SATURDAY 4th OCTOBER 2008

PONTELAND 4-1 CARLISLE CITY

Heavy traffic leaving Carlisle and then further delays in Haydon Bridge held the team
coach up and the kick-off had to be delayed by 15 minutes. City introduced two new
faces to the side, although they were both familiar names to the club. Long-serving
Gary Milne was able to play after the resolution of the transfer wrangle with the now-
defunct Penrith A. He was joined by Craig Wilson, back with City after not figuring in
Penrith’s plans so far this season. Robbie Mather also came into the side for the first
time this year.

The game started with a positive run from the home side’s Gate but his through-ball
carried all the way to English in the City goal. After seven minutes, Mather lost the
ball in midfield and McGorie galloped down the right but his cross was cleared by
Foster. City gained their first corner of the game, and it was taken by Cumersky on the
right wing but Havelock came out to make a good catch, under pressure. In the 11th
minute, Burton broke clear for City in a good position. The striker, still looking for his
first goal of the season, hit his shot straight at Havelock.

City seemed to have a lucky escape soon after this when McGorie broke clear of
Milne inside the City area, but referee Best awarded a free-kick to City. A good ball
into the danger area from Heath almost set up Cawson but he could not take the ball
in his stride. After 16 minutes, Ponteland scored the first goal of the game, from the
penalty spot. Foster challenged McGorie in the penalty box and the slightly-mistimed
challenge saw the referee point to the spot. Fenwick took the responsibility, and
calmly shot home.

In the 20th minute, Ponteland doubled their lead as a right-wing free kick from Shiels
saw English unable to gather the ball through a ruck of players, and Ford tapped the
ball home from close range. Three minutes later, a good break by Cawson was
followed by a deep cross that was knocked back into the box by Wilson, but the
Ponteland defence cleared their lines.

In the 24th minute, a fine crossfield ball from Gate found Shiels, who shot powerfully
for goal, and English made a super save as he tipped the ball over. The resulting
corner was cleared by Mather. City were really rocking as Ponteland scored their third
goal in the 26th minute. A pacy burst up the left wing by Hall opened up the City
defence and the ball dropped to Fenwick, who scored easily.

City’s frustration began to show and Cumersky was warned following a tackle from
behind. A foul by Milne on Shiels saw the Ponteland free-kick taken by Shiels and
given to Gate, who saw his cross cleared. Tempers were beginning to flare as the
game was marred by a few minor scuffles and, following one of these, Cumersky shot
wide from a 25-yard free kick. In the 37th minute, Heath broke into the Ponteland area
but his cross clipped a defender and was easy for Havelock.

In the 42nd minute, a quick Ponteland move found the City defence short of cover and
a despairing challenge on Fenwick saw the home side awarded their second penalty.
Fenwick picked himself up to slot home the penalty, and earn himself a hat-trick. Just
before half-time, Heath ran well down the wing, and his cross was blocked by Shiels
for a corner. The flag-kick was headed wide by Yallop.

HALF-TIME- PONTELAND 4-0 CITY

City started on the offensive in the second half as Heath crossed to Wilson, who
headed the ball back, and Ponteland cleared for a corner. The resulting flag-kick was
not defended very well and Dummett had to clear from his own goal-line. The ball
was driven back in by Wilson and Dummett was again able to clear. In the 48th
minute, Gate fired wide from 30 yards. City responded with a counter-attack through
Wilson and Heath before Dummett intercepted on the edge of the area.

City made their first change on 59 minutes, with Bell replacing Burton. Brown fired
wide from 20 yards before Ponteland had two players booked in quick succession.
First into the referee’s book was Hall, soon to be followed by McGorie. City then
made their second change, with Kelleher joining the action.

Wilson made a powerful break down City’s right, only to be halted by a firm tackle
from Dummett. In the 70th minute, City pulled a goal back as Kelleher’s right-wing
run and cross saw Bell’s shot blocked, but Cawson snapped up the rebound to fire
past Havelock. Kelleher was making an instant impression and he linked with Bell in
the Ponteland box, before Havelock saved Heath’s shot.

Another strong run from Kelleher down the left earned City a corner, that was easily
cleared. Ford then threw himself to block a City shot travelling towards his goal. After
75 minutes, Kelleher won a corner as his cross was blocked by Daglish. The corner
was cleared to Cawson, who shot too high from 20 yards.

City were belatedly trying to get back into the game, as a corner from Wilson found
Bell but his shot was saved by Havelock. In the 80th minute, Bell latched onto a
throw-in close to the goal-line and wriggled clear to produce a shot on target, but
Havelock saved. Ponteland had hardly threatened in the second period, but Dummett’s
left-wing cross was scrambled wide at the front post. With six minutes to go, Robin
Ward came on for City.

McGorie set off on a fine jinking run past a few City players, but his shot was wide.
Hall then also shot for goal and his effort was closer. In the 87th minute, there was
drama as a great 25-yard shot from Cumersky was tipped onto his own crossbar by
Havelock. Ward followed up well to reach the rebound but his header struck the same
spot on the crossbar as the original shot. Kelleher tried to latch onto the loose ball but
Ford blocked his shot.

As the game entered injury time, Fenwick had a goal disallowed for offside and
Wilson’s corner for City was claimed well by Havelock. Ward beat Havelock to a
through ball and his neatly-chipped cross to Cawson was blocked at the far post. A
fine run and cross from Wilson was just missed by Bell 10 yards out. Right at the
death, Ponteland had another goal disallowed for an innocuous-looking push.

The damage in this game was obviously done in the first 45 minutes and, although
City regained some pride in the second half, it was too little, too late.
TEAMS- PONTELAND- Havelock, Daglish, Dummett, Ford, Rendall, Gate, Shiels,
Brown, Fenwick, McGorie, Hall. SUBS- Suddick, Davidson, Dawson, Peters, Elliott
CITY- English, Rooke, Mather, Foster, Milne, Cumersky, Heath, Wilson, Burton,
Cawson, Yallop. SUBS- Bell, Kelleher, Ward, Watson, Simpson

REFEREE- Paul Best

BOOKINGS- PONTELAND- Hall, McGorie. City- None