Carlisle City collected a win on the road in the Northern League First Division when they came from behind to beat Crook Town 2-1.
It was a performance that pleased manager Jim Nichols because of that very fact they had conceded the first goal.
“It’s often difficult to win games at any level after conceding the first goal and I thought we showed a lot of character to come back and do that.
“In my opinion we were deserving winners, although I see on social media Crook are claiming they should have had two penalties. I’ve watched the game back and I don’t think that was the case.
“If there was a downside to the game it was that we lost Brandon Longcake to injury. He’s had knee problems before and I just hope it isn’t a recurrence but he’s likely to have a scan to check out the latest issue.
“On the plus side we were able to give Callum Birdsall his debut as a substitute late in the first-half and he did well,” said Nichols.
City had restricted their hosts to very little in the first-half but soon after the break Crook took the lead. A long through ball evaded City’s central defenders and Johnson took the ball round Steve Townsley before firing home from an angle.
There had been few chances in that first period but it did not take long after the break for Crook to score . A long ball forward dissected the City defence and Steve Johnson ran on to shoot across Townsley and into the far corner of the goal.
City didn’t have to wait long for the equaliser for on 55 minutes a long cross from Jay Kelly found Jordan Irving in space on the left and his first time effort flashed home.
With six minutes to go, City scored the winner Sam Atkinson worked himself a shooting position and shot beyond the despairing dive of keeper Ronan Makepeace.
The games continue to come thick and fast and tomorrow City are at home to League leaders Whitley Bay who are four points ahead of the Gillford Park side, currently lying fourth.
