Ten-man Colliers suffer injury time heartbreak against Carlisle City

Ten-man Easington Colliery suffered injury time heartbreak as they lost 3-4 at home to Carlisle City on Saturday afternoon.

The worst possible start saw the Colliers go nil-three down within the opening 19 minutes. Jordan Palmer collected an early brace for Carlisle, and Keighran Kerr’s strike in the 19th minute put the visitors in command.

The second half was a totally different affair though, with the Colliers drastically upping their game to be the dominant side.

Jak Ashton’s 40-yard strike pulled a goal back in the 65th minute, and Josh Home-Jackson halved the deficit just a minute later.

In the 72nd minute, Brennan Ball levelled the scoreline and the Colliers had plenty of chances to find a winner, but then Ball was shown a second yellow card and Carlisle grabbed an injury time winner through Sam Atkinson.

New signing Connor Slack came in to make his debut for the Colliers, while Ben Reynolds and Simon Todd also returned to the starting eleven.

Upon kick-off, Carlisle’s Palmer had the first half chance as his quick turn and shot was saved by Reynolds.

Seconds later, Liam Adamson created the Colliers’ first chance. As he has done all season, Adamson burst down the wing causing the visitors all sorts of trouble, and he took the ball round the Carlisle ‘keeper. Unable to shoot, he pulled it back, but Carlisle did just enough to clear the danger. The resulting corner found Niall McGoldrick in the penalty area, but his header was too high.

With their next chance, in the 11th minute, Carlisle broke the deadlock. An attack down the right looked offside, but the assistant kept his flag down and the Colliers had been caught out. A low cross was drilled into the penalty area, and Palmer was there to convert.

Three minutes later, it was nil-two. Having missed a big chance seconds earlier, Palmer was played in and rounded Reynolds before slotting home.

And, in an awful 10 minutes for the Colliers, Carlisle scored their third in the 21st minute. A corner was partially cleared but Carlisle were first to the second ball, and Kerr picked up possession before firing home from 18 yards.

Todd and Adamson had half chances as the first half came to a close, but in truth, the first half was dreadful from the Colliers.

Following the break, Carlisle had a big chance within the opening five minutes, but then the Colliers picked up their game.

Great work from Adamson saw him beat numerous defenders to give himself a chance in the 52nd minute, but Carlisle goalkeeper Sam Henderson saved.

Following a few changes, in the 65th minute, Ashton gave the Colliers a lifeline. From a wide position, he lifted a high ball into the penalty area from 40 yards and it sailed over Henderson and into the net.

Only a minute later, now with momentum, the Green Army halved the deficit. A cross was swung into the penalty area to find Home-Jackson whose header found the net.

It was now game on.

In the 72nd minute, just seven minutes after being three goals behind, the Colliers pulled level as Ball rose like a salmon in the penalty area to head home a corner.

Now ahead, the Colliers had all the momentum, and they created numerous good chances.

Adamson’s good work saw his cross find Slack in the penalty area in the 76th minute, but the former Sunderland man was prevented by Henderson’s good save.

Henderson then produced another good save to deny Adamson, before yet another good save denied Adamson again.

The Cumbrians definitely had their ‘keeper to thank for keeping them level at this point.

In the 81st minute, the Colliers had a massive penalty shout turned down. Home-Jackson whipped a dangerous cross into the penalty area, and a Carlisle defender turned it towards his own net. Before it could head towards the net though, it hit the same man’s outstretched hand, but the referee waved away the Green Army’s appeals.

Five minutes later, as the Colliers continued to dominate, a quick Carlisle break caught the Colliers out, and Ball’s challenge was slightly mistimed giving the referee no option but to show him a second yellow card.

Despite being down to 10 men, the Colliers were still going in search of a winner. And, it almost came in the 89th minute. An inviting Kyle Middleton cross picked out Adamson in the penalty area, but yet again, Henderson produced another good save.

And, then, in the second minute of added time, the Colliers were left heartbroken as Carlisle snatched a winner.

With Ball’s sending off, and as the Colliers were on top, they switched to three at the back, and a quick attack through the middle for Carlisle played in Sam Atkinson who slotted home.

That proved to be that, and having come back from three goals down and despite having numerous chances to win the game, the goalless were left with no points.

Full-time: Easington Colliery 4-3 Carlisle City

Next up for me is probably a women’s game tomorrow.

Easington Colliery: Reynolds, Nicholson (Garside, 63′), Turnbull (Ashton, 46′), Todd, McGoldrick, Ball, Pearn (Haslam, 56′), Middleton, Slack, Home-Jackson (c), Adamson

Unused subs: Watson, Chapman

Carlisle City: Henderson, Olsen, Allison, Slack, Kirkup, Earl (Seggie, 58′), Kerr, Simpson (c) (Walker, 80′), Palmer (McCartney, 67′), Atkinson, Studholme

Unused subs: Johnstone, Newton

Admission: £5 adults, £2 concessions

Programme: No

Attendance: 117

Referee: Matthew Cain

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