"I WAS THERE"

Football is riddled with clichés but none were more poignant than "a match of two halves" describing this dire encounter in which a strong wind dominated throughout.
Carlisle, with the benefit of the wind at their backs in the first half, will kick themselves for not making their possession count for more than their one goal interval lead. Lincoln, on the other hand, will wonder how they didn't come away with all three points after dominating the second half, in which long throw expert Paul Mayo constantly put the home side under pressure.
Manager Ian Atkins was disappointed not to take all three points. He said: "In the first half we got in and created numerous chances and did everything right. The problem second half, we were against the wind and we defended too deep and got penned in a little bit giving Lincoln the initiative. Their long throw is difficult to defend but we dealt with it superbly but still got caught out once and that's what they played for."
The Cumbrians, pushed forward from the start with Scott Dobie heading a Tony Hemmings cross straight at Alan Marriott in the second minute followed by an Ian Stevens turn and shot flying narrowly over the bar.
On 21 minutes Stevens turned provider to give the Cumbrians the lead. The striker latched on to Matty Glennon's long clearance, down the left, to pull the ball back leaving a simple tap in for Scott Dobie.
The visitors almost got back into the game seven minutes later when Glennon had to be alert to turn a James Dudgeon header over the bar.
On 34 minutes Dobie's cross cum shot was turned round the post by Marriott.
With the interval looming a Stevens overhead pass put Mick Galloway away but Dobie headed his resulting cross straight at substitute keeper Matthew Ghent.
Three minutes after the restart Gordon Connelly scuffed a shot wide from a good position and the Cumbrians were left to rue the miss as the Imps got on top using the wind to their advantage.
A series of long throws from Paul Mayo pinned the home side back. Gavin Gordon went close twice when he had a shot blocked by Mark Winstanley, closely followed by a shot straight at Glennon. It was no surprise to see the Imps find the equaliser when another Mayo throw found Paul Miller on 72 minutes, for the substitute to lay the ball back for Gordon to hammer home from 16 yards.
The Cumbrians were now having to show plenty of defensive resolve but they did not capitulate leaving them with a hard earned point.