Cumbrians comeback win gives faint hope

By Thomas Ridley

CARLISLE UNITED 3

Kelly 33, 60, Hayden 84

CARLISLE: Breeze 6, Davies 6 (McArthur 24, 6), Hayden 8, Thomas 7, Ellis 6, Whelan 7, Vela 7 (Dennis 54, 6), Fusire 7 (Bevan 80, 6), Wearne 7 (Hugill 80, 6), Kelly 9, Harris 6. Subs not used: Lewis, Guy, Barclay.

NEWPORT CO 2

Evans 26, Kamwa 28

NEWPORT: Townsend 5, Evans 6, Clarke 6, Baker 6, Thomas 6, McLoughlin 6, Antwi 6, Evans 7 (Whitmore 70, 6), Driscoll-Glennon 7, Kamwa 7, Ajiboye 6 (Martin 66, 6). Subs not used: Webb, Brennan, Patten, Spellman, Bony.

Att: 5,889 Rating: ★★★★★ Ref: Ruebyn Ricardo 6/10

MARK Hughes heaped praise on his Carlisle side after their excellent comeback win over Newport.

The Exiles took the lead with two goals in a matter of minutes – Kieron Evans put them ahead and Bobby Kamwa’s wonder goal put the visitors two up.

But a double from Georgie Kelly and a late goal from Aaron Hayden sealed the points for the Cumbrians.

Hughes said: “I thought it was a great win, it was a difficult start.

“We conceded first again, which we’re trying to avoid and every game we play we’ve found itdifficult.

“The second goal was a worldie, you can’t do anything about that. There are some times whenwe would’ve gone under at 2-0down, but Georgie scored a great goal.

“The goal was important for us and we got them in at half-time and told them if they scored the next one that would make it difficult for Newport.

“I’d just asked out of curiosity when was the last time Carlisle came from 2-0down to win and I think it was 2015, so that tells you something.”

Newport took the lead through Evans in the 26th minute as he was played through on goal by Kamwa and he made no mistake with a composed finish. In the blink of an eye, Kamwa doubled his side’s lead in the 28th minute as his stunning long-range strike sailed past Gabe Breeze into the Carlisle net.

However, the Blues hit back in the 33rd minute after Stephen Wearne threaded a nice ball through to Kelly, who calmly slotted home.

Kelly then scored his second of the day to get his side level as he tapped home after a goalmouth scramble from a corner.

The Blues almost got the winner through Joe Hugill’s free-kick which hit a post, but Callum Whelan put the ball back into the box and Hayden was there to sweep home and secure three vital points for his side.

Exiles boss Nelson Jardim was disappionted to see a two-goal lead slip away, saying: “We started very well to go 2-0up, but again in the second half, this is the case not only in this game but in others too, it becomes physical and we have to be in a game in terms of duels but we always fall short. “Today was another game of that, with set plays and we obviously knew that was going to be a tough game, they are fighting for their lives. It’s [about] size, it’s strength and it’s experience.”