United Boss Neil McDonald handed a debut to new arrival Jermaine Beckford today as Carlisle faced a Millwall team desperate to get their season back on track after a troubled start.
Carlisle were without Peter Murphy at the centre of defence, after his failed late morning fitness tests following a troublesome knee injury picked up in last weekend's game. Danny Livesey came in to partner captain Kev Gray and Paul Arnison also kept his place at right back with Dave Raven still injured.
It took Beckford just 3 minutes to make his mark when he went in for a challenge with Samy Mawene and picked up a yellow card for his troubles. It was a disjointed start to the game, with players on either side needing treatment, and it wasn't until the 7th minute that a shot would come in. It was Samy Mawene involved again, but he drove a snap shot over the bar from just outside the area as United failed to clear their lines.
Carlisle were looking nervous in defence as Millwall had started brightly, but they were doing enough to make sure that there were no clear cut chances for the Lions as they worked hard to get a foothold in the game. Another shot from 23 yards by Haynes in the 13th minute, that was rising from the moment he connected, was typical of the early fare on show in the game.
It was almost disaster for Keiren Westwood in the 19th minute when he hovered over a long kick, allowing Hubertz to close the gap. When the clearance came from the keeper it crashed against the big Danish striker, but Westwood reacted quickly and redeemed himself when he scopped the ball up at his feet. Within a matter of seconds his goal was under pressure again when Haynes went on a good run, beating his man to get to the bye line. His cut back across the face of the area looked very inviting for Alan Dunne, but a poor connection, under pressure from Arnison, meant that a sitter was missed from less than 5 yards out when it would have been easier to hit the target.
Haynes had a hopeful shot from the angle of the box in the 25th minute but Millwall were left wondering what might have been once more in their next attack when a great move saw them roar down the wing. A superb back post cross found Hubertz in space, and he looked to have done everything right as he nodded it back towards the far post, only to see it drift inches wide and go behind for a goal kick.
Jermaine Beckford tried to breath some life in to the game with a speculative 30 yarder but it was the Lions who would open the scoring in the 27th minute when Hubertz was played through in to a dangerous position. His cross had two MIllwall players bearing down on it and Alan Dunne made no mistake as Haynes failed connection brought confusion. It was a relatively easy finish from 10 yards out, leaving Westwood with no chance as it nestled in the back of the net.
It had been a slog for the Cumbrians but a free kick in the 32nd minute finally saw them get forward with purpose, with Lumsdon winning a corner as he cracked the ball against the wall. The corner had Millwall in a panic, and Carlisle stayed forward piling the pressure on. Chris Billy spotted Hackney on the left, and the nippy winger skipped his way past 3 players before picking out a fantastic cross that had the blue shirts interested. Kev Gall got there first, volleying low, and he found Jermaine Beckford lurking. The debut boy watched the ball closely and put it beyond Pidgeley, registering his first ever senior goal but, more importantly, putting his new side right back in to the game.
Millwall would regain the lead in the 39th minute, though, when a high ball found Kev Gray slightly off balance. His first attempted back header was weak and, as he continued to fall over, his second connection put the ball on a plate for Poul Hubertz. The big forward was able to slip it beyond Westwood and restore the one goal lead.
Carlisle were almost thrown another lifeline in the 40th minute when Hubertz was judged to have handled the ball right on the edge of his own area. Mr Laws pointed to the spot but Chris Lumsdon, who struck the penalty firmly, was gutted to see it smack against the base of the post and rebound to safety. Chris Billy won a corner with a follow up shot but the chance was gone and United were left feeling deflated.
Simon Hackney caught everyone by surprise on the stroke of half time when he cut in and lofted a shot towards the top of the net from all of 27 yards. Pidgeley was stretched but was still able to tip it over the bar as he got his fingers to the stinging drive.
Half Time: United 1 - 2 Millwall
McDonald made an immediate change after the break, bringing Derek Holmes on to replace Chris Billy, obviously looking to mix things up a bit more in the Millwall half.
The Lions started the half brightly again, forcing two corners following another surging run down the right by Hackett, and Carlisle had to concentrate as the visitors clearly had their tails up.
Danny Livesey had to get across to cover a sprint by Danny Haynes as Arnison was turned high up the pitch, and his timely challenge saw the ball eventually bobble through to Westwood. At the other end a Chris Lumsdon free kick skimmed off the head of Shaw, with Beckford waiting, and bounced out for a corner with the crowd hoping that it would creep in via the woodwork.
Holmes and Gall linked well in the 56th minute when the big Scottish striker unsettled his markers, leaving his partner in space. Gall spun and shot and was unlucky to see it zip just wide.
Kev Gall had another shot from the edge of the box deflected for a corner on the hour mark, after Lumsdon had battled to get the ball to him. It was another strong connection but the defence did its job, refusing to allow him a path through.
Carlisle were looking better since the arrival of Holmes and he would nearly score one himself in the 65th minute when a Lumsdon free kick evaded everyone. Aranalde was flying in trying to get a touch and probably put Holmes off as he stooped to get his head to an awkwardly bouncing ball that he could only place wide of the post.
Kev Gall had been involved much more himself since the start of the second half and he would hit the outside of the woodwork again in the 68th minute when he pounced on a loose ball and swept it goalwards. Pidgeley was beaten but it was agonisingly just inches wide and Millwall could breath again.
The Cumbrians had a huge shout for a penalty turned away in the 73rd minute when a Thirlwell cross was flicked on by Derek Holmes. Gall was there to volley it and it was stopped on its route towards the back of the net by the hand of Tony Craig, but the Referee showed no interest at all despite the volume of the appeals.
Hackney tried to turn provider on 77 minutes with a teasing cross that Gall got on the end of. Craig had stuck close and was able to get a block in that would divert it away for a corner.
Zebroski nearly sealed the points shortly after coming on in the 81st minute when he powered a Haynes cross wide and the same player put a long range shot in to Westwood's arms on 83 minutes as the Lions made things very frustrating for the home side. A last ditch volley in the 95th minute from Kev Gall was very nearly the goal that the Cumbrians had been praying for, but credit has to go to Lenny Pidgeley who pulled off a wonderful save to preserve a much needed 3 points for his team.
It was a tough match, this one, for a Carlisle side who never really got themselves going at all against a Millwall side who came here showing the right attitude. A first home League defeat of the season is hard to take, especially when you know that United have played much better, but these games come in what is a long, long season.
Goals
United - Beckford (33)
Millwall - Dunne (27), Hubertz (39)
Bookings
United - Beckford (3)
Millwall - Ross (40), Hackett (52), Pidgeley (68)
Teams
United - Westwood, Arnison, Livesey, Gray, Aranalde, Billy (Holmes 46), Thirlwell, Lumsdon, Gall, Beckford, Hackney. Not Used - Williams, Grand, G Murray, Hindmarch.
Millwall - Pidgeley, Ross, Craig, Elliott, Dunne, Hackett, Senda (Phillips 65), Shaw, Mawene (McInnes 74), Hubertz (Zebroski 80), Haynes. Not Used - Day, Trotter.
Away Fans - 513
