Written by Craig Lucock
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SUMMARY
Tom Lawrence
Carlisle United were involved in their second five-goal game in a week as they recorded an emphatic victory over Tranmere Rovers in extremely windy conditions, helped by a sterling performance from Thomas Lawrence.
The home side opened the scoring just 38 seconds into the game, as Thomas Lawrence scored a superb volley from 25 yards out.
Tranmere should have leveled 10 minutes from the break as Kristoffer Peterson found himself in acres of space on the left hand side of the penalty area but his placed shot trickled past the far post. Carlisle doubled their lead just ten minutes into the first half as David Amoo volleyed in against his former team following a James Berrett corner.
Thomas Lawrence again showed why he is on the books at Manchester United as he scored a fantastic solo goal to give Carlisle a three goal advantage. The doubt was well and truly quelled as James Berrett fired in from just inside the box after 75 minutes, following some good work from David Amoo.
Ryan Lowe headed in a far post consolation for the visitors, but Carlisle went away with all three points.
Attendance : 3,793
Referee: Andy Madley
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LINEUPS
Carlisle United:
Subs:
Fleming
Noble
Beck
Guy
Roddan (Thirlwell – 72′)
Morris (Lawrence – 68′)
Potts (Ehmer – 77′)
Tranmere Rovers
Subs:
Horwood
Holmes
Rowe (Atkinson – 60′)
Kirby
Stockton
Power
Mooney
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MATCH REPORT
Carlisle United made two changes to the side that featured in the 3-2 FA Cup win over Brentford, with Ben Amos and Max Ehmer, who were both cup tied, coming in for Greg Fleming and the injured Pascal Chimbonda. Tranmere manager Ronnie Moore opted to make three changes to the side that lost 5-0 to Peterborough, with Jon Otsemobor, Ash Taylor and veteran Jason Koumas came in for Danny Holmes, Ryan Edwards and Jake Kirby.
Carlisle, perhaps spurred on by the news earlier in the day that Courtney Meppen-Walter had signed a two and a half year deal with the club, made a stunning start to the encounter as, just thirty-eight seconds into the game, as a ball over the top was challenged by Lee Miller, and the ball fell to Lawrence, who rifled a 25 yard volley into the top corner in stunning fashion.
Tranmere’s players and fans looked shellshocked, and Carlisle went on to dominate the early stages of the game, applying relentless pressure to the Tranmere goal. They very nearly doubled their lead a quarter of an hour into the game as Lee Miller got his head onto a James Berrett corner, only to see it cleared off the line by Jean Louis Akpa-Akpro. The visiting side fashioned their first opening of the game as Jason Koumas forayed forward into the Carlisle half, only to see his 25 yard effort fizz just over Ben Amos’ crossbar.
The Cumbrians focused their attack down the left flank, as Matty Robson made several runs forward to support Tom Lawrence whereas Ehmer showed that he is probably best suited in a central defensive role, as his forward runs were few and far between, often dropping back into the middle while defending. Five minutes after Tranmere’s first opening, Robson broke down the left hand side, his cross in started moving towards the goal, and troubled Fon Williams enough for him to have to palm the ball over the bar.
Half an hour in, and Tranmere began looking for the equaliser, as a through ball from the left sought the run of Ryan Lowe, Amos opted to stand his ground and not come out for the ball, and Lowe’s half hearted shot from a near impossible angle hit Amos and went out for a corner. Three minutes later, Amos, oblivious to the assistant referee’s flag, saved very well from Lowe’s header deep inside the penalty area. Tranmere’s players began to show signs of petulence and dissent, throwing the ball away and complaining at the ref, quite possibly in frustration, due to the fact that they were one nil down.
Lawrence showed signs of things to come, as an almost carbon copy of his long range free kick effort against Brentford was palmed away by Tranmere ‘keeper Fon Williams. Tranmere began posing a real threat to Carlisle, and perhaps should have found themselves level, as Liverpool loanee Kristoffer Peterson capitalised on a defensive mix up between Ehmer and O’Hanlon, but his attempted placement found the wrong side of the post, despite him being in acres of space.
The strong winds were playing havoc with the ball, as goal kicks and long balls were blown towards the Waterworks end of Brunton Park, forcing players from both sides to constantly reposition themselves to account for the changing trajectory. Ronnie Moore’s men nearly caught a break 5 minutes from time, as Buaben’s attempted clearance following a corner was charged down and very nearly ended up in the back of the net. Rovers continued to press, as another long range effort from Peterson went over the crossbar.
