Tuesday 23rd March 2003 – Nationwide League Division Three

Scunthorpe United 2 Carlisle United 3

Carlisle United: Matty Glennon, Lee Andrews, Brian Shelley, Kevin Gray, Mark Boyd, Chris Billy, Peter Murphy, Brendan McGill, Kevin Langmead (Adam Rundle 90), Peter Duffield (Andy Preece 90), Craig Farrell. Subs not used: Michael Jack, Paul Arnison, Peter Keen.

Goals: Duffield 15, Boyd 55, Billy 77

Summary: Carlisle took the lead against the Iron in a crunch relegation battle at Glanford Park after just fifteen minutes when Chris Billy and Brendan McGill combined to set up Peter Duffield for his second goal in just three matches since signing for the Cumbrians.

The experienced front man almost netted again seconds later, but shot inches wide, and he was made to pay when the division’s top goalscorer Steve McLean latched onto a Lee Andrews mistake and fired home on 27 minutes. It remained 1-1 until the half-time break.

Once again after the interval Carlisle came out the stronger, and this time Mark Boyd’s 25-yard searing effort burst into the back of Tommy Evans’ net to restore the advantage. And again the Iron fought back as McLean bagged his 23^rd of the campaign – the Glasgow Rangers loan signing making no mistake from the penalty spot.

It was down to one-time Bury midfielder Chris Billy to administer the killer blow as he again sent a long-range drive into the back of the net twelve minutes from the end to make it 3-2 with his first goal for the Cumbrians. Scunthorpe had no answer, and the escape continued.

Saturday 20th March 2003 – Nationwide League Division Three

Rochdale 2 Carlisle United 0

Carlisle United: Matty Glennon, Brian Shelley, Kevin Gray, Mark Boyd, Paul Arnison (Adam Rundle 79), Chris Billy, Peter Murphy, Brendan McGill, Andy Preece (Kevin Langmead 70), Peter Duffield (Peter Keen 32), Craig Farrell. Subs not used: Michael Jack, Lee Andrews

Goals: none

Sent Off: Glennon 32

Summary: The Cumbrians took two-and-a-half thousand fans to Spotland, but they left disappointed after Matty Glennon’s sending-off half-an-hour in left them helpless against relegation-threatened Rochdale.

Peter Duffield and Craig Farrell both went close early on for the Cumbrians, who were up against debutant Neil Redfearn of ‘Dale. Spotland striker Grant Holt retorted at the other end, missing a header at the far post, but he was involved much more influentially on 31 minutes. He looked offside as he burst onto a through ball in the penalty area, but the former Carlisle trialist was felled by Glennon, who promptly received his marching orders. Gary Jones dispatched the spot-kick past substitute goalkeeper Peter Keen.

The ten men fought on, but on 64 minutes it was the Lancastrians who doubled their lead. Again Holt raced through, latching onto a defence-splitting pass and tapping the ball past Keen, who was exposed by a lack of numbers at the back. Farrell’s free-kick was the closest the Cumbrians came to getting back into it.

Tuesday 16th March 2003 – Nationwide League Division Three

Carlisle United 1 Northampton Town 1

Carlisle United: Matty Glennon, Brian Shelley, Kevin Gray, Peter Murphy, Paul Arnison, Chris Billy, Will McDonagh (Lee Andrews 62), Brendan McGill, Andy Preece, Peter Duffield (Kevin Langmead 70), Craig Farrell. Subs not used: Michael Jack, Adam Rundle, Peter Keen.

Goals: Farrell 82

Summary: Two late goals in front of a massive 6,000-strong crowd at Brunton Park meant that these two sides, at either end of the Third Division table, fought out a 1-1 draw. The first half was scrappy on the whole, although Brendan McGill did find the back of the net after a collision between custodian Lee Harper and one of his defenders – referee Robinson ruled it out.

In the opening period, Peter Murphy sent a dangerous 25-yerd effort just off target and Peter Duffield had a bundled header cleared off of the goalline. Again in the second period the home side made all the running whilst Northampton failed to prove a threat.

Craig Farrell failed to convert young substitute Kevin Langmead’s cross, but on 82 minutes he made amends. Lee Andrews delivered the ball into the penalty area and Farrell beat off team-mate Andy Preece to convert from close range.

The lead was short-lived though as the Cobblers equalised almost straight from the kick-off, with one of just six efforts on goal, and two on target. A one-two put Paul Trollope in, and he flicked the ball over Matty Glennon to make the final score one apiece.

