Brief Synopsis!!!

Morgan deserves more than 5. Come on, didn't you see his commitment in chasing down the keeper???

That nearly went in too!

Carlisle away was like 145 ish I think

Good game,couldnt fault anyone,maybe sat back abit too much 2nd half but a wins a win,Blizzard my man of match followed by O'conner

Another win, another 1-0 win, another clean sheet and another game of two halves.

Up to fifth in the table and nosebleed time, when was the last time it was this good?

The game was almost a mirror image of the win against Tranmere - a first half goal and we should have scored more, a second half rearguard action where we got lucky at times.

Alessandra scored the winner but McHugh's header off the line late in the second half was just as important.

We lined up with the back three of Nelson, McHugh and Hartley with O'Connor and Mellor as wing backs.

Alessandra should have scored two before finally getting his goal and it was good play from Blizzard who set up the goal, his pass fell to Reid who took a shot - it was goalbound but weak and might have gone in, however Alessandra controlled it and fired into the roof of the net. It looked for an instant that he might have been off-side but the linesman signalled a goal.

McCormick almost claimed an assist because his long kick found Reid in space but his shot/cross was saved.
Word must be around League Two now that McCormick has a good kick because last week Tranmere tried to hinder his kicking by putting a player close to him and today Carlisle did the same.

Carlisle rarely troubled us and it was a case of just how many we would score before half time, in the end we had to settle for just the one goal, will it be enough?

The second half, as we've come to expect, was very different. We were content to sit back and play on the counter attack and the chances were now difficult to create.

At the back the defence remained strong and there was a sense of "thou shalt not pass" amongst the players.
Players threw themselves to block shots and with McCormick looking unbeatable behind the defence it was very difficult for Carlisle to create many clear cut chances, that said we still rode our luck at times and relied on the Carlisle players to blaze over. When the Cumbrians did break through McHugh was there to save the day with his goal line clearance.

Smalley injected some movement upfront late in the game and forced a good chance with almost his first touch but his shot was saved.
Just as Sheridan did at Tranmere he moved his wing-backs back into defence late in the game to make a back five formation to keep Carlisle out.

Well played again and well defended again.

Bobby Reid played a bit deeper today rather than behind the front two, often taking the ball from the centre-backs, this meant there was no runner into the opposition box and when crosses were played in by either Alessandra or Reid the penalty area looked empty.
Reid took every free-kick and corner and nearly scored from one free-kick.

Mellor played well despite playing out of position on the left, although he often had to cut back inside onto his right foot.
Blizzard had a good game, tidying up and linking up well with Mellor and Alessandra.

Reuben Reid didn't have one of his better games but still caused problems for the Carlisle defence.
McHugh and Nelson were rock solid and Hartley not far behind them.

For the first 45 we looked a very good attacking team, for the second 45 we looked a very good defensive team.

Carlisle players dived in a lot and the ref was content to let the game flow, sometimes too much when a player should have been booked.
Credit to the Carlisle fans who turned up in good numbers.

It poses the question - are we relying on our defence too much to win games? The best department in the team is the defence so it appears we are playing to our strengths.
The mindset seems to be that we go a goal up and rely on Hartley, Nelson, McHugh and McCormick to see us over the line instead of putting the game to bed with a second and third goal.
Still, it doesn't matter if we continue to win and stop the opposition from scoring.

McCormick 7, Nelson 8, McHugh 8, Hartley 6, O'Connor 7, Cox 6, Blizzard 7, Mellor 6, B.Reid 7, Alessandra 7, Reid 6, Smalley 7, Morgan?

Sheridan 8.
Entertainment 7.

3 points but it really shouldn't have been as tight as it was at the end. Numerous openings spurned in the first-half and we nearly paid the price.

I like Alessandra in the forward role as he makes things happen, but he often takes the wrong option with the final ball. Bobby Reid was confident and assured in the first-half but wasteful in the second - too many floated crosses and dead ball situations.

Defensively we have three very good centre-halves for this level and this will be the bedrock of a decent season I suspect.

MoM - Nelson

Enjoyed today and thought it was a decent game in a gusting wind where everyone in green played well.

should have put the game to bed after a very dominant 1st half but missed chances made the 2nd half far closer than it should have been. Rueben put an absolute sitter on a plate for Alessandra who had his shot blocked on the line when he really should have scored.
Thought we played some cracking stuff 1st half and seemed far more comfortable with the 3 centre backs who all barely put a foot wrong all game.
O'connor seems to be able to slot into any position and is very solid while Mellor is always decent.
The midfield revelled in the space they were allowed 1st half and Reid and the ever improving Blizzard caught the eye.
They had a couple of big scrambles in our box and McHugh had to clear 1 off the line as they battled to equalise but on the balance of play we were deserved winners

full marks to the committed Morgan who made a vital block in our box and a cracking tackle on their keeper as he came out of his box

Another win and another clean sheet which on another day could of yielded another couple of goals.
We looked a strong team today and long may that continue

I thought it was a good game of football. We looked really good at times. Defensively solid and I think Luke made 2 saves all match? I loved it up in the grandstand. Nice pasties and good talking to people who know their football. Oh that urinal is something else though.....

Good team performance

Really good first half - Carlisle will have been pleased to go in at half time still in the game

Carlisle's tactical change really made a difference to the start of the 2nd half - but Smalley coming on as a sub changed the balance back again

Most positive atmosphere at HP for a long time - and although we were hanging on at the end the commitment of the players could not be doubted

Happy!

Decent performance, great result and much Improved atmosphere thanks to the drum.

Green n white barmy army went on for 15 minutes a couple of times. Great voice from demport today!!

When was the last time we won four out of four? Another solid win and our defence is on fire at the moment.

Average performance, but 3 points is what matters. Not sure if the team are told to sit back second half, never mind. Still need to finish off games earlier when they are in control. But can't complain, better team effort than Shrewsbury.

Andy in Peverell":vyzqdrvn said:

Enjoyed today and thought it was a decent game in a gusting wind where everyone in green played well.

should have put the game to bed after a very dominant 1st half but missed chances made the 2nd half far closer than it should have been. Rueben put an absolute sitter on a plate for Alessandra who had his shot blocked on the line when he really should have scored.
Thought we played some cracking stuff 1st half and seemed far more comfortable with the 3 centre backs who all barely put a foot wrong all game.
O'connor seems to be able to slot into any position and is very solid while Mellor is always decent.
The midfield revelled in the space they were allowed 1st half and Reid and the ever improving Blizzard caught the eye.
They had a couple of big scrambles in our box and McHugh had to clear 1 off the line as they battled to equalise but on the balance of play we were deserved winners

full marks to the committed Morgan who made a vital block in our box and a cracking tackle on their keeper as he came out of his box

Another win and another clean sheet which on another day could have yielded another couple of goals.
We looked a strong team today and long may that continue

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That's the game I saw. Agree with every word. Ratings:

Luke 7
Nelson 8
McHugh 9 MOTM
Hartley 7
O'Connor 7
Mellor 7
Cox 7
B Reid 7
Blizzard 8
R Reid 7
Alessandra 7

Both subs did very well too.

Best we've played all season. I'm starting, just starting, to believe.