4:58pm Saturday 4th September 2010
By Sam Morshead
SWINDON Town and Carlisle United played out a 0-0 stalemate at Brunton Park in League One this afternoon.
In a match full of opportunities, it was Town who had the better chances as they battled well to secure a valuable away point.
However, when Charlie Austin was sent clean through by substitute David Ball in stoppage time, the forward should have snatched all three.
With time to place the ball into the bottom corner, Austin fired over the crossbar from close range.
It was the best of a number of openings for Town as they used the counter-attack well against their unbeaten hosts.
At the other end, David Lucas' most notable moment was pushing away Sean Morrison's sliding interception as the visitors' backline kept the Cumbrians quiet for the majority of the 90 minutes, despite being a little loose with possession in midfield.
Here are the key moments from this afternoon's match:
18 mins: Francois Zoko latches onto a through ball and wrestles for possession with Kevin Amankwaah on the edge of the Town area.
The Carlisle attacker eventually gets in a shot, but Amankwaah recovers to block well and David Lucas smothers the ball on the floor.
It's not been much of a spectacle so far, with the hosts well on top and Swindon sloppy in possession.
21 mins: Michael Timlin's first-time ball from halfway sends Charlie Austin clear through on goal, but the striker skews his 20-yard half-volley horribly wide.
Encouraging signs on the counter-attack there for Town, however, as they look to find a foothold on proceedings.
23 mins: Sean Morrison nods wide from Callum Kennedy's corner.
25 mins: Lucas plucks a tame header from James Chester out of the air as Carlisle continue to push the Town defence hard.
Sean Morrison is doing a good job negotiating the double threat of Gary Madine and Craig Curran.
28 mins: Vincent Pericard does superbly to head Kennedy's long ball back to the edge of the area where Jon-Paul McGovern connects, his flying volley smashing against the stanchion behind the goal.
41 mins: Amankwaah is robbed by Zoko on the left wing, and the ball eventually falls to Curran's feet. The striker's shot is blocked and Paul Thirlwell skies the rebound well over.
51 mins: Lubomir Michalik tests Lucas with a good headed effort from 10 yards following Zoko's chipped cross as Carlisle make a bright start to the second half.
52 mins: A swift counter-attacking move from Town sees Austin play McGovern down the line and the Scot centres for Pericard, whose volleys tamely into the ground, allowing Collin to make a comfortable save.
56 mins: A short passage of Town pressure ends with Austin heading straight at Collin from McGovern's cross.
62 mins: Lucas does brilliantly to push the ball away from goal after Morrison's sliding interception from Zoko's flat cenre seems destined for the bottom corner.
The game is gettig more of a rhythm to it now, and chances are coming thick and fast at either end.
64 mins: Michalik heads wide from yet another United corner, that's 14 so far.
66 mins: Morrison matches Michalik from a McGovern set piece.
67 mins: McGovern is at the centre of all things positive for Swindon on the attackig front, and his chipped ball to the back post has Collin in no man's land
With an empty net to aim at, all Austin has to do is launch himself at the ball, but the hitman remains rooted, watching as it sails agonisingly behind for a goal kick.
69 mins: Substitute Ben Marshall almost makes an immediate impression for the home side, but his effort from eight yards is blocked by Scott Cuthbert.
72 mins: MGovern stals possession from Sean McDaid, his pass to David Ball is a littl firm, but when he gets the return from the Manchester City loanee, he is well placed to strike.
However a fine lunge from Chester prevents his effort from reaching Collin.
76 mins: Ball races onto Austin's flick header and tries to lob the onrushing Collin from the edge of the area.
The keeper is beaten but the shot is too soft to reach the net before Michalik sees it clear. There's space opening up at either end.
79 mins: Jonathan Douglas lashes over from 20 yards after a neat lay-off from Simon Ferry. He's not had one of his most inspiring afternoons, the Robins skipper.
90 mins: Chester fires his header over Lucas' crossbar.
90 mins: Ball backheels through to Austin who is one on one with Collin with masses of time to pick his spot.
But it's Wembley all over again as the former Poole Town man blazes over. That was a sitter.
TOWN (4-3-1-2): David Lucas; Kevin Amankwaah, Scott Cuhbert, Sean Morrison, Callum Kennedy (Alan Sheehan 55); Simon Ferry, Jonathan Douglas, Michael Timlin (Alan O'Brien 73); Jon-Paul McGovern; Vincent Pericard (David Ball 64), Charlie Austin
Subs not used: Phil Smith, Lecsinel Jean-Francois, David Prutton, Thomas Dossevi
CARLISLE (4-3-1-2): Adam Collin; Frank Simek, Lubomir Michalik, James Chester, Sean McDaid; James Berrett, Paul Thirlwell, Tom Taiwo (Matty Robson); Francois Zoko (Ben Marshall 67); Craig Curran, Gary Madine
Subs not used: Tony Caig, Peter Murphy, Tony Kane, Graham Kavanagh, Jason Price
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