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Carlisle United came to Huddersfield on Saturday and burst Town?s bubble to their best start to a season for 18 years as Carlisle?s caretaker manager and ex-Bradford defender Greg Abbott snatched all three points.

His game plan paid off for Abbott with a two goal blast in a nine minute first half spell, Town were not at the races which manager Andy Ritchie admitted himself after the game.
Ritchie blamed nerves and the desire to close people down but the view of ?nerves? was baffling seeing as Town before the game were joint top of the league having won their first two games of the season without a goal conceded.

Carlisle employed a five man midfield with Kevin Gall, Marc Bridge-Wilkinson and Joe Garner interchanging to support the big front man Danny Graham. Bridge-Wilkinson, the ex-Bantam, ran the show for Carlisle.

In the opening twenty minutes neither side could break each other down but Carlisle looked sharper than Town did all over the pitch. Luke Beckett, who had scored on the opening day against Yeovil and againt Bournemouth away a week earlier, has no decent service and had to rely on half chances. His front partner, Malvin Kamara, went missing after Carlisle went 1-0 up.

Town were chasing the game from the 34th minute when a corner which was half scrambled away found Bridge-Wilkinson, who had a shot touched onto the post by Matt Glannon, who kept the score down to two and played well against his former club, but defender Danny Livesey followed up to shoot the Cumbrians ahead after a pinball effect in the Town penalty area.

The game was over for Town nine minutes later, no way back, when Carlisle?s record signing, Joe Garner, who must be 5ft 6ins/5ft 7ins, nipped between Nathan Clarke and Aaron Hardy to head the ball into the net from a Bridge-Wilkinson corner.
Hardy, once more drafted in at centre back in the absence of David Mifin and Frank Sinclair.

It followed Glennon stylishly turning behind Danny Graham?s shot following the best move of the game between him and Bridge-Wilkinson when, like for the first goal, attackers were allowed space to run.

Boss Andy Ritchie, tightened up his midfield by dropping Matt Young into a deeper role was particularly annoyed by Carlisle?s match clinching goal scorer.
He felt that ex-Blackburn trainee Garner should have not been on the pitch following a couple of late challenges on Clarke that might have attracted bookings.

Frank Sinclair, David Mirfin and Danny Schofield could be all back next week of the trip to Millwall but Danny Cadamarteri looks doubtful apparently picking up another injury.

Town brought on Andy Booth towards the end and headed the ball wide from a Clarke cross, Beckett could have had more luck with the half chances he had to make to with and Kamara burst through the Carlisle defence in the first half only to be denied by a Livesey tackle.

Town lacked that sharpness and to be honest the first home game against Yeovil they must feel aggrieved with not coming away with a point that day. Robbie Williams has now signed but will not be match fit for at least another month or two.
Luke Beckett is only our main threat of getting goals and with Cadamarteri prone to injury maybe Ritchie might have to bring in a loan striker for a few months to support Beckett in getting goals.

Sean?s Star Man - Matt Glennon - I?m not his biggest fan but the ex-Carlisle shot stopper played well against his old club.

Teams:

Town: Glennon, Holdsworth, N. Clarke, Hardy (Akins 84), Skarz, Young (Booth 71), Worthington, Collins, Brandon, Beckett, Kamara.
Subs not used: Eastwood, T.Clarke, Berrett.

Carlisle: Westwood, Arnison, Raven, Livesey, Arandale, Gall, Smith, Thirwell, Bridge-Wilkinson, Garner (Carlton 88), Graham (Lumsdon 69).
Subs not used: Howarth, Hackney, Brittain.

Referee: Carl Boyeson (Yorks)
Attendance: 10,022