Carlisle 2 - 2 Portsmouth: Danny Grainger snatches late draw for Carlisle
Posted Sunday, November 22, 2015 by PA
A late goal by captain Danny Grainger snatched a 2-2 draw for Carlisle against a Portsmouth side who failed to win for the fifth game in succession.
Grainger's penalty gave Carlisle a half-time lead only for Caolon Lavery and Mark McNulty to strike back for Pompey within the space of two second half minutes.
It looked all over for Carlisle until Grainger produced a superb 30-yard strike in the final minute of added time to earn the home side a share of the points.
Pompey goalkeeper Brian Murphy was a virtual spectator for much of the first half as Carlisle were forced to defend a wave of attacks.
Portsmouth could easily have been two goals ahead inside the first 10 minutes when Carlisle goalkeeper Mark Gillespie came to his side's rescue with a series of fine saves.
Lavery was presented with a free header when Ben Davies' cross from the right evaded the Carlisle markers, but Gillespie managed to block the close range effort.
Gillespie was soon in action again, pulling off a brilliant double save to prevent Enda Stevens firing Pompey ahead.
Carlisle had not troubled Murphy with a shot on target until the 44th minute penalty, awarded when Christian Burgess brought down Grainger on the left hand edge of the box.
Grainger took the spot kick himself, blasting a powerful shot down the middle to beat the goalkeeper's dive.
Portsmouth were adamant they should have had a penalty in the 61st minute when Luke Joyce's foul on Davies was ruled inches outside the area after the referee had consulted his assistant.
Adam McGurk fired the free kick straight into the defensive wall to add to Pompey frustration.
However, Lavery put Portsmouth level in the 66th minute, sliding home Davies' low cross from six yards.
Two minutes later it was 2-1 as substitute McNulty burst through strongly into the area to leave Gillespie helpless with a powerful finish.
In the final minute of added time Grainger cut in from the left and blasted a thunderbolt past Murphy and into the far top corner.
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