Carlisle boss Curle praises team unity

Posted Sunday, March 04, 2018 by PA

Carlisle manager Keith Curle praised the unity that is driving his team’s run towards the Sky Bet League Two play offs.

Ground staff and volunteers shifted tons of snow from Brunton Park and got their reward in the shape of a 2-0 win over struggling Grimsby.

Even the parents of one of Carlisle’s player, Kris Twardek, joined in the snow-clearing battle after travelling over from Canada.

Curle said: “Today was the evidence of a football club with everyone pulling together. It was a football community working together to show what can be achieved with unity.

“When you have one of the players’ parents clearing show you can see that people are buying into what we are trying to achieve.”

The Carlisle manager saw his side win for the fourth game in a row and propel themselves to within three points of the play-off places.

“We started with a good momentum but didn’t play to the conditions as well as we could have done,” Curle said.

“But sometimes you have to win ugly games as well as entertaining with free-flowing football.

“Other teams above us have games in hand, but we have got to play those teams.

“Massively at this stage in the season it’s about mental challenges players will face and we are in a good place to enjoy those challenges.

“I always felt there was a good run coming. Teams above us will got through difficult patches and we have a changing room that is competitive and challenging.”

Hallam Hope scored his 11th goal of the season with a third minute effort after Mariners’ keeper James McKeown had parried Richie Bennett’s first effort.

Mark Ellis’s header made it safe for Carlisle in the 73rd minute, with Hope’s 85th minute penalty miss not affecting the outcome.

Grimsby caretaker manager Paul Wilkinson admitted it was another frustrating day for a side that has gone 15 games without a win.

New manager Michael Jolley watched from the stands and Wilkinson said: “He’s been in and introduced himself to the players.

“We didn’t start well and gave ourselves a mountain to climb although we ground our way back into it. We battled and scrapped but it was never going to be an easy games because of the pitch and the conditions.

“We can’t get a goal at the moment. We haven’t taken our chances again and we’ve not been ruthless enough.

“Then they get a goal from a corner and it’s a blatant foul. When things are going against you these decisions go against you.”

Wilkinson added: “I think the decision to play the game was wrong. But at the end of the day is doesn’t matter. There’s a lot of plus points, but we can’t quite get over the line.”