Carlisle United 1 PNE 1
Nicky Wroe was sent off for a second bookable offence midway through the second period but North End battled hard and defended resiliently to earn another point.
The Lilywhites had the lead just 12 minutes into the game, Jeffrey Monakana firing left-footed low past Mark Gillespie from the right hand corner of the box.
The home side did not look like getting back into the game in the first half, so it was against the run of play when they equalised from a set piece just eight minutes before the break, Lee Miller converting from close range after Thorsten Stuckmann had palmed John Paul McGovern’s free kick onto the post.
Stuckmann and Monakana were two of the four changes made by Simon Grayson – three of them enforced by injury; Keane, Beavon and Hayhurst ruled out, John Mousinho and former Carlisle man Joe Garner the other changes.
North End came out of the blocks quickly and won their first corner on seven minutes; Jack King’s shot blocked from Monakana’s right wing run and cross. Skipper John Welsh’s deep corner was met by Mousinho, but he couldn’t keep his shot down.
Thorsten Stuckmann was forced to make his first save on 11 minutes, palming Rory Loy’s effort away, however on the break the Lilywhites had the lead.
Great play down the right by Jack King from Bailey Wright’s long ball, the No.22 held the ball up and then laid it off to Monakana, who drove into the box and fired a left footed effort into the bottom left hand corner.
They had an excellent chance to double the lead on 20 minutes. It was a brilliant break; Nicky Wroe went through the middle and played it to Monakana on right, he reversed a great great pull back, and Welsh saw his shot blocked by James Berrett. From Welsh’s corner it was flicked on by Garner and Jack King at the back post put the ball over from close range.
At the midway point in the half Wroe picked the ball up 25 yards out, and hit a shot that was deflected just wide for a corner.
Despite dominating the possession and chances the Cumbrians were level before the break. A free kick was awarded in a left hand channel after a foul by Paul Huntington. It was 25 yards out and McGovern stepped up and fired right footed it towards goal. It was palmed onto the post by Stuckmann, but Lee Miller was first to react and slotted home from a yard out.
The second half was a feisty affair, with Mousinho going close to latching onto King's downward header in the opening couple of minutes of the half.
Jeffrey Monakana charged through on goal on the hour mark, beating four men, but with Joe Garner waiting unmarked he fired at goal with it taking a reflection into the arms of Gillespie. North End now found some pressure with Mousinho heading just over after an excellent rate run to meet Buchanan's left wing cross.
With 25 minutes left referee Andy Madley made a name for himself. Nicky Wroe had gone clean through on goal and went for a 50/50 with the goalkeeper and the referee decided it was a foul and booked him, having already booked him for an earlier incident with Liam Noble and therefore sent off the No.8.
Jeffrey Monakana and Jack King went through moments later with the winger putting the ball into King, but Danny Livesey got a block in to deny King a second for North End.
The North End No.17 then fired a left footer heading towards the top left hand corner and Gillespie was at full stretch to tip it over on 70 minutes.
In the four minutes of stoppage time the referee gave the home side a dubious free kick 35 yards out in a left hand channel, but it was cleared by North End's ten men.
Stuckmann then made a superb save from Brad Potts as North End kept the ball for the remaining time to earn a point.
: Gillespie, McGovern, Livesey, Welsh Carlisle United line-up(Manset, 63), Noble, Loy (Cadamarteri, 79), Miller, Potts, Berrett, Mustoe, O’Hanlon. Subs not used: Collin, Murphy, Edwards, Beck, Todd.
: Stuckmann, Connolly, Buchanan, Welsh, Huntington, Wright, Mousinho, Wroe, Garner (Procter, 88), King, Monakana (Cummins, 87). Subs not used: Rudd, Byrom, Beardsley, Foster, Davies.Preston North End line-up
: Mr A MadleyReferee
: 5,965 (963 away fans)Attendance