matchreportmorecambe29aug17

United travelled to the Globe Arena for the first of their Checkatrade Trophy group games on Tuesday night looking to bounce back from a disappointing weekend result.

And the visitors struck twice to claim their first group points in a game they largely controlled from the moment their early goal hit the target.

The Cumbrians took the lead with just 32 seconds on the clock when Shaun Miller got his toe end to a high ball over the top. His touch brought strike partner Hallam Hope into play and his crisp volley bulged the back of the net as he drilled his first goal of the campaign past a dive from Nizic.

Morecambe tried to settle their way into the game following the early blow and a long range effort from Fleming had the home crowd interested until it zipped just over the bar. 

Carlisle attacked in numbers as they tried to keep the upper hand and a cross from Joyce was hooked back into the area by Devitt. It looped over Nizic but it was always heading wide.

The Cumbrians started to look dangerous and James Brown scuffed a shot over the target when he found unexpected space 22-yards out. The blue shirts regrouped and a flowing move brought Parkes into a crossing position. He curled one to the far post but Kennedy couldn't quite find the touch as it bounced over his boot.

Former-United forward Adam Campbell sparked a crisp move for the hosts when he fed the ball down the right flank. He was in the area for the return pass and George had to drop low to deal with a volley on the spin which was heading in the right direction.

Hope did well at the other end when he bent his run to angle into the area, but his low cross was put behind as Miller moved to get a touch. Ellis sent his header from the resulting corner into the stands.

The lively forward then had a shot deflected and there was a goalmouth scramble when Devitt fizzed the set piece low. Parkes connected with a stinging drive but it pinged around off a deflection before being hooked to safety.

The Shrimps had a big chance to pull level just after the half hour when the experienced Kevin Ellison was played clean through. With just George to beat he lost his bearings and blazed a poor effort over the bar.

Midfielder Luke Joyce scuffed an edge-of-the-box attempt straight at Nizic as the game ebbed and flowed, and Campbell had a shot from an Ellison nod down smothered with both goals coming under threat.

As they'd started the half, Carlisle ended it with another goal when Jason Kennedy marked his first start of the season with a trademark close range finish. He had plenty to do as the ball dropped out of the air but concentration and a calm head did the trick as he swept the swirling ball home.

A run from deep from Hope almost opened things up for the visitors again after the break but his cut back to Miller was stopped at source. The Blues came again and Hope looked to have found a way through, but his shot was scuffed as a tackle came in.

Debut boy James Brown showed excellent skill and a turn of pace when he left his man standing on the right flank. His cross found Devitt but it was a difficult chance and Nizic saved comfortably.

Devitt was the width of the woodwork away from scoring the goal of the game following good approach play from Miller. The forward turned his man and fed the ball across and Devitt wheeled away in frustration as his shot smashed into the post and ricocheted away to safety.

More hesitation in the Morecambe defence allowed Miller to steal possession and Adams was onto it like a flash. His cross was perfect for Miller until McGowan got back to make a vital block.

A header from a fierce corner had to be sliced behind off the line as Morecambe asked questions and Mark Ellis completed a fine recovery tackle as Deakin had the goal at his mercy when he beat George to a ball over the top. He was set to celebrate until the Carlisle man took the ball off his toes.

Nabi dinked a toe poke past the post when Adams sent him clear late in the day, and George was brave at the other end as he raced out to punch before Deakin could pull the trigger from a good cross from Muller. 

Carlisle played some fantastic football as Jones, Adams, Devitt and Bennett made space for Nabi to shoot but a block in the area meant Nizic was spared any work.

George did well to deal with a deflected shot from Muller as the clock ticked down, and that was that as the visitors saw their victory out.

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Goals

Carlisle United - Hope (1), Kennedy (44)

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Bookings

Morecambe - Fleming (82)

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Teams

Morecambe - Nizic, McGowan, Winnard (c) (Deakin 60), Fleming, Campbell, Ellison (Thompson 71), Conlan (Lund 82), Wildig, Lavelle, Osborne, Muller. Subs - Roche (GK), Old, Rose, Yawson.

Carlisle United - George, Brown, Ellis, Parkes, Grainger (c), Kennedy (Adams 63), Joyce, Jones, Devitt, Hope (Bennett 69), S Miller (Nabi 69). Subs - Bacon, Liddle, Cosgrove, Lambe.

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Referee - Seb Stockbridge

Attendance - 1,228 (353 away fans)

Read Time: 5 mins