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SATURDAY 22nd AUGUST 2009

HEDDON 0-1 CARLISLE CITY

City went into the game with the only 100% league record, after only two matches.
Heddon were also unbeaten, but they had drawn both their games, against Seaton
Delaval and Cramlington Town. The team news for City saw Tom Foster returning to
the defence instead of Dan Barclay, and Scott Priest starting in place of Calvin
Rowell, who was on the substitutes’ bench. Chris Major was also named as a sub. for
the first time in the Alliance.

Priest threatened first for City after 4 minutes with some clever play, and he looked to
find Kilgour, who was thwarted by the offside flag. In the 9th minute, Heddon’s Hall
found Edwardson, but he shot wide from 25 yards out. Kilgour turned well on the
edge of the Heddon box, and placed his cross into the danger area, but Lamb was able
to head clear.

After 13 minutes, Armstrong linked with Priest, but the striker’s pass to Bell had too
much weight on it. City were beginning to exert a grip on the game, and Foster, Bell
and Rooke combined well, forcing Edwardson to get back to clear. In the 16th minute,
Bell’s cross to Holliday was headed over the Heddon bar. This was soon followed by
Kilgour finding Heath, who passed to Priest 12 yards from goal, but the striker fluffed
his opportunity with a weak shot, straight to Curran.

In the 20th minute, City were still holding the upper hand as Kilgour and Priest found
Heath on the right flank, but Hathaway cleared the cross. Priest was then quick in the
tackle, to rob Glenwright, who could only foul the City man as he tried to regain
possession. City took the free-kick quickly, and Rooke’s shot was blocked.

Rooke then had to return to defensive duties, as he conceded a corner to the home
side. The flag-kick, on the left, was taken by Hall and was hit deep beyond the back
post, before being returned by Brunsden, but City cleared the danger. In the 26th
minute, McElroy found Hathaway, but the winger shot wide from 25 yards. After 28
minutes, Rooke’s deep right-wing cross had to be headed behind by Hathaway, but
Heath miskicked his corner out of play.

On the half-hour Bradley had to parry a fierce drive from Hall from 25 yards out. City
were soon back on the attack, and won a corner on their right. Priest’s kick was very
deep and Armstrong stretched to head the ball back, with Priest again picking up the
ball but not finding a colleague with his cross. A quick City free-kick after 32 minutes
saw Priest spin well inside the Heddon box, but the defenders were quick to close him
down.

An injury to Hall then saw the game held up for two minutes, and when play resumed,
Bradley had to dash quickly from his line to whip the ball off Hathaway’s toes,
although the linesman’s flag was raised at the same time. A City move in the 39th
minute involving Yallop and Holliday ended with Heath’s 20-yard shot being saved
by Curran. Rooke then found himself in a good position just inside the Heddon area,
but the full-back shot wildly off-target.
In the 42nd minute, a great left-wing delivery from Kilgour gave Rooke another
chance, but his flying header went wide. In the next minute, Armstrong’s free-kick
was dropped by Curran, with the loose ball coming back to Armstrong, but the shot
was again well off target. A fine touch by Bell sent Kilgour into space down the City
left, and his run took him past two Heddon defenders, before Curran came out to save.
Heddon created the last chance of the half, as McElroy’s cross was headed goalwards
by Brunsden, but saved comfortably by Bradley.

HALF-TIME- HEDDON 0-0 CITY

Manager Steve Bellas’ half-time talk was all about keeping possession, and having
the belief that a goal would come. City started the second period with the ball, and
Kilgour’s cross was headed by Priest, straight to Curran. In the 49th minute, Rooke
and Priesr sent Kilgour running clear, but his shot cleared the crossbar, although the
linesman’s flag was also raised.

Kilgour was then fouled by Glenwright, with Heath’s free-kick being cleared as far as
Armstrong, who saw his shot blocked. In the 54th minute, City replaced Yallop with
Tom Short, making his debut for the club. Holliday tested Curran from 25 yards
before Short made his first impact, as he raced past two men down the left before
crossing, but Curran claimed the ball easily.

On the hour, Heath’s shot was blocked with the rebound dropping to Bell, but he fired
wide. City then made their second change, as Rowell came on for Heath. In the 62nd
minute, the home side made a slightly-optimistic penalty claim as Hathaway found
Brunsden inside the City box, and the centre-forward fell over Hill’s outstretched leg,
but referee Gray waved away the appeals. Pearson’s ball to Glenwright saw the home
full-back loft a ball into the City box, but Hill headed clear.

In the 65th minute, Brunsden’s late tackle on Holliday earned the Heddon man a
booking. Armstrong’s free-kick was headed on by Hill, but cleared behind by a
Heddon defender. The corner was taken short before being crossed into the area by
Priest, with Holliday heading on but Armstrong shot over. In the 69th minute, another
City chance was wasted as Kilgour fed Short for a left-wing cross, but Bell dithered
on the ball and was closed down by the defence.

In the 70th minute, City made their final change as Amato came on for Bell. A super
run from Rowell on the right flank took him clear, before he found Kilgour but the
shot from 20 yards was wide. Another fine City move in the 74th minute ended with
Kilgour’s shot being blocked, with the loose ball being lobbed wide by Armstrong.
Heddon gained some relief from the incessant City pressure, when Armstrong
conceded a free kick in midfield. However, the set-piece was wasted as Stuart’s
delivery was too high.

Substitute Amato then shot weakly to Curran and, in the 80th minute, Hill’s fine cross
cleared Curran but was just too strong for Holliday at the back post. City kept looking
for the elusive breakthrough, and neat passing between Rowell, Holliday and Priest
set up Amato in space, but the left-wing cross was wasted. In the 85th minute, Rooke’s
shot was blocked by a defender and Holliday’s follow-up attempt was easily saved by
Curran.
City came close to a goal after 87 minutes when Holliday’s header rebounded from
the post before being hacked clear. However, in the 88th minute, City finally broke
through as Priest’s close-range shot went in off the underside of the bar, sparking
mass celebrations with his team-mates.

A second goal almost followed immediately as Kilgour hit the post when well placed,
following Priest’s corner.

This performance was probably the best in the three league games so far, with City
taking almost total control of the game throughout the ninety minutes. However, the
only concern will be the number of chances that were wasted, before the elusive goal
finally arrived right at the death.

TEAMS- HEDDON- Curran, Glenwright, Little, Edwardson, Lamb, Stuart,


Hathaway, Pearson, Brunsden, McElroy, Hall. SUBS- Heenan, Palmer, Close,
Holland, Rutherford.
CITY- Bradley, Rooke, Yallop, Foster, Hill, Armstrong, Holliday, Heath, Kilgour,
Bell, Priest. SUBS- Short, Rowell, Amato, Major.

REFEREE- Andy Gray


BOOKING- Brunsden (Heddon)

MAN OF THE MATCH- Stuart (Heddon), Kilgour (City)

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