CUMBRIANS’ COMEBACK A HUGE BOOST FOR HUGHES

By Josie Boyle

MORECAMBE 0

CARLISLE UTD 2

Kelly 28, Thomas 60

OPENER: Carlisle United’s Georgie Kelly scores his side’s first goal of the game and celebrates with team mates

PICTURES: Alamy

BATTLE: Carlisle’s Jack Ellis battles with Morecambe’s Adam Fairclough, left

MARK Hughes said his Carlisle side’s vital victory over Morecambe has given them the belief they need to maintain their Football League status.

Goals from Georgie Kelly and Terell Thomas secured back-to-back wins for Carlisle for the first time since March 2023 and saw Morecambe drop to the bottom of the Football League.

The victory was significant, for the three points, but also for the confidence it instilled in the side as they push to keep in the Football League.

“After the way we turned things round against Newport last week, we were looking forward to the game and asked for more of the same,” Hughes said.

“It’s great to get back-toback wins and we have to just keep on trying to apply the pressure on others and see where it takes us. We are in a good place at the moment. Everyone is pushing in the right direction and I think we saw the game out comfortably.

“It was a scrappy game, but we matched them all the way and put pressure on them and were aggressive, determined and resilient, stood up to the challenge and got the points.

“I think everyone can see we have belief and we will look to keep that going.’’

After a nervy start, Kelly gave the visitors defender Thomas latched onto the lead in the 28th minute, a cross from the right, taking heading home unmarked from a superb first touch before finishing past Burgoyne to seal eight yards after meeting a right-wing cross past Harry the points.

Burgoyne. Callum Jones forced a late Morecambe’s best chance save from Gabriel Breeze with of the first half came in a long-range effort, but Morecambe’s defeat leaves them stoppage time when Hallam Hope failed to hit the target rooted to the foot of the table from three yards, firing wide with four games remaining. after being picked out by Tom Morecambe boss Derek Adams said: “It was a game of White. very few opportunities and we Morecambe boss Derek Adams made four changes at the break, and Yann Songo’o had an early opportunity to equalise, but he volleyed over Max Taylor’s lay-off from close range.

Carlisle made them pay after the hour mark when probably had the best of them through Hope and Songo’o.

“But they scored the all-important goals that came from long balls into the area we didn’t deal with. Overall though, some of our play was slack and we didn’t do well enough in certain areas of the pitch and that is why we went down to a defeat. We made four changes at half time because we had to try and change things and introduce some width and try and alter the flow of the game but it didn’t work for us because those players that came on didn’t do enough to change things.

“It was a difficult afternoon for us because we knew the stakes were high and we didn’t do enough in the game to deal with the situation.

“We are adrift now and we need a good run at it now and really need to win games, but that isn’t going to be easy.’’

MORECAMBE: Burgoyne 6, Lewis 7, Williams 6 (Taylor 45, 7), Stott 7, Tutonda 6 (Lewis 45, 6), White 6 (Dackers 71, 7), Songo’o 7, Jones 7, Dallas 6 (Fairclough 45, 6), Angol 6, Hope 6 (Tollitt 45, 6). Subs not used: Schofield, Slew.

CARLISLE: Breeze 7, Ellis 9, Hayden 8, Thomas 9, Harper 7, Whelan 7 (Guy 89), Fusire 7 (Vela 76, 6), Harris 7, Wearne 6 (Bevan 89), Dennis 7 (Hugill 79, 6), Kelly 7. Subs not used: Lewis, Lavelle, McArthur.