United secured a point at Vale Park following a strong display against promotion-chasing Port Vale.
The Blues made four changes from last weekend’s defeat to Chesterfield - Harrison Neal, Jack Ellis, Ben Barclay and Luke Armstrong entered the line-up.
Armstrong found the back of Connor Ripley’s net inside two minutes, however, the forward was deemed to have fouled the hosts’ skipper, Connor Hall, in the build-up.
On 8 minutes, the Valiants looked to catch United on the break, which saw Jordan Jones drag down Rico Richards on halfway and he was then shown the game's first yellow card.
Seconds later, Carlisle’s number 11 fired over Port Vale’s crossbar from distance.
Ethan Chislett had the Valiants’ first effort on target against the run of play, Gabe Breeze made the required low save before Jack Ellis cleared the threat.
Before Ryan Croasdale then lashed wide from outside the box on 25 minutes.
Jones was involved once again on the half-hour mark, this time firing wide, prior to striking into Ripley’s arms with a second attempt soon after.
After taking on several efforts himself, Jones looked to assist on 37 minutes, whipping a fine cross to the back post but Dominic Sadi was unable to connect.
HALF-TIME: Port Vale 0-0 United
Port Vale started the second-half on the front-foot, unlike the first. Croasdale connected with a cross forcing Breeze into a good save.
Sam Lavelle would defend superbly minutes later, turning behind a delivery as the Valiants continued to push for the opener.
On 56 minutes, Jack Shorrock picked out Jayden Stockley but the attacker nodded over.
Five minutes later, Luke Armstrong was played through and should’ve almost certainly broken the deadlock - his shot from close range was straight at Ripley.
Midway through the second-half, Rekeem Harper came inches from opening the scoring, his shot from inside the box flew just wide of United’s goal.
Jack Ellis had a fine opportunity to score in front of the away end with 20 minutes remaining, Jones looked to find the defender at the far post but he was unable to reach the ball despite being at full stretch.
In the dying embers, both teams had chances to take all three points but neither could find the back of the net.
FULL-TIME: Port Vale 0-0 United
Teams:
Port Vale - Ripley, Hall ©, Stockley, Chislett, Paton (64’ Curtis), Croasdale, Debrah, Shorrock, Richards (46’ Tolaj), Cover (46’ Sang), Harper (79’ Edwards)
Unused subs - Amos, Heneghan, Hackford
United - Breeze, Harper, Lavelle ©, Hayden, Jones (74’ Adu-Adjei), Neal, Ellis (74’ Burey), mellish, Sadi (74’ Biggins), Barclay, Armstrong
Unused subs - Randall, Kelly, Charters, Hetherington
Goals:
Port Vale - N/A
United - N/A
Yellow cards:
Port Vale - (30’ Shorrock)
United - (8’ Jones), (29’ Neal), (39’ Harper), (90’ Lavelle), (90+2’ Mellish)
Red cards:
Port Vale - N/A
United - N/A
Match officials:
Referee - Edward Duckworth
Assistant Referee - Jacob Lehane
Assistant Referee - Kevin Morris
Fourth Official - Richard Wigglesworth
Attendance:
6,920 (661 away)
