SATURDAY 5th SEPTEMBER 2009

SHANKHOUSE 1-1 CARLISLE CITY

City were looking to bounce back from successive defeats to Walker Central and
Harraby Catholic Club, but were forced to travel without the suspended Jamie Heath,
Scott Priest and Steven Bell, as well as the injured Adam Bradley, and holidaying
Giuseppe Amato. The team changes saw keeper Jordan English recalled to the side
and a first Alliance start up front for Chris Major. James Yallop came in at left back
and Calvin Rowell started on the right wing. New signings Mark McKenzie and Josh
Little were on the substitutes’ bench, along with James Burton.

J. Armstrong’s early free-kick for the home side had to be taken twice, after the
referee lectured Blaylock and L. Gustard for their misdemeanours. The free-kick was
safely cleared by the City defence. In the 4th minute, Shankhouse’s L. Gustard was
presented with a good chance, but English dived well to save, at the expense of a
corner. J. Armstrong’s left-wing kick floated over everyone inside the area.

In the 5th minute, City had a goal disallowed when Armstrong’s free-kick was
dropped by Bruce, under pressure from Hill, with Holliday scoring from the rebound,
but the referee had whistled for Hill’s foul. City began to mount some pressure, with
Hill’s free-kick being cleared, and Armstrong’s fierce 25-yard free-kick bouncing off
Bruce’s chest with Major unable to head in the loose ball.

After 12 minutes, Holliday was fouled by Foreman, with Hill’s free-kick aimed
towards Yallop, but Bruce came out to collect safely. City were close to taking the
lead in the 15th minute, as Short’s well-placed free kick was met by Hill at the back
post but he steered his shot just wide. However, in the 20th minute, Shankhouse made
it 1-0 as Thornton finished well from 15 yards, giving English no chance.

City responded with Holliday winning a corner off Middlemass. Short’s flag-kick was
dropped by Bruce, but fired wide by Hill. In the 23rd minute, the home side almost
doubled their lead as Bell’s left-wing cross was touched just wide by K. Gustard.
After 26 minutes, Holliday climbed well to win a header and flick the ball to Short,
who beat his man on the wing, before crossing a good ball that was pushed away by
Bruce. Another free-kick from Hill went behind without causing any alarms to
Shankhouse, and Holliday required treatment to an injury.

Hill was then forced to concede a corner, taken by L. Gustard, but the City centre-half
was able to clear. In the 34th minute, Holliday and P. Armstrong were both booked,
following an altercation in midfield. Bell’s cross was then well held by English, under
strong pressure from K. Gustard. City broke quickly in the 36th minute, with the ball
reaching Yallop on the left, but the full-back shot wildly off target.

Holliday was fouled by Moran, but Armstrong’s free-kick was blocked by the
Shankhouse defence. The home side put together a fine move in the 40th minute, and
L. Gustard was unlucky to see his shot beat English but bounce to safety off the far
post. Rowell made a pacy run down the City right, to win his side a corner. The kick
was taken short, and wasted, as no cross was delivered. In the 42nd minute, English
was called into action as he saved Foreman’s 25-yard shot. Soon after this, the City
keeper was again saving well to deny K. Gustard, as he turned and shot. The resulting
corner, from J. Armstrong, was cleared by Rooke. Just before the interval, Blaylock’s
foul on L. Gustard gave the home side a free-kick 20 yards out, but K. Gustard’s shot
was high and wide. There was still time for City to break upfield, and Short found
himself in space before firing a strong shot, that grazed the outside of the post.

HALF-TIME—Shankhouse 1-0 City

The second period began with a strong run from Rowell on the right flank, with the
ball moving to the opposite wing, and Yallop’s cross just clearing the crossbar. Short
then required treatment to an ankle injury. Holliday was flagged offside as he looked
to break clear but, in the 48th minute, the home side missed a great chance as K.
Gustard shot wide when looking sure to score.

