Carlisle United 1-1 Sutton United: Blues held despite Edmondson opener

Striker Edmondson headed Paul Simpson's side in front on the half-hour mark.

But the goal was cancelled out by the visitors' Will Randall before half-time.

And the Cumbrians failed to find any inspiration in the second half as they came up short in front of 4,752 fans.

United moved up a place to fifth in League Two but will rue a missed opportunity against their 17th-placed visitors.

Sutton were well worth a point and were the better side for good spells at Brunton Park, Carlisle's lack of creativity a concern for much of proceedings.

United boss Simpson made one change to his starting line-up, with Callum Guy back after illness and taking the place of Taylor Charters.

Sutton also included one change, with Omar Bugiel returning to their attack in place of Kylian Kouassi.

The game was one of several early kick-offs in League Two and gave United the chance to strengthen their place among the high fliers.

Sutton had only won once on the road in the league this season and scored just once in their previous five games, yet they made the more positive start at Brunton Park.

Matt Gray's side used the ball sharply in the opening stages, often attacking down the right, without truly threatening to score.

Edmondson heads the opener (Image: Ben Holmes)

Donovan Wilson turned Paul Huntington and shot wide early on, while Rob Milsom failed to test Tomas Holy with a free-kick.

United took time to grow into the game, Edmondson slicing their first attempt wide after a 19th-minute counter-attack.

But the Blues improved from the 20-minute mark and applied better pressure on their visitors, forcing a series of corners and Moxon and Guy trying their luck from outside the box.

Further attacks involving Guy and Jon Mellish then forced another corner, from which they broke the deadlock.

The latest of a number of varied corner routines saw Moxon play it short to Jordan Gibson and get it back outside the box, floating a cross behind the Sutton defence where Edmondson was free to head past Jack Rose.

It was the striker's second goal in successive games, his fifth of the season - and United's first against Sutton in league football.

Edmondson celebrates his goal (Image: Ben Holmes)

Carlisle looked to build on their lead, with Guy curling a shot narrowly wide after Gibson had led a promising break.

United were then on the defensive shortly before half-time, defenders throwing themselves in the way of one Sutton shot and then blocking a Wilson attempt as the visitors tried to keep a chance alive.

But Gray's side then did grab an equaliser in the dying moments of the half, as the dangerous Wilson got to the byline to cross and, though Holy saved Randall's initial attempt, the Sutton No11 was able to get to the rebound first and slot home.

The away side then started the second half on the front foot, Adam Lovatt testing Holy before a corner saw Joe Kizzi force the ball home, only for Sutton to be denied by ref Lewis Smith who had spotted a foul by the visitors.

Carlisle looked to rebuild, Mellish having an acrobatic attempt blocked before Corey Whelan saw penalty appeals dismissed as he battled with defenders at corners.

United, though, struggled to make any real attacking imprint, Edmondson unable to make the most of some far-post crosses, and both managers making changes midway through the half, Alistair Smith coming on for Sutton and Jack Stretton replacing Dennis for the Blues.

Jordan Gibson is challenged (Image: Ben Holmes)

Neither side looked capable of winning it, Carlisle struggling to get any foothold in the Sutton half, an early offside flag denying Edmondson a goal with ten minutes to go.

Simpson sent on Jamie Devitt for the closing stages in the midfielder's first outing for three months but Carlisle could not create anything late on.

A melee in added time brought bookings for three players, while ref Smith's performance attracted plenty of criticism throughout, but neither side could fight their way to victory.

United: Holy, Whelan, Huntington, Mellish, Ellis, Armer, Guy (Devitt 83), Moxon, Gibson, Edmondson, Dennis (Stretton 68). Not used: Kelly, Hilton, Charters, Sho-Silva, Harris.

Goal: Edmondson 30.

Booked: Guy, Whelan.

Sutton: Rose, John, Milsom, Kizzi, Boldewijn, Neufville, Eastmond, Lovatt (Smith 60), Randall (Hart 88), Bugiel (Kouassi 80), Wilson. Not used: Ward, Fadahunsi, Gambin, Kendall.

Goal: Randall 45.

Booked: Eastmond, Hart, Kizzi.

Ref: Lewis Smith.

Crowd: 4,752 (70 Sutton fans).