Southend United made a sluggish start to life at an icy cold Brunton Park, instantly surrendering the initiative to their struggling hosts Carlisle.
With three minutes played Cumbrians winger Jon McCarthy drove a long-range effort into Shrimpers goalkeeper Daniel Gay's gloves, before home captain Peter Murphy drilled a 35-yard free-kick wide of the right post.
Unbelievable - striker Mark Rawle (right) feels the agony of a missed chance
Impotent Blues looked incapable of making an attacking impact and it was Carlisle who finally gifted them an opening on 14 minutes, but lone forward Graeme Jones lacked the pace to capitalise on defender Des Byrne's weak back-pass to keeper Matt Glennon.
Sixty seconds later, striker Jamie Burt forced Gay into a stretching save at the foot of his right post from the edge of the box, before the Southend custodian tipped midfielder Mark Hudson's 25-yard piledriver over the bar.
On 28 minutes, Blues' player-coach Steve Tilson beat Carlisle right-back Brian Shelley, but dragged his shot well wide from 18 yards. And four minutes later, Carlisle netted what proved to be a priceless goal in their battle to stave off relegation to the Conference.
Impressive Cumbrians winger Adam Rundle dumped Southend's debutant right-back Daryl Sutch on his backside, before whipping over a low left-flank centre, which McCarthy placed inside the left-hand post from 12 yards.
Carlisle should have doubled their advantage when Byrne swept a long pass over Southend left-back Damon Searle's head, but forward Craig Farrell failed to make the opportunity count from six yards.
Blues went on to fluff two great chances of their own to equalise. On 38 minutes, Mark Rawle's header from Tilson's right-wing corner was blocked on the goal-line by defender Darren Kelly, only for the wideman to thunder the rebound from a couple of yards against the underside of the crossbar and into Glennon's grateful arms.
Two minutes later, Smith flicked on Sutch's long pass, sending Jones clear, but the striker hesitated, when he should have got in a shot, allowing Kelly to make a tackle on the penalty spot, before Tilson picked up the loose ball and drove into Glennon's hands.
On 67 minutes, veteran Blues midfielder Tilson sent a 25-yard left-foot volley over the Carlisle goal, before Burt got his head to Byrne's free-kick and glanced inches wide for the home side.
Southend finally threatened nine minutes from time. Smith switched play to the right flank with a superb pass, allowing substitute Daniel Marney to make the by-line and curl a dangerous centre across the face of the six-yard box, but Jones was too slow to react and the chance went begging.
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Published Monday, January 6, 2003
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