
immediately tested and found present, sheltering the ball home under
pressure by Number 9, Temple.
With few minutes left on the clock the hard-working Temple is again given
a sniff of goal, but sees his shot roll wide. From the kick Gilly
demonstrate some good work in midfield, with Darren Lee particularly
instrumental in producing the through ball to Otway.
The striker, who spent a spell last season with the Sky Blues, unselfishly
looks up to pinpoint the forward running Addison, and at the last minute
the ball is cleared for a corner as the midfielder tee'd up the shot.
A quick kick by Moffat was immediately played out for a further flag-kick
again to be taken by the winger, and after his long ball accurately found
the back-post neither Otway nor Lee could connect.
With the fans searching for their car keys and the ref checking his watch,
there were final chances for each of the dangerous forward duo of Rayson
and Otway, which saw the Workington Reserve players shot ever so slowly
roll agonisingly wide of the right hand post, before a headed chance for
his strike partner was denied. |