For the most part it was typical friendly fare, although both sides did create a fair number of chances. It wasn't a brilliant Saints performance but Carlisle are a decent team and had a number of guys playing who are fighting for contracts. Overall a decent work out for both sides and plenty of encouraging signs for both managers - although more so Carlisle boss Greg Abbott.
The sun greeted us at Brunton Park and so did three of our summer signings, with Lewis Guy, Sam Parkin and Jon Robertson all starting. The three players who are suspended for next week's game were all benched so the team that starts against Caley Thistle will probably be similar to tonight's. There were plenty of youngsters on the bench, with Steven Thompson, Jim Goodwin and Marc McAusland the only senior outfield players. Sadly we weren't to be afforded a sight of Rory Loy playing for Carlisle, although they did include Lee Miller in attack.
Carlisle had half a chance in the opening 60 minutes but Matty Robson screwed it well wide. Chris Chantler's shot 10 minutes later had the required accuracy but not the power, Craig Samson barely having to move to collect the ball. Ditto James Berrett's effort, although next time he had a bit more power and Samson needed two attempts to save it. It was worrying to say the least the way the Cumbrians seemed to attack with ease and fire at will, although their shooting thankfully posed few problems to Samson.
We finally woke up midway through the half, some nice passing giving David van Zanten plenty of space on the right but Guy was always struggling to get to his cross and the ball spun off his head and away to safety. Seconds later Parkin crossed from a similar position and he found Dougie Imrie with time and space inside the box. He did the first part right, controlling the ball with his chest, but then fired the ball over the bar. van Zanten did rather better a minute later but goalie Adam Collin was always saving his shot. He didn't need to respond to David Barron's attempt to better his team-mate as he smashed it wide.
With the game now a bit more even Carlisle carved out a great chance for Miller but he somehow sent his free header wide of goal. A fine counter-attack saw McGowan opt to pass to Parkin rather than Robertson and the big striker had to try his luck from distance, not even the slight deflection his shot took causing Collin any difficulties. Andy Welsh then shot narrowly wide for the hosts with a 20 yard shot that looked to have Samson beaten. That was your lot for the first half, with Carlisle probably the better side.
Teale's delivery from set pieces is usually fairly reliable and one nearly conjured up the opener at the start of the second half, Collin almost comically chucking it into his own net. If that was unintended Imrie's thunderbolt from the best part of 25 yards was definitely meant. It looked to be flying wide but bent towards goal only to thump the crossbar and bounce behind. Berrett tried a cuter effort but only proceeded to lift the ball over Samson and the bar. McGowan uncharacteristically gave the ball away to Liam Noble who got a sight of goal but Samson turned his goalbound effort behind. Guy should have done better when he found himself free at the edge of the six yard box to meet Lee Mair's header on but could only head wide.
It strangely took us an hour of friendly football for some changes, Carlisle making the first couple, but they played no part in them taking the lead just after the hour mark. van Zanten seemed to lose his bearings as the ball was whipped over to Robson and he cut inside before firing the ball across goal for the onrushing Miller to slot home. A pretty poor piece of defending with no one paying Robson or Miller a great deal of attention. Carlisle took a similar approach when they gave Imrie space to cross for Guy who again headed wide when he should have hit the target. At least Guy could point to the fact he was offside - Parkin couldn't a few minutes later when Imrie picked him out and he failed to trouble Collin, completely missing the goal.
After Carlisle made a host of subs with 20 minutes left we finally saw some Saints changes, Guy and Parkin departing for Thomas Reilly and Steven Thompson. Noble shot wide before we made some more changes as Marc McAusland and Jim Goodwin replaced fullbacks van Zanten and Barron. Thompson nearly brought us level when he rose to head Teale's cross but sent it wide before yet another substitution, young John McGinn replacing McGowan. God only knows why these changes weren't all made in a oner! Teale was still on and showed he wasn't tiring too much when he charged onto a through ball before sending in a low drive that Collin beat away. It was a decent effort but the square to the unmarked Thompson was probably the better option.
Berrett was continuing to persevere in a bid to get a goal and was continuing to fail as he failed to trouble Samson from close range. A new minute means another Saints change as Sean Kelly replaced Imrie but it was starter Robertson who should have earned Saints a draw when the ball was slipped through to him in the final minute, only for him to dally and give Collin plenty of time to make the save.
And that was that. Not the most encouraging of pre-season friendlies but not exactly the worst either. Looking back I'm surprised we created so many changes as I don't remember us having as many! Let's hope we finish off the friendlies with a win over Accrington Stanley on Sunday.
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