Carlisle United 4 Chester City 2

Oct 10 2007 by Alec Doyle, Chester Chronicle

BOBBY Williamson offered Paul McManus his first senior start in this Johnstone’s Paint Trophy tie but otherwise the Blues fielded an experienced line-up against their League One opponents.

Missing only Kevin Ellison, John Murphy and skipper Paul Butler from Saturday’s win over Shrewsbury, City still fell behind on 11 minutes when Kevin Gall played a one-two with Chris Lumsdon and drilled home from 12 yards.

Mark Hughes could have levelled the score in the 15th minute when he broke through United’s back-line. He took the ball past the keeper but mis-hit his strike on the open goal and skewed his shot wide.

On 19 minutes City pegged United back with a trademark spectacular goal from Richie Partridge. McManus crossed the ball over to the right hand side and Partidge met it on the volley to unleash a rocket past Kieran Westwood.

The goal triggered a purple patch for City during which Simon Yeo forced Westwood into a save from the edge of the box and Partridge again tested him, forcing the keeper to tip a shot from range over.

Tony Dinning, looking for his first goal for the club, was next to try, gathering a ball from a corner and struck his shot just wide.

Danby then almost gifted Carlisle the lead when he fumbled a Joe Anyinsah cross but City’s defenders got to the loose ball and cleared the danger.

United did reclaim the lead in the 36th minute however when Marc Bridge-Wilkinson received the ball inside the box and fired past Danby.

At half-time Paul Rutherford was brought on to replace Partridge and without the nippy winger’s threat Carlisle began to take hold of the game.

United scored their third in the 53rd minute, Gall again on hand to react after Danby had palmed a header from Danny Livesey to him.

Just one minute later Gregg Abbott’s men had added a fourth, Danny Graham finding the net after a deep pass from Bridge-Wilkinson.

Straight away, Williamson withdrew Laurence Wilson to hand Glen Rule his first team debut.

In the 69th minute Chris Holroyd came on for Mark Hughes and immediately made an impact, heading home from a Simon Marples cross just 15 seconds after coming on to give City a flicker of hope but it was not to be as City said goodbye to the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

Carlisle United: Westwood, Raven, Aranalde, Bridge-Wilkinson, Livesey, Gall, Lumsdon, Graham (Carlton 57), Arnison, Smith, Anyinsah (Hackney 62). Subs: Murphy, Garner, Howarth.

Chester City: Danby, Marples, Bolland, Linwood, Sandwith, Partridge (Rutherford 45), Hughes (Holroyd 69), Dinning, Wilson (Rule 55), Yeo, McManus. Subs: Palethorpe, Walker.

Attendance: 3,154

Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire)