Carlisle United 1 Stockport County 1 -Carlisle won 5-4 on pens ( League 2 Play Off Final) Sunday 28 May 2023

County`s seemingly unstoppable charge towards League One came to an abrupt end at Wembley where a very competent Carlisle side came back from a goal down to level it late on before a nerveless display saw them gain promotion beating County 5-4 on penalties.

It was a massive disappointment County having led until the 84 th minute when Patrick at last put one of many Carlisle chances away.

I say `disappointment` but this was mitigated by the absence of the dark arts from the Cumbrians game – they looked second best for much of the match and then they didn`t as their constant pressure then had the blues hanging on at times getting lured into a reliance on high/ hopeful balls from deep and the assured passing of earlier in the game disappeared from their play.

So, fair do`s…Carlisle toughed it out and played some decent football in seeing us off so let`s wish them well and look to go one better next season!

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For a time County`s early play matched the prevailing mood in the Blue & White Army who made a colossal effort to get to the National Stadium .

A pull back by Sarcevic saw Madden`s header fly over the bar on 2 minutes as County quickly settled into their game with some confident play- Rydel combining with Hussey but seeing his shot, 2 minutes later, charged down.

My worries about Mr Nield the Referee surfaced next as Horsfall was adjudged to have fouled his man, although I did not see quite how, but the free kick flew out, so my sulk was short lived.

The set piece encouraged Carlisle but when Garner won a corner off Hussey there was no one on the end of it and Camps was able to clear for County.

County meanwhile continued to look the game`s prime movers Carlisle keeper Tomas Holy doing well to smother a ball from Wright intended for Tanto, but the blues set pieces were creaking somewhat as early as the 14^th minute when Hussey`s free kick came to nothing.

But then there was always Hinchliffe and he stood out claiming an incoming free kick impressively under pressure from Garner.

And Olaofe deserved a mention also – his run just snuffed out by Huntington after good work by Knoyle and Madden.

I was in grumble mode again within 5 minutes though as Croasdale was penalised by the Referee for an apparent foul. It was a free kick and set the 15000 Cumbrians present agog when Garner got on the end of it heading the ball goal ward . One nil to Carlisle then…. but no, enter Hinchliffe again with an excellent diving save to keep the header out!

Croasdale headed clear following Ben`s save sending Tanto on a run but this was ended abruptly by a `no frills` challenge from Mellish who was carded for it.

But County`s free kick was poor, and any danger gone in no time.

The blues kept working at getting that vital first goal but add to iffy set pieces poor finishing as the otherwise excellent Croasdale shot wide wasting a good chance he and Camps had worked for.

Nothing of great import happened in the next 5 minutes whereupon the old place went AS, or the County portion of it did, as the ball came to Tanto wide right.

The County supporters urged him to have a go and that`s what he did cutting inside with Mellish sticking to him like a limpet.

Then, within niffing distance of Holy`s after shave he unleashed a shot- the ball flying beyond the keeper`s helplessly groping hands , via the lightest of touches by Mellish into the net.

The score board had this as an own goal, but I beg to differ it was Tanto`s.

No matter- it was also 1-0 to County and that point was not lost on the 19000 with Stopfordian affiliations in the crowd and they were cock a hoop sensing the start of something good.

I was hoping that the goal had lit County`s smouldering fuse- instead I watched as Armer thwarted good work by Sarcevic and Knoyle just doing enough to keep the latter out. A corner followed this - Holy claiming the ball to end County`s gallop.

County continued to press without adding to their score, and Carlisle for their part largely through the tricky Gordon replied in good style but thankfully their finishing, at this point anyway, was no better than County`s.

The teams went in with County still 1-0 up- they needed to up their game a touch in the second half if they were to win this game, but would they?

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A run by Mc Calment for the Cumbrians opened the second half , Madden replying but heading Rydel`s cross over the bar for County.

This was followed by a probing run from Camps but having won a throw from this County again could make nothing from it.

This ushered in pressure from County`s opponents whose supporters were roused for the first time in the match as their side won a corner- their excitement quickly dissipating upon Hinchliffe`s contribution namely a confident catch under pressure.

It was disconcerting to see a series of high / hopeful clearances just come back at County- Hinchliffe again saving County blushes with Gordon very much on County`s case.

It was just before the hour mark and the point where the Referee seemed to go AWOL as a series of poor challenges by Carlisle went unpunished in a 2- or 3-minute period- it was alarming to see and not excused by the fact that he then booked Huntington for hauling Tanto down. If Wright had headed home from the free kick that might have helped but his urgent header instead flew wide.

Both sides were having a go at this juncture- Hussey making a brilliant saving tackle for County to deny Gordon at one end while Camps got a tad over enthusiastic whacking a speculative effort way over the bar at the other.

Errors were creeping into County`s game now though- Knoyle losing possession bringing another last ditcher from Hussey to save the day, and Tanto breaking but then showing too much of the ball to Huntington who accepted the gift eagerly clearing his lines, having first off claimed an unlikely free kick from the action.

Both sides were ringing the changes- Challinor bringing on Collar and Hippolyte in place of Wright and Madden. I wondered whether attack would be the better form of defence and hankered for Stretton`s inclusion alongside Tanto and hoped that we had not set ourselves to sit on our one goal lead.

But maybe I was wrong as Collar was almost sent clear by Sarcevic with 15 minutes left, and within a minute a scissors kick by Hippolyte flew just over the top.

Then, with less than 10 minutes left we did have Stretton on but at the expense of Tanto not alongside him which was disappointing.

Within 2 minutes of this personnel change Carlisle almost nicked the equaliser they craved, but despite an unseemly queue for a shot on goal in and just outside County`s box , the notional home side couldn`t.

But another 60 seconds and they did.

Dennis had just fluffed a half chance when the ball ran on to substitute Patrick who made no mistake levelling the scoreline with just 6 minutes remaining to play!

That was a body blow for County who responded by swapping Camps for Byrne, but this did not stop the flow of action towards Hinchliffe`s goal where a vital tackle by Knoyle kept ex Hatter Kristian Dennis out.

By this time another substitute Gibson was showing up well for Carlisle down the right, accompanied sometimes by Senior and at others Edmundson who had also been introduced late on.

County were hard pressed by this trio and happy to locate touch when necessary, but with 5 minutes added time announced started a late response that offered hope that they were looking to win.

But, 2 minutes in Hippolyte fluffed a half chance lifting the ball high over the bar- and played in again a minute later he sent a tame shot into keeper Holy`s arms.

The last couple of minutes of added time saw Carlisle under severe pressure – County unable to apply a finish to a clutch of half chances, ease coming eventually for Carlisle in the form of a life saving free kick.

So, extra time it was then!

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Tired legs abounded as the extra half hour commenced.

County looked to be wanting to shake a leg, Byrne policing Edmondson`s break successfully, and the blues then putting Holy`s goal under pressure.

Despite the tiredness it became nip and tuck in what remained of the first half of extra time the score staying at 1-1.

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Comedy reffing saw Collar booked on the re-start as Armer went down as if dead as County`s number 14 surged beyond him.

Then Stretton brought a decent save from Holy as he cut inside on the break. The corner went nowhere from this however.

With 8 minutes left of extra-time Hinchliffe pulled another top drawer save out of his bag with Emundson and Gibson terrorising County`s back-line.

County went into the last 5 minutes of extra time with Evans on for Sarcevic – Hinchliffe saving from McCalvert not long after.

Edmundson and Gibson continued to torment County in the minutes that remained – County did have some good moments defensively speaking- Croasdale getting a great tackle in with 4 minutes left only for the break following this to go nowhere-a situation that was replicated at the death as Evans stole possession deep in County territory only for nothing to come of it at the sharp end.

One minute added time came and went and the score remained Carlisle 1 County 1.

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It was penalties therefore with Madden and Sarcevic not amongst County`s available takers now, so a big ask of the blues- County`s compensation, if that it was, being tat the kicks would take place at County`s end.

And so it started…..

1. County- Evans ignored Holy`s boorish pre kick tricks to make it 1-0.

2. Carlisle- Dennis slid his kick beyond Hinchliffe into the net 1-1

3. County- Rydel `s shot was saved comfortably by Holy1-1.

4. -Carlisle- Mellish gave Hinchliffe no chance by blasting his kick home1-2

5.County- Hippolyte slid his kick home 2-2

6, Carlisle -Edmundson – did a shimmy before beating Hinchliffe 2-3

7 County- Stretton-drives the ball home 3-3

8 Carlisle-Moxon takes and it’s a good penalty and it`s 3-4

9- County- Collar`s kick is good too- 4-4 and the next one`s for promotion.

10- Carlisle -Charters scores sends Carlisle up 4-5

Not at all the ending to the match or the season we wanted in fact very disappointing hardly covers it.

That said however, apart from a dire spell early on in the season which probably cost us promotion this is a season that the team and Club can be proud of- it ended badly but contained much to be saluted.

So, we go again next season starting the campaign this time with a thorough knowledge of what works in League 2 and what doesn`t.

Now when can I renew my ST?

Carlisle United line up:- Holy , Senior , Armer ( Dennis 81) , Moxon , Huntington , Guy( Charter 77) , Whelan , Mellish , McCalmont ( Patrick 61) , Gordon( Gibson 77) , Garner ( Edmundson 61).

Subs not used :- Kelly.

Stockport County line up:-

Hinchliffe , Knoyle , Wright ( Collar 66), Horsfall , Hussey , Croasdale , Camps ( Byrne 84), Sarcevic ( Evans 114), Madden ( Hippolyte 66), Rydel, Olaofe( Stretton 81).

Subs not used; Jaros , Lewis.

Attendance : 34004

hedgegrower

some images from hedgegrower`s phone.....