Match report from the Morecambe home game
The Shrimps took their first ever win away from Carlisle courtesy of some hesitant second half defending as the Cumbrians allowed a promising start to fade into a long period of nervy football.
Morecambe came out of the blocks firing and an early corner brought a loud penalty appeal as Goodall wriggled free of his marker. His downward header hit Hery on the arm but the referee immediately waved play on.
Carlisle mounted an attack of their own as they regrouped and a training ground corner routine brought a low pass from Grainger which Kennedy chased. He put his boot through it and Roche was relieved to see it rattle off the top of the bar.
Good work from McQueen took him past his man and a shout from Kennedy brought the ball into the box. The keeper tried to cover the angles but a clipped pass left him in no man's land. Asamoah tried to get there but he couldn't quite make up the ground.
Carlisle started to get into their stride and a neat pass from Joyce gave Asamoah something to hunt. He dropped his shoulder and let one fly and Roche had to move quickly to tip it over the bar.
The Shrimps looked good on the counter and a raking pass took Barkhuizen deep into the United half. He tried to draw the keeper but his shot was weak and Gillespie was able to gather comfortably.
The hosts deservedly took the lead midway through the half when Dicker robbed possession in midfield. He burst clear and sprayed it wide for McQueen to cross. It took two deflections before Danny Grainger brought the stadium to its feet with a crisp and unstoppable right foot finish – his first goal for the club from open play.
Hery went close with a thundering 19-yard piledriver, and the lead was almost doubled moments later when a high ball dropped on the Morecambe penalty spot. Roche was out smartly, but Kennedy got there first and his lob had to be cleared off the line by the retreating Ryan Edwards.
Morecambe looked unsettled but Gillespie was tested when Ellison found half a yard on the half hour. A stinging drive had to be parried as the big stopper spotted the wickedly moving ball very late.
The warning wasn't heeded and the Shrimps got themselves back on level terms when the Carlisle defence fell asleep. Shaun Miller was given time and space to do his stuff and he left Gillespie with no chance as he blazed a fine shot into the far corner.
The Cumbrians should have restored their advantage with the very next attack when Asamoah went clean through with McGowan and Edwards in close attendance. Roche closed the gap and made himself big and that was enough to put the striker off, just as it looked easier to score.
Morecambe finished the half well, without quite managing to find a way through, and it was all-square as the teams made their way down the tunnel.
The visitors had the first chance of the second half when Devitt picked out Barkhuizen with a cross-field pass. His first touch was perfect and his run left him with just Gillespie to beat. He lost his bearings and the ball screwed off his boot and went well wide.
Morecambe then opened Carlisle up when Shaun Miller dissected the heart of the defence. Barkhuizen was on his own but he had to stretch and he could only push it wide.
A move down the left flank was the Carlisle response and Parrish got a vital touch from a Grainger cross as McQueen waited to greet it. The same player delivered another peach and Parrish again did enough with a touch to take it away from Kennedy and McQueen on this occasion.
Derek Asamoah was booked for simulation when he poked a Kennedy flick past Barry Roche on the edge of the box and the Morecambe goal lived a charmed life seconds later when a deflected Grainger cross brought a back header from Kennedy. The keeper was rooted to the spot as it dropped viciously and bounced back off his bar.
Grainger was everywhere and he was a whisker away with a 30-yard free kick which beat the wall and shaved the outside of the post.
Morecambe grabbed the lead in controversial circumstances when United stopped in their tracks as they expected a throw-in decision to be given their way. The assistant referee waved play on and Tom Barkhuizen had time on his side as he picked his spot for his fifth goal of the season.
Gillespie had to save at the feet of Ellison as United looked ragged after the goal, and substitute Steven Rigg volleyed over at the other end as the game opened up.
The visitors started to grow in confidence and Barkhuizen forced a one-handed save from Gillespie as he tried to curl one into the top corner.
The Morecambe third goal came from more poor defending as Devitt pounced on another error to send the ball to the back stick. The keeper and his back line looked at each other as Shaun Miller ghosted in to score from close range.
Gillespie had to save from Ellison, Barkhuizen and Mullin as the away pressure increased, and a late strike from Derek Asamoah - a fantastic finish for his sixth of the campaign - was too little too late as the visitors comfortably watched the clock tick down.
+++++++
Goals
United - Grainger (23), Asamoah (90)
Morecambe - Miller (35), Barkhuizen (63, 74)
+++++++
Bookings
United - Joyce (45), Asamoah (58)
+++++++
Teams
Carlisle United - Gillespie, Miller, Raynes, Gillesphey (Osei 75), McQueen, Kennedy, Dicker, Joyce (Sweeney 68), Grainger, Hery (Rigg 68), Asamoah. Subs - Hanford, Atkinson, Archibald-Henville, Thompson.
Morecambe - Roche, Beeley, McGowan, Kenyon, Edwards, Devitt (Mullin 78), Barkhuizen (Molyneux 88), Ellison (Ryan 88), Goodall, Miller, Parrish. Subs - Thompson, Bondswell, Bailey.
+++++++
Referee - Mr Peter Bankes
Attendance - 5,303 (366 away fans)