New arrival Paul Thirlwell took a place on the bench for United's second home League game in a row as manager Neil McDonald stuck with the eleven who had created and converted chances against Cheltenham last weekend.
Youngster Steve Hindmarch kept his place in the dug out, with the striking three of Holmes, Gall and Hawley preferred up front.
Returning hero John Gorman, now manager of last season's League Two runners up, was able to name Andy Kirk in his attack as the forward shook off injury worries ahead of the game.
A full blooded start was expected from two teams who like to play football and the crowd weren't disappointed as Northampton tried to push forward quickly, with Carlisle doing the same at the other end.
The visitors had slightly the better of it from the kick off but United got their passing game going in the 8th minute when Kev Gall controlled a throw in from Raven on his chest. He wasted no time in hooking the ball in to the box where Gray, who had stayed forward, was able to head it back in to the middle. Ian Taylor made sure he stopped any further movement, nodding the ball backwards, but Bunn was unable to prevent the corner. Lumsdon delivered well but a lack of bodies at the back post brought an end to the pressure.
The Cobblers had obviously been well briefed and were quick to close down whenever Carlisle had the ball, keeping the pacey forwards of Hackney and Gall at bay as they probed for a way through. The Cumbrians were playing in much the same way, defending well when they didn't have the ball and keeping the game in midfield.
Karl Hawley almost found a way through in the 19th minute when he remained patient, timing his forward run to perfection for the flick over the top. It came down to a race between him and Bunn, and the keeper won out with the Hitman poised to lob the ball over him had he made a mistake.
Good work between Aranalde and Hackney on the left in the next attack gave the defender an early crossing opportunity, and he looked up quickly to spot the near post run of Hawley. His header was good but, perhaps, had slightly too much on it as it zipped beyond the angle of the bar and the post.
The game remained an entertaining one, despite the lack of goal mouth action, and both teams looked comfortable on the ball as they played their waiting game.
Scott McGleish went for the audacious in the 31st minute when Andy Kirk swung a cross in to the box, and his overhead kick had direction, but lacked power, as Westwood gathered it gratefully. The Carlisle keeper then had to tip a McGleish cross / shot over the bar as it threatened to dip under the woodwork, but he was well beaten by a Luke Chambers header from the resulting corner, needing Hackney to smash it away from his position on the goal line.
United had survived the trio of scares, and created one of their own in the 36th minute when Hawley pounced on a defensive error. Paul Murray was arriving late and the cross was at just the right height for him to bullet it towards the bottom corner. It looked to be the opening goal of the game but a great piece of athleticism from Bunn enabled him to get across and put his hand on to it.
Derek Holmes then sent a header wide in the 38th minute, when he probably had much more time, as Carlisle enjoyed the better of the play for a prolonged spell.
Simon Hackney was to the creative force again on 40 minutes when he left Taylor for dead on the wing. He skipped away, delivering to Gall, who touched it back towards Holmes. Hethought he'd done everything right, as he guided it beyond the despairing Bunn, but it took Sean Dyche, on the line, to batter the ball away. Lumsdon was on to it first but his shot was always rising and flew harmlessly over the bar.
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A determined Paul Murray |
Bunn was called in to action again in the 41st minute when Paul Murray drove forward from midfield and unleashed a fierce left footed drive from 20 yards. The keeper seemed to move late, but he got to it in time to deflect it wide for a corner. The same player was the recipient of another shooting chance as the crowd took their eye off the play, claiming a penalty for a bundled challenge on Hawley in the box. Murray ignored the appeals and concentrated instead on the ball, crashing an angled volley inches wide of the post.
Half Time: United 0 - 0 Northampton
Gilligan replaced Aiston for the restart, with the Cobblers man failing to shrug off a first half injury, and it would be the visitors who would draw blood first with a goal from nothing created by the substitute in the 47th minute.
A low drilled cross from Gilligan looked to be sitting nicely for either Gray or Westwood to deal with, but both hesitated allowing McGleish to nip in to the danger area and toe poke the ball, unchallenged, in to the bottom corner.
Paul Murray had been a thorn in the side for Northampton in the ten minutes leading up to the break and he was the first in a blue shirt to have a dig in the second half when he caught the ball on the volley in the 52nd minute. It was swirling, and certainly not easy for Bunn, but the keeper kept his eye on it and plucked it out of the air.
Ryan Gilligan sent a header wide just before Paul Thrilwell was brought on to make his debut, replacing Holmes, and the switch in formation that the change around brought was also the spark behind the equaliser.
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Hawley scores |
Paul Murray took it on in midfield, feeding it to Hackney out wide, and made sure that he was there to challenge for the cross.
He battled well, sending it on towards Karl Hawley, who twisted his way in to a shooting position. He had plenty to do, but was able to get the required power to get it beyond the keeper and in to the back of the net.
United could have been ahead two minutes later when Murray unlocked a flat back line with a slide rule pass. Hawley was on to it and went for a chip over the advancing Bunn when he had Gall, completely unmarked, screaming for it in space. It was disappointment all round as it dropped well over the bar and the chance was gone.
It was Carlisle who were looking the more likely all of a sudden and neat passing between Hackney and Aranalde left their markers flat footed. The cross that followed was met by Lumsdon, who had timed his run well, but his downwards header was straight at the keeper, who took it comfortably.
Murray seemed determined to get himself on the scoresheet and had another 25 yarder, that Bunn had to keep an eye on, and the local lad was definitely the focal point for alot of the work that the Cumbrians were getting through in the second half.
The introduction of Bojic to the fray for the Cobblers saw them become slightly more adventurous and his fellow substitute Gilligan rattled a long range effort over the bar in the 72nd minute. It was hearts in mouths time in the 75th minute when a hopeful ball forward was allowed to run on towards Westwood. McGleish sniffed a chance, and the Cumbrian's stopper had to be quick to be make sure he made it his.
The game was finely balanced, poised to go either way, and waiting for whichever side could create the decisive chance, and things started to tighten up considerably as no-one wanted to make a mistake.
Youngster Stephen Hindmarch, still only 16 years old, was brought on for the final 3 minutes and received a rousing welcome from the Brunton Park faithful.
United kept plugging away but it was a quiet finish to the game as the midfield tussle stifled the forward play.
United showed their character today by coming back from a goal that had been created from nothing, and certainly had done enough in the second half to have taken all 3 points. The Cobblers will be pleased with how they did things, making life difficult and getting that all important first goal and, on balance, the share of the spoils was probably the fairest result.
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Steve Hindmarch makes his Senior debut |
Goals
United - Hawley (56)
Northampton - McGleish (47)
Bookings
United - Murphy (87)
Teams
United - Westwood, Raven, Gray, Murphy, Aranalde, Hackney (Hindmarch 87), Lumsdon, P Murray, Holmes (Thirlwell 54), Gall, Hawley. Not Used - Williams, Arnison, Livesey.
Northampton - Bunn, Crowe, Chambers, Doig, Kirk (Quinn 76), Taylor, McGleish, Aiston (Gilligan 46), Burnell, Dyche, Watt (Bojic 61). Not Used - Harper, Johnson.
Away Fans - 367
