Sheridan accepts ‘lucky goal’ as Carlisle reach second round

Carlisle boss John Sheridan was happy to accept a “lucky goal” as the Cumbrians reached the FA Cup second round following a 1-0 win at Crewe.

Danny Grainger’s first-half penalty miss did not come back to haunt Carlisle, who benefited from another error from Crewe goalkeeper Ben Garratt to book their place in the second round draw.

Garratt was adjudged to have tripped Cumbrians striker Richie Bennett while the keeper was floored saving a close-range effort from Hallam Hope in the first half.

Garratt guessed correctly to push out the Carlisle skipper’s 24th-minute spot kick.

But his judgement let him down in the last minute as, with the tie heading for a replay at Brunton Park, he lashed Kevin O’Connor’s poor back-pass against Jamie Devitt and the ball rebounded off the midfielder into the net.

Sheridan admitted: “Sometimes you’ll just take a goal. Obviously, it is a lucky goal and very disappointing on Crewe’s part, but I’ll take it and the way you win it doesn’t matter as it gets us into the next round and there is a little financial reward for us.”

Crewe boss Dave Artell described the penalty decision by referee Mark Griffiths as “extremely dubious” while bemoaning his side’s finishing, in particular a first-half chance that Chris Porter spurned by dragging it past a post.

“We were the better team throughout and they were restricted to shots from 25 yards,” insisted Artell.

“We had numerous chances and we had the ball around the box numerous times in the second half without pulling the trigger.

“We didn’t deserve that, but if you don’t take your chances and you make a catastrophic mistake you get what you deserve. You can’t legislate for mistakes like that.”

In the first half Carlisle went close through a Devitt volley which flew just over and a thunderous drive from Regan Slater which Garratt helped around his post before the disputed penalty was wasted by Grainger.

Crewe were better after the restart, but even though Artell shuffled his pack up front replacing the misfiring Porter and Alex Nicholls with leading scorer Jordan Bowery and Shaun Miller, his side could not carve out a clear opening.

The closest they came was when Charlie Kirk’s curling shot soon after half-time was turned around by Adam Collin.

“That cutting edge and ruthlessness wasn’t there, but we will keep working it as we are controlling games and we are playing well. But it is the result that matters in knockout cup games,” added Artell.

Sheridan added: “There wasn’t much between the two sides and I certainly don’t think we deserved to lose. They are a good side, but we had opportunities and if we’d scored the penalty it would have made life easier for us and opened the game up.

“But I thought we defended well against a good football side. It was important we didn’t lose, but their keeper has miscued it and he (Devitt) has taken his chance and it has ended up in the back of the net.

“I thought Jerry Yates was very good – his attacking and defending was brilliant.”