Kadeem Harris’ first United strike combined with a second-half goal from Luke Armstrong ensured United ended 2024 with all three points.
The Blues made three changes from their Boxing Day defeat to Morecambe - Harrison Biggins, Kadeem Harris and Dan Adu-Adjei replaced Harrison Neal, Jack Ellis and Sam Lavelle.
Kadeem Harris opened the scoring early, slamming home following some neat passing play, before Luke Armstrong slotted home the second into an empty net.
Accrington Stanley’s skipper, Seamus Conneely, had the game’s first chance, firing at goal from outside the box after a teammate drove through a couple of United bodies on the left. Gabe Breeze was on hand to tip away his attempt.
Following this opportunity, the Blues started to assert themselves, having a couple of chances where only the final pass was lacking before Kadeem Harris finished off a well-worked move down the left - blasting home from close-range following Jon Mellish’s low cross.
On 24 minutes, captain Jordan Jones showed brilliant skill and power to drive into the centre of the pitch before unleashing a powerful drive which flew wide.
After returning to the starting line-up, Dan Adu-Adjei looked lively in the opening half-hour - his best chance coming from the edge of Crellin’s area which landed off target.
Stanley’s midfielder, Ben Woods, came close to doubling United’s lead after almost heading home Harrison Biggins’ delivery from a free-kick into his own net.
As half-time came closer, the Cumbrians should’ve almost certainly been leading 2-0. Biggins’ free-kick found Aaron Hayden at the back post, who sent the ball back across to Harris who hit the bar, before Adu-Adjei and Jones had shots which were blocked and off target, respectively.
Moments later, Luke Armstrong also came agonisingly close to extending our lead, but his header was nodded over the crossbar.
Three minutes before the interval, Accrington came close to restoring parity through Zach Awe - the defender’s header from point-blank range went just over before Shaun Whalley saw a shot crash against the crossbar in the following phase of play.
The visitors’ number seven, Whalley, would hit the woodwork again on the stroke of half-time, this time his effort smashed against the base of the post.
HALF-TIME: United 1-0 Accrington Stanley
Harris started the second-half full of energy, latching onto a forward pass following a defensive mistake from the visitors. After finding himself with plenty of time to pick his spot, he blasted well over Crellin’s bar.
Luke Armstrong made it two nine minutes into the second-half. A loose pass backwards put Stanley’s backline under pressure, they sent it back to their ‘keeper, who was closed down by Harris brilliantly, his touch took the ball into the path of Armstrong who made no mistake with an empty goal to shoot at.
United continued to push forward in search of a third with only the final pass or finish seeming to be lacking in the time which remained.
On 70 minutes, defender Sonny Aljofree’s header was calmly claimed by Gabe Breeze as they looked to pull one back at the opposite end.
Three minutes later, Tyler Walton did get Accrington’s first after drifting past Hayden easily prior to rolling home the wrong side of Gabe Breeze.
With even minutes remaining, Mellish showed great energy on the outside to get beyond Sadi and deliver to Adu-Adjei, however, his shot was deflected wide.
During stoppage time, there was a lengthy stoppage after Mellish picked up a head injury. After play resumed, the Cumbrians managed to ride out the minutes that remained and secured a massive three points to end 2024.
FULL-TIME: United 2-1 Accrington Stanley
Teams:
Carlisle United - Breeze, Harper, Hayden (86’ Ellis), Jones ©, Biggins, Adu-Adjei, Mellish, Sadi, Barclay, Armstrong, Harris (75’ Neal)
Unused subs - Smith, Charters, Dudik, Allan, Hetherington
Accrington Stanley - Crellin, Love, Awe, Rawson (46’ J. Woods), Coyle (88’ Knowles), Whalley, B. Woods, Khumbeni (60’ Martin), Walton (88’ Henderson), Aljofree, Conneely © (60’ Hunter)
Unused subs - Kelly, Popoola,
Goals:
Carlisle United - (11’ Harris), (54’ Armstrong)
Accrington Stanley - (73’ Walton)
Yellow cards:
Carlisle United - (41’ Sadi), (49’ Adu-Adjei), (50’ Harper), (81’ Breeze), (90+2' Jones)
Accrington Stanley - (29’ Rawson), (58’ Khumbeni), (66’ Whalley), (72’ Walton), (74’ Hunter)
Red cards:
Carlisle United - N/A
Accrington Stanley - N/A
Match officials:
Referee - Thomas Parsons
Assistant Referee - Adam Nichol
Assistant Referee - Matthew Sowerby
Fourth Official - Steven Copeland
Attendance:
7,130 (288 away)
