The Northern League took on the Wearside League last night in the Cumberland Cup – and produced a thriller.
In the end hosts Carlisle City beat Windscale 4-2 after extra time when the sides had been locked at 1-1 following 90 hard-fought minutes.
In the early stages City monopolised possession but created very little until the 11th minute when the Atoms keeper Studholme was forced into a save by his name-sake in the City side.
Windscale seemed content to soak up pressure, but Jolly did threaten to break clear on 23 minutes. Johnstone then fired wide for City before Seggie received the first caution of the evening, which looked a ridiculously harsh decision from a referee who then continued to flourish his cards as the game progressed.
Jolly was caught offside on 26 minutes as City entered a spell of very little creativity. The deadlock was broken in the 37th minute as Johnstone fired accurately past Studholme and into the far corner for then opener – his 4th goal of the season.
The second half began with Pierce on hand to clear a City corner before Dixon linked with Holt on 51 minutes and Studholme had to make the save.
Thompson won a corner for Windscale on 56 minutes which was punched clear by Murray. City then made three changes all at the same time, as Palmer, Hickey and Roberts all entered the field.
Hickey was soon into the play but his shot was wide, and Roberts was unlucky to see his close-range effort deflected wide.
On the hour, Palmer won a corner but Roberts saw his shot blocked. Palmer then found Hickey on 62 minutes but a defender blocked his effort. Palmer fired over on 69 minutes and the game seemed to be drifting to a drab conclusion.
A fine run from Hickey won another corner in the 80th minute but this was cleared. A fine effort from Holt beat Studholme but cannoned back off the crossbar.
There was then drama on 83 minutes as Metcalf broke into the City box ahead of Olsen and a tangle of legs was deemed a penalty by the referee. Byrne took the kick and Windscale’s first on-target shot of the evening made it 1-1.
Hickey saw his shot saved as City tried to avoid extra-time and then, on 88 minutes, Murdoch was fouled in the Windscale box to win City a penalty.
Leading scorer Palmer put his kick straight down the middle and Studholme saved it with his trailing leg after diving to his right.
Murdoch’s header was saved by Studholme from the resulting corner, and Windscale should have won right at the death as Fraser headed over from very close range.
The game headed into extra-time and in the sixth minute, Studholme saved well from Holt before the referee flashed a yellow card towards one of the Windscale coaching staff.
In the 12th extra minute, Bowman gifted possession to Frazer and the Windscale substitute took full advantage as he drilled a superb shot up and over Murray to put his side 2-1 ahead.
City were soon level at 2-2 into the second period of extra time as a clever Olsen free-kick was neatly finished by Palmer.
In the 111th minute, Hickey scored his first senior goal to put City 3-2 ahead as his well-struck shot just evaded Studholme’s desperate dive.
Holt then had a goal disallowed for offside but Palmer wrapped-up the game after 115 minutes with his 21st goal of the season, beating Studholme at the second attempt.