Saturday 13th March 2003 – Nationwide League Division Three

Carlisle United 2 Oxford United 0

Carlisle United: Matty Glennon, Kevin Gray, Tom Cowan (Lee Andrews 71), Will McDonagh, Paul Arnison, Chris Billy, Peter Murphy, Brendan McGill (Brendan McGill 87), Andy Preece, Peter Duffield (Adam Rundle 77), Craig Farrell. Subs not used: Kevin Langmead, Peter Keen.

Goals: Cowan 52, Farrell 76

Summary: The Cumbrians pulled off one of the results of the season to defeat promotion-chasing Oxford United at Brunton Park. Again the visitors the Brunton Park were kept quiet, as in the game that followed, and former Carlisle boss Ian Atkins’ team failed to register more than two shots on target.

The first goal, though, did not arrive until after the interval when Tom Cowan broke the shackles of his left-back role to burst down the left flank and then cross for Craig Farrell, who returned the compliment to assist the experienced defender in netting his first goal for the club.

Ex-Shrimper Mark Rawle went close for the U’s before the hosts extended their lead. Peter Murphy hared down the right and gave the ball to Andy Preece, who crossed for Farrell to convert from just three yards out. Carlisle played out four additional minutes to keep up their good form.

Tuesday 9th March 2003 – Nationwide League Division Three

Carlisle United 1 Huddersfield Town 0

Carlisle United: Matty Glennon, Kevin Gray, Tom Cowan, Will McDonagh, Paul Arnison, Chris Billy, Peter Murphy, Brendan McGill, Andy Preece, Peter Duffield, Craig Farrell. Subs not used: Lee Andrews, Adam Rundle, Kevin Langmead, Brian Shelley, Peter Keen.

Goals: Duffield 72

Summary: The Cumbrians lined up in an adventurous 4-3-3 formation which they could reproduce in subsequent games with Andy Preece, Peter Duffield and Craig Farrell all playing up front. Matty Glennon had to tip an Andy Booth shot around the post in the opening gambits before Craig Farrell tested Paul Rachubka in the Terriers net.

The battle for supremacy continued with Will McDonagh, Farrell and Anthony Carss trading blows at either end. Tom Cowan drove over the crossbar from distance and Preece fired wide of the uprights. Booth had another fantastic opportunity but he was denied by a point-blank save from Glennon before the breakthrough arrived.

Andy Preece crossed innocuously from the right and Duffield, on debut, got to the loose ball before Rachubka to put the Cumbrians in front. Carss had a late chance to level matters, but he failed, and the recovery was on.

Summary – Shrimpers vs. Cumbrians last five matches

Carlisle United

W3-2 (away; Scunthorpe United; League Division Three; Peter Duffield, Mark Boyd, Chris Billy)

L0-2 (away; Rochdale; League Division Three)

D1-1 (home; Northampton Town; League Division Three; Craig Farrell)

W2-0 (home; Oxford United; League Division Three; Tom Cowan, Craig Farrell)

W1-0 (home; Huddersfield Town; League Division Three; Peter Duffield)

(Won 3, Drawn 1, Lost 1, Scored 7, Conceded 5)

Southend United

L0-2 (neutral; Blackpool; LDV Vans Trophy final)

D2-2 (away; Lincoln City; League Division Three; Leon Constantine 2)

D1-1 (home; Swansea City; League Division Three; Lawrie Dudfield)

D1-1 (away; Bristol Rovers; League Division Three; Mark Gower)

W2-0 (away; Boston United; League Division Three; Mark Bentley, Neil Jenkins)

(Won 1, Drawn 3, Lost 1, Scored 6, Conceded 6)

Summary – Shrimpers away form vs. Cumbrians home form

Carlisle United

D1-1 (Northampton Town; League Division Three; Craig Farrell)

W2-0 (Oxford United; League Division Three; Tom Cowan, Craig Farrell)

W1-0 (Huddersfield Town; League Division Three; Peter Duffield)

D1-1 (Hull City; League Division Three; Andy Preece)

W2-1 (Bury; League Division Three; Paul Simpson, Kevin Gray)

(Won 3, Drawn 2, Lost 0, Scored 7, Conceded 3)

Southend United

D2-2 (Lincoln City; League Division Three; Leon Constantine 2)

D1-1 (Bristol Rovers; League Division Three; Mark Gower)

W2-0 (Boston United; League Division Three; Mark Bentley, Neil Jenkins)

D1-1 (Bury; League Division Three; Leon Constantine)

L1-2 (Leyton Orient; League Division Three; Lawrie Dudfield)

(Won 1, Drawn 3, Lost 1, Scored 7, Conceded 6)