In the 52nd minute, J. Armstrong’s cross was met by Thornton, just beating Foster, but
the ball went wide. A blistering run from City’s Armstrong up the centre of the field
was stopped by a foul from Moran, who received a yellow card from the referee.
Armstrong’s free-kick was chipped into the Shankhouse box, and Bruce just beat
Yallop to the ball.

Short could not recover from his earlier knock, and he was replaced by McKenzie,
making his Alliance debut for City. In the 56th minute, Rooke found Major just
outside the Shankhouse area, and the City striker curled his shot just wide. The best of
the Shankhouse chances seemed to be falling to K. Gustard, and he again fired over
from a good position in the 57th minute.

City equalised in the 58th minute with a fine goal from Joe Blaylock. A high ball into
the Shankhouse area looked awkward for Blaylock to control, but he swivelled in
mid-air and struck a fine volley high over the flailing Bruce. On the hour,
Armstrong’s free-kick was flighted into the Shankhouse box, but Hill was flagged
offside. English then produced a fine save to deny K. Gustard, before the City keeper
punched away Thornton’s corner, with L. Gustard shooting wide.

Armstrong made a promising run into the home box, but his pass to Major was not
controlled by the City striker. City were pressing hard now to take the lead and, in the
65th minute, McKenzie’s strength put him in a good position before unleashing a firm
shot that was held well by Bruce. Rowell limped off after falling heavily in the 67th
minute, and he was replaced by Burton. Thornton’s free-kick was headed to safety by
Hill.

Bruce then miskicked the ball to give City a right-wing corner. Burton’s kick was met
by Holliday, before deflecting for another corner. Taken this time by Rooke, the cross
was headed over by Armstrong. After 72 minutes, Bruce saved Blaylock’s 25-yard
shot, but Shankhouse countered with a great left-wing break from L. Gustard, with his
cross being scrambled clear. Bruce had to dash almost to the edge of his box to stop
McKenzie’s drive , and Armstrong’s high free-kick left Hill in a great position, but
the City man headed wide.

In the 76th minute, Blaylock and McKenzie linked on the City left with the loose ball
reaching Rooke, who watched as his shot was blocked on the line. Rooke’s right-wing
corner was then headed over by Armstrong. In the 80th minute, Yallop’s long throw
caused problems for the Shankhouse defence, and Bruce had to be alert to save
McKenzie’s header.

A barnstorming run from defence by Hill was rudely interrupted by Middlemass, who
was booked for his tackle, despite protesting that he took the ball. Armstrong’s free-
kick was lofted into the area, with a peculiar-looking offside given against Hill. City
then brought on Little for Major.

In the 88th minute, Armstrong almost won the game for City as his rasping 30-yard
drive was fingertipped by Bruce onto his own crossbar, with the ball bouncing to
safety. It was end-to-end in the last few minutes as both sides went for the three
points. Thornton’s right-wing cross had to be headed behind by Hill, for a corner. The
flag-kick dropped to L. Gustard, who shot well wide.

In the 90th minute, Armstrong and Rooke combined, to win a corner off Thornton.
Rooke’s corner was headed clear and Shankhouse broke quickly, up their right, with
K. Gustard’s dangerous cross being brilliantly cleared by Burton beneath his own bar.
Shankhouse won a corner two minutes into injury time, but Foster headed clear.

The game livened up in the second half to be a better spectacle, and either side could
have won the game. In the end, Shankhouse were drawing their fourth game out of
seven, whilst this was the first draw for City.

TEAMS- SHANKHOUSE- Bruce, Foreman, Potter, Middlemass, Moran, P.

Armstrong, J. Armstrong, Thornton, L. Gustard, K. Gustard, Bell. SUBS- Isbister,
Haddock, Watson, Wilson, Kirkup.
CITY- English, Rooke, Yallop, Foster, Hill, Armstrong, Blaylock, Rowell, Short,
Major, Holliday. SUBS- Little, McKenzie, Burton

REFEREE- G. Cameron

BOOKINGS- P. Armstrong, Middlemass, Moran (Shankhouse), Holliday (City)

MAN OF THE MATCH- Thornton (Shankhouse), Armstrong (City)