Town 0 - 1 Carlisle

Town paid the price for a single defensive error shortly after the restart, even though they had beaten rampant scorers Carlisle in shots on target, and overall attempts on goal.

With Northampton being denied a victory by a last-minute goal at home to Rochdale, Town were guaranteed at second place even before kick-off.

The game started off in fast and furious fashion, without either side getting a shot on target, but Town were the first to get a corner on 5 minutes. Woodhouse struck it to Whittle, and Westwood struggled to get the ball away, clashing with his own defender.

Bridges was being used all over the pitch, and it was him that Town caught offside after 7 minutes.

Carlisle broke through Billy, and Aranalde then fouled Parkinson as Town intercepted and looked to break forward.

Carlisle had a free-kick in a dangerous position, but Rob Jones cleared, and then cleared again as Carlisle looked to capitalise.

Reddy and Goodfellow combined with Newey, but the move broke down when Reddy played the ball against his marker.

Carlisle won their first corner after 17 minutes, and Town then played the ball out to Goodfellow, who lost the ball and was adjudged to have fouled his man.

The pitch was very 'dead', and the Town fans were finding it difficult to judge the strength required as they passed or cleared the ball.

Reddy won the ball in the box but there were too many blue shirts around him, and as the ball came back to Mildenhall, the pitch again played tricks with the ball as the keeper struggled to judge the speed off the grass.

A nice bit of Town pressure was broken up, but then regained possession as the Carlisle pressure was lifted.

Carlisle temporarily lost Holmes with a head injury.

Newey took Town's next free-kick, and Gary Jones was reckoned to have fouled Westwood who again had tried to punch unconvincingly.

Reddy chased the ball down the left wing, and won a throw taken by McDermott.

Bridges shot, and the ball struck Mildenhall who saved well, as Rob Jones went down requiring treatment.

Goodfellow found Reddy, then Jones and Parkinson, whose chip hit the referee on the back and out for a goal-kick.

Goodfellow was put one on one with the keeper but his shot caught Westwood's legs on its way out for a corner. Jones and Whittle went forward, but the corner was cleared.

Lumsdon struck in a shot which Mildenhall took well, only to discover that his efforts were unnecessary as the whistle had already gone.

A nice spell of Town inter-passing just before half-time ended with Gray pushing Reddy on the D, as 2 minutes of added time were signalled. Goodfellow took the kick, and it hit a Carlisle defender on its way out for a Town corner, which was cleared by Aranalde.

Half-time: Town 0 - 0 Carlisle

There were no changes to either side, and 22 seconds after Town kicked off the second half, Town had the first shot of the second period.

Parkinson found space gave to McDermott, and Parkinson fired in a shot straight at the keeper, and at the other end Rob Jones left the ball to go to Mildenhall, with Hawley failing to capitalise but seconds later ...

49:00: Goal!: .. with the Town defence waiting for the offside flag to be raised, Bridges took control and lifted the ball over Mildenhall.

Goodfellow forced Westwood into a precautionary dive. Livesey was replaced by Adam Murray.

Bolland found McDermott, and he brought in Parkinson, who lifted the ball as far as Arnison who cleared.

Macca found Reddy who flicked on, but his pass couldn't find Gary Jones.

Whittle put in a long ball, which Westwood lost in the air, and only caught it at the second attempt. Whittle was caught in the face, but Referee Salisbury allowed play to continue.

Reddy won a corner off Aranalde, after 60 minutes, taken left footed by Woodhouse and Rob Jones headed wide.

Macca won the ball well and found Bolland who played to the near post, and then Parkinson picked up the ball and when he lost it, Town won it back and continued the pressure, before the lengthy attack finally ran out of steam.

Carlisle replaced Holmes with Hackney after 65 minutes.

Mildenhall saved well from a Murray header a minute later. A minute later Whittle did well to tidy up, and Town broke through the middle where Macca showed a bit too much of the ball.

Carlisle won their next corner off John McDermott, and although the ball bounced off the post, the whistle had gone already.

Macca was booked on 70 minutes for a foul several minutes earlier.

Newey crossed the ball, but only to Billy, who sent his forwards on a chase, which Bolland intercepted.

After 74 minutes Andy Parkinson was replaced by Junior Mendes.

Hawley tried a shot but it was deflected for a corner.

Before it was taken, goalscorer Bridges was subbed, and Town cleared the corner comfortably.

Hawley's next shot was headed out by Rob Jones.

After 81 minutes, Slade made a double substitution replacing Macca and Goodfellow with Futcher and Toner.

Futcher went up front as Town went 3-4-3.

Mendes won a corner immediately afterwards, and won another corner. Woodhouse took both, and Futcher headed over the bar under pressure.

Jones, Bolland and Mendes took the ball upfield, found Toner and Mendes, and Reddy looked for a corner, with just 5 minutes to go.

Newey took the next Town free-kick, Reddy hooked it back in, and Town played the ball forward again, with the big men waiting, but no-one found Rob Jones flick on. Westwood was booked for time-wasting.

Newey's free-kick was headed square by Futcher but the ball was booted clear. Toner went forward, then Jones found Bolland, and Mendes won a throw, as Bolland burst through with Westwood smothering the ball.

Toner caught a Murray in the midriff and gained Town's second yellow.

Newey punted the ball forwarded, and Woodhouse blasted goalwards only to see Carlisle push the ball over for a corner. The linesman indicated a free-kick as play continued with a free-kick instead of a corner.

Full-time: Town 0 - 1 Carlisle