WHAT A GR-EIGHT GAME!
Last updated 11:48, Wednesday, 10 September 2008
NORTHBANK made a brilliant second half come back to share the spoils in an action-packed game.
Carlisle City had a 3-1 interval lead but Northbank fought back in the second half scoring three goals.
Northbank made a good start and combination play between David Carruthers and Max Brown led to a good cross from the former but Jack Hannah shot narrowly wide.
Keanan Foster almost scored for City but his brilliant volley from the halfway line cleared the Northbank crossbar by the narrowest of margins.
Foster then combined with Conor Keys and Seth Wright to force a corner which the Northbank defence managed to clear.
Wright then had a shot saved by Scott Wilson in the Northbank goal, before Luke Moore put City ahead following a brilliant move involving Foster, Keys and Craig Hindmarch.
Both teams were playing good football and Northbank’s Carruthers made a good run, on the left flank, before delivering a telling cross which James Fisher turned for a corner. Fisher was then involved in a passing move with Hindmarch which enabled Jake Williams to put City two up after eight minutes.
Hannah came close for Nothbank when he intercepted a clearance from Alex Armstrong. Hannah’s shot was goal bound but Foster came to City’s rescue by heading the ball over his own bar.
Northbank’s persistence led to them scoring in the 13th minute. Carruthers beat two defenders before trying a shot which Armstrong saved but couldn’t hold. A scramble ensued but Anthony Tang kept his head and some clever footwork enabled him to side foot the ball into the net.
City regained the initiative with Keys shooting narrowly wide, when Northbank failed to clear, but Callum Gawith increased the lead by heading in a cross from Hindmarch to give City a 3-1 half-time lead.
The second half started with a bang and there was a goal from each side in the opening three minutes as first Brown pulled a goal back for Northbank and then Moore netted his second, to restore City’s two goal advantage, following a terrific six-man move.
Armstrong started things off when he found Fisher who passed to Foster. The City captain made ground before playing the ball to Keyes who then gave it to Wright. The winger crossed for Moore to score with a powerful shot.
Northbank hit back and Armstrong, in the City goal, had a busy spell as he first hacked the ball for a corner, to cut out a threat from Hannah, before flinging himself full length to tip a shot from Carruthers for a corner.
Northbank had a very good spell mid-way through the second half when they scored two goals to draw level.
Their third was from a move which started when Wilson raced out of his penalty area to clear from Moore. The ball was picked up by Hannah deep in the opposing half and when he drove in a low cross, from the left touchline, Carruthers came in at the back post to score from close range.
With only one goal dividing the teams, Foster, Fisher and Wright drove forward for City and it took some excellent defensive work from Jack Bell to keep them at bay.
Northbank scored their equaliser after gaining a throw in, on their right, in the 31st minute. Carruthers immediately threw the ball to Brown who unleashed a terrific right foot cross shot which travelled almost 30 yards along the ground before entering the net just inside the far post.
Brown could have had his hat-trick but for an outstanding save from Armstrong and City launched a late attack in an attempt to score the winner but a firm tackle from Keegan Oates, on Moore, diverted the ball for a corner.
This game contained everything that is good about football and everyone could be well satisfied with this eight-goal thriller.
MATCH FACTS
Northbank: Scott Wilson, Jack Bell, Adam Robinson, Keegan Oates, Anthony Tang, Jack Hannah, Max Brown, Ben Cortez and David Carruthers.
Carlisle City: Alex Armstrong, James Fisher, Keanan Foster, Luke Moore, Conor Keyes, Seth Wright, Jake Williams, Craig Hindmarch and Callum Gawith.
Referee: Neil Bell
Man of the Match: David Carruthers, striker, Northbank: David played on the left in the first half where he made some exhilarating runs before delivering excellent low crosses into the danger area. After the interval he was switched to the right where he was still dangerous. David was comfortable on the ball and he unleashed a couple of good shots before eventually scoring a goal.
