Shrewsbury Town 1 : 0 Carlisle - Carlisle remain rooted to basement

Posted Wednesday, September 17, 2014 by PA

Carlisle remain rock bottom of the Football League after Jermaine Grandison's header late in the first half proved enough to earn Shrewsbury a 1-0 home win.

And, just to prove it was not Carlisle's night, they had caretaker player-manager Paul Thirlwell sent off just before the end for a second bookable offence.

Right-back Grandison made the breakthrough two minutes before the interval for Shrewsbury, who had not scored in their last two league games, when he rose highest to head in an inviting cross from the left from Nathaniel Knight-Percival.

The goal had been coming with Shrewsbury enjoying most of the possession in the first half as Carlisle were forced to defend for long stages.

Apart from an early long-range free-kick from Danny Grainger which sailed wide, it was all Shrewsbury, with visiting goalkeeper Mark Gillespie forced into a smart early save at his near post from Jordan Clark's shot.

Efforts from Clark, James Collins and James Wesolowski then just missed the target as Shrewsbury pressed for a second goal.

However, Carlisle nearly equalised just before the hour when Antony Sweeney's close-range shot was brilliantly touched onto the bar by keeper Jayson Leutwiler.

Shrewsbury had their chances to make the scoreline more impressive, but a Mark Ellis header was hacked of the line by David Symington while Gillespie made a flying save to keep out a header from Collins.