Robson’s crosses were causing trouble for Fon Williams, as the latter’s palms were stung by the former’s driven cross in first half stoppage time.
Half Time Carlisle United 1 – 0 Tranmere Rovers (Lawrence, 1’)
The second half began with the wind getting stronger and stronger. By the looks of things, so were Carlisle, as, in the 52nd minute, Berrett whipped in a corner which eventually saw David Amoo volley home emphatically against the side whose fans branded him ‘the worst player to ever wear the shirt’ to give him his 8th goal of the campaign. Tranmere were visibly rattled by going two behind, as they began to squander possession and make completely unforced errors. They did not give up without a fight however, as Ryan Lowe swiveled and volleyed from inside the box, but only saw his half chance hit the side netting. Carlisle very nearly extended their lead to three as a great passing play culminated in Lee Miller finding himself in a similar situation to the one Peterson found himself in in the first half, but an also similar effort saw his shot hit the post and bounce out. Tranmere attempted to change things, as they brought on James Rowe in place of Chris Atkinson.
Peterson was causing quite a few problems for the hosts’ defence, and a foray into the box led to his shot being well blocked by Ehmer. The Carlisle full back threatened just a couple of minutes later, as a Berrett corner from the left side once again caused problems, the ball in was flapped at by Fon Williams, despite the lack of a challenge on the Welshman, the ball fell to Ehmer who saw his volley charged down.
Welsh youth international Lawrence was causing problems of his own, as he cut inside from the left wing, played a neat one two with Amoo, but couldn’t direct his volley from just inside the area on target. The best was yet to come from the youngster however, as he picked up the ball roughly midway between the halfway line and the Tranmere penalty area, cut inside, burst through the middle of two Tranmere players and, using a combination of stepovers, feints and turns, took on a further two players before bursting into the area and rifling a left footed shot past a despairing Fon Williams. The celebrations even saw manager Graham Kavanagh run down the touchline and join the pile of players. Directly after the goal, Lawrence was replaced by Josh Morris, the former receiving a standing ovation from the Brunton Park faithful.
Tranmere knew it wasn’t going to be their day as Akpa-Akpro somehow managed to head over the bar from a mere 6 yards following a Tranmere corner. Carlisle injected some fresh legs into the game, as Liverpool loanee Craig Roddan replaced Paul Thirlwell.
Things just got better for Carlisle as some superb work down the left hand side from Amoo saw him deliver a cross into the penalty box. The cross was chested down by Morris who had surged in field and he left it for Berrett, who smashed in from just inside the area. Kavanagh used the last quarter of an hour as an opportunity to rest Ehmer, who was replaced by Brad Potts.
This move seemed to benefit Tranmere, as Potts is seemingly very uncomfortable playing in the right full back role. Carlisle were unable to keep their clean sheet, as Peterson and Rowe attacked the isolated Potts, who was left stranded as Amoo seemingly failed to track back, substitute Rowe delivered a pinpoint cross to the far post and former MK Dons man Lowe made no mistake, nodding in for his 13th of the season.
Carlisle did well to see the game out, keeping possession and not allowing Tranmere to create any more clear cut chances and they held on to give themselves their fourth consecutive home win in all competitions, moving them up to 13th in League One, this result also sees Tranmere drop down one place to 20th, a mere two points off the drop zone.
Full Time Carlisle United 4 – 1 Tranmere Rovers (Lawrence – 1′,67′, Amoo 52′, Berrett 76′) – (Lowe 81′)
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ANALYSIS
A thoroughly impressive second half performance from Carlisle saw them clinch a win over a very lacklustre Tranmere outfit. The visitors could perhaps have made things easier on themselves if they had converted the chances that Carlisle gifted them in the first half, but it wasn’t to be. Thomas Lawrence was a joy to watch, scoring goals that the finest of players would be proud of. If a goal like his second was scored in the Premier League, it would be talked about for weeks, that’s how good it was.
Tranmere will need to heavily improve, especially on their defence if they are to remain a force in this league as i have never seen a team this season dominated at Brunton Park in the manner that they were.
Man of the Match: Thomas Lawrence
Under The Floodlights 