Carlisle City’s home clash with Bedlington Terriers was the only game in the Northern League to escape the ravages of Storm Arwen.
But after losing 1-0 City were probably wishing that they had joined the list of postponements.
A youthful Terriers side began with five teenagers in their line-up, and only one win in their previous 11 games.
At the end heads were being scratched throughout the ground as to how City failed to score but credit is due to Terriers’ keeper Harker and his defenders for their valiant efforts not to concede.
Within the first minute, Irving had broken clear but Harker made the save and Palmer fired the rebound wide, with no-one realising at this stage how costly this double miss would prove to be.
Harker saved again on seven minutes from Simpson, and Irving had a goal disallowed for offside two minutes later.
It took City 19 minutes to win their first corner, and the visitors visibly grew in confidence after their early scare.
Harker saved from Holt on 31 minutes and the City midfielder then claimed a penalty as he was tackled from behind but the referee waved play on. Palmer linked with Simpson on 33 minutes but again the effort was off target.
Seven minutes later Harker saved from Atkinson, and there was another home penalty claim but Simpson was booked for simulation, even though he did appear to be clipped by a defender.
Just like the first half, the second period began with a great City opportunity as Palmer raced into the box but put too much weight onto his cross.
A foul on Irving allowed free-kick specialist Atkinson to try his luck and a fine effort beat Harker but thudded back off the cross-bar. The rebound found its way back to him just outside the penalty area, and incredibly his second attempt struck virtually the same spot on the cross-bar.
On 57 minutes, the Terriers’ woodwork came to their aid a third time as Palmer’s free-kick hit the far post, with the rebound effort from Irving saved at point-blank range by Harker. A home corner was then cleared before Palmer fired over on 62 minutes.
City continued to press and Holt’s cross found Palmer, but Harker saved once again before a 69th minute corner led to a penalty awarded for some innocuous contact.
Holt stepped forward to take the kick, but his weak effort was easily saved by Harker. It was City’s third successive miss from the spot.
Simpson headed wide at the back post on 70 minutes and Irving’s shot was then saved by Harker.
In the 78th minute came the only goal of the game as Nellis was allowed to surge forward before shooting past Murray, who had been a virtual spectator for the previous twenty minutes.
Holt then fired over as City looked for the equaliser and Olsen’s cross was caught by the over-worked Harker. In the 82nd minute, Irving’s shot beat Harker but was kicked off the line by a covering defender. A foul on Atkinson allowed him another free-kick chance but this one was easily saved by Harker.
Shiel saw his shot saved on 87 minutes before another City effort was cleared off the goal-line and the rebound was hammered against the post by Rooks. Holt had another shot saved by Harker and incredibly the game ended with just the solitary goal.
