CARLISLE UNITED 1 NEWCASTLE UNITED 1

Last updated : 23 July 2007 By Footy Mad - Editor
CARLISLE: Westwood, Raven, Livesey, Murphy (Kirkup, 65), Aranalde (Arnison, 61), Gall (McDermott, 61), Bridge-Wilkinson (Carlton, 61), Thirlwell (Lumsdon, 61), Smith (Joyce, 76), Hackney (Dalton, 81), Graham.
Subs (not used): Howarth
 
NEWCASTLE UTD: Harper (Krul), Carr (Bertram), Rozehnal (Huntington),
Ramage (Francis), N'Zogbia, Dyer (Troisi), Barton (Lough), Solano, Butt
(Geremi), Carroll, Martins (LuaLua).
Subs (not used): Milner, Forster.

Attendance: 12,346


Shay Given and Shola Ameobi were rested, Michael Owen was out with a thigh injury, and Mark Viduka was suffering misery in the Far East where Australia were being knocked out of the Asia Cup on penalties.

But otherwise it was a very strong Newcastle side that had to thank Nobby Solano for a last gasp goal to save the blushes.


All eyes were on Oba Martins to create the chances, and as early as the 6th minute he struck a left-foot strike that 'keeper Kieran Westwood tipped round the post.
Westwood again foiled the Mags on 22 minutes when Nicky Butt clipped in a
right-wing cross and Barton headed powerfully at goal, but the goalkeeper was equal to it.

Two minutes later Martins hit the side netting and Andy Carroll went wide of the post just before half-time. 0-0 at half-time and Steve Harper was hardly troubled.

Yet Carlisle grabbed a shock lead just 11 minutes after the restart when Michael Bridge-Wilkinson crossed from the left with Danny Livesey heading firmly past Harper with the Toon keeper rooted to the spot.

As you usually find in pre-season friendlies, the second half was constantly interrupted by a series of substitutions by both sides which killed off an otherwise decent match.

On 64 minutes Geremi fired in a free kick goalwards from 30 yards which just went wide.

Another halt in the match came with an attempted pitch invasion by two supporters which caused another minor delay, and more frustration for the fans wanting to see a game of football rather than two idiots trying to make a name for themselves.

Newcastle looked to be heading for an embarrassing defeat but Nobby Solano chested down a superb cross on the corner of the box before firing over the top of keeper to save face.