Carlisle United 2-1 Port Vale 1: Jon Colman's verdict

Jon Mellish’s 93rd minute header brought the win they desperately craved, and also deserved. Even before that moment it was an afternoon to be positive about their efforts. When the defender’s header nestled into Port Vale’s net, it made you more hopeful about their prospects too.

Onwards, then, to the transfer window, with new and welcome wind at Carlisle’s backs. The gap to the safety line, six points at the end of 2023, is now three again. Next they face Exeter City, the team directly above them. Dare we think this revival could be on?

United celebrate the winner in front of the Paddock (Image: Barbara Abbott)

Many more such days, such wins, are needed before that kind of talk. More signings too. At least, though, the Blues have remembered how to win for the first time since October, this result surely injecting confidence into a team that had been toiling for an uplift and, until this game, failing to find it. 

Appropriately, two of their better players in this challenging campaign delivered what they so needed: first Jordan Gibson, with an ice-cold penalty, and then Mellish, their defensive strength, their man of all positions. Jack Robinson’s corner found him as if laser-guided, then the big Wearsider's leap and beautiful broad head did the rest. 

Brunton Park shook with something that felt like relief, because that’s exactly what it was. That it was only a fourth win from 25 games told you the backstory, as well as the current one. Don’t, though, think this was a smash-and-grab, a case of a bad team finally getting a break against a better one.

An airborne Owen Moxon wins the ball above Ethan Chislett (Image: Ben Holmes)

Carlisle were convincingly better than Port Vale. They should have led in a superior first half, then showed cojones to recover from conceding early in the second, when a team at the foot of the table might have dissolved again. The energy, balance and persistence United put into this must be their baseline for whatever they do next, and with whomever they do it with. It simply has to guide them.

2024 let itself in with dazzling sun and chilly air at Brunton Park. Before the game, a bustling fan zone reflected the continued uplift on a wider basis. The Piataks were there, supping pints, mingling. Again, it was hard to square these scenes with the difficulties on the pitch, which had worsened over a largely barren December. 

Another figure chatting to supporters hinted at the change ahead: Luke Armstrong, who is now released from his shackles and can play next Saturday. The idea is that more fresh faces will soon follow him but, in the meantime, this was the last time Paul Simpson could give the existing squad a spin. 

Taylor Charters on the attack for United (Image: Ben Holmes)

On this occasion it meant three changes, recalls for Gibson, Joe Garner and Taylor Charters and a home debut for Gabe Breeze. United’s search for a better formula has become a weekly task and this contrasted with a Port Vale XI unchanged after a hearty 3-0 win over Blackpool on December 29. 

That, though, was so last year. This one got under way with a spurt of half-chances but nothing immediately clear as these two teams began the task of figuring each other out. Uche Ikpeazu was a big and ungainly presence in Port Vale’s attack but his shooting eye was not in. Carlisle, with a wing-back system which included Robinson on the left instead of the benched Jack Armer, forced some early territory and Gibson tested Connor Ripley’s alertness with a whipped free-kick. 

That, and other set-pieces, offered a degree of pressure but for the most part, the game’s most impressive early feature was Owen Moxon’s work-rate in covering ground to snuff out potential Vale attacks at various points of the pitch. 

Gabe Breeze, on his home debut, punches clear a Port Vale cross (Image: Barbara Abbott)

It was, at heart, an opening glimpse of United’s general industry. One clearer glimmer did then come further forward, as some strong work on the left was followed by Sean Maguire darting past challenges and into the box, but the advancing Ripley saved his stretching finish and the game remained tight and balanced.

From there, Port Vale’s possession game briefly grew as they searched for a scalpel. Ethan Chislett, drifting between the lines, hit a shot low and wide, Ikpeazu boomed one into the Warwick and then failed to win a penalty when going down under Mellish’s challenge. Alfie Devine, at times, offered bright and purposeful midfield movement too. 

On most occasions, though, Carlisle defended their lines solidly and Breeze, in goal, was not extended. Jesse Debrah succumbed to injury in the Vale defence, Alex Iacovitti taking his place, and United grew back into the visitors’ half, Robinson clearing the bar after a free-kick had fallen to Garner, and then another Gibson set-piece which Sam Lavelle couldn’t turn past Ripley. 

Jordan Gibson's penalty makes it 1-1 (Image: Ben Holmes)

Josh Emmanuel, meanwhile, was a growing presence on the right, his pace and strength earning several opportunities as Carlisle’s front-foot work continued, one bright run ending with Gibson rifling towards the top corner and Ripley athletically keeping it out. 

Moments later, Charters was inches away from an opener after some telling Lavelle supply and this was not, in terms of direction, the substandard United of too many recent contests. 

Such a spell needed, of course, a goal – a familiar refrain. And in the 48th minute Carlisle’s foundations worryingly wobbled. A driving start to the second half by Port Vale earned a corner, and their short routine too easily caught United, who left Chislett, the taker, in acres as he drifted back onto the ball. 

Jon Mellish heads the winner (Image: Barbara Abbott)

One low cross and a Ben Garrity finish later and Carlisle, after so much constructive work, were once again having to ask themselves if they were good enough to avert the risk of yet another defeat among the many. 

The test was doubly so – psychological, as well as footballing. Yet there remained hope in their play, as Maguire met a Gibson delivery in the box, volleying it wide, and Emmanuel looked to build more possibilities on his flank. Vale slipped again into containment and counter-punching mode and banked on United remaining toothless, for all their endeavour.

The recent body of work may have justified such an approach, but it was met with increased defiance and snap from Carlisle. At the home end, Breeze kept them honest with a sturdy double save from James Wilson and Chislett. Lavelle and Mellish then teamed up to thwart the latter. 

Jon Mellish celebrates the dramatic late goal (Image: Barbara Abbott)

Carlisle remained afloat, then on came the subs – Ryan Edmondson and Dan Butterworth at first – and the salvage attempt resumed. Things were, by and large, heading in the direction of the Vale goal from there, but only vaguely so until Robinson burst onto a nimble left-sided attack, was upended by Nathan Smith, and the direction of Thomas Kirk’s finger let out an explosion of hope.

The next eruption came when Gibson calmly sent Ripley the wrong way from the penalty spot. And, critically, Carlisle did not just try to make it even better; they seemed to believe it was in their grasp this time. Butterworth went close, United kept on keeping on, Butterworth chased down a late ball in the corner, Robinson crossed and Mellish, bodies lurching around him – the last sober man at Hogmanay – jumped and made everyone’s 2024. May it keep on getting better from here.