Southampton v Carlisle Match Report

Wembley has been good to us today. We played a vastly different starting eleven to our usual one.

The team played well enough and coped with most of the threats that Carlisle mustered. At times we were stretched by them but overall we coped manfully.

After a tense nervous start we managed to put a couple of moves together. Our first goal came in the 14th minute from a moment of sheer folly as Carlisle centre back Murphy handled the ball deliberately inside the penalty area.

He got away with a yellow card but Rickie Lambert made the punishment more severe with an extremely well struck penalty high to the keepers left. Struck well enough to beat the keeper who had guessed right and gone early.

With a lucky lead the pressure came off and Saints began to impose themselves more on the game. Carlisle still threatened at times and did take a firm control for a few minutes as the strived to get back into the game.

Kavanagh had a shot blocked by a diving Waigo after a Robson cross. Then Carlisle came even closer when Harte headed a Robson cross onto the top of the cross-bar. Bridge-Wilkinson then had a long range shot land on top of the netting.

Two minutes from HT Saints scored again. Another long throw into the Carlisle box was headed on by Lambert and Lallana anticipated the flick-on and headed home firmly from 4 yards. 43 minutes played and apparantly cruising.

4 minutes into the second half and Papa Waigo started and finished the move that brought goal number three. He threaded a pass to Lambert who took the ball on before crossing into the box. Carlisle defender Horwood sciffed his attempted clearance and Collin brilliantly kept out Antonio’s firmly struck shot. Unfortunately it broke to Waigo who had a simple header which he duly put away.

Carlisle kept trying and again had a chance but Clayton screwed his shot high and wide. The game continued and Saints were at times in cruise control as they began taking their foot off the gas.

Just as the hour mark approached Saints scored goal number four. Lambert won a high ball and Antonio ran on to the ball chesting it down before crashing it past Collins left footed.

Carlisle subbed Bridge-Wilkinson with Anyinsah and soon after Kavanagh with Madineas they kept trying to get something from the game.

Saints made their first substitution with Gillett replacing Papa Waigo. Carlisle kept going and came close with Davis saving an effort. Then with 6 minutes left they got their reward.

Ian Harte fired in another good free-kick which was met by Madine. His flick-on nestled in the back of the net and the Carlisle faithful were at last given something to cheer.

Connolly came on for Wotton and Saints reverted back to a 4-4-2 system for the final few minutes. Gillett had time for one good effort which Collins saved smartly as the clock ran down.

The whistle went and the cup belonged to Southampton.MOM Ricky Lambert. Scored one and had a hand in the other three goals.