(Edited from a report by Ron Clarke, Sunday Times, September 7 2008)
Carlisle clung on to their unbeaten start to the season with a fortuitous victory against a spirited Southend still looking for their first win. (Er, Peterborough at home Ron, August 9!)
It looked as though a sublime intervention from veteran striker Dougie Freedman midway through the first half was enough to secure the maximum return that their territorial advantage merited. From 20 yards out, he cut inside before curling a marvellous shot round Ben Williams.
The home team eventually woke from their slumbers with a fortunate penalty just after the hour. Danny Livesey looked to have slipped under a close challenge from Peter Clarke but a spot-kick was given and dispatched by Danny Graham. The winner came with 11 minutes left when Cleveland Taylor tapped in from close range.
This was a game between two teams who both lost in last year's semi-final playoffs and Southend deserved at least a point for their superiority.
Freedman was most potent threat all afternoon. He went close with an early chip from just outside the penalty area and Lee Barnard flashed a header narrowly wide. By the interval, only Peter Murphy's shot, punched away by goalkeeper Steve Mildenhall, was Carlisle's only shot on target.
The second half was as one-dimensional as the first until the penalty kickstarted the home team. Then, after taking the lead, they rode out the storm despite some sustained Southend pressure.
Star man: Dougie Freedman (Southend)
Referee: A Haines Attendance :6,802
CARLISLE: Williams 6, Raven 6, Horwood 5, Bridge-Wilkinson 7, Livesey 7, Murphy 6, Graham 6 (Madine 88min), Carlton 6 (Bridges 62min), Thirlwell 6, Taylor 6, Hackney 6
SOUTHEND: Mildenhall 6, Francis 6, Clarke 6, Bar-rett 6, Grant 6, Barnard 7 (Furlong 89min), Freedman 8, Robson-Kanu 7 (Walker 79min), Christophe 6, Betsy 6 (Revell 88min), Harding 6