Cumbrian Capers

The signs looked all wrong for beleagued Addicks boss Phil Parkinson. Some of the players seemed downcast as they alighted from the coach which did not inspire confidence. Jon Fortune said, ‘No, I’ve been bombed,’ when I asked him if he was playing.

Christian Dailly had a wad of complimentary tickets to give away and was shining beacon of positivity. The pristine and flat Brunton Park pitch was watered prior to kick-off despite the heavy rainfall during the morning.

Inside the first few seconds Elliot parried a shot straight to Craig Curran who somehow fired over the top. It looked like being a long afternoon but football never ceases to surprise. The Addicks utilised the wide open spaces that were left by Carlisle’s narrow midfield diamond with Wagstaff tormenting the makeshift left-back.

On 22 minutes the visitors took the lead when Benson laid the ball off to Wagstaff on the right. Wagstaff, preferred to Martin, delivered an inch pefect low cross for Jackson to slide home at the far post.

16 minutes later Charlton went two up when the impressive Anyinsah cleverly converted Francis’ cross. By this time the hosts had already made two changes because of injury. Things really had turned around and two minutes after the restart the Addicks were in dreamland when Dailly’s diagonal ball into the box was turned in with aplomb by Paul Benson.

Your just a small town in Scotland……Are you Gretna in disguise and easy, easy were chants belted out by the Addicks faithful. Big mistake, with Charlton nothing is easy.

Mike Grella took control as the hosts targeted the visitor’s left. 58 minutes, Grella pulled one back, three minutes later Craig Curran atoned for his early miss to pull a second goal back. Thirteen minutes from time and Elliot missed a Taiwo cross from the right, the ball rebounded off the post for Gary Madine to bundle the ball narrowly over the line. The momentum was with Carlisle who looked likely to go on and win. Wrong again.

Three minutes into injury time and Benson heads home from a Francis corner. Cue pandemonium from both players and fans. Many of the flaws are still there but it would be churlish to be critical after scoring four at a venue where the hosts had only been breached twice all season.

The three points were vital, and will buy the manager a little more time. Let’s hope the team can use this as a springboard to kick start their season.