Young gun fires double volley
Carlisle United picked up a vital three points and their first victory in six league outings as they dominated for long periods in horrible conditions at Huish Park.
A brace for Mark Beck and another goal for the in-form Joe Garner did the job as the team responded to the rallying calls to put smiles on faces as they dug deep to find one of their best performances of the season.
“I thought we handled the conditions really well and the lads showed us that they have the spirit and determination we need to get ourselves back to where we want to be,” manager Greg Abbott said. “Confidence has taken a bit of a knock recently and we needed this for ourselves and for the fans. It’s really, really pleasing because we have put ourselves under the spotlight and we have demanded more. We have responded as a group ... and it’s as a group that we will hopefully continue to push this club on.”
The Glovers looked lively as they mastered the early soggy conditions with the nippy Marsh-Brown a constant outlet. His cross for Ugwu had Collin on his knees but a timely intervention from Simek spared the keepers’ blushes.
Chantler then blocked twice as Marsh-Brown tried to run the show and the United back line had to concentrate as Yeovil attacked with pace.
United weathered the early storm and enjoyed a spell of pressure as Symington found space out wide. He rode one crunching challenge before going for glory with a shot from the angle of the 18-yard box. Stech saved it with an outstretched leg and Garner was a whisker away from converting the rebound as he threw himself at making a connection.
Carlisle stayed forward and they took the lead with their very next attack when Robson made his way into the area. A powerful cross-shot evaded the back line and teenage striker Mark Beck did the rest as he slid in to finish it off and grab his first ever league goal for the club.
He should have doubled his tally moments later when a fierce Symington free kick caused problems. It skipped up off the surface and the big target-man was disappointed as his close range touch whistled just past the upright.
The Glovers responded well and Marsh-Brown left Chantler on the floor as he wound his way into the box for a cut-back. The cross was poor and Livesey was able to clear his lines. Ugwu then bullied his way into space but his dinked cross was just too high for Foley who could only glance his header wide as he jumped to greet it.
The effective Dave Symington had another of his trademark thunderbolts parried away as the visitors started to enjoy themselves, and Joe Garner had an effort blocked when Stech spilled one into his path.
The hosts almost nicked an equaliser just before the break when Marsh-Brown measured a pass for Hayter. He cut back inside but a touch from Livesey took it wide with Collin well beaten.
A goal within 60 seconds of the restart left Yeovil in disarray and it was teenager Mark Beck who scored a contender for goal of the season when he latched onto a looped nod down from Garner. A perfectly executed left-foot volley streaked into the top corner as Stech flapped helplessly at thin air.
Garner almost extended the lead further when he dived low to meet a Robson cross, but Burn did enough to put him off and the header fizzed just the wrong side of the upright.
Substitute Reuben Reid brought fire to the home stomachs and he created space as he ran from deep. His cross found Hayter put the disappointed striker put his header just past the angle of post and bar.
Another Reid shot was then parried by Collin as it flew through bodies and the Glovers stayed forward as they sensed they had their visitors on the back foot.
The pressure was made to pay when Reid poked the ball into an empty net following another parried save from a difficult Foley shot. Hayter then had a dipping curler which whipped just past the angle of post and bar and Collin had to produce a double save from Marsh-Brown as he tried to bring his side back onto level terms.
But the two goal cushion was restored when Garner made it eight in 18 appearances with a header from a near post corner which somehow crept through Stech’s legs.
Dave Symington was presented with a golden opportunity to get his name in lights as the clock ticked down when he chased a through ball to go one-on-one with Stech. The keeper produced an excellent one-handed save as the teenager wheeled away in disappointment.
Williams and Hayter had half chances as the Hoops threw men forward, with the former frustrated to see a scuffed volley saved by the determined Adam Collin,.
Hayter headed wide when Reid picked him out just before full time but it was comfortable for Carlisle as they shut up shot and kept a very tight hold on their well deserved spoils.
+++++++
Goals
Yeovil - Reid (65)
United - Beck (21, 46), Garner (69)
+++++++
Bookings
United - Symington (76)
+++++++
Teams
Yeovil Town - Stech, Ayling (Bennett 80), Webster, Marsh-Brown (Williams 72), Upson, Hayter, Foley, Burn, Ugwu (Reid 49), Smith, Edwards. Subs - Hinds, Stewart, Agbo, Brundle.
Carlisle United - Collin, Simek, Livesey, Edwards, Chantler, Symington (McGovern 77), Berrett, Potts, Robson, Garner, Beck. Subs - Gillespie, Welsh, Todd, McGinty, Higgonbotham, Gjokaj.
+++++++
Referee - Stephen Martin
Attendance - 3,394 (117 away fans)
